It seemed to be a very pointless article summed up by this, 1. There needs to be more humor in games 2. You have to be careful where you insert humor into games. I would have preferred to see analysis of current games, and maybe a look at common board games, and how they make use of humor as an actual gameplay mechanics. Many "party games" place players in situations where they will do and say funny things themselves. These games are the ones we need to examine. This article was an informative post that simply complains we need more humor in games, while doing very little study on how to achieve this. Ut

I think the article does what many articles on game humor do: fail to see the reason humor isn''t a big part of gaming.

I think it''s another case of comparing games to movies. Comedy is a whole genre of movies. It probably never will be for games. Why? Because, generally speaking, HUMOR ISN''T INTERACTIVE. It''s usually supplied in much the same was as an FMV presentation, which limits its usefulness.

Ideally, we''ll start putting dynamic humor into games; where the player does things and winds up in a humorous situation himself. I don''t know if interactive humor is possible, but I don''t think we''ll see it anytime soon. IMHO, tossing jokes and puns into a game don''t add much to it, and certainly don''t make it a different type of game (and yes, I''ve played some of those older games which are constantly held up as pinnacles of humor-in-gaming. Yawn.)

RJ

quote: Original post by Anonymous Poster
I think the article does what many articles on game humor do: fail to see the reason humor isn''t a big part of gaming.

I think it''s another case of comparing games to movies. Comedy is a whole genre of movies. It probably never will be for games. Why? Because, generally speaking, HUMOR ISN''T INTERACTIVE. It''s usually supplied in much the same was as an FMV presentation, which limits its usefulness.

Ideally, we''ll start putting dynamic humor into games; where the player does things and winds up in a humorous situation himself. I don''t know if interactive humor is possible, but I don''t think we''ll see it anytime soon. IMHO, tossing jokes and puns into a game don''t add much to it, and certainly don''t make it a different type of game (and yes, I''ve played some of those older games which are constantly held up as pinnacles of humor-in-gaming. Yawn.)

RJ

I think games like Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, etc have proven that humor CAN be part of games, but only if pulled of correctly. It''s the same with films, a lot of films have comedy - but when its pulled off right, it is really memorable.

I didn''t think the article said anything new for sure. I mean, we will have some humor in our game, but it won''t be anything groundbreaking - a few puns and silly throwaway lines, but then our game isn''t ATTEMPTING to be funny.

Don''t make a game for the sake of it BEING funny, make it for the sake of being a fun game to play, and if that involves some level of humor, then so be it.


Tane Piper
Lead Designer - ZZICT Entertainment
http://www.zzict.nl

Games with humours is hard to find, because generate humours is very difficult.

In opposite, a sad game is more easy. Kill the puppy and you have a sad scene.

But it is possible. In fact Larry 1 have many humours (many mature gags). Is very funny when he buy a prophilactic in a drugstore, or when he see tv (many parodius).

Also Roger Wilco have humours (Sierra again!).

Of course, there is far to a 100% funniest pc-game. i wonder if there are a game of "Excel Saga" Anime =)

Humours not interative?, Has tried Day of tentacle? (kill the clown for example, or wash the car->so->begin to rain).

In the article feedback, I made the comment that humor stops being funny after being encountered too many times. Since video games are something gamers would like to derive maximum value from (and designers/developers always talk about replay value), humor will eventually become either meaningless chatter or simply irritating. I can''t imagine playing a humor and adventure-based game that doesn''t have a save function!

As a case study in the destructive capability of repetitive droning, look at sports gamers reactions to commentary in their games. ''Nuff said.

eng3d:

I think that it would be totally impossible to duplicate Excel Saga's type of humor in a game. It's a style of humor that relies almost completely on unpredictability.

It would require that the game player be as insane as the people who wrote the anime...and that could never happen.

j

Edited by - jdi on November 26, 2001 4:59:23 PM

Hey guys,
You could have put this conversation in the article forum... would have been easier for me to find; I only found it while I was perusing the message boards. ;-)

Anyhow,
To those of you who thought my article was worthless, I apologize. Ut, I think you have a valid point that one day I might consider addressing if I ever go back to writing on the topic. As for RJ, I completely disagree. Comedy is already a genre for games, although it''s not directly stated. There are tons of games - Monkey Island, Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry - that are solely based around humor and are quite successful. Tane, you also have a valid point, although I think it is perfectly feasible for a person to make a game solely for it to be funny.

Well, I think that''s all I have to say. Thanks for your comments guys, they''ll probably help me on any future articles.

--Brian

A 100% humour game can be a new-class of games.

Can be style excel saga (or pinky&brain).

The main protagonist, is a very bizarre. the mission is to conquest the world using a rares ways for this. The "bad guys" is more bizarre. You partner is very useless is very dummy (pinky) or almost all times is dead (hyatt).

Using a lot of parodius :Logically a lot of Starwars and Startrek (classics parodius always works!). Even, parodius with Titanic, M.Jacksons, MrT (for old guys), Nixxon (i hate this guy), the staff of Baywatch,..

Story :Not story, only missions

Missions :differents and bizarre. Conquest the world using :
a) free t-shirt
b) obtain money for this.
c) only survive from starvation
d) ...

You finish all stage, not necesary with a "successfull mission" status.

Humor can be and has been used in games. One point missed by the article is the puzzle
based on humour: you have to understand the humourous situation to solve the puzzle.
(Day of the Tentacle or Sam and Max hit the road)
Puzzles which solution is based on humour implies:
1 - a knowledge or understanding of the culture of the country where the game has been
developped.
2 - an understanding of the developper''s own sense of humour.

This may lead to a frustrating game where the solution of the puzzle cannot be found logically.
The first aspect of culture shows the problem of localisation of the game: will it be translated
easily into another country ?
The second aspect of developper''s sense of humour is even worse: will he be understood in his
own country ?

Humour can be used, but you must not forget both pitfalls.
Red

Just to voice my opinion: Humour in games really works. Simon the Sorcerer 2 is a good example.


rk