70°

The Quantum Break Conundrum: Games Don’t Need To Be Movies

Darkly Written posts: "One of the longest-running ‘dilemmas’ in the gaming world, if you will, is this whole drive of some mainstream developers to ‘be like Hollywood’ or achieve that ‘summer blockbuster’ game as they try their hardest to merge TV or film with the video game medium.

The Quantum Break conundrum. In a nutshell it would be the quest to walk the fine line between movie and video game."

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darklywritten.com
Free_Fro2942d ago

I haven't played the game so I can't say too much about it
But. . It's rare that we see AAA games take risks.

You haven't played it either so you don't know how well it works with QB.

That said, whilst divisive it still falls on the positive side of the spectrum and folks are buying it.

Two objectives accomplished:
Devs + Publishers are happy
Gamers are happy

Tody_za2942d ago (Edited 2942d ago )

I'm very happy it tried something different (which I mention in the piece - I have no qualms about games trying new things due to the vast freedom video games have creatively) and I've been a big fan of Remedy Entertainment since Max Payne, which means a decade of fandom.

While I haven't played the game, I'm not discussing the game's quality or gameplay mechanics, so I think it's okay. I'm merely talking about the 'idea' of integrating live-action TV episodes in, which I read about, watched Let's Plays on and reviews just to see how they work in the context of the game.

Very excited to play the game still, but this aspect of the game seems pretty straight-forward to understand.

The article mostly discusses the 'idea' itself and the game industry's drive to emulate Hollywood/Film in general.

jb2272941d ago

I haven't played it either but I totally agree with your read on the situation.

To me, experiencing it is nearly irrelevant to the conversation. The show could be as great as Breaking Bad & I still wouldn't personally want it in my game. It'd be great as a supplement that you could consume at your leisure or as a prologue or epilogue to be taken in before or after your experience. The issue is the entire idea of a video game is based off of interactivity & input, so the more live action content you put on the disc, the less the product fits the idea of what a "game" even is. I'm all for risks within the game itself but we've seen video gaming as a whole come so far in the last generation towards telling compelling narratives that are unlike anything else you can experience, so jus throwing some tv between the acts feels like a step backwards. Devs should be working towards more interactivity, not less.

I think Naughty Dog's mantra sums narrative in gaming the best way possible...they tell themselves to "keep it on the stick", meaning that they are always pushing toward letting you inhabit those characters as those stories are being told, not being passive onlookers for a story that remains in motion w/ or w/o you.

ManonWire2941d ago (Edited 2941d ago )

A videogame can never be on par with a film.

Remedy should've known better.

Edit: The Last of Us can't hold a candle to No Country for old Men (the film which Naughty Dog cites as their influence for the game). Some people have suggested that The last of Us takes it's influence from Cormac McCarthy's "The Road". Wrong. It clearly takes it's influence from Alfonso Cuaron's masterpiece "Children of Men". I could name 100s of films which are far better than a "videogame" like The last of Us. I won't go there. People complain about "interactive movies". Those complaints sum up the fatal flaw of a videogame - it's interactive.

kraenk122941d ago

Except The Last Of Us, which is even better than a film could ever be.

kraenk122941d ago (Edited 2941d ago )

@manonwire

Absolutely. There is no way any movie could ever be that intense...a series maybe. A movie..never!

StifflerK2941d ago

No, TLOU was heavily inspired by Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
A lot of the key scenes - the memento, the scene with the animal, the cannibals , the look and the setting are very similar, even the ending.

But that doesn't make the game any less enjoyable.
But the thing is, writing in video games is good, but still has a long way to go to match the best movies.
I'd say it's harder for games because you have to account for interactivity and choice.

Also , I recommend watching the movie, or reading the book, I think you'll like it.
Here's the trailer https://www.youtube.com/wat...

2941d ago Replies(3)
jb2272941d ago (Edited 2941d ago )

"People complain about "interactive movies". Those complaints sum up the fatal flaw of a videogame - it's interactive."

You realize that at one point in time people were saying the same thing in regards to the switch from paintings & photography to the motion pictures you mention? The interactivity is what makes this medium unique, and it's exactly what will set it apart from film in a few decades, then people like yourself will be saying that films could never measure up to gaming solely because they aren't interactive.

TLOU was another huge stride (among a large handful) towards artistic legitimacy for this medium and to claim that games could never measure up to films is just all kinds of wrong in my eyes. You can boil TLOU down to a Road ripoff or a Children of Men carbon copy, but stories are never that simple, and to do so would disregard any nuance within either work. The broad strokes may be the same but it's the details that truly sell any form of art. I absolutely love Children of Men & Cuaron is one of my favorite directors, but the reason many parts of the movie worked (the chase scene in particular) was down to the visceral nature of it, something that is even more dialed up when you are the one actually controlling the action. You are the cinematographer, calling the shots on the fly...that's how I play games like those. I frame my own shots to my personal eye, and it creates a much more impactful experience.

Also, I hear your claims & I realize you may be a film student, but as a student you must show your work. What exactly about gaming could never measure up or be as impactful as a film? From first hand experience some games I've played have left more of a mark on me than any film has, so I'd say if there is any others out there with the same experience, it completely destroys any argument you could make.

Film works as art, art is meant to be affecting & impactful. If games can also be affecting & impactful to even one person, how are they not art on the same level as film?

MasterCornholio2941d ago

Like Joe said they could have used ingame assets instead of TV episodes. Even some of the action of those episodes (car chase scene) could have been converted into actual gameplay.

While the game itself is good many people despise the TV portion of it. Alan Wake didn't have any TV episodes in it but gamers still loved the game.

kraenk122941d ago

Sam Lake stated they didn't have the time and funds to do it in engine though.

jb2272941d ago

That admission in & of itself speaks volumes really. It essentially means the live action aspect was a compromise, not a preference, at least to begin with.

My best guess is that MS asked them to do live action to coincide w/ the initial TV integration and once they did their reversal of policies, Remedy couldn't really go back & change the game to fit their initial vision on a feasible budget & schedule after the tv portion was written in so they had to settle & push forward with the live action.

If Sam Lake & Remedy was in on the live action portion the entire time, he wouldn't have even entertained the notion of traditional game play or given a response like that IMO.

MasterCornholio2941d ago

They had plenty of time to develop the game.

As for funds that I'm not sure of.

StifflerK2941d ago

Remedy has been heading this way for a while.
Alan wake did have it's own mini live action series 'Bright Falls', plus American Nightmare had live action cut-scenes.
Plus both had mini spoof live action TV shows viewable in game.
QB is like a mixture of all of the above.

gamer11382941d ago

I could generalise and say a lot of people enjoyed the TV portions. You can't be certain because you are not everybody.

MasterCornholio2940d ago (Edited 2940d ago )

I didn't exactly say "Since I don't like TV in video games and I'm a human being. Everyone who's a human being doesn't like TV in video games."

Many people liked what they did and many people didn't. That's the main reason why some reviews are extremely positive and others quite negative. Its the TV portion of the game that either people love or hate. As for the general consensus on the gameplay and story, most people loved it.

190°

15 Xbox Games That Should Make the Multiplatform Jump

While there’s likely already a list behind closed doors, one can still speculate and offer logical suggestions for titles new and old that should find their way into the PlayStation and Switch libraries.

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technabob.com
GamerRN54d ago

Single A games and live service games. Those make sense

S2Killinit54d ago

None of it makes sense. But its happening.

Ps5conehead54d ago

That’s up to Microsoft they want return on there investment. From buying up those publishers. That’s what there in business for. And they made a mistake putting day one exclusive on game pass. So now Microsoft wants to profit any way they can.its called buisness . Just like Sony putting games on pc a year are two after ps5 launch.
So if they can make money off PlayStation and Nintendo. They will do that. And I bet soon real soon they will release some aaa exclusives .and I bet one day it will be same day release

TheEroica54d ago

Sony gamers begging for Xbox games.... Who would've thunk it?

BISHOP-BRASIL54d ago

Yeah, because random site off the internet represents all Sony gamers, they have the letter of attorney and all...

S2Killinit54d ago

Lol what a spin. You dizzy?

AsunaYuukiTheFlash53d ago (Edited 53d ago )

We don’t care about shovelwares. Get that junk out of PS5

StormSnooper53d ago

More like MS begging to put their games on PlayStation.

TheEroica52d ago

Keep begging Sony gamers!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 52d ago
Friendlygamer54d ago

Some of these seem to be exclusive for lack of enthusiasm of the publisher rather than because of deals. A lot of cool indies skip ps for some reason like katana zero, el paso, elsewhere and gunbrela

S2Killinit54d ago

Even more indies skip xbox. We know that right?

Friendlygamer54d ago

Quality over quantity, Microsoft got some really interesting and curated niche games on their machines, maybe in part because of gamepass

S2Killinit54d ago

Quality and MS are not things you bring up in same sentence.

shinoff218354d ago (Edited 54d ago )

Alot of indies skip xbox to. It goes round and round. Personally I think your off base on that but no need to have the argument.

Friendlygamer54d ago

Between katana zero, valheim, Battletech, el passo... I don't feel off base. maybe ps got a million of light novel games that will never release on Xbox but like I've said, I'm talking about niche games highlights, the 10%.

  Heck, it's probably thanks to Microsoft that the s.t.a.l.k.e.r games came to console ps included, meanwhile Sony backwards compatibility continues to be extremely anemic.

And I'm sure most ps5 users are happy to ignore these games and just play wathever new 3rd person action game is trending but it's cool that Microsoft gives some love to smaller audiences and software preservation

shinoff218354d ago

Again your off base just to be snide. All it's showing though is your ignorance.

One light novels wtf is that even. Ps has plenty of pretty damn good indies.

Speaking of indies and ms being responsible. You know F.I.S.T. of course you do alot of you guys just support gamepass. Well here's a history of Sony being responsible for helping indies. Look up the China project from Sony.

Lastly lol your ignorance showing again. Sony has plenty of games. Personally third person is better then first anyway but that's besides the point. Sony gets so many games that xbox doesn't get because yall don't support the games. Jrpgs being a great example. I personally am not into every Sony first party game. Alot of us aren't. On the other side you don't get to eat often so you gobble up everything. Me personally God of War not my cup, etc. For me I'm into jrpgs and ms just can't touch Sony on those. Again because the Xbox base doesn't support it. Devs dont wanna waste their time or money. Hit me up when falcom develops a game over there.

Speaking of third person narrative games. Aren't yall drooling over hellblade 2. The first one was Sony exclusive at one point. Another not my cup game. Showing we don't have to fall in line and agree we love everything Sony puts out. The facts are they sell though unlike elsewhere(not nintendo)

StormSnooper53d ago

You are same person as GamerRN, yes?

Abnor_Mal54d ago

They really think PlayStation fans would want to play Redfall? Pfft.

Personally nothing on that list would be any game I’d want to play.

TwoPicklesGood54d ago

I’d absolutely love Hellblade 2, Palworld, and Quantum Break on ps5 as I’m sure tons of others would too. There’s nothing wrong with wanting games from another console and its sad that people try to act like they aren’t interested in them.

shinoff218354d ago

While indont agree with the games. I agree with the point. Your not wrong.

DarXyde54d ago

Sunset Overdrive makes very good sense. Palworld might.

Don't know about the others. Hellblade II does make sense given the original launched on PS4 first. Quantum Break was a massive letdown for me. I absolutely hated the whole TV show thing and I don't think anyone should have to relive that on modern hardware.

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160°

Now that Remedy owns Control, it’s time to reclaim Quantum Break

Alan Wake 2 studio Remedy Entertainment has reclaimed the rights to Control, and now sci-fi hit Quantum Break deserves the same treatment.

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theloadout.com
Petebloodyonion70d ago

Totally agree with that especially when Quantum Break has several references to Alan Wake and Alan Wake make allusions to QB.
I do believe that MS and Remedy can work things out and MS has usually been nice to devs and publishers regarding IP.

Obscure_Observer70d ago

They can't "reclaim" what was never theirs.

Petebloodyonion70d ago

I’m sure we can settle for purchase from MS the IP.

Lightning7770d ago

MS is not doin anything with it. Plus they're doing a multiverse of their own so Remedy needs the IP.

If MS wants to have exclusive let it be timed for 6 months then go to other platforms. MS seems to be, let's say, generous with some if their games as of late.

Or have QB2 be multiplat from the jump, put it on GP. Keeping QB2 as an exclusive is kinda weird these days.

Obscure_Observer70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

@Petebloodyonion

"I’m sure we can settle for purchase from MS the IP."

Good luck

@Lightning77

"MS is not doin anything with it."

Japan Studio is dead nd Sony isn´t doing anything with Bloodborne either! Yet I can 100% guarantee that there´s a far bigger demand for a sequel, remake or even a remaster for that game from both PS5 and PC gamers.

That been said, why don´t you ask Sony tol sell the IP to Fromsoftware now that according to rumors, they bought Elden Ring from Bandai?

ZwVw70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

Reclaim? That would mean that they actually owned the ip at one point, which they never did (MS always has). Apples & oranges. Remedy always owned the Control ip (just not the publishing), as they have with Alan Wake.

About as likely as them getting the Max Payne rights from Rockstar.

mastershredder70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

Sending you game to a publisher does not mean they get "rights to own it " unless that was part of the contract (monetary/ strategic reasons). 505 was the publisher they worked with to publish and distribute it, it dos not mean that 505 flat out "owned" anything, clearly they did have a special arrangement that made them open to limit their publishing rights. and so here we are and big whoop

Jingsing70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

Yeah get Quantum Break PS5, only if you put it on disc with all the associated movie material.

isarai70d ago

I mean they got the Alan Wake IP back from MS, so I feel like they could get QB back as well

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110°

15 Games That Like to Play With Your Mind

GB: "Some games reduce stress while others like to play with your mind."

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gamingbolt.com
banger88367d ago

15 games on FIFTEEN pages? That's a NO from me.

Superliminal
Antichamber
Manifold Garden
Portal & Portal 2
The Stanley Parable
Monument Valley
Gorogoa
Thumper
Inscryption
Q.U.B.E. 2
Darq
Quantum Break
Perspective
Inside
The Swapper

IamTylerDurden1367d ago (Edited 367d ago )

I think Inscryption is the best game on that list. PT and Returnal i would offer. Returnal deserves a spot over some of the listed games. Especially after chapter 3. Maybe even Alice MR? Death Stranding? Kojima all together. To much smaller degree Dead Space. I'm spitballing.

I didn't play Thumper enough to see beyond the visual spectacle. Curious choice.

SullysCigar366d ago (Edited 366d ago )

I'd add FEAR and RE7 (when Ethan starts getting visions, especially in the boat) to that list.

Edit: and Here They Lie

Petebloodyonion366d ago

What no Eternal Darkness on the list?

BrainSyphoned366d ago

Only makes me think of gatcha loot crate game specifically built to play your mind into becoming an addict.