"An XT Called Stanley" was a story. The Riverboat series was a story. RPGs have both a main story and a "mind" story that the player develops as he/she develops her character. Would you have played Halo without the "story"? Why do you play FPS to begin with?

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Original post by superpig Gordon grinned, but stopped short when a familiar noise in the darkness up ahead made him wish his HEV suit had a helmet..."

You have no idea how long I laughed for after reading that :) it was embarresing lol.

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Original post by A Guy from CRO So please clarify, why are you playing FPS-es?

Because I'm sick and need to see a therapist. [wink]

Nah, you're right, I screwed that up - I underplayed the importance of the low-level story, because on reflection, that's what I enjoy. Moving from cover to cover, sneaking up under a pillbox and posting a grenade, defining my character as an honourable one who does not shoot the scientists no matter how much they may get in the way...

So I guess that an FPS without story in the OP's sense of the word would still be left with a low-level one. If, as he says, the player is merely "there to shoot things," it might as well be a hedge maze interspersed with a shooting gallery game.

This is an intresting and rising subject within academic circles of game research. Its open to so many interpretations as people argue out and battle which is better. At the momenent im studying for a degree and researching alongside this exact topic and it goes deep.. way deep. We could makeit simple, no they dont! But hang on mabey they do. No they dont. They do eeermm.

Well some of my investigation has lead to where games and not just FPS hold their lure. Games were an experimentation of excess mainframe lab time in the 1950-60's and their lure was FUN, and intrigue. Harking back to what you want from a game is essntial to disecting the need for any working principles wether they be plot, narrative, gameplay or visuals.

From some researching its apparent that people tend to cross the boundaries of different media in a comparative nature. They will reflect upon games as incorporating film elements and from literature, narrative structure and directly compare. This may not be wholly appropriate as games are an evolving delivery medium in their own right. Relatively brief in its life cycle the games industry, it must not be expected to replicate a partnering media's experience it has its own position to form. It may well incorporate elements from others but, and this is where im coming to a little point, wether a plot or story is even considered in the same applicable state is up for discussion. FPS' have been successful but i believe a generation of gamers will mature and expect more in future wether this involves a plot, i just dont know.... mabey i will when i finish my dissertation.

pheww, guess i just had to open my mouth

Rhys