I'm curious as to what percent of people will actually take the time to read the story in a custom map, provided there is one. Many map authors put time and effort into creating custom characters and stories to enrich their maps. Do you think it's worth it to create a story? I think so (just look at some of my past maps) but I want to hear your opinions on it.
One word: Yes!
yes, but not to the exclusion of gameplay
I like the stories i stay that yes they do.
I don't really care about stories. I mostly only check for hints and tips :P
yes, a map without some kind of reason for it is a boring map, in my opinion.
Almost always.
There are three types of maps.
The first is story in gameplay. In which the story is told by how the game goes. The most prominent example of which is Packet Journey.
The second is story to gameplay. For which every action you do is dictated with a story piece. The earlier maps in the ETF series are like this, as well as Ebon and Peter's colab map.
The third is gameplay. In which you get the bare minimum of text between you and playing. It's you against the world. No explanation. Centipede is an example of this.
Are stories in custom maps worth it? Yes, very much.
Are stories in custom maps needed? No, not at all.
The most important factor is that the person who plays the map should enjoy themselves. Through fear, accomplishment, fun, and other emotions, you can accomplish this feat.
At the end of the day, a game needs gameplay. And thus, gameplay is the most important. If your map is better without a story, then that's just what happens.
I think eighttailedfox summed it up best. (kodos for randomly using one of my maps for an example lol)
I think the story really helps in both getting more downloads (as more and more people want to see what happens next) and also adding an emotional aspect to the map. If you care about the characters, the moment will feel more intense. You want them to escape the hopeless situation.
Story lines are great but you can just have an interesting "hook" if your not an author.
loved the ETF series (Want More).
but some just want a game and won't care
ETF *might* get a second series. that will be better layed out. BUT dont quote me on that :P
Quote from: lich98 on February 19, 2012, 05:50:43 PM
ETF *might* get a second series. that will be better layed out. BUT dont quote me on that :P
You CAN quote me on that. Especially the might part. I'm finishing a L4D2 project before I continue with Creeper World, so ETF2 is in the maybe stage.
That's all from me being off-topic in this thread.
Quote from: eighttailedfox on February 19, 2012, 09:37:24 PM
Quote from: lich98 on February 19, 2012, 05:50:43 PM
ETF *might* get a second series. that will be better layed out. BUT dont quote me on that :P
You CAN quote me on that. Especially the might part. I'm finishing a L4D2 project before I continue with Creeper World, so ETF2 is in the maybe stage.
That's all from me being off-topic in this thread.
what L4D2 project are you working on??? (is going to get his own topic moved to random discussion at this point...) you know what? PM me. Left For Dead is one of the few games I play regularly. lol.
Quote from: Ebon Heart on February 19, 2012, 09:40:24 PM
Quote from: eighttailedfox on February 19, 2012, 09:37:24 PM
Quote from: lich98 on February 19, 2012, 05:50:43 PM
ETF *might* get a second series. that will be better layed out. BUT dont quote me on that :P
You CAN quote me on that. Especially the might part. I'm finishing a L4D2 project before I continue with Creeper World, so ETF2 is in the maybe stage.
That's all from me being off-topic in this thread.
what L4D2 project are you working on??? (is going to get his own topic moved to random discussion at this point...) you know what? PM me. Left For Dead is one of the few games I play regularly. lol.
send me your steam name and we can discuss it on steam chat then.
I appreciate the effort that goes into creating a story and adding it to a map, and I read every word and punctuation mark while map modding.
However...
Sorry guys, I really don't care about the story lines and I usually skip 'em - all I need is the mission briefing. Seriously, brief is what I'm looking for.
Obliteration? Gotcha. Kill everything.
Acquisition? No probs - collect stuff.
I'm here to play the game, not read a story.
I realise this makes me a philistine!
CW2 stands up on it's own - i.e.blow stuff up, collect stuff, don't die. Simple!
The story lines definitely pad out the bare bones, but they're all hung on the basic framework of the game - which involves blowing stuff up and collecting stuff.
Which is what I signed up for...
Just a personal opinion, you guys keep doing what makes you and your map players happy - I'll keep playing your maps with or without accompanying stories...
I guess it depends.
I'm fond of stories, generally speaking. I read quite a bit and play mostly RPG type games when I'm not on this.
However, I find that if the mission introduction is 13/13 pages, chances are I'm going to hit 'skip', unless that first frame is interesting enough to make me care about what is in the next few frames.
Things I will typically read :
- First frame has humor or good lead-in
- Custom character graphics I'll almost always take the time to at least scroll through the first few pages since I appreciate the effort put in
Things I will ignore:
If the text is full of spelling errors & punctuation problems (i.e. reads like a text message)
If the map 'description' isn't interesting, or is absent.
I've actually put some thought into this because those who have played my maps know that with a couple of exceptions, I don't really utilize the custom character / description box text areas. Mostly because the sort of maps I make don't require it. When I think of the nature of the game itself, while you can write a long series, it is difficult to pull off because Creeper World 2 is very simple, you either need to
a) kill everything
b) save things that need saving
This doesn't give a lot of room for plot development unless you're doing a long series (ie ETF, for example).
I've got a project I've been messing with called CREEPER QUEST in which I'm trying to script a "rooms" type map with an integrated storyline (lots of text as you go along and a sequence of events) but am struggling with the lack of triggers and such. My 'mapmaking' history includes probably thousands of custom starcraft rpg scenarios and lots of Civ-type game map scenaiors where this was certainly easier to do because you had more tools to do so and more variety of objectives aside from 'kill the blue stuff.'
Quote from: Shimizu on February 22, 2012, 04:11:40 PM
I guess it depends.
I'm fond of stories, generally speaking. I read quite a bit and play mostly RPG type games when I'm not on this.
However, I find that if the mission introduction is 13/13 pages, chances are I'm going to hit 'skip', unless that first frame is interesting enough to make me care about what is in the next few frames.
Things I will typically read :
- First frame has humor or good lead-in
- Custom character graphics I'll almost always take the time to at least scroll through the first few pages since I appreciate the effort put in
Things I will ignore:
If the text is full of spelling errors & punctuation problems (i.e. reads like a text message)
If the map 'description' isn't interesting, or is absent.
I've actually put some thought into this because those who have played my maps know that with a couple of exceptions, I don't really utilize the custom character / description box text areas. Mostly because the sort of maps I make don't require it. When I think of the nature of the game itself, while you can write a long series, it is difficult to pull off because Creeper World 2 is very simple, you either need to
a) kill everything
b) save things that need saving
This doesn't give a lot of room for plot development unless you're doing a long series (ie ETF, for example).
I've got a project I've been messing with called CREEPER QUEST in which I'm trying to script a "rooms" type map with an integrated storyline (lots of text as you go along and a sequence of events) but am struggling with the lack of triggers and such. My 'mapmaking' history includes probably thousands of custom starcraft rpg scenarios and lots of Civ-type game map scenaiors where this was certainly easier to do because you had more tools to do so and more variety of objectives aside from 'kill the blue stuff.'
There's actually a few types of triggers you can do in cw2... I'm pretty good with them. Message me, and I'd be glad to help you with triggers.
I probably wouldn't care much for a map without a storyline. I would get bored and quit very quickly.
Rushed
I start reading all of the story lines. Sometimes they contain hints, and sometimes they are interesting, or fun. I will stop reading one that was not carefully written or just plain lame.
(e)
Remember when we had CW1 editor, and just heard of CW2 coming out?
I was looking forward to the improvements in the editor, that would add to our abilities to create a more awesome storyline.
Now we have many opportunities to push our stories forward, in play.
And customize our own characters.
So here we are dreaming of what will be coming with CW3!
More soundtrack choices, more than 8 characters, and whatever else, all enriching our potential stories.
Can you imagine Virgil not improving this aspect of the game?
I think the ability to insert a story is worth it, because when you are writing your story, and levels, it is like you are on fire, trying to create each level differently.
It is so fun to lay it all out, but then change it because of a new idea for the plot.
The maps I play I pick by the thumbnail's appearance. If it happens to be in a story, I may seek out other chapters, partly because of the story, partly because the author makes a fun game.
I bought Creeper World games only to know the story and might not be interested in further participation (map-making) if they hadn't epic "built-in" legend. Of cause, I carefully study any stories written by fans as well - to gain more knowlege about the Creeper World universe. It's a pity that it's not customary here.
I know - If only more people knew about the greatness of stories! xD CW3 is going to be so cool, just because of that.
Quote from: WiseSage on March 15, 2013, 01:15:42 PM
I bought Creeper World games only to know the story and might not be interested in further participation (map-making) if they hadn't epic "built-in" legend. Of cause, I carefully study any stories written by fans as well - to gain more knowlege about the Creeper World universe. It's a pity that it's not customary here.
I started a creeper world story a long time ago, but never got very far.