Games doing something different
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SovietArmy
Well-Known Member
Great topic as myself only played Tomb Raider level Editor games online I enjoyed but I want something different too. Any suggestions not much fighting maybe more intellectual games and like long games. I have no clues at all.
NoXion
his soul is marching on
Doing what?
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
This thread brings up some of my problems with games. The running/flying around, shooting things, even walking around solving things, involves a lot of boring if skilful twiddling. I've never been interested in doing all that. I can do it for 5 mins, then I wonder why I'm spending time on such a useless skill.
I read the other day about a game where you didn't directly control the play. There was a character wandering round, but you don't control it, you just make decisions on certain things and that has effects on how the game unfolds. It sounded kind of interesting but I can't remember the name of it
Are there also games that are about solving narrative problems, rather than having a narrative, then you do some shooting to advance the narrative, or solve a word puzzle to move on or something? I might find the former interesting.
I read the other day about a game where you didn't directly control the play. There was a character wandering round, but you don't control it, you just make decisions on certain things and that has effects on how the game unfolds. It sounded kind of interesting but I can't remember the name of it
Are there also games that are about solving narrative problems, rather than having a narrative, then you do some shooting to advance the narrative, or solve a word puzzle to move on or something? I might find the former interesting.
mauvais
on reddit or something
That's a fair description of what you don't get on with, but I'm not clear on what you do want yet. Can you expand on the last bit about solving narrative problems? What would that look like?This thread brings up some of my problems with games. The running/flying around, shooting things, even walking around solving things, involves a lot of boring if skilful twiddling. I've never been interested in doing all that. I can do it for 5 mins, then I wonder why I'm spending time on such a useless skill.
I read the other day about a game where you didn't directly control the play. There was a character wandering round, but you don't control it, you just make decisions on certain things and that has effects on how the game unfolds. It sounded kind of interesting but I can't remember the name of it
Are there also games that are about solving narrative problems, rather than having a narrative, then you do some shooting to advance the narrative, or solve a word puzzle to move on or something? I might find the former interesting.
It probably exists, although I might not be the person to point you at it.
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
I'm not sure what it would look like because I've never seen it
I suppose on a basic level a narrative problem game might look like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, but I'd hope the nature of computer games (rather than printed paper) could make it considerably more complex than one of those.
mauvais
on reddit or something
Hmm. There are a few good games where your choices significantly affect the outcome but generally they're connected by having to do normalish game stuff in between.I'm not sure what it would look like because I've never seen it
The closest thing to what you're after is perhaps the genre of interactive fiction (IF), which is not something I'm into - someone else may have good suggestions. Unfortunately a lot of it is crap too, because the bar to entry is low.
mauvais
on reddit or something
As an aside, here's a silly throwaway example of IF that doesn't really diverge based on what you do - I include it because it's funny and at least demonstrates the mechanic.
The Temple of No by Crows Crows Crows
The Temple of No by Crows Crows Crows
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
Also I think the type of games I'm imagining would get more interesting in multiplayer versions.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
You might enjoy Kentucky Route ZeroI'm not sure what it would look like because I've never seen it
Review of Act I : Wot I Think: Kentucky Route Zero Act I
You can play just act 1 and still get a satisfying experience. (the final act, V, is not out yet)
In terms of multiplayer, maybe The Yawhg is what you're looking for?
It's a sort of co-operative storytelling story game for 2-4 players
Review: Review: The Yawhg - Gets Better With A Little Help From Your Friends
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FridgeMagnet
Administrator
It's hard to say. As mauvais says, most of the games that are about narrative are in the IF genre, but that's kind of tautological; the term IF generally implies a narrative that the player affects in some way. It's exploded in the last few years with a number of low-entry-barrier tools being developed that have easy web export, particularly Twine which I love, but people have been messing with this stuff for years before that, often in parser-based IF (i.e. N / GET ROCK / THREATEN MUFFIN WITH ROCK). Some of it is pretty traditional, some mess with ideas of observers and agency, some satirise or explore existing game tropes, some are really just mood pieces, blah blah. I find out about this stuff by following other people who are interested in it on social media and checking out their links; I've never found any better way. Emily Short's blog is one of the best for info on the latest items - she herself has written some really groundbreaking things.This thread brings up some of my problems with games. The running/flying around, shooting things, even walking around solving things, involves a lot of boring if skilful twiddling. I've never been interested in doing all that. I can do it for 5 mins, then I wonder why I'm spending time on such a useless skill.
I read the other day about a game where you didn't directly control the play. There was a character wandering round, but you don't control it, you just make decisions on certain things and that has effects on how the game unfolds. It sounded kind of interesting but I can't remember the name of it
Are there also games that are about solving narrative problems, rather than having a narrative, then you do some shooting to advance the narrative, or solve a word puzzle to move on or something? I might find the former interesting.
80 Days, as mentioned above, is a good jumping-in point to the modern CYOA style.
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Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
Thanks for the ideas. IF seems mostly text-based. Something more image-based seems appropriate for computer games. Kentucky Route Zero seems interesting, and I'll have a look at the others too.
Fez909
toilet expert
And relax … the joy of video games where you do almost nothing
More and more people are using games like quiet background experiences, requiring minimal attention while they sew, cook or study
This game is a lot better than I thought it would be !
Only been playing it for 30mins and I am in love. It is classy ! the 8 bit photorealistic graphics work really well. The game play is simple... but if you have experience in this area... quite realistic.
Im playing through global mode which starts out in Valsusa, Italy resisting a high speed train track. All the stories are from real events in story which got me well involved . I'm definitely going to buy this.
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mauvais
on reddit or something
Rosemary Jest
Wrong and Unstable
Superhot is amazing, weird and trippy, addictive and fun. Leaves Xbox gamepass soon, so would recommend it if you haven't already played it.
Steel Icarus
an attempt was made
Rosemary Jest
Wrong and Unstable
Yep, it's a great game. Not too long either, so doesn't get boring. 
Brainaddict
slight system overdrive
I finally played Journey but was defeated in the end by all the running around and jumping, and needing to jump in just the right way, having found the right energy boosters first, and needing ten attempts to get it right, then having to do the same again a couple of minutes later. Very boring, however beautiful the game is.
hitmouse
God laid a big egg in my heart to tell you this
Since it doesn't seem to have been mentioned, I'd say Night in the Woods is probably my favourite example of this:
www.pastemagazine.com
Great mix of deindustrialisation, cutesy cartoon animals, teenage/early twentysomething ennui, and Lovecraftian horror, there's parts in it that feel like a really obvious commentary on Trumpism but iirc pretty much the whole thing was written and developed before the 2016 election so it's actually not so much a commentary on Trumpism as the underlying social forces that led to it. This scene is not really a spoiler for anything:
Just started Disco Elysium, which is also great so far, and I can see does have a thread on here, but also I really don't want it spoilered, so I'll wait until I've finished it before I read it.
Night in the Woods is the Working Class Fiction I’ve Been Waiting For
Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films.
www.pastemagazine.com
Great mix of deindustrialisation, cutesy cartoon animals, teenage/early twentysomething ennui, and Lovecraftian horror, there's parts in it that feel like a really obvious commentary on Trumpism but iirc pretty much the whole thing was written and developed before the 2016 election so it's actually not so much a commentary on Trumpism as the underlying social forces that led to it. This scene is not really a spoiler for anything:
Just started Disco Elysium, which is also great so far, and I can see does have a thread on here, but also I really don't want it spoilered, so I'll wait until I've finished it before I read it.
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