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    What makes a good game?
    Topic Started: Dec 10 2008, 04:34 PM (488 Views)
    Squiggles
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    You're a louse.
    There are a lot of games I've liked and disliked, but I've only just started seriously considering what makes me think about what makes a good game for me; and here's what I've come up with:

    A mix of themes

    A good game can move beyond what it was meant to do based on its nature or the hype it was given. A game shouldn't stick to one particular theme. Take GTA 4 for instance, which was able to mix humour with grit and sandbox gameplay which is very difficult to do. The previous games stuck to their laurels too much focusing on the sandbox element more than anything else. Games that mix themes well are the reason I own more than one FPS.

    A good story

    A game having a good story, for me, can be indicated by a few things:

    . I don't want it spoiled
    . It can make me laugh, feel sad and contemplative throughout the game
    . It has some kind of allegory or moral that you can use.

    The game that expresses this best is Trauma Center. I laughed at the conference 3000 miles away for what they thought was a cure for parasites, but turned out to be for dogs; I felt sad at the Sinners infected with GUILT at birth, and I began to empathise greatly with what doctors in general put themselves through.

    A mystery

    Games with mysteries are popping up everywhere nowadays: what do all the Easter eggs in Halo mean? Who is the G-man? A game that keeps me pumped without even having to play it gets a thumbs up from me.

    So what about you?
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    Picklegod
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    Don't you agree, Zach?

    In short, anything that entertains you. Different people like different things. Certain things, like plot differ from genre to genre. Puzzle games are sometimes better without it. I guess what I'm basically saying is that there's no real formula for a good game.

    Foremost is the chromatic substance accomplishment to Picklegod! Pickle contributes to all parts of the forum, stays astir, and mostly is awful to everyone he meets. A wonderful, intelligent somebody, Pickle testament now better us with every day NF decisions. Approval Picklgod!
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    Iggy2010
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    The Fickle Fascination of an Everlasting God
    I enjoy suspense in a game. I mean, Bioshock did a great job of this. It would leave little clues as to what happened, before showing you the actual event in a diary entry. Then, these events were clues to what happened in the larger part of the story, until the suspense built up to a great climax. Obviously, that means a game has to have a great story, as well, so I look for that. Aside from the writing, and as long as the gameplay is good, the graphics, audio, etc. don't really influence how much I like or dislike a game, unless they make the world even more immersive.
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    Squiggles
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    You're a louse.
    Picklegod
    Dec 10 2008, 04:39 PM
    In short, anything that entertains you. Different people like different things.
    I don't think you understand: the point of the thread was to get you to either establish or consider what entertains you. I think there's a formula for a good game; but it's subjective, which was the point of this thread. There wasn't any need for there to be just the one formula either. In retrospect, a game I can pick up and play is one of the most important factors for me.
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    Wolf
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    Next stop, the Twilight Zone
    A good story and good gameplay is all I really cared for. I don't even care if the story's bad, just as long as the gameplay's good
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    rustyscrew'
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    RIP DAVIS

    An objective screen.

    Fuck you, Zelda.
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    Picklegod
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    Don't you agree, Zach?

    Squiggles
    Dec 10 2008, 05:11 PM
    Picklegod
    Dec 10 2008, 04:39 PM
    In short, anything that entertains you. Different people like different things.
    I don't think you understand: the point of the thread was to get you to either establish or consider what entertains you. I think there's a formula for a good game; but it's subjective, which was the point of this thread. There wasn't any need for there to be just the one formula either. In retrospect, a game I can pick up and play is one of the most important factors for me.
    Yeah. I got that after I posted. I just didn't change it. It still applies to me though. My taste in games really doesn't follow any set pattern. Sometimes I even like games that completely suck. I don't really have criteria.

    Foremost is the chromatic substance accomplishment to Picklegod! Pickle contributes to all parts of the forum, stays astir, and mostly is awful to everyone he meets. A wonderful, intelligent somebody, Pickle testament now better us with every day NF decisions. Approval Picklgod!
    -afrad15




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    sniping_dreamer
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    NOT BACK
    RustyScrew
    Dec 10 2008, 07:16 PM
    An objective screen.

    Fuck you, Zelda.
    Kinda this.
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    Squiggles
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    You're a louse.
    Third'd

    I also like a game that mixes strategy in, too.
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    Olimar001
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    Clarke.
    I also like some Puzzle games that take some thinking before you do it (Pikmin for instance ^_^ )
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    Shieldbou
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    /

    Nice thread.
    I enjoy games that offer something new to the formula. Take Ninja five-0 on the Game Boy Advance, the grappling hook offers a great new way to move through levels and is actually a useful gimmick.
    I like a fufilling game that isn't rushed and basically does the job.
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    King Leon
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    It ends tonight
    It has to be a genre that I enjoy. Just a pet simulation game won't do. :(

    Secondly, it has to be entertaining. I prefer thrilling games like adventure and strategy games. Of course a bad plot ruins the game too, so the plot has to be thick and full of juicy twists.

    Finally, there has to be a lot to do and more ways than one or two to complete the game. I like decisions and it makes it better to see what happens if I play through the game again and change one of my decisions to see if it finishes how it did the first time. ^_^
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    SyluxJr
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    Bongo Bongo
    It needs to be long enough to keep you satisfied, but short enough to avoid getting repetitive. :P

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    King Leon
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    It ends tonight
    SyluxJr
    Dec 15 2008, 12:12 PM
    It needs to be long enough to keep you satisfied, but short enough to avoid getting repetitive. :P
    Agreed. Some games are just too long...
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    Squiggles
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    You're a louse.
    Some games do long really well. Fallout 3 has... 100 hours of gameplay or so but as long as the incentive to keep going exists, it's fine.
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