Once Upon a Video GameSeptember 8th, 2008 by Gloria
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When most people think of epics their minds immediately drift back to nights in highschool spent hunched over their copies of The Iliad and Paradise Lost. When gamers think of epics, we tend to think of those nights learning Sunwell Plateau. Even from the earliest days of side scrolling adventures, most video games have told (or attempted to) a story. Blowing up a space alien isn’t necessarily on par with Odysseus’ long, poetic journey, but it’s true that some literary elements exist in every well made game’s plot.
In the writing world, most authors and scholars are too preoccupied over the divide between literary fiction and genre fiction to ever even begin to consider video games a viable form of storytelling. In fact, I’m pretty sure that if I walked into a colloquium tomorrow and presented my theory on the stimulating literary value of Final Fantasy VI’s storyline, I would be laughed out of the assembly. And they would have good reason to, as most video game stories are never represented in a positive light. If they even deserve to be represented. (Yeah, let’s walk in and try to discuss the Grand Theft Auto series storyline, shall we?)
The world of writing is fickle. Everyone wants to be a genius and snobbery runs rampant. Video games are a relatively new medium for storytelling, while written language has existed, well, since the first pieces of language were recorded. For centuries most storytelling was accomplished via the oral tradition. I’m sure that when the idea of writing was introduced, people initially thought it was crazy but slowly warmed to the idea. The point is that most advances in storytelling have come from unique, but partly strange, ideas. Is it too much of a leap, then, to consider that perhaps video games will someday be considered a legitimate source of writing, plot, and story?
It is true that most video games - RPGs in particular - take us on a journey. Normally the characters have some form of self-discovery. Some of them even have epiphanies. Some game series, like the Warcraft or Warhammer series, have ever evolving worlds full of intrigue and fascinating characters. Why are their stories ignored? Why are they marginalized or portrayed as something childish despite the age range of the people playing the games? Books are spawned after some of these series, and yet they get lumped into a specific niche of genre fiction simply because of the brand logo on the cover. If someone converted Thrall’s journey into lyrical poetry, would people take it more seriously and consider it epic?
I doubt it, though I would like to see that.
Do muses more readily offer their gifts to those who sit at typewriters to create their next novel, or do they share their inspiration equally to the game designers who put so much effort into creating an entire world for people to enjoy?
Not all video games have quality writing, that’s for damn sure. But not all novels have quality writing, either. I think part of the decline of quality writing in video games comes from society’s refusal to accept games as a reasonable literary medium. Why put effort into it if you’re only going to be told, “Eh it doesn’t have to be good, just passable with no grammatical errors please.” Is it because nobody is going to stop and actually say, “Wow, this is good writing. It reminds me of Brave New World.” There is that perceived inferior quality of video games. Novels and classics shouldn’t be brought down to the level of games - or so people think. And so I ask why? Are they any less? Or is it just bias stalling them?
Honestly, it seems like a vicious cycle, and nothing will ever change until gamers step up and start defending their worlds. Azeroth may not be the next Middle Earth, but it’s no less of a backdrop.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
We’re all waiting for the day that video games are considered an artform. We may not be there yet, but it’s going to happen eventually.
I think that it will only happen when developers and publishers stop trying to appease the fanboys (i.e. the assault of Final Fantasy VII fanboy service) and the “fratboy” gamers - “Let’s make another FPS with a characteristically-void protagonist who is more HARDCORE than Master Chief!”
The Wii is taking the first step forward in targeting their new demographics. Now all we need is for the ‘Citizen Kane’ of video games to come along and blow them away. Basically, a game with fantastic storyline and gameplay - minus the epic cheesiness and self-indulgent violence of games like the FF series and GTA, respectively - to come around and absorb even the most ordinary Joe Nobody.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
As newbie making their way in the game industry, I certainly have my two cents as to why this is such an issue.
A huge problem, of course, is that most game stories DO suck! People go into fits when a worthwhile narrative hits the shelves because they’re starved for something good, not because it’s actually the best thing since sliced bread.
The other problem, which I’ve butted my head against more than once in my previous job searches, is that sinking an extra $200,000 into your art team gets you virtually immediate results. (i.e. You bone your CG models, and suddenly your game looks like it has actual people moving in it) You pay to keep a writer on staff from the beginning of the creation process and you get… thematic consistancy? A unique aesthetic? A core fantasy? Those don’t exactly demo well. People don’t know how to sell a story in advertising, so nobody’s sure that someone will buy based on story, so nobody invests a ton in it.
Luckily, I’m an optimist, so I don’t think it’ll stay that way for too long. Look at the comments on the youTube video of the ending of FF VIII. Personally, I loathe the game, but a lot of people eat it up, because it’s artistic. People are definately ready for it.
September 9th, 2008 at 2:19 am
I think part of the issue is that to have a good story, a game doesn’t necessarily have to have a lot of dialogue or obviously scripted parts. A lot can be conveyed through music and artwork, and that wouldn’t immediately lead you to think about the writing involved.
Look at Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Both clearly tell a story, and could easily be described as ‘epic’, but have almost no dialogue whatsoever. There must have been someone there deciding how Ico comes to be in the castle, and why Wander has to go around slaying colossi, and more importantly how they want the character to come across and the player to feel as they progress through the game, but since there is no drawn out plot we don’t necessarily think about it.
I think writing is essential to games, but if a game can be compared to a novel or movie something has gone wrong. Through effective use of all of a games assets: audio, visuals and gameplay, a game can become an artwork in its own right.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:54 am
It might of course be an inherent problem associated with getting people to empathize with a character, that no matter how well designed, will never be able to convey the range of emotions a skilled actor can. That’s not to say that a video game character can’t give a decient performance (Ico springs to mind here), just that it’s easier for people to connect with someone who’s well…human.
Aside from that I just think it’s a matter of time before some great video game writers emerge. It won’t happen overnight, but sooner or later somebody will hopefully come along and blow us all away, and when that day comes, it’ll be the world’s duty to sit up and take notice.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Well, the bizarre thing, Jon, is that pretty soon animated characters WILL have that range of expression. Facial Capture technology is already amazing and getting better every day.
It’s like Pandora’s box, only AWESOME!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Finally somebody else has mentioned this. I’ve been saying this for 12 years or more. All things that our created by man should be considered art from books, fuilms, and video games. Great article Gloria.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Thank you, Cory.