Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Tiger Woods’ 18 holes (i.e. his mistresses), the return of Paulie “Little Mac” Malignaggi on Saturday, or Jerishow dropping the tag straps on Sunday, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
The Grand Theft Auto series took sandbox games to new heights. It inspired dozens of copycat games and made “open world” a requirement for several years. While I appreciate the liberating feeling gamers get from sandbox games, they don’t really do much for me. It’s awesome that you get to experiment and play freely, but that’s not what I’m used to and that’s not what I want.
2D platform games and Japanese role-playing games dazzled me in my formative gaming years. I developed an attachment to that old carrot-and-stick formula. I enjoyed linearity. I enjoyed being led around by a level or narrative, getting a reward every so often. NES, SNES, and Genesis games conditioned me to love this simple formula. Even though I enjoy making choices in games like Dragon Age: Origins, ultimately I want to stick with the same carrot-and-stick formula.
I know a lot of you love open-world titles, but I also know that some of you enjoy RPGs. Do you have a preference? Do you like playing in your virtual sandbox? Or do you prefer being lead around by a carrot and stick?
Sandbox… hands down.
It depends. I might have to lean more towards sandbox though. How would Ocarina of Time be classified?
Open world game are great but they limit the story telling ability I believe. I don't think you can have a great story in an open world game. I've finished all the GTAs except 4 and I can't tell you the story on either one.
Edit: I was referring to open world game other than RPGs.
I prefer carrot and stick.
@RROD
Interesting point. I did like the story in GTA4 and GTA: SA a lot. I did the stories in those games though as opposed to doing my own thing.
As far as "open world" is concerned…WoW def has to be mentioned. There are so many options on what to do…and the story can be as deep or nonexistent as you want it to be.
I think that sandbox style games can take away from the story. I tend to prefer games with more linear experiences. However, certain open world games like Oblivion and Fallout 3have grabbed a hold of me pretty hard. It really depends on the game and the execution.
@Topic – it's a toss-up between the two.
Open World games need to have enough in them for me to enjoy when I am not following the main story arc. Side missions, collectables, random carnage, there has to be something that keeps me coming back to it. GTA:VC and SA did this wonderfully, as I would often spend hours setting small goals for myself and seeing how fast I could accomplish them.
Carrot Games are stronger storywise, and they have to be. They have to keep driving you in a straight line so you don't wonder what's around that corner before the story teller is ready for you to go there.
I think some of my favorite times spent in games is when these two points meet. The Final Fantasy series, and most RPGs for that matter, I have found, almost always have a point before the close of the main storyline when you are free to go prepare for the coming destruction of the world/cosmos/libedo/etc. Everything is open to you to explore, dungeons are open for you to fight and level in, coliseums are ready for games of under water soccer, and huge yellow birds are more then happy enough to take instruction on which slot B to stick their tab A in.
I think that those times capture what I love most about gaming, the ability to do your own thing while knowing, that even if it is in the background, the final carrot looms in the distance.
I need a reason to enjoy sandbox games and because it is a sandbox game doesn't count. Games like Crackdown and Elder Scrolls are good examples of sandbox games that I do enjoy. They point and lead you to every task with in the game and those tasks have depth and meaning to them. Random find x missions and destroy x missions are dull and boring. I need a real story to motivate me to do these kinds tasks.
Completely off-topic – because it's Coffee Talk and I can do this… I miss Tatanka and the Samoan Drop.
@LarcenousLaugh I loved when Umaga threw his opponent into the air and finished with a Samoan drop. R.I.P. Eddie Fatu!!!
@Ray – the true nature of the sport really reveals itself when something completely ordinary and non-flashy can, through build-up and selling, become the absolute creshendo point in a wreatling match.
Perfect example: The People's Elbow. The most electrifying move in sports entertainment was the second coming of the Legdrop of Doom. Completely pointless, super weak, and yet, you found yourself counting the moments until the Rock would kick the arm, or Hogan would Hulk out, or the Undertaker would zombie situp, or Shawn would kick up off the mat. Can that, bottle that, and you could sell anything.
Of all of the young up and coming talent in the WWE I think Seamus is the best by far and has the most potential. I can't stand CM Punk, he makes me turn the channel.
@Mr. Padilla;
Idea for a future "Coffee Talk" topic: Worst moments in Pro Wrestling.
I'd love to see what gawd-awful events, story lines and matches you people can dig up from the past that you'd swore you'd never talk about again.
-M
@topic;
I like a good game regardless of how the maps are laid out. It doesn't matter to me if the game is a sandbox or not. If it fits the game well, then it works for me. As long as the game is good, I'll play it.
-M
@Iceman That one is easy and I promise to do it at a later date. The winner would clearly be the time Vader and Harley Race sent a midget to blow up Sting's boat.
@ Iceman
Fingerpoke of Death.
@Raymond Padilla
No, the worst moment in pro wrestling history was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin going to Brian Pillman's house only to have Brian pull out a gun. The second worst moment was giving the world title to CM Punk.
the zombie sit up was awesome.
@RRODisHere Thou shall respect the Strait Edge Saint!
Oh, c'mon guys! Save it for the actual Coffee Talk "at a later date". I'm going to go complile my list.
-M
In an unrelated note… I had no Al Green in my iTunes until today.
That's a crime against my standards.
I am a carrot-and-stick kinda guy. I love having an open world but when it comes down to it…I like being told a story and I get to play around with.
@Ray
I decided against the PSPgo for Christmas. I went to Bestbuy and they had one on display…the thing is just too small for my hands. The screen is the size of my iphone, and the buttons are in a space smaller than the iphone screen. The triggers were actually pretty uncomfortable for me to use as well. They are right under the sliding screen. I don't think this thing was made with american hands in mind lol.
I needed more space inbetween the directional pad/ analog and the input buttons. The triggers needed to be better placed as well.