Nintendo Was Hard Pt. 2: Story vs. Discovery

To make my point here, I’m going to break down the ways video games motivate us to play into two categories: story and discovery.  Consider Oblivion; the game had a distinct (if somewhat uninteresting) central story that dictated its action and progression.  It also had a strong emphasis on exploration (which was more interesting than the story, but that’s neither here nor there) and discovery.  Here’s where things get tricky: it also had an RPG skill development model, which, in my taxonomy, falls under discovery – the unlocking of new gameplay elements.

The Famous One Did It

This week on The Most Famous Guest Star Did It: The detectives investigate the murder of a young woman (played by nobody important).  Suspicion falls on her boyfriend when he turns out to be Antonio Sabàto Jr.  In a surprise twist, the detectives discover than the dead woman’s housekeeper is being played by Phyllis Diller.  Now the detectives must uncover the truth and find out who the murderer is is most famous.

And next week a serial rapist art thief is on the loose.  Mayim Bialik and Betty White guest star.

Nintendo Was Hard, Is That Important?

I’ve been playing Metal Gear Solid 4 recently, and I’m quite pleased with the game.  Really, any game that starts off with a fake interview with the actor who voices the main character, dressed up like the main character, but promoting something other than the game…

Oh, and the actor’s name is David, and then later in the game Snake’s “mom” calls HIM David…

It’s all so meta, it gets me all tingly.