"the gameplay interactions in interactive entertainment can be as profound and poignant as the interactions in passive entertainment."
I was actually pretty disappointed by the scope of interactions in GTA IV. Look at how many options you have for interacting with the world when you're out and about in the city. Carjack. Push/punch. Jump. Climb up on. Shoot. Drive. Pretty tough to build a "profound and poignant" connection to a world I can only influence through violence and destruction. Yes, I know there were "relationships" to develop but those interactions were totally passive (drive somewhere, push the occasional button) and frankly boring as hell. As were the pointless binary choices (kill chump A or don't who cares).
Games are getting better, for sure. But when some aspects are overly realized, it just calls attention to how underdeveloped other aspects are.
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