For the devs: Avoiding the pitfall of emotional dissociation in the story [Possible Spoilers?]
Tetrapod
Wastelands of California Join Date: 2016-08-04 Member: 220973Members
Wastelands of California Join Date: 2016-08-04 Member: 220973Members
Empathy is important in driving the story forward, that motivation that the player says "Hey I really *am* stranded on this planet, how do I get off?" while not ruining the sand box focus of the game.
The worst offender of a good idea gone wrong in a great game would be Fallout 4. If you've played it, there's no bond to your son. Zero. You're presented with tons of toys and distractions that some people went "Son? Nope. I'm building a city."
Granted Bethesda didn't plan on it going that way.
Hopefully the plot and events drive the player towards the goal of "I want to go home." but not blatently so: Terrible ideas are timed events like "Planet will explode in x days" or "Congratulations on your new disease that'll kill you in x days unless you leave." since I think we all can agree that sandbox element of this game is great.
At the moment, I have zero urge to leave. It's a beautiful planet. Plenty of food, lots of resources and very peaceful (if you build in the right area). Apparently other people have lived here, so maybe I can stay. Make me think twice. Make it obvious if I stick around I'm going to be on the run. A game of cat and mouse but less urgent since the cat isn't in a hurry.
The worst offender of a good idea gone wrong in a great game would be Fallout 4. If you've played it, there's no bond to your son. Zero. You're presented with tons of toys and distractions that some people went "Son? Nope. I'm building a city."
Granted Bethesda didn't plan on it going that way.
Hopefully the plot and events drive the player towards the goal of "I want to go home." but not blatently so: Terrible ideas are timed events like "Planet will explode in x days" or "Congratulations on your new disease that'll kill you in x days unless you leave." since I think we all can agree that sandbox element of this game is great.
At the moment, I have zero urge to leave. It's a beautiful planet. Plenty of food, lots of resources and very peaceful (if you build in the right area). Apparently other people have lived here, so maybe I can stay. Make me think twice. Make it obvious if I stick around I'm going to be on the run. A game of cat and mouse but less urgent since the cat isn't in a hurry.
Comments
The kind of horror that Subnautica offers that deeply appeals to me is the one of inevitable change. The knowledge that the longer you stay, the more the world becomes you and no matter how alien and no matter how not for you, you will leave a piece of yourself behind if you leave. The rumored origin of the warpers toys with the same idea and I rather hope it's true.
Subnautica is a game with strong sandbox. You can revisit the biomes and try a lot of things without getting boring. It's building and crafting isn't too advanced and not fit to play some "subcraft" or "underwater tycoon", as there are not enough elements to support it. But it's nice, lovely and cool and only a few steps away from building big structures. So I think a lot of players never really wish to leave the planet, but rather do some permenant settlement on this "Planet Subnautica".
No way I would want to leave, disease yay or nay, theres so much unknown fauna and flora, so much to learn and discover here, I will find a cure sooner or later.
I think we were actually lucky to crashland in the region we are in now, with relative "shallow" water "only" going down to ~1000m currently(lava zones & lost river not taken into account here) I think the Degasi lies somewhere deep in an unfathomable abyss.
I imagine the majority of the planet are way deeper, where things roam freely the size of the skeleton you find in lost river, a space where adult refbacks are medium sized in comparison of what lurks in the eternal dark of the depths.
I could Imagine an ending where you would have a choice wether to stay (probably with the girl we know from the pictures and a couple other crew members) or to leave.
and both scenarios would be open for SN:2 in my opinion, you stay and things go on, you discover more of the planet and it's wonders and let's face it horrors unspeakable of, or you return with a proper science expedition this time. With the opening to coop this time.