What makes a game good?

WaeV · Post by **WaeV** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:51 pm

A friend of mine insists that plot makes the game, and that a really good game should play like a movie. Another friend counters that Super Smash Brothers is a fun game, yet manages to have no storyline whatsoever.

Crysis is hailed for its graphics. Marathon is fun yet uses 2.5D sprites.

In your opinion, what makes a good / entertaining game?

Aumaan Anubis · Post by **Aumaan Anubis** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:42 pm

If you want graphics, or "plot," then go watch a movie. I'm playing a game for the gameplay.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:50 pm

It's nearly impossible to quantify/specify what makes someone like something more than something else.

Everything has to work together and be enjoyable. That's about it. In short, it just is.

JK-47 · Post by **JK-47** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:24 pm

I like a game with the following qualities:

-Good gameplay.
-Challenging AI (campaign).
-Cool environments (don't necessarily have to be amazing graphics).
-Balanced gameplay (campaign, multiplayer).
-Variables that effect gameplay (such as different ways to beat the game, different characters, etc).
-Has replay value

Graphics mean nothing to me.

Pyroman · Post by **Pyroman** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:47 pm

Bewbs.

Duh.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:10 pm

I can't go into single player else I'll be writing a full blown essay detailing what I like and dislike.

But for Multiplayer, what makes it good for me is simplicity. By that, I mean pick up and play values. The time I have most fun is when I'm playgin with my friends splitscreen or system link. And considering the majority of them are not really gamers, let alone ever owned a console, its a necessity to have games which can be easily understood.

However, I like it when they allow people to have their skillz develop if they are able to and still allow everyone else to have fun. The easiest examples here are Halo , wii sports and N+. I would say that my friends have I would have played at least 50 hours on each of them....And we still have gotten sick of either yet.

While a few of the guys and myself like graphics, they aren't really critical of it at all...

{TP}Spartan · Post by **{TP}Spartan** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:25 am

For Me:
Interactive environments(example:Ragdoll,barrels exploding)
Good AI
Graphics(not always OMGWOWCRYSIS Graphics)
and some type of a sandbox feel

Philly · Post by **Philly** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:05 am

Topic title wrote:What makes a game good?

Why do humans fall in love? It's a bit of a silly question really, as there can be many factors, including the type of game and personal preferences.

bcnipod · Post by **bcnipod** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:12 am

1. Storyline: without it you get games similar to most hollywood movies
2. gameplay: does it play like a game or a hand-holding experience
3. puzzles/challenge: I am not talking about puzzle games where that is all you do, I am talking about some sort of real challenge to the game, makes it interesting and fun instead of being told what to do all the time

JK-47 · Post by **JK-47** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:09 am

Philly wrote:
Topic title wrote:What makes a game good?
Why do humans fall in love? It's a bit of a silly question really, as there can be many factors, including the type of game and personal preferences.

And he's wondering our personal preference. It's all for discussion.

JunkfoodMan · Post by **JunkfoodMan** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:21 am

Something that keeps me coming back for more.
And replay value.

Thats all I want a game for.

bibbit · Post by **bibbit** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:24 am

JK-47 wrote:I like a game with the following qualities:

-Good gameplay.
-Challenging AI (campaign).
-Cool environments (don't necessarily have to be amazing graphics).
-Balanced gameplay (campaign, multiplayer).
-Variables that effect gameplay (such as different ways to beat the game, different characters, etc).
-Has replay value

Graphics mean nothing to me.

I 100% agree with all of this. Plus, I think the best thing a game can have is good multiplayer.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:10 pm

Games need lots of solids and snakes too.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:12 pm

And tons of arrogant, unnecessary product placement?

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:16 pm

Yeah, I cringe at the fourth one. roughly: "You need to change the disc Snake, OH WAIT. ITS THE REVOLUTIONARY PLAYSTATION 3 WITH A BLU RAY DISC! No need to change the disk..."
"Hey, don't bother with the codec anymore, because now you've got a brilliant Sony Ericsson phone! Who needs nano machines when you have a 3 megapixel camera and a vivid clour screen?"
Then there's the iPod, the playstation 3 controller, the motorbike, the energy drink....

Holy crap thats a lot.

It sounds on par with Fight Night 3.
______________

To say what makes a game not good? Product placement

Never seen it put to good use.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:21 pm

Don't forget the PSP!

unknownv2 · Post by **unknownv2** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:31 pm

MGS 4 still looks great. Even if it did pull a Transformers.

GametagAeonFlux · Post by **GametagAeonFlux** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:28 am

When it's fun. As everyone's been saying, there's really not one thing that can make a game instantly great. Except extremely graphic dismemberment. Hell yeah.

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:23 pm

like tural said, everything has to fit together. I also look for gameplay and balance, and lately, some realism too. graphics are kind of important, because i want a game that looks good, although i don't have the hardware to run today's top-of-the-line games at their best.

other than that, i'll sometimes get interested in a game if i hear it's engine has this new neat little feature. for example, i heard that spore would dynamically create the animations for the creatures you create based on their physiology, and the crysis engine has a huge level of destructibility, what with the trees, houses, and sandbags.

Danke · Post by **Danke** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:25 pm

You need everything for a great game, but for a good game, you probably don't need graphics or story as much. Katamari Damacy is a good example of that, I think. Or Contra 3, basically "ALIENS INVADE" is the story.