Does Detroit: Become Human Qualify More As An Interactive Movie Than A Video Game

In a new Opinion Piece, Skewed and Reviewed look at the impressive Detroit: Become Human and ask if the game is more of an Interactive Movie Vs A Video Game due to the emphasis on branching story based on player choices than twitch gameplay and action sequences.

[ShockUltraslash]

It is just a movie with nothing to do. There are no difference between watching it on YouTube and playing it yourself.
You don't have any weapons, or enemies let alone boss battles. No platforming, no secret areas to discover there is no NOTHING TO PLAY. You cant fail of die and get a gamae over screen.
David Cage is Hollywood director reject who thinks games should remove gameplay and combat and turn into movies.
https://www.theverge.com/20...

Cage is an enemy of gaming.

[Garethvk]

I had tried a few times to die, fail, see what happens. While the outcome may change, you do just keep playing along. Also noted that after each chapter, you cannot say I do not like this outcome; let me go back to this point and start over.

[ameliabaz]

You can drastically effect the story if u ou fail too often though.

SPOILERS-

If you fail as Kara, you can die as early as the Stormy Nighy chapter and her story ends there. If you fail too many missions as Connor, you'll be deactivated midway through the game. If you fail too many missions as Markus, you can get kicked out of Jericho and a new leader takes his place. Thats not including all the smaller things you can affect that can unlock dialogue options later, result in heartwarming scenes, or end tragically.

[morganfell]

Let's look at a similar article from the past:

"Do Tell Tale Games Qualify More As Interactive Movies Than Video Games

Oh wait, that's right...

[kreate]

Late shift is a interactive movie.

[thorstein]

C'mon Gareth,

Anyone who plays the game can see the variations based on the timeline given at the end of each chapter. Some of these have multiple endings. Some have multiple starts based on what happened. I have an instance that only 2% of players experienced.

So, no, while it may be guided it certainly is a game.

This article on the otherhand barely rates as journalism.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Thoughts like this one are the enemy of gaming.Thinking that all games have to have certain game mechanics to qualify as a game. There are all types of games from puzzle to memory, shooting to fighting, story to rpg. When some gamers try and decide that some games aren't games because they don't play that type or genre, then, they aren't really gamers.

No one questions Tell Tale's games. But David Cage always gets questioned about his games because they are playstation exclusive now. Fahrenheit wasn't because it was multiplatform. But everything after is. Why is that?

And with shill articles asking stupid questions, it doesn't help the game industry or the medium.

[Garethvk]

Funny: the same thing was asked about The Order: 1886 and many said it failed as it did not allow users much interaction and was too restrictive. So now this game comes along and is a massive hit. More and more games use full motion capture and place an emphasis on decision making such as Telltale. Seems to me that it is a very legit question. In what ways do I speak badly of the game in any way, shape, or form? It is a valid question, is it a game or an interactive movie. In the same way that nobody is going to call those interactive movies a game. So does this game represent a new trend towards gaming taking another step towards what has always been a goal for many publishers and making a movie quality experience with interactions and user choice?

[Hardiman]

I know right! People always say "why is everything the same " or "there's no diversity " and then there are articles complaining about Death Stranding or Detroit and I'm just scratching my head!

Again if they were multi platform there'd be less "concerns!"

[rainslacker]

The definition of video game is easily looked up.

"a game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer program on a television screen or other display screen."

You can do this in Detroit. Just because the story can change to make new plot lines is irrelevant. You do this by manipulating images on screen to produce a desired result.

An interactive movie is classified as a genre within video games according to Wikipedia, although I've never heard it described like this by anyone in classes or general discussion. There is a lack of citation on the Wiki page. However, the wiki does cite things like Dragon's lair, which I could see being called an interactive movie.

Otherwise, I'd probably just call an interactive movie one that uses premade or rendered film or video which can change based on some form of input, but it isn't manipulating images on screen. However, Detroit does have actual game play elements, which certainly puts it in the category of a game.

[TheOptimist]

Funny how David Cage generalizes in the same way:

"When you think about it, you realize that many games have absolutely nothing to say, they're merely here to make you have a good moment, to trigger some adrenaline in your system, and that's cool."
- David Cage, 2013

After games like Deus Ex, Bioshock, System Shock, Persona 4, Fallout 2 etc.... It clearly shows that he knows jackshit about games.... Wonder who is more ignorant/idiotic, him or his fans.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Do you believe I was talking to you Garthyk?

Detroit is a game. The order is a game.

By shockultraslash's definition, tetris is not a game as it doesn't have platforming,enemies,weapons, bosses,etc.

I'm challenging his definition. If you believe he's right, then I'm challenging your belief as well.

[ShockUltraslash]

Cage wants all games to turn into movies. Lats have Cage play Dark Souls lets see where that goes
He would probably blame the developers cause he keeps dying and would not even TRY to learn the combat.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Yeah. Because David Cage has never made an action adventure game with fighting, shooting, swimming, etc
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/...
https://m.youtube.com/watch...
You keep failing slash.

[Obscure_Observer]

"David Cage is Hollywood director reject who thinks games should remove gameplay and combat and turn into movies."

We´ll always have some new and uninformed people calling David Gage´s games "interactive movies". Has been this way with his games since Fahrenheit Indigo Prophecy. Nothing to see here, folks.

[neutralgamer1992]

Glad he is with Sony who provide him with resources and creative freedom

If someone doesn't like his games don't play them

[ApocalypseShadow]

To back up what obscure observer is saying and again prove slash wrong.
https://www.google.com/amp/...

**But this platform is about becoming the characters, not just seeing them from the outside like in a film.”**

**I disagree that injecting emotion into a game comes at the expense of the playing experience**

**Cage is confident developers will soon embrace the potential of hyperrealistic interactive gaming.**

He wants you to play and be the character, not just watching like a movie slash.

[Pozzle]

. Anyone who thinks watching Detroit is the same as playing it obviously knows nothing about the game. Detroit is the exact sort of game that DOESN'T work as well for a Twitch or Youtube playthrough. Because it has multiple options to choose from, the Twitch player might pick an option that you wouldn't normally pick, which can lead to a completely different story than the one you might get if you play the game yourself. I've already played the game twice, and have also watched both my sister and a friend play through it, and we all got completely different stories with completely different endings.

I personally enjoyed the hell out of the game. It's been a while since a game's story and world has impacted me this much, so I'll happily defend Detroit against anyone who thinks it shouldn't exist just because it doesn't fit their narrow view of what a "game" is.

[rainslacker]

Yeah, removing one's own personal choice from the equation does seem to really lessen the experience.

[ameliabaz]

Except you CAN fail and die. You just don't get a game over screen, because the character dies forever.

In fact there is a trophy specifically for those who manage to keep all the main characters alive, because it's a difficult thing to do.

[Aceman18]

I got it on my first playthrough lol 👍

It was close a few times, but I pulled it out lol.

[Aceman18]

It's a great game to me

[jznrpg]

Gamers who discourage variety are the enemy of gaming

[Foxhound922]

I seriously worry about you operating a vehicle.

[UCForce]

But he did said that definition of gaming is everything, not just gameplay. It’s a tool that every developers can do whatever they want and need. The order 1886 is a game, Quantum Break is also a game and Detroit Become Human is also a game as well. Gameplay come first and that’s always the fact, but it’s also a tool that developers can modify, evole, expand ,revamp and create.

[CaptainOmega]

It's a game that tells an interactive story.

[Garethvk]

Good way to put it. Did you make it to the end as I had an odd thought about the end.

{Spoilers}

Airstrike. Problem solved.

[CaptainOmega]

I'm almost on my way to Platinum it. Just need to kill Conner at every opportunity and do a playthrough where everyone lives.

The end was fine. Kara's concentration camp experience was more impactful than Markus's revolution Imo.

Conner is the best character imo.

[Pozzle]

Exactly! Games like this have existed for decades, like Night Trap and the various Japanese visual novels. David Cage didn't invent the genre, yet people act like he is somehow single-handedly ruining gaming by making his own version of an interactive story.

It's funny though...Telltale and Dontnod make a very similar style of games, yet they don't seem to get this level of scrutiny and hatred.

[Tross]

Yeah, but these supposed critics are able to play those other games on their Xboxes, so they don't care nearly as much. If something is moving PS4 units specifically on the other hand, they'll suddenly have a lot more to say about it.

[Hardiman]

It qualifies as a game because it's a game and there's a thing called sub genres!

[DigitalRaptor]

It's hilarious how the hate towards this studio and Cage in general exposes the double standards.

Nobody is writing articles about Telltale Games or point-and-click adventure games being "movies".

[Hardiman]

Or Indigo Prophecy didn't get as much hate and Cage did it. What was different? It was multi platform!

[alb1899]

I said it first time I saw it on n4g and the people here got crazy jajaja

[trooper_]

Because its still a videogame and very diversified at what it does.

[GhostPandaColin]

Most games are starting to be more like films nowadays. Hopefully, that trend doesn't stop games from including great gameplay. Because gameplay is what it's all about, even over content. Gameplay reigns supreme.

[Goldby]

A game with an amazing story and mediocre gameplay will Trump a game with a bad story and amazing gameplay.

Case and point. Witcher 3 vs Destiny.

Witcher 3 had an unbelievable story yes combat gameplay wasn't to notch, while you have destiny, top of the boards for gun play yet the bad story pulled it down.

[GhostPandaColin]

That's a great point. And I love a great story as well, don't get me wrong. One example of a game that is great thanks to its gameplay is Bloodborne. Incredible game, but the story is difficult to understand. There's a story there, but people have to kind of piece puzzle together themselves. Amazing game though.

[meka2611]

Umm no that's a bad example since destiny didn't have much gameplay. And witcher's story wasn't very good either it was the world and how much could be done in it. You can like this game, but to say story is more important in a video game is just plain weird.

[Hardiman]

I know most gamers who've been gaming since the 80's and 90's prefer the way games are developing with deeper narratives. I'm sure there are younger ones as well but I gravitate towards those kinds of games. GOW is a perfect example of taking a series and fleshing it out with an amazing narrative and developed characters!

[2pacalypsenow]

Do people say the same about the walking dead games? Because i'm sure those games the praised through the roof.

Interesting how it works.

[Hardiman]

What is the difference between Detroit and TWD?!?! Oh I know ones multi platform and the other is an exclusive!

[2pacalypsenow]

So you're admitting that the only reason Detroit is getting hate is because it's PlayStation exclusive?

[Hardiman]

Yep that's the main reason all Sony exclusives get hate on! Take Days Gone as an example. It has a vast and beautiful open world, the Freakers have an ecosystem, there is wildlife that can also be infected and at the same time doesn't want to be infected and will react accordingly! Top that with a crafting system for weapons, gear and transportation and every building you see is accessible! So to me that sounds light years better than SOD but you wouldn't know it from all the Days Gone is generic articles on here! If it was multi platform it wouldn't be so generic!

[AgeInTheCage]

Sucks that the 5 new Xbox developers are hard at work on games that wont be on xboxone or X, so their fans are super salty and jealous, im glad that sony is pushing exclusive games on us instead of telling us to buy an overrated console that has no exclusives for 499.99.

good job sony for not pushing the pro on us base owners.

[NXFather]

Sony is the best but, they indeed have much to improve. There is some merit to what these detractors say. Example being that although their games have diversity in story, setting, and even gameplay mechanics, many of them are very similar in their play style like uncharted, horizon, and gow all being third person action adventure games. Maybe this is just game development not introducing enough new mechanics but, they have a point. Now, from where they are sitting of course they are trolling but, people like you pretend like you don't understand this point. So you won't be COMPLETELY HONEST when one of these trolls lies, exaggerates, or annoys you and Sony fanatics are not different. Of course you could point out your opinion on some of their areas to be improved but, just like the X fanatics you are to busy kissing their butt in the winners circle. ITS NOT HARD.

[NXFather]

Also, a game like PUBG, which imo is a shit game has also invented an entire new genre. Now withstanding our preference for single player over multiplayer, how can anyone deny that Brendan and co. have introduced a level of genius in introducing a new style of play. I and many know that Sony is undisputedly number one but, by and large nothing they have done this gen. has elevated gaming with a true new form of genius like a game like pubg. Their genius instead is the sum of the whole and all the parts. Until Naughty Dog recently showed the AI in that E3 LOU@ trailer can you honestly point to one new truely new experience that has not been seen before that stacks up to creating an entirely new genre when many would think game design invention have pretty much run its course.

[Hardiman]

@NXFather ah the ole "innovation " angle! Well I see you made a point to say "not announced " because I'd say Death Stranding and Dreams but why can't fun be the main perimeter games are judged by? Also Shu said there are even more unannounced exclusives so we can't say at this point!

Also while most of Sony's games use the 3rd person perspective and have rich narratives that's where the similarities end. You compared Uncharted, GOW and HZD but those games are completely different and the perspective is really the only common factor! Have you played them?

To lots of fans just the fact they still rely on and deliver SP experiences is innovation in and of itself!

[NXFather]

I played HZD and Uncharted but, my point still stands. Way to sidestep. Fun is the best metric but, game design needs to evolve in the context of new mechanics(completely new) in my opinion and factually these games have not done that. Only announced and seen already things can be analyzed but, I digress. The damage is done. I'll take my leave.

[Hardiman]

@NXFather by your definition The Evil Within an Assassins Creed are the same type of games because they use third person perspective!

No side stepping necessary! More like missing the forest for the trees!

Also naming PUBG as an innovative game seems strange because it's more like a fad and it'll pass for the next fad but narrative driven games that resonate will always, well resonate.

I'd say the fact Sony had the foresight to include VR functionality with the duel shock was pretty innovative. Hell I'd say bringing VR to the masses at an affordable price is pretty innovative! I'd say having HDR come with an update and not having to release new hardware was pretty innovative. I'd say the level at which World Wide Studios is functioning is pretty innovative considering they are the bar and I say the way they handle their IP's is pretty innovative! Take GOW for example. I'd say the way they allow devs creative freedom like GG to create a new IP like HZD is pretty innovative as well! I'd also say Days Gone Freaker ecosystem is pretty innovative considering I've never played an open world game with infected that have an ecosystem and that the wildlife in game will avoid in hopes of not becoming infected. Lots of emergent gameplay possibilities with that one.

What they are doing seems to be working out for th really well considering they'll probably hit 100 million units sold next year!

[AgeInTheCage]

This is what happens when your console the Beast lacks games, you come to n4g and spam anti ps articles on games that you guys will never play on the Beast or pc.

Detroit is one of the best games i have played in years, story is great, game play is simple but effective and the graphics are the best i have ever seen on any console. Im playing on base ps4 mind you.

[AK91]

It honestly doesn't matter what it's defined the title is an enjoyable experience regardless

[paintedgamer1984]

Interactive movie more than a game and im a sony fan. Regardless, its the best game in the genre period...

[Vanfernal]

It's not like David Cage invented graphic adventures. This is a genre that has existed for decades, predominantly on PC. It's a game. Period.

[Tross]

I think visual novels, as the name implies, are merely stories with choices, so I don't think it's quite correct to call them a game. Games like this one, however, do have enough player input to warrant being considered such. In any case, labels are merely semantics that exist to let the consumer know what they're getting, so you can call it whatever you want. What's important is whether it's enjoyable, and though that's subjective, many people have and continue to enjoy it. Ergo, I'd say Detroit has done its job.

[The_Jackel]

if you play it - its a video game ie use a controller to interact and move a player

if you only watch it - its a movie/tv show

its not hard to figure out what it is

[GamingSinceForever]

This genre has existed for some time now so why are we still asking these questions as if it’s a bad thing?

[Rimeskeem]

Personally I PLAYED the game and enjoyed the story that I PLAYED through. The character choices that you make while PLAYING the game create so many sorts of scenarios to PLAY through. You end up PLAYING as 3 different characters from 3 different backgrounds and as you PLAY the stories become connected.

For the simple fact that a movie has 1 ending while this game has dozens and I see no reason why you can call this an interactive movie. It's an interactive story based game but those have been around for ages.

[TheColbertinator]

Some of you are too young to remember some PC and console games that didn't exactly "fit the bill" of what modern gamers want.

The Sherlock Holmes mystery games,Zork,Typing of the Dead,Dr Health'nstein's Body Fun and Japanese visual novels. They don't conform to gamers with short attention spans and don't need to.

No reason to downplay "interactive story" games like Detroit or Wolf Among Us.

[NXFather]

Well if the object is non on rails gameplay then yes if not then no. Looks like a good game though.

[Artemidorus]

They should never charge full retail for these games.

[vasantasena]

I would have liked to read more of the author's thoughts about this; the article was too short IMO.