S tarting with when Checkers (or "Draughts" for those outside the USA) was recreated on a computer in 1952, video games have been about enjoyment. People play them because they pass the time well. What makes a game enjoyable? For most people, the gameplay is the keystone; if a game isn't enjoyable to play, it's a failure.
What would Checkers be without gameplay? Nothing. The board game has no music, is made of blank squares and cylinders, and has no story. Do people love to play checkers? Yes, and it is easy to identify the reason why. Now let's think about the multiplayer of a Call of Duty game. This is a mode in which the players shoot each other in different arenas. The primary reason people play it is for the gameplay of the shooting, moving, sneaking, executing plans, dodging, etc.
Yet in 2016, developers still don't understand that games, with gameplay as the base, need to make the quality of the gameplay top priority. Odds are, your favorite game isn't one with bad gameplay. If you're like me, your favorite game might have great music or art, might tell a story that strongly impacts you, but most of all, is a huge joy to play.
These are the games:
One of my deepest fears is for Paper Soul Theater to be a game with mundane gameplay. I would rather quit game development forever than let that happen, yet I fear it because of how real the issue is! No one on my team is an expert in gameplay. Even if Paper Soul Theater has many wonderful aspects (art, story music), what would it matter if everyone felt like the game was boring to play? I would trade all the music in Paper Soul Theater for slightly higher quality gameplay. I would delay the game several months if it meant the game's gameplay needed that.
This is the main reason we make Paper Soul Theater: for the enjoyment of the players. Along the way, we want to tell a powerful story, present the player with eye candy graphics, sooth their ears with great music, pay homage to what made the first two Paper Mario great, and maybe experiment a little, but none of that matters to me if the game doesn't deliver enjoyable gameplay damn near perfectly.
So Tell Us: What are some modern games that lack in gameplay? How so?
What would Checkers be without gameplay? Nothing. The board game has no music, is made of blank squares and cylinders, and has no story. Do people love to play checkers? Yes, and it is easy to identify the reason why. Now let's think about the multiplayer of a Call of Duty game. This is a mode in which the players shoot each other in different arenas. The primary reason people play it is for the gameplay of the shooting, moving, sneaking, executing plans, dodging, etc.
Yet in 2016, developers still don't understand that games, with gameplay as the base, need to make the quality of the gameplay top priority. Odds are, your favorite game isn't one with bad gameplay. If you're like me, your favorite game might have great music or art, might tell a story that strongly impacts you, but most of all, is a huge joy to play.
These are the games:
- that have love and wise intention put into every crevice of the content and mechanic design
- that are made for the player every step of the way
- that have well thought-out controls dedicated towards synergizing with the gameplay
- that are fine tuned and polished where it matters most
- don't budget nearly enough time for perfecting the content or main mechanics
- are made to make a profit above all else
- have controls that are based on other successful games
- are released buggy, unbalanced, or with major corners cut in the gameplay
One of my deepest fears is for Paper Soul Theater to be a game with mundane gameplay. I would rather quit game development forever than let that happen, yet I fear it because of how real the issue is! No one on my team is an expert in gameplay. Even if Paper Soul Theater has many wonderful aspects (art, story music), what would it matter if everyone felt like the game was boring to play? I would trade all the music in Paper Soul Theater for slightly higher quality gameplay. I would delay the game several months if it meant the game's gameplay needed that.
This is the main reason we make Paper Soul Theater: for the enjoyment of the players. Along the way, we want to tell a powerful story, present the player with eye candy graphics, sooth their ears with great music, pay homage to what made the first two Paper Mario great, and maybe experiment a little, but none of that matters to me if the game doesn't deliver enjoyable gameplay damn near perfectly.
So Tell Us: What are some modern games that lack in gameplay? How so?