Decline Game Design Trinity - Gameplay, Presentation, Story

[DJOGamer PT]

I don't think we've ever had a proper poll about this, so let's settle it once and for all!

The question itself is simple and straightforward enough.
So I'll expand on what I mean with each of these concepts:

Gameplay > obviously the depth, and more importantly, integrity of the game's mechanics and systems are the first thing that come to mind with this word, but I am also referring to the game's difficulty curve, it's activities + challenges design (levels, enemies, etc...) and how meaningful are the game's various interactions to the overall experience

Presentation > everything relating to audiovisual characteristics of the game - graphics, artstyle, music, sound effects - and how they inform and enhance the experience; also the game's technical polish (i.e. optimization and such) and UI

Story > not just the plot itself but the combination of all other aspects in direct relation to it - setting, lore, characters, writing, pacing, themes, worldbuilding consistency, etc...

 

[Ivan]

voted KC. depends on how strong each component is/which are prioritized and to what degree the others suffer

 

[Citizen]

King = Cum = Rade

 

[wahrk]

Gameplay > Presentation = Story

Gameplay always comes first, the importance of the other two depends on what kind of game it is.

 

[Machocruz]

I won't play games that have a theme/setting (e.g. gothic horror, cyberpunk, high school) I don't like, no matter how good the gameplay allegedly is. So I guess Story*>Gameplay>Presentation, per the descriptions.

*I don't care about plot, lore, or anything involving a narrative besides the one my play creates.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

how does one separate story from gameplay in genres like RPG or adventure games?

 

[DJOGamer PT]

the story is simply the premise and background to the game's activities
the gameplay is the activity itself

sure the story informs you about the task, but the act of actually doing the task is all gameplay

edit:
just vote "Story = Gameplay > Presentation" it's clearly the one you're attracted to

 

[DalekFlay]

Story is more important to me than graphics, so I voted number 2.

Even though I put tremendous value on things like immersion and world building I would still say gameplay rules all, because if the gameplay really sucks or isn't my thing then I'm not gonna play it to begin with. You could make the most immersive world out there but if the game is a beat 'em up or something, I don't care.

 

[madhouse]

It's a trick question.
As far as my knowledge of theology goes, all parts of triny are equal. Gameplay is far more important than story and presentation. Thus you have the foundation that is gameplay (in a GAME, get it?) and the duality of the other two.
If I had to say which of the other two are more important, I would say presentation.

 

[Momock]

Because of how important the soundtrack is to me: Gameplay = Presentation > Story.

 

[mondblut]

Story > not just the plot itself but the combination of all other aspects in direct relation to it - setting, lore, characters, writing, pacing, themes, worldbuilding consistency, etc...

Filing setting under story is a cheap storyfag ploy to boost the popularity of story.

That's how it would look in reality: Gameplay > setting > presentation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> story.

 

[Morenatsu.]

Each aspect is only as important as a particular game makes it.

 

[Momock]

Story > not just the plot itself but the combination of all other aspects in direct relation to it - setting, lore, characters, writing, pacing, themes, worldbuilding consistency, etc...

Filing setting under story is a cheap storyfag ploy to boost the popularity of story.

That's how it would look in reality: Gameplay > setting > presentation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> story.

Or setting merged with presentation, that works too.

Each aspect is only as important as a particular game makes it.

And that's why you like some games more than others, based on how important they make the aspects importants to you.

 

[DJOGamer PT]

It's a trick question.
As far as my knowledge of theology goes,

There's no trick and no theology here
The title has "Trinity" in because it makes for a better sounding title than the words "Trio" or "Trifecta"

Story > not just the plot itself but the combination of all other aspects in direct relation to it - setting, lore, characters, writing, pacing, themes, worldbuilding consistency, etc...

Filing setting under story is a cheap storyfag ploy to boost the popularity of story.

That's how it would look in reality: Gameplay > setting > presentation >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> story.

Not really
Thread is about the fundamental aspects that make a game - which are the Gameplay, Presentation and Story
Setting is a secondary aspect at best, meaning that it must be part of one of the these three main characterists
Now, you can argue that setting is a part of presentation, but the way I see it setting comes mostly from worldbuilding which is intrinsic to the Story

 

[mondblut]

Setting is a secondary aspect at best, meaning that it must be part of one of the these three main characterists

If setting is secondary aspect, story is tertiary.

Your fundamental aspects are actually called Mechanics, Execution and Content. And among that which makes content, story is the least relevant, commonly consigned to a single page in the manual during the better days.

 

[Xelocix]

If it's a singleplayer game? Story > Gameplay = Presentation. What's the point in playing a singleplayer game if the story blows ass and the atmosphere is shit?

If it's a multiplayer game? Gameplay > Presentation > Story. What's the point in wasting time with a throwaway story when you're just there to have fun with your friends?

 

[Gastrick]

Presentation definitely matters the least.
Graphics don't matter.
Artstyle is meh.
As long as the UI doesn't look like a mobile app it's fine. Video games are the best in the category out of different mediums. The problems some people have can be patched out with mods or, with older titles, using a modern screen so the game area takes up more space.

If the game can have good story as well that adds to the game. Especially if it can answer well the question "What am I fighting for"?

Gameplay comes out on top, no explanation needed there.

 

[Ash]

Gameplay > Presentation > Story

 

[Morenatsu.]

Gameplay > Presentation > Story

Of course you would say that.

Well, it's technically true, but that kind of statement is misleading, and this thread is retarded. Every game that isn't Tetris has a story, or at least something that falls into that category according to this thread's logic. If they didn't, they would make for shit entertainment. By that I don't necessarily mean ‘narrative’, but there should at least be some kind of fiction there, otherwise it's just autism with no soul. There's a hierarchy of importance, but at the same time they are all equally valuable and inseperable. Even dumb action games need something.

 

[DJOGamer PT]

Even dumb action games need something.

No they don't furfag

 

[Shinji]

I don't remember any good game that didn't had an interesting gameplay.

One company that excels in making good games with average stories is Level-5. Dark Cloud and Rogue Galaxy were fun games with good presentation and setting, but the story and characters were pretty basic -- which is fine by me, honestly.

Even for adventure games, puzzles are part of the gameplay. I see a lot of people getting disappointed if an adventure game doesn't have challenging puzzles.
An adventure game without gameplay would become a walking simulator or some sort of visual novel -- which can barely be considered games to begin with.

So I would agree that gameplay and presentation would come first.
For me, story is the "motivator". Even if the game is bad, people might keep playing the game just to see what happens at the end.

 

[Momock]

Even dumb action games need something.

No they don't furfag

Uh... yeah, they totaly do. Unless you enjoy playing a cube throwing triangles at circles, I guess... these games exist too after all.

PS: no, I don't want to see rule34 of geometry, thanks.

 

[NerevarineKing]

Gameplay > Presentation > Story

Of course you would say that.

Well, it's technically true, but that kind of statement is misleading, and this thread is retarded. Every game that isn't Tetris has a story, or at least something that falls into that category according to this thread's logic. If they didn't, they would make for shit entertainment. By that I don't necessarily mean ‘narrative’, but there should at least be some kind of fiction there, otherwise it's just autism with no soul. There's a hierarchy of importance, but at the same time they are all equally valuable and inseperable. Even dumb action games need something.

How is it a misleading statement? It literally just means gameplay is more important than presentation and presentation is more important than story. It doesn't say anywhere that we should throw story away. I think you're reading too much into this.

 

[Ash]

Gameplay > Presentation > Story

Of course you would say that.

Well, it's technically true, but that kind of statement is misleading, and this thread is retarded. Every game that isn't Tetris has a story, or at least something that falls into that category according to this thread's logic. If they didn't, they would make for shit entertainment. By that I don't necessarily mean ‘narrative’, but there should at least be some kind of fiction there, otherwise it's just autism with no soul. There's a hierarchy of importance, but at the same time they are all equally valuable and inseperable. Even dumb action games need something.

How is it a misleading statement? It literally just means gameplay is more important than presentation and presentation is more important than story. It doesn't say anywhere that we should throw story away. I think you're reading too much into this.

Unreal is a bit special. Don't take anything the kid says seriously. He's right like 30% of the time. I've long thought that posting on the internet shouldn't be an option until you're at least 21, or rather you get access to internet in limited form overall - no porn, no fringe sites, no social media. The world would be a better place. But of course to regulate this internet "anonymity" would have to go. Even though that already is going.

Uh... Unless you enjoy playing a cube throwing triangles at circles, I guess... these games exist too after all.

Which is precisely what we mean. Tetris is still a good game (I don't rate it highly but its for sure playable/worthwhile), one of the highest selling of all time in fact. Point is it's a game, it needs gameplay first before anything. If it were just story it's not a game. Gameplay is why choose to play games when we could be reading/watching TV/movies.

A game can be good when it's just gameplay. A game cannot be good when it's just story (because it's not even a game at that point).

 

[Morenatsu.]

Gameplay > Presentation > Story

Of course you would say that.

Well, it's technically true, but that kind of statement is misleading, and this thread is retarded. Every game that isn't Tetris has a story, or at least something that falls into that category according to this thread's logic. If they didn't, they would make for shit entertainment. By that I don't necessarily mean ‘narrative’, but there should at least be some kind of fiction there, otherwise it's just autism with no soul. There's a hierarchy of importance, but at the same time they are all equally valuable and inseperable. Even dumb action games need something.

How is it a misleading statement? It literally just means gameplay is more important than presentation and presentation is more important than story. It doesn't say anywhere that we should throw story away. I think you're reading too much into this.

Yes, it ‘literally’ just means that, but somewhere out there is the retard who actually does think it means to throw it all out, and it needs to be clarified for that reason. If you don't, you're letting the retards win.

Unreal is a bit special. Don't take anything the kid says seriously. He's right like 30% of the time. I've long thought that posting on the internet shouldn't be an option until you're at least 21, or rather you get access to internet in limited form overall - no porn, no fringe sites, no social media. The world would be a better place. But of course to regulate this internet "anonymity" would have to go. Even though that already is going.

Moar liek 99.99% amirite. Your ego just can't handle being called out for being retarded, so you resort to ad hominems about me being some furry kid who's mean on the internet. Get over it, faggot. You're just fucking around being some hardass gamer boy who makes pointless, worthless changes to games that don't need them. This is like that thing Unreal was JUST talking about. Absolutely zero sense for what actually matters as you're too caught up in your own autistic modder vision of what a game is.