Limited Choices discussion (merged threads)

[8Bit_System]

Originally Posted by Master of Aeons

Well, you just dated this forum about twenty years.

Oop. My back!

Duracells never date! They just keep running and running and running...

[Master of Aeons]

Originally Posted by Cyreen

You've got issues with the bunny, Mr. B-52?

No, ma'am. Help me yell at the kids on my lawn!

[Cyreen]

Naw, I only yell at stupid people and even that gets boring quick.

[R1ggsy]

Originally Posted by DreadMagus

Well let's see... you cared enough to trash it.

Anywhoozle....

For your second point....

In my game: Kenny was a user who used Lee to keep his family safe, and Lilly was a straight up gal who had Lee's back. Carley was his almost-girlfriend.

Others have said based on THEIR choices these characters act differently. (or weren't there at all)

How exactly did my choices not shape my story?

I don't think you really understand the point you think you're trying to make.

Spot on m8. What I'm reading so far on this forum are vastly different experiences people are having. Look at all the opinions that people have over all the characters.

The abundance of minor changes to the story IMO accounts for it shaping the story. Look at the story like a colouring book. Every drawing in the book is the same, but the colours will different which each owner.

Lets wait till episode 5.

[CTCCoco]

Why they offer choices when there are not even two different story branches?

I though, in the beginning that the choices I make really change the future of the game, mainly with the choice of save Doug or Carley (which don´t die when you save it 5 seconds later...), but then I realized that doesn´t matter what you say or do, its always the same and you can literally tell anyone anything because nothing will change unless the choice make you die in act...

Notice how the game is simplified all time, hiding our choices to make the development much more easier and simple. For example, after choose to save Doug or Carley they only appears in the beginning of the episode 2 and the end, and in the episode 3 they die in the middle without sense and in the exactly same way and place.

They make think you that you can choose between stay with Lilly or go to the beach / boat with Kenny, but its the same and we all go with Kenny.

Everybody who have to die, die. There are no an opportunity to change the story, you can´t really save anybody or kill.

It´s so static and lineal for me and makes me think that this is a game made without effort and just to make money, because they say that your choices matter but no, they don´t matter.

What about a much higher quality game next season with DIFFERENTS storylines between your choices? FFss, I don´t think that´s gonna happen, but who knows.

[Viser]

There are tons of threads about this topic already, there's no need to create another one.

[Zombies are Awesome!]

Plus to create a game with different storylines it would need to be a 60$ retail game with a much bigger budget

[Rock114]

If you want every choice you make to put the story in a new direction, have fun paying $100 for it, and waiting about 2-3 years between each episode.

[CTCCoco]

Originally Posted by Rock114

If you want every choice you make to put the story in a new direction, have fun paying $100 for it, and waiting about 2-3 years between each episode.

Every choice? I mean some main choices with 3 different storylines at least. I have seen RPG 2D games made by only 1 man with 10 different endings and with all the choices matter in a long way... ah, and its free.

If they don´t offer that then don´t say "omg your choices will be profound and will make the difference" because that´s not true. Offer the game like it´s: single storyline, with choices which only changes some single dialog lines in the near future and that is all.

[Master of Aeons]

Originally Posted by CTCCoco

Every choice? I mean some main choices with 3 different storylines at least. I have seen RPG 2D games made by only 1 man with 10 different endings and with all the choices matter in a long way... ah, and its free.

If they don´t offer that then don´t say "omg your choices will be profound and will make the difference" because that´s not true. Offer the game like it´s: single storyline, with choices which only changes some single dialog lines in the near future and that is all.

The standard for any game with "choice" is still an inescapable linear plot. Heavy Rain and Mass Effect do the same thing. If there's a story being told, you can make decisions which have temporary, cosmetic changes, then progress with the story as intended.

For instance, in Heavy Rain, you can choose to drive into traffic the wrong direction to save your son, or you can refuse. Both ways, you're forced into the same event. You can succed or can fail, both ways the story continues with the same event. The only things that have changed thus far are endings. Heavy Rain only splits into different storylines at the very end. Regardless of the budget, a story driven game will never have changes that matter because writers only care about finishing their storyline.

A Choose Your Own Adventure format is years away. The only people trying to create a game like that are Quantic Dream and Telltale. Telltale tells better stories, Quantic Dream has more funding. We've already talked about all of this. In fact, you can find this same post of mine like a dozen more places. Choices matter as much in The Walking Dead as they do in any other game with a story. You want freedom? Play a sandbox.

[Cyreen]

Originally Posted by CTCCoco

I have seen RPG 2D games made by only 1 man with 10 different endings...

And yet there are still two more episodes to go in this game, so who know how it will end or how your choices will matter in the long run. Rescuing Carley/Doug in episode one isn't likely going to be the defining decision in a five episode game.

[Red Panda]

I heard Witcher 2 is basically 2 RPGs in one because of the outcomes.

[Araron]

Originally Posted by Real Human

telltale

why we had not choice to save Carley????????

I agree,thats the thing I honestly dislike most. If they created all the responses for each and every single choice in conversation you make,even if you are silent all the time,or two completely separate characters depending on who you choose,then they could have given us the option to save Carley or Ben.Maybe a very fast quick-time event,which would allow you to stop Lilly shooting Carley,therefore saving her instead of Ben.


...but,to post about the thread itself,honestly,I don't find much choices that limit your story.Like it has been said before,this isn't a type of a game in which the story can go in 3 different directions.

You have got a lot of "X will remember that" or "X won't forget that",and depending on what you say or how you act,people will have very different relationships with people in the group.If someone hasn't been in the best relationship with Kenny through the game,that will reflect on how he talks to your in Episode 4 and 5.In the Episode 3,if you haven't told him the truth about your past,or to any other member,I'm sure that will make a difference in the next 2 episodes. Like he said himself it will make matter when it comes to the numbers for the boat. What you do with Clementine isn't for nothing also. We still have 2 episodes left,we will see how everything turns out guys.

[Galdis]

People have been clamoring since Episode 1 that the decisions put forth are very superficial, which has been well-argued. It is true that the perceptions other characters have of you and your experience with story differ dramatically depending upon player actions. However, player action has not influenced plot in a significant manner to date. To make things a bit worse, Episode 3 did a lot of "railroading" as well, as everyone ended up with the same scheme regardless of what they did.

I still love the game, and player experiences differ enough to make this game fun to play and talk about, but the problem still remains that significant plot branching in the game is yet to be had.

[Cyreen]

Originally Posted by Galdis

To make things a bit worse, Episode 3 did a lot of "railroading" as well, as everyone ended up with the same scheme regardless of what they did.

Funny thing about railroads, they tend to run on one line from point A to point B, not a lot of detours.

[Viner16]

Pretty much by the end of Ep 3 the only differences between people's saves are what you said to people.

They better make all the stuff you say matter in Ep 4, like if you told Clem not to be afraid she'll run into an empty house but if you say Everything is Dangerous then she'll carefully enter with you

[LadyJ]

Originally Posted by TheWildcard

I hear you, but its not like 25 dollars broke me. I just don't feel like sitting back and saying nothing while the company does not deliver what was promised. Saying nothing is what makes these companies think they can do it.

Agreed

[QUOTE=TheWildcard;668262 This is exactly the opposite of what we were promised...If the story matches the story is not tailored. If the choices are negated there are no lasting consequences. Its all about the difference between what was promised and what was delivered.[/QUOTE]

Bingo!

Originally Posted by Maugly

Don't worry, in season 137, episode 95 you've got to see an effect of all your decisions you've made that far

I second this prediction. Sadly.

Originally Posted by TheWildcard

I'm sorry but I find it extremely funny how people are grasping at strays trying to prove that your choices have mattered so far. Especially when a telltale team member pretty much said that yeah so far things don't seem to have an impact....Seriously, wake up guys.

I have given up both trying to understand and trying to make myself understood on this topic and this board. There are a group of people who inexplicably have accepted that the sky is blue while simultaneously arguing that blue isn't really the name for the color and that they have chosen to use their imaginary blue in lieu of the real freaking blue they can see.

Originally Posted by JackSchirmer

So, when in doubt, resort to that tired, cheap rhetorical device, that "words are subjective". In other words, we can't really disagree with the ads, because we can never really agree on what words mean. There are no actual, meaningful definitions of words such as "profound", right? If only there was a book we could turn to, where the "definitions" of "words" were compiled such that we could consult them and figure out what things meant! If only!

I think that's what bothers me the most about the discussion here. Many of us, myself included, have voiced rational and logical statements of displeasure with the marketing and advertisement of this game. When we do so, we are met with these rationalizations that are quite frankly, insulting and irritating. Subjectivity be damned, I have the right to say TTG misrepresented this game without someone coming behind me telling me that I am misinterpreting it because I don't understand what the words really mean.

[YamiRaziel]

Originally Posted by LadyJ

I think that's what bothers me the most about the discussion here. Many of us, myself included, have voiced rational and logical statements of displeasure with the marketing and advertisement of this game. When we do so, we are met with these rationalizations that are quite frankly, insulting and irritating. Subjectivity be damned, I have the right to say TTG misrepresented this game without someone coming behind me telling me that I am misinterpreting it because I don't understand what the words really mean.

You do have the right to say that TTG misrepresented the game. However, I have the right to say that you're completely wrong and apparently you have absolutely no idea how game designing works. It is also my right to tell you and all the others that share your opinion that if you're so displeased with this game, you can always stop buying and playing. Nobody forces you, and yes, the game delivers everything it has promised.
The only thing Telltale fails to deliver are episodes on their promised dates, but I'm willing to forgive that as I do prefer quality over quantity/speed delivery and the quality of their episodes so far has been top notch.

[LadyJ]

Originally Posted by YamiRaziel

You do have the right to say that TTG misrepresented the game. However, I have the right to say that you're completely wrong and apparently you have absolutely no idea how game designing works. It is also my right to tell you and all the others that share your opinion that if you're so displeased with this game, you can always stop buying and playing. Nobody forces you, and yes, the game delivers everything it has promised.
The only thing Telltale fails to deliver are episodes on their promised dates, but I'm willing to forgive that as I do prefer quality over quantity/speed delivery and the quality of their episodes so far has been top notch.

You saying that I am wrong doesn't make it so. No more than me saying I am right makes it so. Further, let me correct you because you are wrong when you assume that I have no idea of the game development process. My experience in the field is greater than yours, I assure you. However, it is irrelevant in this context.

You seem to want to point a finger at me because you don't like or agree with my point of view. Your intent to invalidate my concerns by denying the veracity of my complaint tells me that you are just as linear in your ability to process complex input as TTG's version of TWD is. Which explains why you are satisfied with the product.

I have already paid for the episodes in advance. If I had only bought each one at a time, I would have stopped at the first game and wouldn't be here to talk about it. They have already lost me as a future customer. That however, doesn't mean I can't be upset or voice that displeasure right now.

[Galdis]

Originally Posted by YamiRaziel

You do have the right to say that TTG misrepresented the game. However, I have the right to say that you're completely wrong and apparently you have absolutely no idea how game designing works. It is also my right to tell you and all the others that share your opinion that if you're so displeased with this game, you can always stop buying and playing. Nobody forces you, and yes, the game delivers everything it has promised.
The only thing Telltale fails to deliver are episodes on their promised dates, but I'm willing to forgive that as I do prefer quality over quantity/speed delivery and the quality of their episodes so far has been top notch.

LadyJ's game design expertise isn't relevant. You are simply saying "that's your opinion" when LadyJ is presenting an argument.