tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post994230908321718705..comments2024-03-28T07:16:05.720-07:00Comments on Experience Points: Braid's Allusive AppealJorge Alborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857765716032886965noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-82098708096854596252010-02-17T20:38:37.738-08:002010-02-17T20:38:37.738-08:00Thanks to everyone for the insightful comments!
L...Thanks to everyone for the insightful comments!<br /><br />Like Tesh initially brought up, the maturity of Braid as a single entity is debatable, but I think it is easier to make an argument that its intertextuality is a sign of the medium coming to terms with its own identity.<br /><br />Mario hits on a good point (one that I would expect from an English student) in the possibility of differing takes from different players. And also that Experience Points is the best site on the net... ;-)<br /><br />But seriously, although some have criticized the storytelling implementation (i.e. over-reliance on text), I found myself questioning it's comparative effectiveness to something like a cutscene. Even though one must read a good portion of the story, it is one's choice to do so; the books Mario mentions could just as easily been passed by. I think it shows a certain amount of confidence in the players when developers allow them to control the time dedicated to plot exposition.<br /><br />However, it's probably not right to get too hung up on the words since, as JT said, the themes are subtly conveyed through the gameplay as well. In fact, I've got a post kicking around in my head on this very subject...<br /><br />Krystian, now that I've finally finished the game, I'm going through your posts on it. Great job on the puzzle design analysis. I've been trying to decide whether the puzzles seemed "fair," and your stuff has been great to read as a juxtaposition to the "Official Walkthrough." <br /><br />I think your last question is spot on: I think Braid rewards a mature gaming background rather than the accumulation of years on this planet. A teenager who has played a bunch of old puzzle and platformers and is proficient in the ludic language of those genres will probably get more out of it than someone who is more mature when it comes to years, but less experienced with games.Scott Justerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11775296635863850847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-70538533989652086332010-02-17T15:11:12.064-08:002010-02-17T15:11:12.064-08:00@Tesh
Glad to hear it.
Gibberish might be a good w...@Tesh<br />Glad to hear it.<br />Gibberish might be a good word. The game's narrative seems to give just "enough" to string something of an interpretation together. Then again, I love that sort of thing, being an English major myself. <br />Here's something that I often find on my mind when contemplating video games... Braid goes a different route, as many of us can agree on. I find that i don't play it often however. Only one play through in fact. I think the question I’m fishing for here, is how we define, or what we think the function of video games are. Are video games (like braid, World of Goo to name a couple) meant to be somewhat elusive in meaning, but worthy of at least one play through, or are they meant for consistent, seemingly constant appeal (insert any game you play all the time)? I don’t really have an answer to my own question sadly...mariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11640227352737379763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-72995797111335453572010-02-17T13:13:50.039-08:002010-02-17T13:13:50.039-08:00Mario, no offense taken. ;) I'll readily con...Mario, no offense taken. ;) I'll readily concede that the *way* the Braid story is told is engaging and interesting, entwined with the mechanics as it is, I just don't particularly care for the story being told. It's trope- and angst-ridden gibberish.<br /><br />That said, it is definitely a step above most game stories. *shrug*Teshhttp://tishtoshtesh.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-48092508595124327042010-02-16T14:21:33.398-08:002010-02-16T14:21:33.398-08:00There is a test I sometimes use to measure how &qu...There is a test I sometimes use to measure how "mature" something is: If it is boring for the younger audience but actually quite engaging for an older audience it probably quite mature.<br /><br />Ironically this qualifies sex and violence as not mature - which I interpret as the test being accurate. ;)<br /><br />Using that test on Braid yields conflicting results. The gameplay can be enjoyed even by young players. So it's not necessarily mature. The story, on the other hand, is something young players might find boring so it has a mature quality.<br /><br />So what does that mean? Is Braid a poorly thought-out game that doesn't quite know what audience it should address? Or is it actually a smart game that transcends notions of age groups?Krystian Majewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11575248324136515649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-55480645905004361662010-02-15T17:23:53.812-08:002010-02-15T17:23:53.812-08:00Braid can get away with all of its references Mari...Braid can get away with all of its references Mario etc. because it is fundamentally a different game. At first blush, it seems like a side scrolling platformer, but it quickly becomes clear that the skill required to complete Braid lies more in warping time to solve puzzles than it requires jumping around collecting coins. <br /><br />Braid also gets away with such a loosely structured and vaguely intellectual storyline because that story plays right into the game mechanics. It is a game about memory and perception and "what would you do differently if you could turn back time?" Therefore, the story can be vague and loose because that's how memory is and the time warping mechanic plays into that rather brilliantly.JThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16467964766151573064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-145010405881146812010-02-15T16:02:15.544-08:002010-02-15T16:02:15.544-08:00@ Tesh
While i agree that the mechanics are well d...@ Tesh<br />While i agree that the mechanics are well done, i would have to disagree with most of your comment. Often times it would appear that developers try and highlight how far the industry has come by showing off intense "realistic" graphics, it is rare that they break the typical idea of, You good guy, beat bad guy, save everyone. Its a good model, but it is not the only option available. Braid, while occasionally frustrating, (due to its breaking of traditional mechanics imo) does an excellent job of not only being self referential (Mario bro. references, etc) but Braid does something more. It rewards an attentive player, one that is looking for a story told in the experience of the player, rather than the game itself. A few examples are the books at the end of the game, as well as some of the text throughout. You can skip right past this, never read it, and still do some guess work to what the game is about, if that’s even necessary. A different player might read everything, and thus have a different experience. This is a HUGE shift in gaming, as typically games have a set overall experience that all players have. Now I’m not entirely sure what this means for the industry though. Do games need to become more literary? There is something oh so satisfying about cutting limbs off your opponents, and hacking (or shooting) your way to an expected end. It is a familiar and a less taxing experience on the player. That being said, i think games like Braid (or even world of Goo) are needed. These games punch through the 4th wall at times, and make players really question what it is they enjoy playing, or rather, have the opportunity in playing. Are we just playing the same story over and over, or is there something new going on here? Sorry Tesh, this wasn’t really meant to be a rail against you, i hope it isn’t perceived that way. I just really Dug Braid, and wanted to toss in my 2 cents. Ill be interested to see other comments. <br />Thanks Scott Juster, and all the Experience Points contributors. Best site on the net.mariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11640227352737379763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3967694277763110629.post-35438050561691466362010-02-13T18:25:20.895-08:002010-02-13T18:25:20.895-08:00I'd call it more of a maturation (aging, more ...I'd call it more of a maturation (aging, more than anything) of the medium, that it can have its own internal tropes and references. The story of Braid isn't really anything all that impressive... though it is nicely devoid of blood and sex. The mechanics really are well done, though, if occasionally frustrating.Teshhttp://tishtoshtesh.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com