This is a relatively new game debate that has sparked a lot of controversy and fierce arguments among a lot of industry analysts and experts. On one side, games aim to deliver a more lifelike experience so that players would be able to identify themselves with the characters they are controlling. Things like realistic clothes or environments all become one single experience that needs to be as similar to real life as possible, think a lot of game developers and publishers.
But on the other hand, other creators believe that games need to be fun first of all, and then portray things that feel lifelike to the players. Let's not forget that we play games in order to relax after a hard day at school or at work, not to try to solve various real-life issues in that virtual world. Sometimes we want to envision ourselves doing great things, but on most occasions we just want to let our inner child have fun and test out everything that can be done in the respective game.
Case in point, the sandbox genre of games. Recently, one of the most acclaimed franchises in this segment, Grand Theft Auto, has just seen its latest, truly next-gen title released, in the form of
GTA IV. But although a lot of critics praised it for its stunning realism and very intricate story, a lot of people believed that, with this game, the series departed from the funny, tongue-in-cheek approach to missions or gameplay. Sure, doing elaborate drive-by shootings can be fun while taking your annoying cousin to eat won't be, but I'm sure that some people miss the outrageous missions from GTA: San Andreas where you would take a jet pack and infiltrate an Area-51-like base in the middle of the desert.
While the efforts made by the team at Rockstar are great, has this game lost its true identity? Yes, think the developers at Voalition, who released
Saints Row 2 across all platforms. The game, while it doesn't really rely on the top-notch realism and the fact that it will offer the greatest and most lifelike experience, has become very popular with critics and gamers. How come? Well, even though it is plagued by a few technical problems and despite the fact that cars won't handle the same way as the ones in GTA IV, it offers a very amusing experience to all gamers. From the fact that you can create your own character, customizing him to the most minute details (a big black guy with cornrows, with a purple Spartan helmet and a cockney accent), to the hilarious side missions that you must undertake in order to gain respect, there’s something for everyone there.
Case in point, a real estate agent asks you to help him lower the property value on a certain neighborhood, and, coincidentally, has a friend with a waste management company. As one thing leads to another, you are now spraying “waste” from a truck on different houses located in a pricey neighborhood. This isn't the only thing fun about this game, as there are certainly a lot more activities that will guarantee a good time, like racing in traffic on a quad bike engulfed in flames, and every car you touch instantly explodes.
So now I’m asking you, the average gamer.
Does a game need to be as realistic as possible in order for it to be popular, or does it need to place the fun factor first, and sacrifice other aspects just so it can offer a great and amusing experience? Let us know by using the comment box below.
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