We at TSA are always open to receiving guest pieces from the community. Today’s offering comes from the keyboard of Burgess_101, who seems to be a bit angry about the current drive for realism in games.
I was talking to one of my friends about “The Darkness II” about how amazing it was and how “badass” it makes you feel. Anyone that has played the game will know exactly what I mean. He asked me what it was about, so rather than describe it I thought what better way to explain it then to show him a video. After I had shown him this video he told me it looked terrible. “Why?” I asked and the reason he gave me sums up a lot of criticism that seems to appear nowadays.
He told me it wasn’t realistic enough. Now I’ll give you guys some time to remove palms from faces. I don’t normally associate this specific friend with my others that only play FIFA or COD, so this answer threw me off big time.
[drop]This got me thinking about the current state of gaming. There are some truly great games out there that are being shunned for being imaginative. How many now prefer a short military story (if you can call it that) glorifying Americans (read COD/BF3) to the fantasy realm of Skyrim? I know it can depend on who you’re with, how much time you have etc. but the sales figures seem to show that the majority of gamers would rather sit down with an FPS, just look at the sales figures of Call of Duty or Battlefield.It’s not just sales figures either, there’s a general attitude amongst consumers as well. My friends have clearly shown this by taking the mick out of me for saying I would rather go around with awesome devil tentacles dual wielding UZIs, than be a macho clichéd soldier. Why? Because you cant be a badass demon in real life and that’s it. Or because I play games they have never heard of before.
Basically I feel people think realism equals a great game. The amount of times I have heard people say COD is more realistic than BF3 or vice versa is ridiculous.People seem to have lost their imagination and forgotten what gaming is all about. Escaping from the trials and tribulations of the real world. Bad day at work? Become engrossed in another world and forget all about it for a while. Whats the point of throwing yourself back into the same world?
I dont hate COD or Battlefield at all, in fact I play them quite a bit myself. FIFA I play loads of (mostly with friends). Sometimes you want to shoot virtual people in the face. I understand. Sometimes you want to score a 30 yard volley with Emile Heskey. I understand. Just broaden your horizons. Take a risk on a different game. I did just that recently with Rayman: Origins. I never really enjoyed platformers before because I’m awful at them, but it turned out to be one of the best games I have played in a long time.
If things stay the way they are, we will end up with just the same ‘Modern Battlefield World War V: Terrrorists Return’ because that is what sells and individual games like The Darkness, Heavy Rain and so many others, will just be swept under the carpet and forgotten of; ridiculed for their individualities.
I certainly don’t want that but as they say, money talks.
OneShotWook
I think this can mostly be put down to gaming becoming more and more mainstream.Speaking for myself as an adult gamer i do like credibility in my games,Darkness 2 has this credibility for me it’s just not dressed up in camo.
After just playing the SSX demo i was reminded again that gaming can maintain credibility and offer a more than real experience if you will.
I guess theres a kookey slope as to what we each expect.Start off at Fifa then continue down the slope to something like Final Fantasy which time and again i find completely barking.
War itself is a hyper real enviroment to most of us and long may it remain so,as is slotting one in for Arsenal.It takes a degree of imagination to even think any media presents us with a realistic experience.
Anyhows i don’t think it’s ever been much different it’s just more obvious now because more people play.
Burgess_101
Wow this was a nice surprise to come home to after a long hard day of footy! :P
BigCheese
Yeah good read, I’ll agree that realism isn’t needed in all games at all. I think games like FIFA obviously need realism, and it’s the whole reason I play it (which is way too much), but others do not need it.
I love games like Resistance, Ratchet and Clank and God of War that have the ‘fantasy’ element, but also find Red Dead Redemption, FIFA and Gran Turismo, all of which try to be very realistic games, amazingly fun too.
ron_mcphatty
Great article, I totally understand your palm-to-face moment. Surely if people wanted realistic then all they’d play is something more like Operation Flashpoint or that PC US Army sponsored fps? If some people could let go of their preconceptions and snobbiness maybe they’d enjoy a bit of Stealth Bastard or Lego Star Wars. The fun is out there if you want it.
CdmanJak
recently been on ssx forums people moaning about insane tricks etc i dont get realism to me gaming is escaping the confinds of reality and living fantasy and enjoying experience that just isnt possible in any other source of entertainment to me people that reject fantasy hate fun.
ron_mcphatty
Oh no, you’re joking about the SSX forums right? If not, that’s quite sad. I will stay well away from such childishness.
Old School
Anyone who reckons CoD or BF3 are realistic have never actually been on an operation tour, I’ve been on four (Iraq twice, Afghanistan twice) and a operation posting (N. Ireland). If I had to give any of these games a edge in realism it goes to BF3 simply because it’s sound effects are pretty realistic. They even have the snap of incoming rounds. I have to give kudos for this.
BIGAL-1992
Ok then. If I was ask you of all the video games you’ve ever played, which one would you say is the closest in realism to an actual operational tour? (Excluding Real Life as an answer).
Old School
Non of them. Games are game, they don’t hold any realism except for how certain weapons react and sound. That’s it.
big lad
The exact same thing can be said for driving games too.
Old School
You’re probably right about driving games but I can’t speak from experience about that like I can war games. I mean I drive a Ford Fiesta, not exactly Gran Turismo material lol.
ron_mcphatty
Old School, do you enjoy playing FPSs? I haven’t come across anyone on TSA before whose been to Afganistan and I assume your job is stressful and dangerous. It would be good to know what games you’re interested in.
Old School
BIGAL I love FPS. I’m a fan of CoD and BF3 (especially BF3), they’re just not realistic, doesn’t mean they’re not fun though. I’m a massive fan of Halo also. I’ll list my favourite FPS in no order, except the 1st is my first: Half Life 2, Killzone, Prey, Darkness, Portal, etc.
The games I play mostly are things like Metal Gear Solid, Uncharted, Gears, Silent Hill, Zelda. I’m a fan of all games and all genres (except casual games that are being forced down our throats lately) I just dont think that any game is realistic and people who do say otherwise are inexperienced on the subject.
Old School
Sorry my last comment was aimed at ron_mcphatty. I apologise.
BIGAL-1992
Ok then. I was curious to hear from someone experienced on the subject. Personally, my favourite fps of last year was bulletstorm, which pretty much shows my view on realism in games, i.e it gets boring very quickly.
big lad
I’ve had it with this so-called realism too. I’m sick to my back teeth of Russians and terrorists. I wanna shoot aliens and mutants!
Origami Killer
Then just play another game, simple.
big lad
That’s pretty hard considering that these days for every Call of Battlefield 5: Russian Nazi Zombie Terrorists game, they only make 1 fun game that’s not trying to be realistic.
big lad
*every 100 CoD whatever games I meant to say
Origami Killer
Yeah I can see what you mean. Its a shame too :/ btw if you want to shoot aliens and mutants try Fallout 3 ;)
MayContainEvil
I don’t care about realism, I agree people with no imagination are complete fools. As long as a game can obey the rules it sets.and be consistent I don’t have any trouble with it.
Jakster123x
I think my gaming tastes are pretty diverse now and people on my friends list are pretty much the same as me. I’ve been reliving my childhood over the last day with the Jak Trilogy and can say that it. It’s than lives up to the expectations of my nostalgia no matter how fantasy it is.
Don’t get me wrong, I do like BF, but there’s plenty of other genres out there to discover, Jak and Daxter being the best platformer ever made (in my eyes, anyway).
elpablo79
Interesting and very relevant read. I enjoy both sides of the coin, I enjoy the CoD games, Battlefield et al, but then I’d prefer a Timesplitters game. Completely unrealistic but all the better for it. I don’t know if it is now people’s expectations that with powerful consoles and more realistic graphics, therefore games should be more based in reality. I think games themselves should not shy away from fantasy as it perfectly encapsulates the escapism many people enjoy. Not sure if I’ve made much of a point, but to sum it up, my fiancee wants to buy her son a fun shooter. Not a blood-filled, swear-fest. It’s just, as he is nearly 12, it would be nice for him to sample other gamestyles, and in the FPS genre, I know there isn’t much that would be suitable. Ok, running around and shooting people anyway is not exactly for kids, but then if an FPS in the style of (don’t roll your eyes) Ratchet & Clank, or Jak and Daxter, I think that could open up more interest, without kids all going on CoD and the like. She would like him to try other games but too often there’s blood, realistic violence, swearing. More unrealistic, cartoony or alternative styles would be welcome
Burgess_101
I can see what you mean but a kids shooter would bring all kinds of bad press :P