▲ 261 ▼ "You're swimming against the tide making games like this": Why more developers didn't copy Firewatch's reactive storytelling (www.rockpapershotgun.com) submitted 4 months ago by Agent_Karyo@piefed.world to c/games@lemmy.world 63 comments fedilink hide all child comments Firewatch was meant to spark a subgenre but its influence didn't spread. A decade on, we ask why Roblox and Minecraft are more
[–] Elting@piefed.social 11 points 4 months ago (1 child) Its the kind of game who's value can be gotten out of a youtube video. It was hardly the first game of that subgenre either, Gone Home comes to mind. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago (1 child) It's been like 10 years, but I still feel guilty I never bought Oxenfree after watching a Lets Play. I did get the sequel. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (1 child) You know what, I remain not at all sold on Firewatch, or Edith Finch. I get that it's a new genre, but they just didn't do anything for me. Weirdly, Come Home did work for me a bit more, despite not being all that different. Oxenfree on the other hand, I thought that game was really brilliant. It really evoked that feeling of being 16, hanging out with friends trying to be cool, sussing out who likes who, etc. There's a sense of adventure and terror in being that age, and with the addition of just a little bit of creepy mystery, you've got a real great recipe for a unique experience. I also really liked their system for interrupting characters' monologues and being able to get back to them later with a quick "oh, what was I saying?", it's essentially like being able to pause a cutscene, actually play the game for a bit, then return to it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago Personally, Edith Finch and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter really played to some themes of family and nostalgia that hit home. Something about returning to a place you moved from and seeing things in a different light now that you're older just makes for a beautiful story. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago (1 child) It's been like 10 years, but I still feel guilty I never bought Oxenfree after watching a Lets Play. I did get the sequel. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (1 child) You know what, I remain not at all sold on Firewatch, or Edith Finch. I get that it's a new genre, but they just didn't do anything for me. Weirdly, Come Home did work for me a bit more, despite not being all that different. Oxenfree on the other hand, I thought that game was really brilliant. It really evoked that feeling of being 16, hanging out with friends trying to be cool, sussing out who likes who, etc. There's a sense of adventure and terror in being that age, and with the addition of just a little bit of creepy mystery, you've got a real great recipe for a unique experience. I also really liked their system for interrupting characters' monologues and being able to get back to them later with a quick "oh, what was I saying?", it's essentially like being able to pause a cutscene, actually play the game for a bit, then return to it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago Personally, Edith Finch and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter really played to some themes of family and nostalgia that hit home. Something about returning to a place you moved from and seeing things in a different light now that you're older just makes for a beautiful story. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago* (1 child) You know what, I remain not at all sold on Firewatch, or Edith Finch. I get that it's a new genre, but they just didn't do anything for me. Weirdly, Come Home did work for me a bit more, despite not being all that different. Oxenfree on the other hand, I thought that game was really brilliant. It really evoked that feeling of being 16, hanging out with friends trying to be cool, sussing out who likes who, etc. There's a sense of adventure and terror in being that age, and with the addition of just a little bit of creepy mystery, you've got a real great recipe for a unique experience. I also really liked their system for interrupting characters' monologues and being able to get back to them later with a quick "oh, what was I saying?", it's essentially like being able to pause a cutscene, actually play the game for a bit, then return to it. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago Personally, Edith Finch and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter really played to some themes of family and nostalgia that hit home. Something about returning to a place you moved from and seeing things in a different light now that you're older just makes for a beautiful story. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago Personally, Edith Finch and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter really played to some themes of family and nostalgia that hit home. Something about returning to a place you moved from and seeing things in a different light now that you're older just makes for a beautiful story. permalink fedilink source parent