The Story

[Nenad]

I'd like an NPC to start talking to me as soon as I come close to them, rather than staring mutely at me until I hit the context-sensitive prompt flashing over their heads. I'd then like to still be in control of my character throughout the conversation, walking around, fiddling with ornaments, hunting through drawers, shooting arrows at bunny rabbits, etc, with dialogue options being selected with some quick on-screen prompt using a button or control that is otherwise unoccupied. I don't know if you guys saw the Plinkett review of Revenge of the Sith, but he makes a good point that all the dialogue scenes are just two people standing (or sitting) and gabbing at each other, and it's incredibly dull. People do other things while they talk; it makes for more dynamic discourse and an opportunity for characterization.

This is a great idea. I wish someone would try it. Witcher 2 will not have this, you won't be able to control your character, but he should be walking around and gesturing and in doing so look real and natural.

 

[zobeda]

I love games to give me context. I will never enjoy a game about jumping around and shooting people in the head for no reason other than to shoot them in the head. I will never enjoy platformers either. Jumping around on blocks does not appeal to me at all. I like good playable stories.

I don't think that games should move away from cutscenes or deep stories or conversation trees that actually have a demonstrative effect on the story. If you like a game that doesn't "trouble" you with a good story play games like that. If you like depth in story telling and cut senes (not super long ones like Final Fantasy but thrilling and appealing ones like a Mass Effect) then play those games. I use to be a FF fangirl for a while too so if you like 90 hour movies where you get to play the game for like 1/2 of that go for that too. The LAST thing the gaming industry needs is a pairing down on game/artistic diversity.