Comments on: Using Games as a Dialog with Players http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2009/06/using-games-as-a-dialog-with-players/ Thoughts and perceptions of game designer, Reid Bryant Kimball Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:41:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Infusing Games with a Moral Premise « Reiding… http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2009/06/using-games-as-a-dialog-with-players/comment-page-1/#comment-4163 Infusing Games with a Moral Premise « Reiding… Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:17:14 +0000 http://blog.rbkdesign.com/?p=168#comment-4163 [...] The other option is for the game to react to the player’s choices, interpret where they stand on the moral arc and reflect that back through a slightly non-linear, though heavily guided narrative. This is where the dialog possibilities in games lie, as I mentioned previously in my blog article titled, “Dialog in Games”. [...] [...] The other option is for the game to react to the player’s choices, interpret where they stand on the moral arc and reflect that back through a slightly non-linear, though heavily guided narrative. This is where the dialog possibilities in games lie, as I mentioned previously in my blog article titled, “Dialog in Games”. [...]

]]> By: Nick http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2009/06/using-games-as-a-dialog-with-players/comment-page-1/#comment-2091 Nick Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:31:20 +0000 http://blog.rbkdesign.com/?p=168#comment-2091 Reid, you should check out some more RPGs. They tend to at least attempt to require moral decisions from players - some more successfully than others. A game I'd recommend on this is The Witcher. A number of your decisions do have an effect on aspects of the game and how characters interact with you. One section of the game has you basically discovering yourself as you try and overcome your amnesia, and allows you to make decisions that impact the outcome of the game. While it could be argued that its fantasy setting detracts from the possible real-life impact, I think that the situations presented and the required decisions do challenge you. I would even say that it's done on a much better level than most games, by presenting *real* options and not making everything black and white. There are plenty of situations that force the player to actually think about the possible impact of their decisions, and unintended consequences abound. Of course, there are also tons of side quests that involve humping the townsfolk... but I suppose that could also be considered a side-quest to life, in a way. Check it out, for sure. Reid, you should check out some more RPGs. They tend to at least attempt to require moral decisions from players – some more successfully than others. A game I’d recommend on this is The Witcher. A number of your decisions do have an effect on aspects of the game and how characters interact with you. One section of the game has you basically discovering yourself as you try and overcome your amnesia, and allows you to make decisions that impact the outcome of the game.

While it could be argued that its fantasy setting detracts from the possible real-life impact, I think that the situations presented and the required decisions do challenge you. I would even say that it’s done on a much better level than most games, by presenting *real* options and not making everything black and white. There are plenty of situations that force the player to actually think about the possible impact of their decisions, and unintended consequences abound.

Of course, there are also tons of side quests that involve humping the townsfolk… but I suppose that could also be considered a side-quest to life, in a way. Check it out, for sure.

]]> By: Reid Bryant Kimball http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2009/06/using-games-as-a-dialog-with-players/comment-page-1/#comment-2020 Reid Bryant Kimball Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:01:57 +0000 http://blog.rbkdesign.com/?p=168#comment-2020 Hey Dirk, I strongly recommend Tolstoy's What is Art, if only to solidify your own views on art. I had always wrestled with what art was, but now I have more more narrower and definite definition of what art is to me. I'm glad you think this contributes to making games more meaningful. I think about that challenge a lot. Hey Dirk,

I strongly recommend Tolstoy’s What is Art, if only to solidify your own views on art.

I had always wrestled with what art was, but now I have more more narrower and definite definition of what art is to me.

I’m glad you think this contributes to making games more meaningful. I think about that challenge a lot.

]]> By: DirkBroenink http://blog.rbkdesign.com/2009/06/using-games-as-a-dialog-with-players/comment-page-1/#comment-2018 DirkBroenink Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:37:30 +0000 http://blog.rbkdesign.com/?p=168#comment-2018 Very good read! I think the question whether games are art or not is simply a question of semantics. We must first define 'art'. In some definitions it be considered art, in some it won't. Personally I like to think that anything that was created to entertain others belongs to the art of a society. Besides the question of whether games are art or not, I think we can make games more than they are, that is a great challenge, and this article contributes to that :) Very good read!

I think the question whether games are art or not is simply a question of semantics. We must first define ‘art’. In some definitions it be considered art, in some it won’t. Personally I like to think that anything that was created to entertain others belongs to the art of a society.

Besides the question of whether games are art or not, I think we can make games more than they are, that is a great challenge, and this article contributes to that :)

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