I was ready to give you a rant, but you saved yourself with that bit at the very end. The biggest thing I was sick of when playing through Bayonetta was having to watch cutscenes over and over because they had quick time events in them. I blame every critic who demands involvement in cinematic action sequences, and until this article that included you. That rider should become part of some official manifesto.
The Common Mistakes of Horror Games
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
- Start date
Everyone always puts the latter parts of CoCGothmogII said:That's Dark Corners of the Earth. Shadow Over Innsmouth was the name of the book it was loosely based on.Kilowog17 said:
And you're quite right about it. It did some aspects far better than others, and petered out after the first few sections. Still love it though :3
CotE down. I don't think it's deserved. Sure, they second half wasn't nearly as scary as the first half, but I still got quite a few good scares out of it.
You know how I would deal with the scary-music-means-monsters thing?
Have the first quarter or so have the scary music kick in when you see a monster. Y'know, just long enough so that they get dependant on the ability. Then, mind-screw the player over by:
1. Starting the scary music at random
2. Have the scary music start up only when the monster is on-screen. Meaning that ones behind you, or waiting in that closet beside you don't trigger the music until they're eating the back of your head from the inside out
3. Mute the music altogether, or play one music track constantly.
Have the first quarter or so have the scary music kick in when you see a monster. Y'know, just long enough so that they get dependant on the ability. Then, mind-screw the player over by:
1. Starting the scary music at random
2. Have the scary music start up only when the monster is on-screen. Meaning that ones behind you, or waiting in that closet beside you don't trigger the music until they're eating the back of your head from the inside out
3. Mute the music altogether, or play one music track constantly.
Great article, pointing out how good Valve is drawing the players attention, an the issue of cutscenes vs gameplay.
I used to be against cut scenes, period, until I saw the trailer for Left 4 Dead. That is the single most best cut scene ever, because everything that happens in it, is something that can happen in the game.
1) I don't see the problem with literary references in games (even if they are Stephen King).
2) Pulling things like the flare out or dodging an enemy are player controlled camera as much as moving an analogue stick.
3) "Psychological action thriller" is not synonymous with "Horror"; its like saying 'No Country For Old Men' isn't a very good horror... good point its not a good Biographical picture either.
On the music side you are dead right, but the problem before was when tense music came on in games the player could merely sit it out until the score ended (yes I realise that could be easily solved but its still a valid point).
2) Pulling things like the flare out or dodging an enemy are player controlled camera as much as moving an analogue stick.
3) "Psychological action thriller" is not synonymous with "Horror"; its like saying 'No Country For Old Men' isn't a very good horror... good point its not a good Biographical picture either.
On the music side you are dead right, but the problem before was when tense music came on in games the player could merely sit it out until the score ended (yes I realise that could be easily solved but its still a valid point).
my guide to building a controllable cutscene
1 no quick time...EVER
2 see valve but add voices (but if you stare at alex's breasts or ass in a non action sequence she says "at this rate ill shoot before the combine does, eyes up here, or wtf are you looking at" you respond. yes character is responsive
3 no "cut scene" should last indefinite hours-days(mgs4)
4 no boring rants, at least make it interesting w/ pictures and crazy mindf*** like g-man in half-life 2 intro
5 non-repetitive anything
6 do not treat the gamer like they are on meds that make them wanting bland. try a 8-bit approach its not a mindf*** but it's original
1 no quick time...EVER
2 see valve but add voices (but if you stare at alex's breasts or ass in a non action sequence she says "at this rate ill shoot before the combine does, eyes up here, or wtf are you looking at" you respond. yes character is responsive
3 no "cut scene" should last indefinite hours-days(mgs4)
4 no boring rants, at least make it interesting w/ pictures and crazy mindf*** like g-man in half-life 2 intro
5 non-repetitive anything
6 do not treat the gamer like they are on meds that make them wanting bland. try a 8-bit approach its not a mindf*** but it's original
I'm on board with these criticisms 100%
The musical-cue thing is especially getting out of hand with modern games. The enemy-signaling music has become so overbearing that it lends an artificial atmosphere to the game and sucks me out of the experience. It completely undercuts the suspense!
The musical-cue thing is especially getting out of hand with modern games. The enemy-signaling music has become so overbearing that it lends an artificial atmosphere to the game and sucks me out of the experience. It completely undercuts the suspense!
Agreed to a point, the key word you said is inspiration. Art will (and should) always inspire other art, but trying to "cinematize" video games is not the way to move forward. Portal is a great example. Phenomenal story, but it would never translate to film, and had one short ending cut scene to wrap things up. It didn't try to be cinematic. Though I can name a few films where inspiration could have come from in regards to story or aesthetics etc.derelix said:
You quoted him saying that when a movie is made from a game it turns out bad, not when a game is based off a movie.SilverUchiha said:
Extra Punctuation: The Common Mistakes of Horror Games.
From my perspective there are some mistakes, formally known as officials, too.
1.) The attempt to legitimate the own mental disorders by being the protagonist in something declared horror, which actually isn't.
2.) The claim that one must be frightened by typical horror creatures... if they wouldn't fascinate instead of frightening, then who would buy the stuff?
3.) Repetition and Plagiarism... badly copied return of the already known in cheapest new disguise...
4.) Life. Sometimes watching a film or playing a game is only fun on 1st try, not just because low replay value but because the enticement was temporal. Once seen through it is mostly crap.
Book of Unremitting Horror was a cute discussion of a known principle... unique monsters, not another or, another vampire or such...
PC-Games: 1st chapter of FAHRENHEIT was spooky, as it touched me, thrilled me. Phantasmagoria had a unique moment for sure... Alan Wake? I saw the film in the 70's and one of the remakes... cooked up waste of time... Vampire Bloodlines, the Malkavian mansion 1st eye contact spooked me...
Compared to fantasy horror RPG is often badly made and weaker in system, which I find sad. I made a research on dark and deviant art and there are plenty of people worthy enough who get no chance in the industry because of their own way of life... It is the product which sells, not the person.
From my perspective there are some mistakes, formally known as officials, too.
1.) The attempt to legitimate the own mental disorders by being the protagonist in something declared horror, which actually isn't.
2.) The claim that one must be frightened by typical horror creatures... if they wouldn't fascinate instead of frightening, then who would buy the stuff?
3.) Repetition and Plagiarism... badly copied return of the already known in cheapest new disguise...
4.) Life. Sometimes watching a film or playing a game is only fun on 1st try, not just because low replay value but because the enticement was temporal. Once seen through it is mostly crap.
Book of Unremitting Horror was a cute discussion of a known principle... unique monsters, not another or, another vampire or such...
PC-Games: 1st chapter of FAHRENHEIT was spooky, as it touched me, thrilled me. Phantasmagoria had a unique moment for sure... Alan Wake? I saw the film in the 70's and one of the remakes... cooked up waste of time... Vampire Bloodlines, the Malkavian mansion 1st eye contact spooked me...
Compared to fantasy horror RPG is often badly made and weaker in system, which I find sad. I made a research on dark and deviant art and there are plenty of people worthy enough who get no chance in the industry because of their own way of life... It is the product which sells, not the person.
The music thing is a good talking point. Anyone who's played Redisent evil: Survivor will know that the music in that game was fantastic (It'd have to be, the rest of the game was pretty bad altogether). There's one part in the Umbrella Corp building where the music is constantly like you're being chased down a corridor, filled with epic strings and random noises. Hell, even the doors opening shit me up, even when there's nothing there. Alan Wake could learn from this.
It was a good game though, and has spouted much "WHERE'S MY WIIIIIIFE!?" from me and my friends.
It was a good game though, and has spouted much "WHERE'S MY WIIIIIIFE!?" from me and my friends.
Great article, except:
1) In my experience, the music only starts when you SEE the enemy, not when enemies appear. So it only signposts the end of combat, and even then sometimes more will pop up. Agreed on Dead Space though.
2) They don't take control away from what I recall, you just react and move in slow motion. I don't wholly condone it but it does help.
1) In my experience, the music only starts when you SEE the enemy, not when enemies appear. So it only signposts the end of combat, and even then sometimes more will pop up. Agreed on Dead Space though.
2) They don't take control away from what I recall, you just react and move in slow motion. I don't wholly condone it but it does help.
Good point about the music and the violin shrieks in Dead Space, though to be fair those shrieks were the only thing that kept me from consistently soiling myself. Yahtopia sounds like a no-nonsense place.
