[JimmyJonas]

Pretty much as the title says, I wanna get back into game making and I wanna know what people look for in a game and also what engine they like for it to be made on and also wha type of game, shooter, rpg etc...

[Lyricalias]

The most important thing to me is the story. The plot, the characters and their backgrounds, the histories, all of that stuff needs to be thought out so that it actually feels like another world.

The next thing is the gameplay. I like when designers work hard to balance the game, making it feel right; not too hard, not too easy. Also always try to find innovations to use in your games, but don't force yourself or it'll become a gimmick.

Music should be chosen carefully, to where it reflects well on the current mood of the game. Original music is always a nice touch, but ripped music is fine too.

The graphics aren't that important, but try and make them expressive. If you hype a cave up to be super dark and dangerous, try and get that feel.

I'll play pretty much any style of game, but you should make whichever kind you want. Whatever gameplay style you think works for your game, go with it. But my favorite genre is RPG. =P

...Anyway, I don't want to ramble on... Just mainly what I look for in games is dedication to making them as good as you can, with thought out stories and fun gameplay.

[JimmyJonas]

Thanks for the reply :)

[Dyhalto]

I generally look for effort. Effort and lack of effort is very easy to spot.

[RPG Hacker]

Gameplay. Nothing is as important as gameplay. It doesn't matter how many people say that story or anything else are the most important things for them. We're talking about making games here, so there is absolutely no doubt that gameplay is the most important thing to care about. After that you have plenty of time for caring about other stuff. Just don't do the same mistake as the FFXIII creators and only care about story and visuals, leaving gameplay behind. Yep, I've played that game (I'm on chapter 13) and everything about it was a dissapointment and a waste of time. A game without good gameply simply isn't a game, it's an interactive movie at best.

[blue_emerald777]

I look for good coding and design. If your game is full of glitches and bugs, then it becomes hard to play (Example: Ar tonelico II. Glitches and freezing everywhere.). I also look for grammar and spelling (Example: Ar tonelico II, again. There were random Japanese symbols in the middle of words.). If your game is half-translated, then no matter how good your story or characters are, if you can't understand them, then there isn't a point to them.

After that, I look for game play. If your game is just bash X, then it sucks. It just does. (Example: Mimana: Iyar Chronicle)

Then, I look for story. If your story sucks, your game play was wasted. Unless, of course, you're making a Music, Sports, or Party game.

The I look for visuals. The visuals really depend on the game. If the game is a Music game, I don't expect to see many cut scenes or explosions. In a Sports game, I just expect to see good lighting and shading. However, in a Shooter, I expect good graphics.

[Lyricalias]

RPG Hacker, on 22 July 2010 - 03:02 PM, said:

Gameplay. Nothing is as important as gameplay. It doesn't matter how many people say that story or anything else are the most important things for them. We're talking about making games here, so there is absolutely no doubt that gameplay is the most important thing to care about. After that you have plenty of time for caring about other stuff. Just don't do the same mistake as the FFXIII creators and only care about story and visuals, leaving gameplay behind. Yep, I've played that game (I'm on chapter 13) and everything about it was a dissapointment and a waste of time. A game without good gameply simply isn't a game, it's an interactive movie at best.

Actually, I thought the story was the weakest part of that game. But gameplay was horrible too.

I agree that gameplay is important, but it depends on what genre you're playing. For RPGs, in my opinion, Story > Gameplay, and for, say a Zelda style game, or FPS, Gameplay > Story.

Most RPGs actually have boring gameplay but are fun because of the story. And then there are those gems that are fun in both categories...

[NES]

For RPGs gameplay is kinda important. If the gameplay hinders my enjoyment of the story then why should I care to play it when there are other RPGs with better gameplay and even better story? Not like I'll be missing some revolutionary super unique plot free of cliche'.

[RPG Hacker]

Lyricalias, on 23 July 2010 - 01:35 AM, said:

Actually, I thought the story was the weakest part of that game.

I think the story wasn't too bad. It was the only thing that keept me playing. Then again I have no problems with Japanese cliche storylines, so that's probably it.

Lyricalias, on 23 July 2010 - 01:35 AM, said:

Most RPGs actually have boring gameplay but are fun because of the story.

I just can't agree to that. I'd never play an RPG with bad gameplay, no matter how good the story is. I didn't complete any of the Final Fantasies from I to IV because I simply hated the gameplay. I even bought FFIII on the DS for 20 €, then sold it only a few weeks later after I was about half the way through (I guess) and was happy that I got 5 € for it. No, even an RPG needs good gameplay. I'm not saying that in an RPG story is completely unimportant, I'm just saying that gameplay is still the most important thing. After it's a Role Playing Game, not a Role Playing Movie or a Role Playing Story. I understand your opinion of course, but from an objective point of view this is how things are.

[Lyricalias]

In the end, I'd hope that both are good. =P I don't mean to suggest one be sacrificed for the other's sake, but which of the too I find more important to the experience.

One thing I love in games that I don't see often is good character development. I hate when a game hardly involves the party members at all to the point that they may as well be the Final Fantasy Tactics hired mercenaries. Star Wars: KOTOR does a good job of keeping the characters involved, for instance.

[RPG Hacker]

Lyricalias, on 23 July 2010 - 10:15 AM, said:

In the end, I'd hope that both are good. =P I don't mean to suggest one be sacrificed for the other's sake, but which of the too I find more important to the experience.

Yup. I agree to that. The best thing is always to just make everything good, then noone can complain. :P

Also yeah, good character developement (at least in an RPG) is pretty cool.

[Rustus]

I myself love character development. Sure the rest of the game has to be up to code but that is one thing that hooks me into a game.

When I create games, that is the first thing I start with: The characters, their relationships, thoughts, fears, and all-around mental state.

[JimmyJonas]

Thanks for the replies everyone, and im sorry ill have to disagree I think FFXIII was the best one and ive played pretty much all of them, :)

[NIGGA STOLE MY BROADBAND]

I stopped caring about Final Fantasy since the PS2 era.

[blue_emerald777]

Painkiller, on 23 July 2010 - 08:01 PM, said:

I stopped caring about Final Fantasy since the PS2 era.

Yeah, the games have been getting worse recently.

[Rustus]

actualli I did like 12 but that was because there were battles where I could set it up to do everything then go get a cup of coffee and not think "they're gonna get crushed". I still stand by the fact that Basch should have been the main character

[NES]

blue_emerald777, on 23 July 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Yeah, the games have been getting worse recently.

Ever since the merge took place Square-Enix is having difficulty publishing games worth playing and breaking 9.X on press scores. Now we mostly get stupid ass crap like Nier and other sub par RPGs instead of kickass titles we've seen in the history of these two companies. This is without getting into other controversial moves Square-Enix has done like religiously battling against Chrono Trigger fan remakes and other chunks of horseshit splattering in the air that prevent them to be of any worth. I will not buy their games new, Square-Enix doesn't need my money and support anymore.

[Lyricalias]

Let's not to stray too far off topic. =P

[RPG Hacker]

NES, on 24 July 2010 - 06:11 AM, said:

I will not buy their games new, Square-Enix doesn't need my money and support anymore.

Yeah, me, neither. I didn't actually buy FFXIII, I got it for free. I had never gotten it myself. I won't buy Dragon Quest IX, either, even if many people say it's great. It's by Square Enix and that's all I need to know.

[Dyhalto]

I'll go you one better. I don't even play their useless bullshit.
It's all designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator anyway.