The Importance of Story

I suppose this topic has been touched upon in some shape or form once before, but for the sake of reiteration (read: my ignorance ^_^), I would like to hear this group’s stance on the level of importance or the priority and effort that should be given to the story-line for a fighting game. In short, I want to hear how much this group would value the existence of a grand epic (maybe that sounded a bit too romantic...) being present within the world of such a fighting game. I feel this question would be a relevant topic for the VF message board because it can be annexed into the insanely large VF4 “what if†category and on a side-note, I believe the answers given can help me further understand the qualities which make VF what it is.

For whoever reads this, thanks in advance for the giving me a bit of your time.

 

the storyline in vf holds no importance whatsoever. except maybe to be made fun of.

 

I've never quite understood why there's a need for a story line at all. IMO, it's completely independent of the game...it contributes nothing to the overall experience. It's a fighting game. Not an RPG.

cheers,

<font color=white> Llanfair the prized <font color=green>cabbage</font color=green></font color=white>

 

Yes, I know, the story-line for the vf series has been rather, ugh, ambiguous to say the least, and that is exactly what has been bugging me. VF stands as a fighting game I can actually enjoy, but this "phantom story-line" is what bothers me because it seems as though this is a defining characteristic of the series. However, one of the points in my question was "what if" all of this were to change in vf4 (it probably won't, but I find it rather difficult to stop hoping, I know, its a problem ^_^)? What if there was actually an effort put into the story-line? Would this group care? Would any of it matter on any level, be it minute or gargantuan? (ugh, way too romantic...)

 

I disagree with the notion that a good story line contributes nothing to a fighting game (that's what a bad one can do however...), because, at perhaps its highest level, a story-line can create characters who are more than just lifeless sprites and polygons, for it can give life to "people" who the player can indetify with or appreciate on some level. Certainly this does not enhance the actual gameplay (yet when I played kof strictly for the characters, it definitely helped me get over my odd hatred for 2d fighters), but it can enhance the overall experience. I hope that it is safe to assume that we are all looking to be drawn into a different world when we play a game, and in the case of VF and other "good" fighting games, such a feat is achieved simply by the virtue of there being so much to learn about the gameplay. However, an involving story-line can only add to this element even though the story may achieve this goal by means outside of the gameplay.

You might as well just end this whole rant with a gigantic IMO. I never liked rpg's, but I do like character development, story and fighting games and I guess that in my little mind, I am tired of not seeing all those things existing together. I feel story-lines shouldn't be restricted to rpg's.

 

I want Jeffrey to finally catch that great satan shark, freeing him up for his next conquest: to hunt the giant squid from 20,000 leagues!

Naturally this will require him to rejoin the VF4 tournament to raise money for a submarine. But to recognize the great danger of his new profession, Jeffrey will wear a black armband with the word "Ehimemaru" on it.

-Jason

 

> However, an involving story-line can only add to this element

the same thing can be said for porn.

but most people just don't give a shit.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanks rich, I needed that one.

<font color=red>SummErs' 'mibu's lone wolf'

 

/images/icons/smile.gifwell... Why don't they also have Sarah dye her hair brunette and suddenly gain her memory back?

Explain that Jacky's pale skin in 3 was a result of a) becoming a vampire b) deciding he wanted to be a fop or c) suddenly he's being traded in "the market." Well, that or there's some good amount of knots in the Bryant family tree.