KDub wrote:Just because you started a discussion and are getting definitive answers that you don't like doesn't mean you should start being a dick.
I apologize. It was reactionary. I really thought you were being a dick by explaining what a book is. That came off as really condescending.
Violent by Design wrote:Why can't you say "the game play is good" and then insert the reason why right after o.o?
A lot of people play games that really...are not very interesting games, but rather get by on ambiance or story. I think it makes a lot of sense that "gameplay" has become somewhat of a descriptive word.
The analogy with movies is silly. While it is true no one says "that movie had really good movie" or what ever the phrase was. People will say "that movie has really good cinematography" despite the fact that a movie is a visual medium, and it should be a given that cinematography would be the primary focus just like gameplay is. But like video games, people like certain films for other reasons then its primary purpose.
We're on the same page. That's what I like to see
I don't think "gameplay" needed to be used at all - just the reason - but as long as the message gets across I'm happy.
I've played games like that plenty of times, but I suppose it was the visual or audio design that made me feel atmosphere if the mechanics themselves have little to offer. I still think talking about it directly is way better than saying "The gameplay is sparse."
The analogy with movies isn't silly, though. "It has good movie-watch" is equivalent to "It's a good movie." It doesn't mean anything by itself. Saying "The movie-watch is uninteresting, but it has good atmosphere and I really liked it" makes no sense. We can talk about cinematography, special effects, acting, music, and all sorts of wonderful things that go into making good movies. But we never make a distinction between the movie-watch and "the rest of it."
It's the same with games. Talking about gameplay is talking about the game as a whole, not a part of it. FFXIII didn't stop being a game when it started playing cutscenes, for example. Separating gameplay from graphics, story, menus, or whatever is silly. Those things are all part of the work. Until last week, I had this double understanding of gameplay as "the game part of the game." A part of itself.
So, in the way I've used it - the normal way - it's been either an oxymoron or too broad. Useless in both senses. That's why I want to stop using it for the most part. Wonder what other horrible contradictions fill my thoughts every day...
