TITLE: "Ooohhhh.... Bow your head... And wait for the ricochet..." AUTHOR: Jim9137 DATE: 3/15/2005 10:07:00 ip. ----- BODY:
(Topic's quote from Child in Time, Deep Purple. Awesome song.) You can't probably tell from that hideous title what this blog entry will be about, and I don't blame you. I promised to write about the topic of "Realism in games" for a peep I just saw on a forum. I can't recall his username, but this is just for you! Let's start to boogie then. The whole issue started when I saw this topic about Red Orchestra. The author wanted to know about our thoughts about this... Well, as it happened I had played this modification before. Then, blunt as I sometimes am, said that the game was sort of realistic, but not as much as I would call it realistic. I know, the game has few really nice ideas, that just boost the realism up, but it just doesn't feel real. Which is why I'm writing this blog entry today. Okay, to get some other game to compare to Red Orchestra, a game that feels reak I dig up Hidden & Dangerous. Aaah, that game that is free now thanks to the allmightyness of Take 2, is certainly one of the more realistic games out there. Some of you might wonder why I didn't mention Rainbow Six yet. It's realistic... But not in the way I mean it. It's more like railshooter to me, with 4 lives and bullets that kill you with one shot. Not right, not for me, H&D it is. Back to the topic. When someone says "This game is realistic!" I immediately think they mean the game has good physics. But realism means more, than just having bullets that knock vases over. (Half-Life 2, even with it's good physics, doesn't strike to me as an realistic game) I demand games with realistic reactions, interaction, and feel! I can't understand why in Rainbow Six the people stare at the door for hours, to wait for ME to get there. Would terrorists do that in real life? I doubt it. In H&D, the people patrol around. Only few times I've noticed that they are stuck in watching in some directions or another, but it's okay, it makes sense. An officer guarding a prisoner I'm about to free is good. And I don't mind him staring at the door either, I just frigging blew up the whole garage for effin sakes. Red Orchestra, being and designed as an MP from the start, most likely won't have the interaction at all. Except by the manner of how the bullets fly. I ranted about this on my Moonbase Commander entry, especially about the lack of good communication, but here comes the monster... Roleplay. People don't get 'in' to games, and roleplay like the athmosphere would demand them to. Okay, I understand that people don't want to, don't have the needs, or don't care, but that is one of the reasons why I don't consider Red Orchestra realistic. On H&D multiplayer, the roleplaying sort of comes by itself. You're a british commando, and you're pretty much dead if you don't act like one. No running around with a MG in your hand and acting like a Scwrazhcengergeger. I'll return to this issue soon. So you can have good physics, but even them won't make the game realistic. Heck, I don't even consider HL-2's physics that realistic at all. Sure, the objects bounce around and all, but hey, I can't blow up that shack of an house with my bazooka! What is the point of the physics if you can only throw razor blades around to decapacitate zombies? I COULD JUST USE A CHAINSAW FOR THAT THANK YOU. I understand the CPU power and the programming that is needed for the physics I'm referring to is still developing, but heck. To say it bluntly, it's not realistic. On some parts, yes, but not enough so I would call it realistic. Red Orchestra doesn't have physics at all, or neither does H&D for that matter, but I just wanted to rant about the claims HL2 is realistic. Uh... I think I have to check my defenses now... angry people flocking around my house someone please help oh my god they have headcrab SAEGERRRRRRRRRRR! ... Right. I lured them away with bunch of Metroid fanboys. Back to the entry! Okay, so physics themselves don't make a realistic game. What does? But Red Orchestra ISN'T about the physics! The reloading, the way it handles clips... Very true points. But hey, it's only cosmetic isn't it? I don't say they aren't good additions, I'd love to see the idea used in more games, but it just isn't enough for me. Do you actually plan your attacks ahead? Do you even care if you lose or not, beyond your frag score? Okay, now I'm repeating myself again. To make things even simpler, I'm gonna add a list which in MY opinion makes a good 'realistic' game. Well, I wrote this entry mainly when I was sick so bear with me. I'm sure I missed something from this entry, but well I'm sick. Hopefully you enjoyed Jim9137 & Co. sponsored rantings!
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