Complicated or simple storyline?

Started by Larsie13 August 25th, 2009 7:33 AM
  • 2610 views
  • 37 replies
  • Public Poll

What storyline do you like?

destinedjagold

You can contact me in PC's discord server...

Age 32
Male
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted March 24th, 2023
8,579 posts
16 Years
Although I like simple, I don't think a simple storyline will keep PLAYERS interested in your games. It's like, after they read the storyline of your hack, they'll be like, 'okay, I think I know where this is going' or something related to that.
I prefer a complicated one, 'cause it'll keep PLAYERS' interest running trying to figure out the mysteries of your storyline.

Curt_09

Also known as Chozo

Age 32
Male
Oklahoma
Seen March 14th, 2023
Posted March 27th, 2016
498 posts
14.3 Years
I agree DJG, your storyline has to have some kind of substance to it. You also have to keep it a mystery, and make it compelling for the player to wonder "what happens next?" I've seen a lot of hacks with pretty good storylines who blow it all in their thread. Wow, great story, thanks for posting it and saving me hours of my life that I would have otherwise spent playing your hack.
Old hacks I liked back in the day:



cooley

///Keepin' it simple

Age 28
Male
United States
Seen December 5th, 2014
Posted December 2nd, 2014
1,148 posts
16.3 Years
Keepin' it simple here, let's just say Simple story with not much thought put into it = Failure of a hack, eventually.
What I noticed was that some people make stories, and forget all about them during their hack creation. They start to make events to get recognition or to make their hack look good rather than coincide with the story.

NarutoActor

The rocks cry out to me

Age 29
Female
Brooklyn/Marlboro
Seen April 2nd, 2016
Posted March 22nd, 2016
1,974 posts
14.4 Years
I like hacks that have a story in the midle story line something I can read in a paragrah and understand everything not something not has 5 spolers with a ton of information
I also want to see lots of sidequest
sidequest is what made legened of zelda such a popular series( pluse the puzzels accorse)
~There are those people who understand hex, F the rest

colcolstyles

Yours truly

Male
The Bay Area
Seen May 18th, 2019
Posted August 13th, 2012
1,588 posts
15 Years
Well, I prefer simple storylines because, like most people in our modern age, I don't want to have to think.
You said that stories with sidequests and subplots are complicated but I believe that you can have those aspects in a storyline and still keep it fairly simple and easy to follow. I have always enjoyed mini-quests and other non-storyline related goodies in games and so I try to implement as many as possible into my own creations. However, having them in a game doesn't have to complicate the storyline, unless you really want them to, in which case they can be used very effectively to do just that.

Brother of Vrai
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted February 5th, 2017
6,779 posts
15.5 Years
It all depends on the game.
With games like pokemon and Dragon Warrior/Quest, since the main enjoyment in those games are the gameplay. Games like Earthbound and Final Fantasy heavily rely on their story to keep my interest in them.
The exception of hacks is that they should be fairly simple, but not "beat X amount of gyms, destroy Y evil team, beat game". I'm all for complicated storylines, but they are so...complicated >_<

TehBazzard

Main creator of FireRed+

Seen August 28th, 2009
Posted August 28th, 2009
66 posts
13.8 Years
To be honest a simple storyline is enough for me. Anything that changes the usual Pokemon plot formula will alienate me. I might find it cool, but it just won't feel like Pokemon to me really. However some additional side-quests are always welcome for me.
Male
Kwun Tong Mountains
Seen November 18th, 2015
Posted July 20th, 2012
3,003 posts
15.8 Years
It depends. Too complicated will be very hard for the Hacker to do, while too simple will make the Hack boring. So, let's say, it will be in the Middle.
I am now an anime dubber, cover singer and a fan of anime. I can still apply as a translator and grammar corrector, though.
Keepin' it simple here, let's just say Simple story with not much thought put into it = Failure of a hack, eventually.
What I noticed was that some people make stories, and forget all about them during their hack creation. They start to make events to get recognition or to make their hack look good rather than coincide with the story.
Yeah, that's the problem with a lot of hackers these days. They don't really hack for fun, but mostly to, as you said, get recognition.[/offtopic] Also, yeah, what you said is probably true in most cases, but there are probably also good hacks that have a (very) simple storyline. (Which, then, probably owe their success to graphics, minigames, etc.)

But, yeah, for most hacks around here, your statement is very true.
It's got to be complicated I want something that will last more than a few hours.
Indeed. That, IMO, is the problem with the official games. The storyline is always the same, and usually not a very interesting one either. [/wishesnintendowouldgetanoriginalidea]
To be honest a simple storyline is enough for me. Anything that changes the usual Pokemon plot formula will alienate me. I might find it cool, but it just won't feel like Pokemon to me really. However some additional side-quests are always welcome for me.
Well, you could, of course, keep the regular plot formula, and add other stuff, like... I don't know, maybe some mysteries or something..., so the plot formula stays intact, but the storyline gets complicated. Two birds with on stone, as they call it.
It depends. Too complicated will be very hard for the Hacker to do, while too simple will make the Hack boring. So, let's say, it will be in the Middle.
You think so? Well, first, some hackers like a challenge, and second, a complicated storyline doesn't neccesarily have to be hard to make. It all depends on the imagination and skills of the hacker whether they can come up with a good, complicated storyline, and also being able to implement it in the game.

As you could probably conclude from this post, yes, I prefer a complicated storyline myself. Though, a simple storyline isn't always bad. I've played games with a simple storyline before, though those where mostly games that didn't really depend on their storyline, or had a lot of extra's. But, in hacks, I would probably not play a game with a simple storyline that quick. Simply because that's really the thing that most hacks rely on, IMO. Bad storyline = failure.

Chibi Robo

of the entire epoch!

Age 27
Male
Cali
Seen April 2nd, 2013
Posted July 2nd, 2011
853 posts
14.7 Years
For a hack I believe they have to be a little bit in between
The hack can't be too simple or the player will lose interest yet the hack can't be too complicated or the player will be confused about the story
You need the hack to be balanced to have a truly successful hack in my opinion~
Pair: Vrai

DA-Kizemaru

The Real Kizemaru-Kurunosuke

Wouldn't you like to know!
Seen August 11th, 2011
Posted September 12th, 2009
18 posts
14 Years
Less is more.
I don't like hacks that are complicated, but keeping the player on his toes is a good thing. If you make a hack, make it look like something Pokemon would produce.
I am the real Kizemaru-Kurnosuke, so go visit my Deviant Art account and watch me.
~Kizemaru-Kurunosuke.

ThePastaThrower

...Is adding extra meatballs..

Male
Well... Umm... Yeah.
Seen June 22nd, 2012
Posted February 21st, 2010
103 posts
15.9 Years
It's all about how it's executed. If it's a complicated storyline, but it's just something there on the side running along the boring main quest, no.

If the whole story with all the events relate to the story, not just side-quests going along, then it might be pretty awesome. Sadly, I haven't seen many of those kind of hacks finished.

So I vote for simple. Overcomplications just make things worse. If it's a weird storyline with things that don't make much sense except if you're a hopeless nerd, then heck no. Simple storylines are usually better executed, and work better overall in a Pokémon game. Pokémon games are not meant to have a super-complicated storyline.


I support these hacks:






My Hack:

Join Here:
Seen September 9th, 2009
Posted September 8th, 2009
18 posts
13.7 Years
Complicated Storylines are always the best option for people like me that love giving a deeper shape in what they are creating. I would add a long story - as long as possible and adding many connection and references between the characters and I would add the special things that each story needs. Possibly having references based off other historical and fantasy events.

Zeta Sukuna

Descendant of the Inchlings

Age 29
Southern Florida
Seen 22 Minutes Ago
Posted 5 Days Ago
1,712 posts
15.3 Years
What I like to see in hacks are fairly complex and interesting/original stories. Things that go off from the main pokemon formula. I mean, if it's a normal pokemon-esque storyline, then unless it's Nintendo/Game Freak/Creatures inc. producing it, it turns out to be boring. (I don't know how they do it.)

Stuff kind of like DJG's Ruby Destiny: Rescue Rangers.

Disturbed

Age 29
Seen October 21st, 2019
Posted August 29th, 2019
1,911 posts
15 Years
Well, I prefer simple storylines because, like most people in our modern age, I don't want to have to think.
You said that stories with sidequests and subplots are complicated but I believe that you can have those aspects in a storyline and still keep it fairly simple and easy to follow. I have always enjoyed mini-quests and other non-storyline related goodies in games and so I try to implement as many as possible into my own creations. However, having them in a game doesn't have to complicate the storyline, unless you really want them to, in which case they can be used very effectively to do just that.
Practically stole the words from my mouth. Well said.