So lately I have been thinking about what to write about next. I looked at a recent game entitled The Order: 1886. The premise of the game almost seems entirely made up to cater more to movie goers than actual hardcore gamers. The premise is set on a old English city around, yep you guessed it 1886. The story contains a protagonist and werewolves and vampires. The protagonist is part of a rebellion to upstart revolt against the government in place. The story isn't really what I want to focus on. Rather I want to divulge my attention on the actual game-play and the change in how games are being made today.
This game is one of many that feature the long drawn out cut-scenes that develop more on the story line than actual game play. The game plays itself out almost like a movie. The dialogue between characters reminds me of old classic movies that center around Victorian age. I feel as though there has been somewhat of a shift in the gaming community to incorporate more cinematographic imagery to try and cater to the audience. The movie industry has been one that tries to separate itself from video games, though both seem to point to virtual or alternate reality. I feel as thought he gaming developers with this game is trying to do too much in one area and not focusing enough on an area that is most important: the actual gaming itself. The gaming itself is an integral part of the gamer's experience. We can only take so many pauses in between games before we falter or get frustrated. Maybe it has to do with the adrenaline building up before an assault or the nervousness of anticipating an epic boss fight. Whatever it is, it kicks in and never gets to be expelled due to the repeated cut-scenes.
Compare that to what games were like 20 years ago. The early period of video games didn't have much of a story-line. Granted the technology was not nearly as capable of delivering the same type of finished product that is produced now, but even though there still was not really a focus on the story. Games during the early period were made simplistically with minimal detail to graphics, focusing on the core component of fun. Fun is ultimately the main goal for many game developers. To create a game that is enjoyed by a community is considered to be successful.
Side Note: Here is a link to a website which goes into depth about the game (review).
(also to note, the game looks beautiful, easily one of the most visually pleasing games to ever grace the gaming platform.)
As I return back to the game The Order 1886, I wonder if this new take on movie dialogue and less emphasis on actual game play content is going to push gamers away from future endeavors in the gaming world. The Order 1886 was a highly publicized and hyped game, receiving coverage from E3 (a popular gaming convention featuring the newest games to hit the market in the future). Critics have been harsh and have also recognized the shortcomings of the game play and the obvious attention to graphics and cut-scenes. Do not get me wrong, when I first saw the game I was also one of the many who was anticipating the game to be groundbreaking in its graphical delivery and masterful storytelling. Instead I ended up after seeing and demoing the game a bit, a lackluster game that falls short. I applaud the developers trying to push the boundaries, but in doing so they should make sure to keep game play experience as a forefront. Hopefully the video game industry in the future takes a good look at the flaws the game suffered and focus on them to deliver an even better game in the future. I also hope that the game developers do not forget to focus on making sure the game is ..... well a game and not try to make it something that it is not (movie-esque) which I felt The Order 1886 unfortunately did.
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