Square-Enix: Game Stories Can Be More Effective Than Movies

Sabin · Mar 10 2009, 12:03 PM

A few days old.

Quote:

The role of storylines in games has changed over the years. There was a time when it was only a central theme in role-playing games, but as things have progressed, the plots have become more and more important in many different genres.
However, some people believe that gaming still isn't - and in fact, can't be - a storytelling medium. It really depends in how you look at the situation; the interactive aspect of a video game can indeed hinder the deep and cohesive storyline. But recent accomplishments, like what we saw in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, proves that storytelling in games has only just begun. And according to Square-Enix's Yoshinori Yamagishi (producer of Star Ocean: The Last Hope), he actually believes that games can become "the most effective storytelling medium over film and theater, if it can overcome the challenges of interactive entertainment." Said Yamagishi in a recent CVG interview:

"As opposed to films, books and TV, as a medium it is more of a challenge to produce a game in order to tell a story. In TV, film and theatre, the creator has control over how he gives the story to the viewer - it's easier to control the emotions and feelings expected from the viewer. But in [a game developer's] case we always have to think about how players might react to each depiction of a character or storyline, and that's the part we can't predict.
Nevertheless we have to make these predictions to a certain degree, and incorporate this into our work. So it's more of a challenge. But if we manage to get over this hurdle, then I regard videogames as a greater medium to provide people with deep emotional and exciting experiences."

It's an ongoing debate amongst the hardcore fans, but either way, we always appreciate ambition of almost any kind in the industry. If Yamagishi says it's possible, teams may begin to accept it as a possibility, and as an end result, the gamer should benefit. We always remember the fantastic stories in the past; memorable plots and characters leave an indelible mark on our minds. So as far as we're concerned, even if storytelling in games can't surpass other venues, there's no harm in trying.

The Star Ocean series doesn't exactly have the best storys.

I do hope we get better storys as time goes on. I do like Square Enix games a lot but most of them does not have great stories. I think Bioware is a company that tells very good stories in their games even if they are somewhat predictable.

Can games have storys equal to movies? Maybe. Equal to books? I doubt it.

rutea7 · Mar 10 2009, 01:01 PM

actually the OLD games had better storylines then now. i'm thinking ff4 and ff6 for example.
so if storylines are becoming more important now they should better on them NOW

mercy0001 · Mar 10 2009, 06:14 PM

Indeed old games had better stories but with all the technology and 3D moddeling programs today, they can put more detail and emotion in cutscene's for a good story.

Lord Of Dumbasses · Mar 10 2009, 06:24 PM

I really prefer to play a game with a really good story than a really good movie. Just my opinnion.

Neal · Mar 10 2009, 07:39 PM

Their three latest games have had horse shit storylines. Maybe they should give that some thought.

Zezlar · Mar 10 2009, 08:18 PM

I do agree with Square-Enix on this and I dsiagree with Sabin saying that SO has a bad story. They are better then most, and SO3 + 4 ROCK.

Rokuro · Mar 10 2009, 11:28 PM

Yeah, but you can't really fit a 70hr.+ FF storyline into a two hour movie

bringsan90 · Mar 12 2009, 02:43 AM

Movies equal to books? Forget it. Books have more great stories.

But, I think movies are equal to movies.

Nex · Mar 12 2009, 05:04 AM

Games have length (which movies don't), visuals and audio (which books don't), singularity (which TV shows don't) and interation (which is unique to gaming). On the other hand though the tools that can be used to tell a story in gaming are very limited, it would be near impossible to tell some stories through a game.

I agree with what they said though, if a writer can get over that issue when writing for a game, it's the strongest medium.

Oh, and Star Ocean storylines suck ass, and there hasn't been a single (complete) FF story since FFX, so stop whinging. 4 and 6 have nothing on 7, 8, 9 and 10 as far as I can be concerned.

3FinalGamer3 · Mar 12 2009, 01:42 PM

Some people like books because you're more or less free to imagine how the characters and areas look like. In movies you see everything in the point of view of the writer and movie director. In games you feel more in controle in what the charecters do and you're free to explore stuff. It depends on what person you are which medium you like but that doesn't mean you should read a book for a good storyline, it should be in movies as well as in games.
I prefer games with such a storyline it doesn't need to become a storyline like in a book but some background on stuff would be nice. It's good that with the technology they have right now they can create wonderfull and emotional storylines in games but a game will always be a game the same for books and movies.

Moklin · Mar 12 2009, 03:59 PM

Litle games tell a story without needing action and batles. Hotel Dusk Room for example, its more like an interactive book than a game. Too bad there isnt a big market for this type of games.

GalvanizA · Mar 13 2009, 12:01 PM

One thing that games can definitely have better than movies and books is a more immersive world.

Espressivo · Mar 21 2009, 01:03 PM

Sometimes it's not the storyline, it's the way they are told.

With that said, if someone thinks a storyline makes or breaks a game, they should just stick to books.

iv4nsbc · Mar 27 2009, 03:24 AM

I think that games can't be compared to other media ... Because the way that you interact with the object is different.

When you read a book, one of the things you do is to imagine how things are in the scenario, so you can feel a specific emotion (but there are many interpretations), but in the book when someone kill someone, they do, and this can't be undone ...

When you watch a movie, the feel of the book is almost the same, but there are the obvious differences, you watch a specific "imagination" of the story... So we get a "narrowed" experience, because the intent of the author is to delliver a message ... Why a guy did what he did ...

These, we can call "static" media ... Regarding the many interpretations, the story goes from A to B in just one way ...

In games, things are different, the story is still going from A to B, but the way it goes is up to us (I'm considering good story-driven games, like Mass Effect). So, the intent is to present a scenario and let the player interact with it, to change the actions of a char. To watch AND react. I'm still saving the galaxy, but I'll do it MY WAY.

This volatile flow of the story is the great difference, the great triumph of games. This side of a game could create a more immersive experience. You could just choose not to kill a random guy in a random planet, you could've done it but you don't, and a friend of yours did. Why? You tell me ... You can imprint you personallity in a game and make it "look" the way you want.

That's why I think games and movies are different. Both are good in their own way ...

Sorry about the hellish english ... Brazilian guy writting.