Story isn't that much of a marketing point at the moment, outside of the RPG genre that is (although this is debatable given the success of Half-Life). Either way it isn't the most obvious bullet point to put on the back of the box. Sometimes a cliched premise like "save the princess", or "save the world from alien invasion" or "become the biggest gangster in Liberty City" might work better, because people can look at the box AND instantly get an idea of what the game is about. However, I wonder if games that started from these kinds of seemingly cliched premises but worked in extra-depth to the story and included unexpected plot twists would work?

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Original post by Ketchaval Sometimes a cliched premise like "save the princess", or "save the world from alien invasion" or "become the biggest gangster in Liberty City" might work better

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However, I wonder if games that started from these kinds of seemingly cliched premises but worked in extra-depth to the story and included unexpected plot twists would work?

Like Half-Life, you mean? :)

Well, I think that is variable because of the kind of story you can write. Most of the genres in game stories are tired, tried too many times and that is the cause of the tired same ole same ole we see in the marketplace, but hey, masterpiece breakthrough plots and their development into a marketable product is not a frequent of a easy process. Most of the writers I know, and that is quite a few, often jump into a story too early, without really thinking about the story long enough to avoid the cliche, the tired, and the formulaicism.

It ain't easy, and I never really recommend somebody go into writing unless it is really the thing you are and must do; it's just too tough otherwise. But, that's only advice.

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