Fragile immersion and role play

Post » Thu May 30, 2013 10:48 am

Every time Zenimax puts out a new video or a new piece of information, a number of people ALWAYS complain about how feature X "kills" their immersion or otherwise hampers their ability to role play. Even to the point where they claim to want realism and simulation over fun, balance, gameplay concerns or technical limitations like lag. As an older gamer (40s), I hate to pull the "back in my day" card but as someone who grew up with video games that had like 8 pixel characters at best, text adventures and pen and paper RPGs, there is a certain amount of imagination needed to turn ANY game into an immersive experience.

For example, let's assume Zenimax experimented with finite arrows or realistic physics for archery and found that it just was not as much fun as infinite arrows and soft targeting. Or that only the best systems with perfect connections could use it (eliminating a huge percentage of potential players, death to an MMO). Should they continue to stick to realism for these seemingly very loud and vocal minority of players? How much should these kinds of players be catered to? Are there people who can NEVER just be happy to play a fun game? Or does all this hand-wringing usually stop after the game is released?

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GPMG
 
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Post » Thu May 30, 2013 7:41 am

So you noticed that as well have you?

Recently the forum has become a pool of endless discussion about well...anything really! I have even seen topics about comparing TES races with nazi Germany pffft, funny how those threads stay open while others are being closed for simple words and such!

Pretty much done with the boards right now, fortunately i am not interested in discussions about nonsense and endless flame wars hahaha!

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Heather Dawson
 
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Post » Thu May 30, 2013 2:23 pm

Well, lets be fair, most RPers don't say "it will kill the game" they say "wouldn't it be fun if". As someone who has played lots of pen and paper and lots of video RPG I feel qualified to say that the details do matter! My favorite pen and paper RPG was with a GM who gave lots of beautiful detail when he narrated and didn't allow implausible use of game mechanics. He was a really ace GM. In a video RPG you will never get the same level of realism as in a pen and paper RPG because the whole world must be simulated (not just the bits that matter to the story) and because everything must be done in real time. But it doesn't hurt to stay within reasonable range of a logical world.

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Michelle Serenity Boss
 
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Post » Thu May 30, 2013 1:59 am

Not in my experience. The hyperbole is insane, imo. If comments were as measured as yours, I doubt I'd even notice. This forum is usually good but some others (that I won't name) can be pure drama.

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bimsy
 
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Post » Wed May 29, 2013 11:29 pm

Alas there's the truth 'o it!

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RAww DInsaww
 
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Post » Thu May 30, 2013 7:28 am

I don't see how RPer's could have issue with ESO. Tons of lore and a huge world that is largely free of PVP.

Seems like an RPer's paradise...

Plus let's face it. TES has always been highly immersive imo...

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liz barnes
 
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