Games Don't Have To Be Fun

David Cage "isn't interested" in giving players a fun experience with the upcoming Beyond: Two Souls. Some are surprised, but is this move really that unique or ambitious? Read on to realize why games don't have to be fun. Because honestly, some of the most successful franchises in history aren't fun at all.

[ape007]

lol wut?

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

I know right?

Games have to be fun. Everyone has their own definition of fun though. I know what Cage means, but he has to realize that what he may consider not "a fun experience" actually is fun to some people. To have fun is to enjoy and I'm sure many people will enjoy Beyond: Two Souls, therefore many will have "fun" playing the game when it releases.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

I think some people are misinterpreting what I'm saying.

Just because YOU don't find something fun doesn't mean others share your opinion.

Fun is subjective. It is totally possible for people to find the multiplayer shooters that you find fun, boring. And those same people may prefer to play a single player experience in Heavy Rain because they find HR a more FUN and engaging experience than your favorite multiplayer shooter and yes it is possible for some people to feel that way...

[badz149]

I prefer my games to be "enjoyable"

for example, Saints Rows games are suppose to be FUN, right? I don't enjoy them even a bit!

there are no FUN in games like Dead Space but they are sure as hell ENJOYABLE!

so, David Cage, I concur

[wishingW3L]

this is from an old interview and as always some crappy site took it out of context for the hits. He doesn't even says that in the interview to begin with.

This is the the full quote:

“I am not interested in giving them [the players] 'fun', I want to give them meaning; I don’t want to challenge their thumbs, I want to challenge their minds.”

Cage never says anything about games not having to be fun, he just says that he's gonna make the game he wants to make. Fun or not.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***"this is from an old interview and as always some crappy site took it out of context for the hits."***

You're right.

http://n4g.com/news/959325/...

And actually already gave my opinion on the matter in the comments in that old article lol.

[Convas]

I'm good with a different experience. A game pregnant with deep meaning and sincere contemplation is fine, but PLEASE, don't tell me that fun isn't necessary.

Fun is the enjoyment of a particular activity by the person that undertakes it. So by definition, enjoying something is to have fun. From what I've seen of Beyond, it looks fun, so ... please don't start Molyneuxing about Mr. Cage.

"Because honestly, some of the most successful franchises in history aren't fun at all." Errr, what? Examples please?

[BanditGamer]

Pregnant with deep meaning. . .My goodness I don't know who's more pretentious, you or David Cage

[TheMrFraz]

I gave examples. I did not have fun playing BioShock. I get scared easy, so the whole time I just wanted to experience the story and get it the hell over with. Not fun, yet I'm glad I went through it.

[Skateboard]

Heavy Rain was good at making me care about the characters and the presentation is a perfect 10, Beyond Two Souls is gonna be sick!!!!

[Burning_Finger]

Games Don't Have To Be Fun.....It can be a satisfying experience.

[_Aarix_]

If it isnt fun this it isn't really a game.

[DigitalRaptor]

Wrong. If I don't have fun with a game, that's not to say it isn't a game. Just look up various definitions of the word "game" at its core and you'll see the different contexts in which games exist.

[ChunkyLover53]

Aren't games played for fun? I mean when I play a game I am always playing to have a good time. I'm all for different types of experiences in gaming, but the bottom line is that I need to be having fun.

Games are synonymous with fun if you ask me.

[jc48573]

you know, I actually bought the game. Usually games like this don't sell well, but it did. This just tells us that there is an audience out there for this type of games whether is fun or boring.

[MidnytRain]

Enough BS, let's do this:

game: an amusement or pastime (ignoring "pastime" because anything can pass time)
fun: something that provides mirth or amusement
amuse:to hold the attention of (someone) pleasantly

By definition, if it is not fun, then it does amuse, if it does not amuse, then it's not a game.

[Imalwaysright]

I agree. Sure if a game is fun to play all the better but a game just needs to be engaging for me to play it. MGS3 is my all time favorite game and its not because of the gameplay. Its the dialogs between the unique, deep and charismatic characters that won me over. I love when youre going to save and the paramedic starts talking about old movies. Its those little things that kept me glued to the controller and not necessarily the gameplay itself wich imo is great btw.

[karlowma]

The easiest way to understand what he's saying is to compare to movies, a more established medium with much more diversity. You can see a movie like Shawshank Redemption, or American History X, and while it's not really what you'd call "fun", it is still a deeply rewarding and thought provoking experience. I think that's what he's going for.

[Bathyj]

Bingo.

I was going to say the exact same thing but use the example that while popcorn "movies" can be great fun with your brain in park, real "films" like Schindlers List arent exact fun, but make for very compelling viewing and are an experience that will usually stick with you for a lot longer while making you think about the subject matter.

[DigitalRaptor]

Okay I'll use the same example I did in the other article regarding this. Why do we watch films? To enjoy them, right? Take the film "Seven Pounds" - it's a sombre drama film, full of sadness and depression. Yet it's a really good piece of cinema that is engaging, thrilling and enjoyable to watch. It's not necessarily "fun", but it's good, memorable cinema and you're watching a great performance.

The same can and should apply to certain games, much like David Cage's. Who cares if you're not open to new interactive experiences, when the reason the gaming industry will never mature and grow because people only seem to be looking for "fun" in the traditional sense, rather than engaging an alternative way of storytelling. Embrace them if you want this - don't be scared that all games will become like it, because not all films are like Seven Pounds.

And people saying "games have to be fun to be games". C'mon... not all games are fun but they are still games. Are all puzzles fun? Are all sports games fun?

@ karlowma - Exactly, well said!

[WeskerChildReborned]

You're right, cause they are also entertaining.

[FinaLXiii]

I disagree fun is essencial as well to enjoy a game not just refined gameplay , story and great presentation.

Red Dead Redemption,for example, is very well refined game but and there´s ways of having fun by hunting animals instead of humans which is something that praticly doesnt have anything to do with the main game´s story.
In my opinion the fun part of any great game is exploring other possibilities that you may overlooked during the storyline like mini games and such.

First comes entertainment then comes fun.

A game that jumps right away into the fun may not be a very exciting experience.

[Nac]

Cage is right. Besides, something can be enjoyable and not be "fun."

[jc48573]

yea, don't hate on boring games.

[FreshRevenge]

first of all this article is rediculous and second of all I thought Heavy Rain was fun. I think you need to think twice before you post an article or your opinion. Fun comes in different variety. I can play a game of chess and not crack a smile because I am concentrating on my next move but that doesn't mean the game isn't fun. I think you think fun is like Chuckee Cheese type fun where you see the little kids jumping in the plastic balls and hit the squirrels or what ever those things that pop out and you have to hit with the mallet? I would consider rewriting this article and think before you say that Beyond Two isn't fun!

[FinaLXiii]

yeah i guess some people just define fun by "whacking the mole"

[FreshRevenge]

oh those are what those things are called? A mole in the hole gets whack and that is called fun!

[310dodo]

wow there are actually people who dont think all games should be technically "fun"?

every game should be fun to play.
fun as in awesome, exciting, relentless, etc...

[Derpy]

For me it does, though what's considered fun can greatly vary from gamer to gamer. But when I read that a developer isn't interested in giving gamers a fun experience, it sets off the red warning lights in my mind. When I shell out sixty dollars for a game, I'm not paying to be preached at, be persuaded to some else's opinions, to see someone's art or be bombarded with political statements, I'm paying to have fun and I better think the game's going to deliver or my money goes elsewhere.