The Bleszinski Brothers Interview

[Montolio]

Gearheads of War has an interview with Cliff Bleszinski (http://gearheadsofwar.com/story/2006/8/7/20439/29109) by his older brother Tyler, which offers up a little information on the general backlash from gamers over The Big Announcement story, why the game is being released on a Sunday, how the game has changed since its E3 showing, if it can live up to the overwhelming hype, the attention multiplayer is getting, how vehicles will come into play and several other subjects centered around all things Gears of War.

Anyone who says story is to games as story is to porn is an idiot. As a game designer you need every single carrot to get the player to get to the next level or scenario. Is it a new weapon? A stat upgrade? A new arena or game mechanic? Or... story progression? Other mediums have used narrative progression as a way of hooking people through hundreds of hours of entertainment. We've collectively sucked at it as a medium because it hasn't been a priority. If you can make a good story then by all means... put it in your game and let people enjoy it.While most of this information has already made its way to gamers anticipating the game on Xbox 360 later this year, it's a short, worthwhile read that discusses all the moving parts coming together to create a brand new franchise for Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios.

Source: XBOXIC (www.xboxic.com/news/1420)

I wonder who CliffyB was referring to with that idiot comment. ;)

[Nessus]

I have nothing against story in video games. What I don't like is non-interactive cinemas in video games. Video games are not movies and shouldn't try to be.

[The Continental]

Big words from the designer of Unreal Tournament, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Tournament 2004. Lord knows the brilliant narrative in each of those titles took my breath away...

[jeffbax]

Seems to me that Epic has been making a lot of anti id-software statements lately. Cliffe calls Carmack an idiot (who the porn quote is from) and Sweeny says that Megatexturing is pretty stupid in a past nvnews interview.

[Tohoya]

What's with the demo comment? I KNOW they had a playable demo at E3; why can't they just do what Bioware did with Mass Effect and release their E3 demo on xbox live?

[jeffbax]

Mass Effect isn't playable on XBL, neither will Gears be. Sure there will be movies galoor though.

[Montolio]

What's with the demo comment? I KNOW they had a playable demo at E3; why can't they just do what Bioware did with Mass Effect and release their E3 demo on xbox live?Y'know Tohoya, I was listening to the Major Nelson podcast (www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/08/13/Show-187-The-one-with-three-interviews-and-XNA-news.aspx) this morning on the ride into work and he stated that Microsoft has hard numbers that support the fact that a newly released game will actually sell more when a demo is released after the full title is on store shelves.

That seems bassackwards to be me and even Major Nelson found it hard to believe, but that could explain some of what we think of as retarded marketing.

The funny part is he goes on to talk about how much buzz has been generated by Capcom releasing the Lost Planet demo so early on Xbox Live Marketplace. If someone wants to try an explain away this conflicting information, feel free, I'd be more than interested in reading it.

[Zanzibar]

I think Tohoya might have been thinking about Lost Planet.

Could be that releasing a demo several months before the game is released generates interest, but demos released near the game release kill interest because people figure they can just play the demo.

[Draft]

Seems to me that Epic has been making a lot of anti id-software statements lately. Cliffe calls Carmack an idiot (who the porn quote is from) and Sweeny says that Megatexturing is pretty stupid in a past nvnews interview.Dave Jaffe made the porno comment.

[Montolio]

Zanzibar,

In that same podcast Major Nelson mentions he is surprised that the Dead Rising demo and full title are both in the Top Xbox 360 Live games played listing he posts each week. It's not the first mixed message from him and truth be told I guess that is part of the charm. I'm not pointing at Major Nelson for fault or anything, I just find the whole thing a little amusing.

If we see the GoW demo come out after the game we'll know why heh.

[[VSK]BadCRC]

What I don't like is non-interactive cinemas in video games. Video games are not movies and shouldn't try to be.

I don't know, the occassional cinema in Final Fantasy games and other RPGs made for some good entertainment. Besides, you can't see an RPG on it's actual graphics, I mean, anyone else remember the Final Fantasy VII commercial (http://youtube.com/watch?v=t9pF9BJQBLo)? Or what about this one (http://youtube.com/watch?v=KXHVb1wn8vo). It's hard selling goofy polygonal bar-bell armed Cloud to the masses, better to mask the shitty graphics with cinematic clips.

[bean19]

Dave Jaffe made the porno comment.

Which is really ironic considering how good the story in God of War is. Also, I really didn't like the gameplay in Twisted Metal Black, but I beat it with nearly every character just to see their ending movie. . .

I know he is looking at doing games that are all about gameplay right now, but I'm not sure that this plays to his strengths.

[The Continental]

Dave Jaffe made the porno comment.

"Story in a game is like a story in a porn movie. It's expected to be there, but it's not that important." (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Carmack)

Carmack beat him to the punch back in the days of Doom.

[Jack B]

I really enjoyed that article. Cliffy B is very entertaining and that was a well done interview.

[Tel Prydain]

Y'know Tohoya, I was listening to the Major Nelson podcast (www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/08/13/Show-187-The-one-with-three-interviews-and-XNA-news.aspx) this morning on the ride into work and he stated that Microsoft has hard numbers that support the fact that a newly released game will actually sell more when a demo is released after the full title is on store shelves.


I think the thing is that when a game first hits the selves everyone who thinks they will like the game buys it. Then the demo comes out, and everyone who thinks they won’t like the game tries the demo – some of them will change their minds and get the game as well.
However, if a game demo comes out first – everyone who wants the game will download it, and inevitably some of those people will be disappointed and avoid the full game.
If you hold back the demo you ensure the people who are looking forward to the game buy it before being given the chance to decide otherwise (this could be a BIG part of what Epic are trying to activate).

For example, I was totally hyped about Chrome Hounds and was going to get it on day one – but after playing the demo I decided I would pass.
Conversely, I had decided to skip BfME2 – but after playing the demo went for the full game.

[EvilBob46]

The game that influenced CliffyB the most when making Gears of War...Resident Evil 4! Seeing developers building more games on the RE4 foundation makes me a happy camper.

[JazGalaxy]

I think the problem is that developers are the idiots who don't realize that story should not in any way be accessory to the gameplay.

I don't think ANYBODY has a problem with story in games. Every single successful video game has had some element of story. Even Donky Kong. Most of the early videogames.. text adventures... were PURELY story.

What I hate, and what i think most gamers hate, is that the story doesn't play out by the gamers actions, as it should, but rather with an entirely unrelated series of videos or text boxes.

Many games have woven story elements into gameplay successfully and not sacrificed an ounce of their integrity as games. Star Fox, Half Life, Ultima, etc. All those games have you, the player, making decisions and creating the story as soon as you pick up the controller.

There is no reason to have the gamer sit in his chair trying not to fall asleep for 30 minutes before the game begins and blame that on trying to engage him with story.

Self indulgence is the enemy of modern game making.

[Wedge]

The game that influenced CliffyB the most when making Gears of War...Resident Evil 4! Seeing developers building more games on the RE4 foundation makes me a happy camper.

Same here. That little snippet made GoW jump up a few notches on my wanted list. And it was pretty high on that list already.

[archon]

Regardless of whether Cliffy B was talking about Jaffe or Carmack, the point is that his company has arguably never had a game with a good story and not only that, but has only copied what other great (and original) game companies have done in terms of gameplay as well.

I kinda dug the story for Unreal 1, but it was barely enough to keep me interested in playing as the game just wasn't all that fun. Story is more than just setting and dropping a few messages throughout the game (ala Quake 2 and Unreal 1).

What else has Epic done? Unreal Tournament? Even though it came out before Quake 3, it seemed pretty much like they were trying to beat id to the punch and release the first DM-oriented FPS sequel. Not a whole lot of story there.

What's up with being a douchebag and working at Epic anyway? Mark Rein works for these guys too, right?

[Blade]

CLIFFITY B!!!!!!!!11111111

lol is taht jennies mccarthy shes hot lol

[Sion]

Cliffy B is so dreamy.

*Swoon*

[Draft]

"Story in a game is like a story in a porn movie. It's expected to be there, but it's not that important." (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Carmack)

Carmack beat him to the punch back in the days of Doom.God is there anything Jaffe hasn't ripped off?

[aversion2k]

Regardless of whether Cliffy B was talking about Jaffe or Carmack, the point is that his company has arguably never had a game with a good story and not only that, but has only copied what other great (and original) game companies have done in terms of gameplay as well.

I kinda dug the story for Unreal 1, but it was barely enough to keep me interested in playing as the game just wasn't all that fun. Story is more than just setting and dropping a few messages throughout the game (ala Quake 2 and Unreal 1).

What else has Epic done? Unreal Tournament? Even though it came out before Quake 3, it seemed pretty much like they were trying to beat id to the punch and release the first DM-oriented FPS sequel. Not a whole lot of story there.

What's up with being a douchebag and working at Epic anyway? Mark Rein works for these guys too, right?

I liked story for unreal 1 aswell, but yea, the game got pretty boring.
Did epic work on the wheel of time game? not that they can take the credit for the story anyway.

Gears of war might have a good story, but in all the videos I've seen recently Cliffy B is a big show off and Mark Rein acts like such a dick that I dont really want to get it anymore.

[Scaryboy]

Gears of war might have a good story, but in all the videos I've seen recently Cliffy B is a big show off and Mark Rein acts like such a dick that I dont really want to get it anymore.

I don't really understand that mentality. If you only bought products from companies where you liked every employee, you'd be homeless, naked and starving on the street with not a single thing to call your own. If you're buying a product you're paying for a product you want, not because you simply want to support people you "like" from interviews.

[bean19]

Regardless of whether Cliffy B was talking about Jaffe or Carmack, the point is that his company has arguably never had a game with a good story and not only that, but has only copied what other great (and original) game companies have done in terms of gameplay as well.

I kinda dug the story for Unreal 1, but it was barely enough to keep me interested in playing as the game just wasn't all that fun. Story is more than just setting and dropping a few messages throughout the game (ala Quake 2 and Unreal 1).

What else has Epic done? Unreal Tournament? Even though it came out before Quake 3, it seemed pretty much like they were trying to beat id to the punch and release the first DM-oriented FPS sequel. Not a whole lot of story there.

What's up with being a douchebag and working at Epic anyway? Mark Rein works for these guys too, right?


1. I don't think Cliffy B is a douchebag. He seems like a gamer who is having fun making great games.

2. UT is not derivative of Quake. There are a number of marked improvements over Quake with innovative situational weapons (instead of people just whoring the rail gun), and incredibly fun special game modes that were a major part of gameplay and not an afterthought. UT2K4 further innovated by adding even more game types, mutators, and the best vehicular combat in an FPS to date.

3. UT and UT2K4 have only the loosest stories and Unreal and Unreal 2 were made very long ago. However, this makes them a blank-slate - not a failure at narratives.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Cliffy B is so dreamy.

*Swoon*

Indeed he is - but stay away bitch. He's all mine.

We need the smiley face with the hearts coming out of it, ala IGN. :p