The problem with developers.

    It's been a while since I've posted a blog, but recently I noticed something that has been bothering me a bit: Developers are fucking retarded. What I mean is: Developers are becoming increasingly ridiculous with the stories in their games and their inability to craft a decent story or even be able to keep their mouths shut about it.

    For example, Assassin's Creed had a huge twist in its story. Great. Wonderful. Now shut the hell up about it so I can find it for myself. Passing over the fact that the revelation that your not really in the 12th century comes too early, Ubisoft couldn't keep their mouths shut and not draw more and more attention to it. Now imagine that they had kept their mouths shut and you were able to discover on your own that your character is really in the future. Or even better, just before the game ends, THAT'S when you find out that has all just been a simulation. To me, that would have helped the game tremendously.

    Another example is Haze. You play a drug-enhanced super-soldier in the employ of an international corporation intent on crushing an insurgency. This idea should have been solid gold; it's contemporary and just enough plausibility to make it easy to make the game "about something". Then they fuck it up by revealing that you switch sides halfway through. Wouldn't it have been better to just keep it a surprise and let the shock add to the experience instead of getting people to think, " when the hell do I fight as the other guys." Not that I'm saying Haze is a good game, or the only problems Assassin's Creed has is its story; I'm not. What I'm saying is that, increasingly, story is beginning to matter more and more in single player games.

    Look at Bioshock. The gameplay was not all that unique. It was good, to be surre, just not exactly original. But then again, what game does have original gameplay? The biggest draw to Bioshock was the story. A story that changed the way people looked at games because of the way it was presented. Also, Irrational Games did a good job by just keeping their mouths shut abut the story, which in turn allowed the twists and turns in the plot hit full force instead of with a thud.

    Another exapmle of good writing is Portal. Not only because it was funny, but because the last test chamber comes as a complete shock and it changes the game dramatically. Also, Portal was funny without trying to be funny.

    An example of a game that has a good story that can be fucked up is MGS4. Before you start screaming blashpemy, listen. I understand the story is crazy and out there. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about Kojima's inability to have anything but a happy ending or ridiculously explain away every loose end. He robs two major charcters of their dignity (in my opinion) by not tletting certain things happen.

XXXSPOILERSXXX I am refering to the end of act 4 when Raiden sacrifices himself to save Snake and even though he earlier refused to admit it, his last thoughts are of Rose. A hero's death for Raiden and he is forever absolved of the shame he garnered in MGS2. But oh no, Kojima can't let him die, he comes back in act 5 after losing an arm and being crushed by a fucking ship! That is just ridiculous.
    And finally we have Snake, who is told in act 2 that he will become a biological weapon soon if he stays alive for much longer. Fast forward to act 5 when he makes it to the last corridor before GW. That sequence does more for the character of Snake than all the games before. The gruelling struggle forward, staving off death by sheer force of will, and he succeeds. Then he has a brutal fight with Liquid that by the end, both are bloddied and near death, then Snake triumphs. The world is saved, everyone is happy, and life goes on.
    The we see Snake in the cemetary, ready to complete his final mission. He puts the gun in his mouth, and just as the camera pans away, we hear the final gunshot. If MGS4 had ended here, the story would have been perfect. The greatest soldier finally making the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. Then the credits roll and then fucking Big Boss shows up to fill Snake in on the last little details. Big Boss was supposed to have died three or four times by now! Kojima screwed up by not letting Snake and Raiden die with honor.XXXEND SPOILERSXXX

    If you are still reading this, you might be wondering what is the point of this? The point is that as people who have grown up with video games become adults, their tastes mature and it would be nice to see the medium mature as well. Maybe then, we will see a greater penetration of games into the mainstream. Yes I said "penetration".