Why games don't have to be fun

What constitutes a game has changed with the times. The medium no longer needs to fit the traditional definition of "fun."

[_Aarix_]

I loved heavy rain to death. I platinumed it on my old account but games DO need to have that sense of fun that got them to where they are today. You can have a incredible cinematic experience with movies and shows but only games can have that interactive experience that make millions game around the world. Its reasons like this why I prefer Gears of war over uncharted. I enjoyed both trilogies but gears takes the cake for focusing on addicting gameplay, cooperation and a maxinum fun factor while keeping an awesome experience in the story department. Now uncharted is without a doubt an amazing game. Ive been enjoying the hell out of the 3rd but The gunplay and the climbing and puzzles just dont do it for me like gears. Dont get me wrong Uncharted has amazing moments of gameplay where I really get into it.

[h311rais3r]

True words.

[kevnb]

ya i think uncharted's b movie cinematic experience takes away from the game. Its still a fun game and worth playing, but it could be so much better if they focused a bit more on showing not telling. Dark Souls is a great example of what happens when devs take the approach im talking about.

[Hicken]

... so what is this "traditional" meaning of fun? The best I can gather is that if you enjoy something, it's fun to/for you. If you don't enjoy it, it's not fun.

Games must always be fun in some way, shape, or fashion. They MUST be enjoyable. They NEED to be. A good game, regardless of how it goes about entertaining a person, NEEDS to be fun in order to even be considered GOOD.

[kevnb]

if a game isnt fun then it sucks.

[ChiVoLok0]

I swear I have read this article before in this same site. I think it was like a month ago.

[DaReapa]

IMO, games don't necessarily have to be "fun" to be "enjoyable". Games like Demon's Souls and ArmA 2 weren't built around the premises of being fun, but still I found them both to be among some of the most enjoyable experiences I've had this gen on their respective platforms.

[ginsunuva]

Fun doesn't have to equal immediate bliss. There's intellectual appreciation that trancends traditional definition of "fun."

The best poems, books, movies, etc aren't "fun."

[glennco]

the best poems, books and movies are not interACTIVE so the comparison doesn't fit.

[glennco]

they have to be fun for me. they are games.