The Growing Dichotomy of Game Design

There is something happening in the industry of video games. It has been a fissure that has been growing steadily wider the past decade or so and will only continue to widen further in the future. The change it brings has ramifications for fundamental design, for the way games will be sold and marketed, and even for the way they are played. It boils down to the central philosophy driving the game's creation. And, in layman's terms, this dichotomy can be boiled down to two things: is the game focused on story or play mechanics?

The heights of realistic graphical and audio quality that today's consoles are capable of has enabled story and narrative to take a more central role in many of today's games. However, certain game genres--for example, puzzle, fighting, and racing games--are built entirely around the "fun" of their mechanics and any story is usually superfluous and unimportant (or even nonexistent). On the other side of the coin, you have games that are starting to rival Hollywood movies in story quality, production value, and creative talent like Mass Effect, Heavy Rain, and Uncharted. While these games take varying lengths of steps toward being "more movie-like", they all retain the common denominator that the medium's intrinsic interactive qualities are integral to the way the story is experienced. That is to say, the fact that you, the player, are directly impacting the story is a key differentiator between movies and games and is still a defining aspect of these "story-focused" games; the difference is, it's not the only defining aspect.

Heavy Rain's revolutionary control scheme brings a new dimension to interacting with the game's story.

In fact, play mechanics are just as important to "story" games as "mechanic" games. As Epic Game's lead designer Cliff Bleszinski just so happened to say today on Twitter,

"If you have a great game with a bad story you still have a great game. If you have a bad game with a great story you still have a bad game. [But] if you have a great game with a great story then you have a classic."

To understand this, you must recognize that the emergence of story as a central element in many modern games is a relatively new phenomenon since in the old days story was very much an afterthought and what always came first were the mechanics. Furthermore, the thing that makes a game a game is the fact that interactivity is central to the experience...and interactivity is achieved via play mechanics. That being said, the few developers that have dipped their toes in the vast ocean of great narratives have opened whole new doors of possibilities.

The added dimension of interactivity means games are capable of stories that no other medium is, and by combining great game design on a mechanics level with the high quality narrative, characterization, and production values of movies, the door is open for fantastic new experiences to emerge. Games like BioShock have already played with the notion of interactivity as a central element to the game's story. Games like Mass Effect give your individual decisions a ripple effect that shows ramifications through the entire game's world--or multiple games' worlds--and affects your path through the story and the way other characters react to you. Games like Uncharted are more exciting than any summer blockbuster at the movie theaters because of the fact you are participating in the action, while witty writing and strong voice acting bring the story to a more personal level.

The way you've acted as Commander Shepard decides whether or not Wrex lives in Mass Effect.

But not all games strive for these goals--and not all need to. There is room in the market for games that merely want to do what games were originally designed to do without all this fancy schmancy new age story business. Fighting games in particular excel at using the idiosyncratic fighting mechanics to drive competitiveness in the players. Racing games center themselves around two simple things: driving cars really fast and being the first one to the finish line. These games don't need canonical explanations; they simply need to be fun. And that's just fine. Even some games that do have stories, like the Call of Duty series, are not necessarily trying to push the envelope of interactive storytelling, and are arguably designed with a gameplay-is-the-only-important-thing philosophy--not that you can blame them given the fact that the multiplayer (arguably a separate "mechanics" game) is so important to their sales.

SoulCalibur IV doesn't need a story to be really fun.

This is the divergence we are seeing in game design today. Some games are simply going to try to push the fun factor of what games can do. Some games are going to push the artistic envelope of what ways they can use interactivity to tell an engaging story. Similarly, when gamers want to play a certain game, they'll often do it because a) they love its mechanics or b) they love its story. It's not a matter of one design philosophy "winning" over another, it's about the way they coexist and feed off each other. Mass Effect 2 is a great example, learning from the cover-based gunplay of Gears of War to make playing through its story more fun whilst still retaining its focus on story and character development. The emergence of truly great game narrative and a push to take artistic advantage of games' interaction does not mean that "fun" games will go away. What it does mean is that games don't necessarily have to be fun, whimsical distractions, and can instead provide an artistic canvas for exploring higher level questions, such as the illusion of free will (BioShock) or the ethics of cloning (Mass Effect).

Mass Effect 2 combines its great narrative with Gears of War's fun cover system.

What do you think of this growing dichotomy of game design? Share your thoughts in the comments.

11 Games to Watch in 2011

We may already be 2 weeks into the new year, but the new year of games is only just beginning. You've read about the best games from last year, now take a look at what--at least right now--look like the best games going into this year. Of course, a LOT can change with any of these games, including slipping out of 2011 altogether. Also, there is at least one new platform launching this year in Nintendo's 3DS... but we will probably see the PSP's successor sometime this year as well. Furthermore, games for Apple's iOS (and often their Android ports) typically don't get announced until a week or two before they hit the App Store. Even on the console front, many of the big publishers will reveal new 2011 titles between now and E3 in June. With all that being said, however, here are 11 games that you need to keep an eye on in 2011.

11. XCOM developed by 2K Marin // published by 2K Games
Xbox 360, PC~~~Release TBA 2011


XCOM is one of the most beloved franchises in game design, composed of turned-based tactical action on the PC in the 1990s. 2K Marin's reboot is nothing like those games, but features similar themes while re-imagining the game as a first-person shooter in the BioShock mold. 2K Marin's first game was the surprisingly good BioShock 2, with which the studio proved it could handle an established franchise and add to it. The game was shown off at E3 2010 but has remained mostly dormant since; however, from what we have seen, it looks like 2K Marin is looking to evoke a similar sense of conspiracy and eeriness as what made BioShock so memorable.

E3 2010 Trailer

10. PORTAL 2 developed by Valve // published by Valve & EA Partners
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac~~~Releases April 21, 2011

Valve's breakout puzzler from the 2007 The Orange Box compilation is getting upgraded to a full-fledged retail title for its sequel. Don't think that Valve is selling you short though; the mind-bending puzzler with witty writing is going all out this time, both back inside the Aperture Science facilities and outside in a jungle-looking environment. GlaDoS is back as the antagonist as well, meaning laughs are sure to follow around every turn. On top of the lengthy new single-player adventure, Valve has also developed an entirely separate (but just as meaty) co-op tale starring two Aperture Science test robots. If you don't know what all the fuss is about, go check out the original Portal for cheap on Steam or Xbox Live right now. Few games can claim such an entertaining combination of charm and humor while also making you think.

IGN Video Preview

9. STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC developed by BioWare // published by Electronic Arts
PC~~~~Release TBA 2011

Look familiar? That's because this game also appeared on last year's list... before it slipped into a 2011 release. The game looks on track to hit sometime in the middle of the year though, and all the things we said last year only ring even more true now. First and foremost, this is a BioWare game, which guarantees a certain level of quality. It's also Star Wars, and in the Knights of the Old Republic part of the timeline (some 1000 years before the movies when Sith and Jedi are both still prevalent). Each class looks diversified enough and interesting enough to stand on its own, and most importantly, BioWare is attempting to infuse an important sense of story progression into the highly-personalized (per class) missions that bring a level of detail usually associated with single-player campaigns, not MMOs. This might be the strongest contender yet to World of Warcraft's MMO crown.

The Old Republic Action Trailer

8. GEARS OF WAR 3 developed by Epic Games // published by Microsoft Game Studios
Xbox 360~~~Releases Fall 2011

Originally set for an April release date, Microsoft instead pushed it back to anchor its pivotal holiday lineup. The extra 6 months of development is on top of what was already 6 extra months compared to the development time on Gears of War 2. A talented studio like Epic will not let all that extra time go to waste, and considering how good the first two entries in the franchise were, one can only imagine what Epic will be bringing to the third. For the story, the humans are even more desperate than last time now that their last city has been sunk, and they are scattered in small pockets with even women and children bearing arms. Meanwhile, a third "army" called the Lambent (mutated Locust) is now in the fold, promising some thrilling 3-way firefights. On top of that, Epic is looking to beef up an already wildly-popular multiplayer suite.

Interview with Lead Designer Cliff Bleszinski

7. BULLETSTORM developed by People Can Fly & Epic Games // published by Electronic Arts
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases February 22, 2011

Epic's other game coming out this year is a brand new IP from their recent acquisition People Can Fly. The game is billed as a "shooter with style" and takes place on some alien planet. Unlike Gears, it is shooter in the first-person perspective, but your arsenal is made up of all sorts of ridiculous concoctions like quadruple-barreled shotguns. On top of that you get a lasso-esque whip and the ability to kick enemies backward, both of which are encouraged to be used in combination with various weapons to create some memorable results. You get extra points for style and from what we've seen it looks like you'll be getting some good laughs along the ride. At the very least its a very interesting take on the genre, and we'll find out just how good it is in February.

IGN Video Preview

6. DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION developed by Eidos Montreal // published by Square Enix
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Release Q2 2011

Human Revolution is a prequel to the original groundbreaking Deus Ex, which was one of the first shooters to incorporate aspects of other genres. Puzzle solving and RPG character building are just as important to Deus Ex as the shooting, and Human Revolution adds in other augmented abilities (you play as a cyborg) that spice up the action even further. Visually, the game resembles a kind of mash-up between Blade Runner and Perfect Dark as it oozes heavy themes amid its dark, in-the-future-but-not-too-distant sci-fi setting. Putting it all together is a story of mystery and conspiracy that promises to keep the player enthralled throughout. We'll see if Eidos Montreal delivers on this promise later this year.

IGN Video Preview

5. THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM developed and published by Bethesda
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases November 11, 2011

After a fantastic trip to the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3, Bethesda is going back to their signature franchise in The Elder Scrolls. Skyrim follows up 2006's Oblivion and takes place in the northern region of the continent Tamriel, called--you guessed it--Skyrim. Little is known about the game so far, but given Bethesda's track record (especially under director Todd Howard) there is little reason to doubt the draw of this game. What is known is that the events of Oblivion have caused the return of a legendary dragon that has ravaged the mountainous, snow-covered land of Skyrim, which is populated by a people called the Norse. Furthermore, according to the dragons' lore, they fear a human who in their language is called "Dragonborn"... who just so happens to be your character.

Debut Teaser

4. UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE'S DECEPTION developed by Naughty Dog // published by Sony CEA
PlayStation 3~~~Releases November 1, 2011

Naughty Dog made their name with the Jak and Daxter series on PS2 before making their current generation debut with the fun-but-flawed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Then, in 2009, the studio released a follow up in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which wowed anyone who got to play it. More of the same is expected in this third installment, which takes Indiana Jones/Lara Croft-like protagonist Nathan Drake to the Arabian Desert in search of the mythical Atlantis of the Sands. Among Thieves was one of the best examples of how to combine a great narrative with engaging gameplay and wrap it in a polished cinematic presentation. Here's hoping Drake's Deception ups the ante even further.

First Gameplay Footage

3. BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY developed by Rocksteady Studios // published by Warner Bros. Interactive
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Fall 2011

The sequel to the game that beat out Uncharted 2 for the 2009 PSB Game of the Year is developer Rocksteady's follow up. Something's happened on Arkham Island and new mayor Warren Sharp (the Arkham warden in the last game) has relocated the inmates to a closed off section of Gotham. Confirmed Bat-cameos include the Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, and Catwoman, but the villainous headliner is none other than Dr. Hugo Strange, who in the comics deduces Batman's alter ego and threatens to sell the identity to the highest bidder. It'll be interesting to see how all these personalities are juggled, and if Rocksteady can maintain the outstanding pacing in a game that is reportedly four times the size of its predecessor. Arkham Asylum was great, but this fall we'll find out if Rocksteady is truly an elite studio or merely a one-hit wonder.

VGA Reveal Trailer

2. L.A. NOIRE developed by Team Bondi // published by Rockstar Games
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Q2 2011

L.A. Noire is a landmark on many fronts. It's the latest game from acclaimed company Rockstar, best known for Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Unlike those games, L.A. Noire puts you on the law's side in a recreation of 1940s Los Angeles. Shady killings, gangsters, and police corruption are prevalent, so the detective aspect of the game actually takes the forefront from any gunplay you'll be doing. Team Bondi has also utilized some state-of-the-art face-scanning technology and put it to use with real Hollywood actors...a feature that not only gives the game a striking sense of realism, but is actually incorporated into the gameplay as you'll have to pick up on physical cues and decide if a suspect is lying. The premise is incredibly intriguing, now all that remains to be seen is whether Team Bondi and Rockstar can succesfully balance the difficulty of this player-based detective work (after all, there's a reason most players aren't actually homicide detectives).

2010 "Debut" Trailer

1. MASS EFFECT 3 developed by BioWare // published by Electronic Arts
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC~~~Releases Fall 2011

Given the series' pedigree, it should come as no surprise that the final installment in BioWare's carefully orchestrated and pre-planned trilogy lands at #1 on this list. Everything you've done so far in the first two games comes down to this. The Reapers have somehow found their way to Earth and are assaulting humanity's homeworld (how the hell did these guys do this after I already foiled their plan twice??). Now its up to the galaxy's greatest hero, Commander Shepard, to rally the divided civilizations together for their defining moment. We saw how well BioWare was able to refine the original Mass Effect into Mass Effect 2, and only our future selves know what tweaks will be in store for the finale. BioWare and EA have promised that the franchise will likely continue past this installment, but as far as the main, three-part story arc of Commander Shepard...well, this is it. That's all there really is to say since--either than our own guesswork--all we have to go on at this point is the trailer below:

Recap of the Last Month

Sorry I've been out of the game for a little while now, but here I am once again. The gaming world did not stop while I was away, however, so here's a quick recap of the most notable events:

Ex-Infinity Ward bosses found Respawn Entertainment; IW bleeds employees

The legally-entangled ousted heads of the Call of Duty/Modern Warfare creator have announced their new studio, entitled Respawn and having nothing set in stone aside from a publishing deal with EA Partners that will allow them to own their own IP. Since the announcement, lead staff at Infinity Ward have been leaving the company on a daily basis with most, if not all, joining Jason West and Vince Zampella's new studio.

Gears of War 3 Wrapping Delta Squad's Story in April 2011

First rumored, then leaked on the Xbox 360 dashboard, then finally revealed following a Jimmy Fallon debut, Cliff Bleszinki has revealed that Epic Games' third chapter in their stop-and-pop blockbuster will be dropping April 5, 2011, with four-player co-op and plenty of breathing room between Halo Reach's release. All we have right now is a teaser trailer, but expect a full showing at E3.

Nintendo announces its next handheld, the 3DS, sans goofy eyewear

After 6 years on the market and becoming the best-selling game system of all time, the DS is going to finally be succeeded this fall. The new handheld is promised to have 3D capability without needing 3D glasses. Rumors suggest an accelerometer may be built in as well and that the screens will be adjacent. As of now, though, the only concrete details besides the extra dimension is backwards compatibility with the existing DS catalog. The lid will be pulled back at E3 in June.

360 Adds USB Flash Drive Support, Nixes Memory Units

Microsoft has updated the Xbox 360 firmware to be able to use USB storage options for game data and downloads. The 360 now supports up to a maximum of 16GB external storage and up to 2 devices to be used at the same time. This also replaces the function of the over-priced memory unit and allows gamers who like to travel with their profiles much more space.

Perfect Dark XBLA Impressions

This Xbox Live Arcade port is now THE definitive version of the game. It sports the same great gameplay (which suprisingly stands up pretty well against time and shows that it was far ahead of its own), retouched gun and character models, 1080p widescreen and a silky smooth 60fps. Throw in online multiplayer and it's a total blast; ironically (or maybe not), the gem of it all is still splitscreen play.

Note: Still having issues with pictures, sorry!