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Why is the fantasy setting so popular in games?
- Thread starter Dram
- Start date
Open Source
Banned
Games are traditionally a highly derivative medium, and people who play video games have traditionally been interested in medieval and high fantasy books/TV/movies.
Both of those things are changing, but it takes time.
Both of those things are changing, but it takes time.
keeblerdrow
Member
*cough Nocturne & Digital Devil Saga cough*
Come on, only the intro of Nocturne is based in the "real world."
People generally play games to escape from this world, it's just easier to do that with a fantasy setting. But I also think that mood does that too. There are also a lot of games that mix both real and fantasy settings like MGS, GTA, Spider-Man 2...
People generally play games to escape from this world, it's just easier to do that with a fantasy setting. But I also think that mood does that too. There are also a lot of games that mix both real and fantasy settings like MGS, GTA, Spider-Man 2...
Late Stage Marxist
Member
Fantasy will be popular for as long as people want to escape reality.
I don't see how fantasy is any more popular or abundant than reality-based settings. There are many real life settings that are popular settings for games including WWII campaigns, crime sims and a number of others.
Personally I'm a big fan of fantasy settings, but I wouldn't mind seeing more games like Persona and Shadowrun. Games that blend urban and fantasy sensibilities.
I don't see how fantasy is any more popular or abundant than reality-based settings. There are many real life settings that are popular settings for games including WWII campaigns, crime sims and a number of others.
Personally I'm a big fan of fantasy settings, but I wouldn't mind seeing more games like Persona and Shadowrun. Games that blend urban and fantasy sensibilities.
Dram said:
Some of it has to do with the fact it sells easily,especially when your talking about to the D&D fanboys out there. However, I personally don't mind the D&D/LOTR motif, as long as I see alot of originality and creativity without resorting to knock-off both D&D and LOTR. This is particullary why I'am so accepting of EverQuest and Drakan then the typical game based off something from Forgotten Realms -- EverQuest and Drakan despite using the type of background for thier respective games, have more originality and creativity when it comes down to creature,costume/amour, and weapon design and etc. In fact, who was to think that a title like Drakan would have alot of space-age stuff e.g. lasers and death rays? In fact, even some of the fashions in the game looks as though they've been inspired by the same stuff you typically see on a NY or Paris fashion show. The same can be said about EverQuest aside from it being culturally diversed and inspired.
BTW, this why I love Phantasy Star setting so much.
I play games to escape my problems not enter worlds often that are depressing end of world like themes. Once and in while is fine but I like pure fantasy better. Yet for all whining about standard fantasy games have yet to use dwarfs, elfs, mermiads, centuars, etc, etc in many interestings ways. There still million good stories to tell with them.
Open Source said:
I agree with this point. Many of us video game freaks have been or still are D&D and Tolkien freaks. If you combine that with the level of escapsim that games allow, it's not shocking to see the fantasy setting become prominent. I don't think it's the dominate theme today, however. There's more sci-fi games, war games, and combinations of the two genres IMO. But even in that case the same principle applies--the product of the industry is largely a reflection of the tastes of consumers and the developers.
Bebpo said:
It is, but I imagine most people would think of a post-apocalyptic setting as a science-fiction instead of fantasy(which is generally reserved for dragons and magical knights and wizards and what have you).
Not saying it's a correct label, but that's how it is.
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The background of computer/console games is historically very connected to people who were involved in pen/paper rpg's. So in a lot of areas I think you're bound to see the D&D influence.
Templar Wizard
Member
its alot harder to make a believable 'real world' believable than fantasy. a fantasy situation allows the designer a blank slate, any 'mistakes' in world can be accepted easily by the player... invisible walls etc...
It's the overuse of the setting that's caused me to dislike it so much. I'm tired of elves
and dwarves, heroic knights and ancient wizards, and just about every other fantasy
staple that finds itself in fantasy games. Especially the cliche evil empire, that's trying to
awaken some ancient evil, as the main enemy.
and dwarves, heroic knights and ancient wizards, and just about every other fantasy
staple that finds itself in fantasy games. Especially the cliche evil empire, that's trying to
awaken some ancient evil, as the main enemy.
Dram said:
Funny, just not that many of these kinds console rpgs like that anymore anyhow? I still maintain there so many good stories yet to tell with this setting if done right. I sure hope there still Final Fantasys that go back to this from time to time. Its the scifi, dark apolo crap actually has me bored with quite few lastest rpgs.
I like the fantasy setting, but I, too, agree that more developers (and, if you want to get into it, book authors, etc.) would take the time to create their own mythology instead of working from the same old LOTR template that Tolkein set up so many years ago. Its just tired and generic now.
19 out of every 20 games made by Korean game companies are fantasy based. 19 of those 19 will most probably also feature Dark Elves and make a big deal about that fact.
Though as far as lack of originality goes, I've seen far worse, at least examples like above come from being driven by the market.
Watching some budding game designers with complete freedom to come up with "original concept" write up stuff is often far more depressing.