Episode 5: Open World vs. Linear Gaming in Video Games and RPGs

What Are We Playing?:

Jeff is behind on the times, but finally finished Bioshock 1.

Michael hates basic physics, but loves Dead Rising 2 wheelchairs and snow (this was recorded back in February)

Mark knows some fancy Japanese games. Isn't he special? If you want the titles...good luck with that. One is called 3D World Runner in English


Main Topic: Open World vs. Linear

Michael gets some knowledge dropped on him on open world games

If we have any disabled listeners, we apologize greatly

STRENGTH OPEN WORLD: Immersion

Cuttlefish

WEAKNESS OPEN WORLD: So big, players are unaware of how things work

STRENGTH OPEN WORLD: Creation of Player Plots

STRENGTH LINEAR WORLD: Meaning Behind The Plot, and a lack of Jimmy McWaffleboys

WEAKNESS USER-CREATED CONTENT (?): Cavaclade of Crap

STRENGTH LINEAR WORLD: Much Stronger Story than a User-Made One

Eternal Pac-Man? Pacternal Darkness? Wakka Wakka Wakka Insanity?

STRENGTH LINEAR GAMES: Possible Sanity Questioning

OPEN WORLD NECESSITY: Need for Universal Signals

WEAKNESS OPEN WORLD: Lack of Urgency, and Vice Versa with Linear World

Side Tangent on Being Timed

STRENGTH OPEN WORLD: Openness in Choices (Durr)

STRENGTH LINEAR GAMES: Importance of the Player's Actions Increases

NECESSITY LINEAR GAMES: Character Sympathy

STRENGTH ALL: Morality

Replayability

STRENGTH LINEAR GAMES: Dependency on the Narrative

WEAKNESS LINEAR GAMES: Dependency

Linearity in Role-Playing Games

"In a Video Game, the game provides the go, the player provides the do. In an RPG, the player provides the go, and the GM provides the do."
-Mark Snyder

"The more the GM tightens his grip, the more players will slip through his fingers"
-Jeff Bailey stealing from Star Wars: The New Hope

Wins and Fails

Mark:

+ Youtube dropping time limit
- Having watched two and a half hours of Worms (Dude, seriously?)
+ Apology Win to Every RPG ever made
- Him reading every RPG in a new light

Michael:

+ Game Informer's Replay of Overblood
+ Ridiculous Texas Snow
- Green Lanturn (2011) and Ryan Reynolds
- WHO CARES ABOUT THE SUPER BOWL WOOOOOOOO

Jeff:

+ Visceral Studios for throwing in Extraction with Dead Space 2
+ Xynga for being like crack cocaine and SUCKING YOU BACK IN
- Google Docs for censorshiposity
- Indie RPG Movement for obliterating any ability for Jeff to keep track of news