Video Games NEED a Story? - Dude Soup Podcast #17

[@Robbaz]

Witcher 3 is so packed with content the main story alone will take you 30+ hours. The game litterally told me, SAVE this is the final portion of the game. THEY LIED, it was at least 15 hours left and that's of the main story.

[@shanemcdowell3628]

***** Get back to work Robbaz... OR SHOULD I SAY SPOOLE???1?!!!?

[@sergnb0]

45 hours in an i havent even been to two of the four zones available in the game... Thish it is huge

[@meddog337]

I've put 80 hours into it and I've only just gotten to Skellige Isles. And the outcomes of the choices that are made are so rich and can pivot the games story in such a compelling way, ugh.... I just want to go back on it but I need to savour the game because it's one of the only ones I actually wanted!

[@jacobiehartie4602]

Hi Robert king of Sweden! It has been a few months since I watch your videos

[@naruhearts1]

***** Im level 13 and haven't even done the Bloody Baron questline yet.

[@Forteeb0]

One of my favorite podcasts so far! The TV talk especially was great as you could see the chemistry between all of you and it just seemed like natural, raw, unfiltered, fresh Dude Soup... and that's how I prefer my Dude Soup.

[@ChrisRayGun]

While I do agree that story isn't necessary as far as games are concerned, I disagree with the idea that video game stories are inherently inferior to television stories simply because they aren't made by "professionals." In fact, I'd argue that video games stories are inherently superior because they offer both a narrative and a story that you directly influence. Quite honestly, I never got into Star Wars. I was never compelled by the stories that Star Wars had to offer because they were entirely passive experiences with nothing else to offer. If I didn't care for the story, there was nothing else to draw me in. Halo, on the other hand, has a pretty good story [ *in my opinion superior to Star Wars* ] but even if you didn't like the story you still had another experience waiting for you in it's gameplay.

[@ChrisRayGun]

***** I never said we should make our games like films. My point was that there are more ways to enjoy a story in a game than there are in films. In a game like Skyrim for example, you could enjoy the narrative that the studio set up for you and have a great time or you could explore and create your own stories just by virtue of experiencing the game. Or you could do both. A film is the same every time you watch it. A movie's story will be the same after 250 viewings. A game however, changes. Allows you to change the way you get things done. Even in a traditionally linear game like Halo, you are given a myriad of choices and a myriad of ways to get from the already designated points. You could fly into the giant tank with a jet and blow it from the inside, or you could break it's legs and drive onto it from a ramp. The story changes literally each time. That's what makes them superior.

[@extremelymemely9694]

I agree. A games story can also improve when you grow attached to the characters over a longer period of time unlike in a movie where you only have 2-3 hours to make me like a character

[@BlazerManiacNumber96]

I agree. I play games because I find they have better stories than other mediums.

[@z-z8259]

***** I believe that overall movies probably have the edge but when video games do it well, they do it very well. The atmosphere and tone is made so much more impactful by putting you in the shoes of that character, games like tlou have such interesting characters and worlds(albeit cliche but interesting nonetheless) and the depth and detail of those characters and worlds are propelled when giving players the choice to explore. Tlou has many symbols it hasnt really been touched on(as far as i know) but all throughout the game you will see a giraffe in the beginning you can find a girl clutching a stuffed animal giraffe and posters can be found and of course the famous scene with the actual giraffe i believe it symbolizes innocence. Much like story telling in books or movies depth is there but instead of just being attentive and make connections you have to physically look for those connections. Video games are the medium in which characters and players can interact and create a much more meaningful and immersive storytelling experience.

[@TwiIight0ne]

Chris Ray Gun It doesn't matter with movies that they are always the same. A good movie makes you forget that you are watching a movie, that you are a viewer enjoying a medium. It gets you caught up in the moment. And how the hell is a Halo game different each time you play? The story unfolds exactly the same each time. You can just shoot the bad guys in a way that's different. You have to understand how meaningless that sounds to a person that isn't into video games. And you do need a certain distance to judge these things objectively. If you go ahead and say, "Video games are superior, I've never gotten into any other form of entertainment", that just means you have a very, very limited perspective. Go read a good novel. Something written by a master of the craft, a master of immersion and storytelling (just read something written by GRRM or Stephen King, most of their stuff is good). Or watch a bunch of good movies. Anything with more than a 90% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Or watch some episodes of Daredevil or Breaking Bad. Look for the good stuff. Most people who are all "Video games are superior" just never really bothered to look into other forms of media; they have a very simplistic black and white view of the world. I know, because I was just like that, back when I was an edgy sixteen year old.

[@DunceCapSyndrome]

I love the amount of content these guys pour out. I could literally listen to them ramble about the science of toads & be entertained.

[@johnchaser7369]

Here's something that needs a story, why the fuck does Lawrence look so handsome without glasses

[@johnchaser7369]

John Chaser Wait is it the hair

[@macncheese2775]

He's sexy with and without them

[@reganwaters5984]

John Chaser hes stunning

[@johnchaser7369]

Nikola Tesla Just like Edison fucked you over

[@heyweirdoful]

Nikola Tesla why would you shove glasses in lawrence's butt.

[@billonthehill5405]

"We cant add a French horn so we just put a story mode" Dude Soup = Perfection.

[@julianorozaa]

Increasingly mature story-telling is the only wsy this medium will ever be taken seriously

[@RhysClark97]

Juli Oroza which is kinda sad as it is really not needed

[@TomLikesGuitar]

Juli Oroza What is "mature" story-telling? Is it The Last of Us? Or Uncharted? Sci-fi wastelands with silly twist endings and generic gun toting action hero stories...

[@Danny-gg9gs]

Juli Oroza why

[@leelewis445]

Juli Oroza And then a game like Splatoon comes out and it fun as all hell (hasn't come out at this point, but played the test fire) and doesn't need to be accepted as a serious medium. I never understood the need for games to be validated as a serious medium, which it can be it. I feel more it's so people don't have to feel "embarrassed" when they talk about games in public I guess. More of a validation for them than anything.

[@demongrenade2748]

TomLikesGuitar I believe he means "Mature story-telling" in the same sense of "Handling mature topics meaningfully". The last of us could be an example of this, but a better one is Spec Ops: The Line. Both are terribly grim but I feel Spec Ops is the better candidate for this discussion because its narrative and setting aren't easy to disassociate from (Modern day middle eastern hellhole vs post apocalyptic 'zombie' survival). It takes the whole "generic gun toting action hero story" and makes the player experience the horror that war makes people go through, which is in stark contrast to the player's expectations. We often play shooters to feel empowered and awesome. What Spec Ops does is show players that war isn't fun, glorious, or empowering. It says "You came here to feel like a badass? You went to war to feel like a hero? Well here it is! This is what war is like! Is this what you wanted? To explode, burn and shoot people? What? Do you feel guilty? Why? None of this is real, so why do you care? This is what people do in war. This is the reality of what you are doing. Do you feel like a hero yet?" Not a whole lot of games exist that tackle topics like this without turning the ordeal into a spectacle (like shooters do with conflict). Therefore, the medium isn't taken too seriously. If more games came out that did this then the medium might be taken seriously. I agree with Juli's point.

[@rockaholictom]

I really liked this podcast. I've been watching you guys for about two years and I can honestly say you brighten up my day. It's really cool to watch and laugh with you on topics that actually matter in gaming. Please keep up the good work, you're one of the good guys.

[@Mundane05]

Fun games with no story get boring fast unless the content is super, super varied. And those are the FUN ones... Boring games with no story don't deserve to exist.

[@leelewis445]

Mundane05 And a boring game with a story doesn't require me to play the game in the first place. KZbin is such a treasure that way. Seriously though a game with "no story" or is simple would have much more play time than one with an in depth story and miserable gameplay. Ideally both a great story along with great core game would be great, but I can a game that is fun and compelling to play doing much better than something that's story is great and I can just watch the cutscenes online. To me you will see the same story (usually) so many times it loses its luster. However since games require your own input thats what really lasts with you. I guess it all depends on what someone as an individual is looking for.

[@mightquinnable]

But their didn't said that uncharted's and the last of us are linear game if they didn't have story they'll be boring games and with a open world game you focus on the open world more that the story

[@mchepen]

mightquinnable gta san andreas was an open world yet the story was so good you just wanted to see what happened to CJ, and meanwhile you did all the mess you wanted to do all arround the huge map it had. THAT'S the relationship i like between story/gameplay.

[@mightquinnable]

the game and the gameplay continued without story making it a small part of the game

[@samuelcairns8530]

Hey, first time commenting, I'm a fan and so on. On topic though, whist I agree with your points on games not needing a story, I do feel, personally, that whist a games story is unnecessary, context plays a crucial part. I mean any game can throw together a story with the basic premise of "generic protagonist A is good, killing generic bad guys B through F, because you know, evil for no particular reason" doesn't make me feel invested so much in the game itself. The game may be fun. The game mechanics may be fun, but if that's all driving my actions, the novelty does eventually wear off. Now this is no doubt only applicable to a certain type of game genre I'm sure. A good example I could use is Destiny. The story telling is mediocre. And that isn't the problem that I, and from what I've seen, most other people have. It's the context behind the game. "Why are we here? Who are the darkness? Where did they come from? Why are their space elves? What is the reason for killing them other than 'they are evil incarnate'?" A little context, goes a long way. But if this is just my opinion, then that's fine too. It may just be a personal nitpick.

[@samuelcairns8530]

There* space elves. And I should correct myself when I say most other players, when what I mean is from what I've seen in terms of complaints.

[@COLTuber]

Samuel Cairns completely agree. Very eloquent way of putting it into terms.

[@550leroy]

to be fare, if the only story in the mad max game is protecting/driving a giant war truck as it crosses a dessert for 10 hours, it will get boring real fast. gameplay is always very important, but you need a good story to push great gameplay in the right direction.

[@meganutoverlord8894]

***** dark souls is bad in both ways but worked because it was so punishing that people felt that beating the game was a test of their skill

[@baklazan777]

***** Dark Souls actually has a deep and interesting lore built into the game, also the game gives you glipmses of story that drive you forward

[@550leroy]

dark souls is a different type of game. the game gives a small motive for a player that makes them want to continue. a game like mad max has already has an established character with its own world, any chance for mad max having a small motive is gone. i apologize for how i worded my statement before. lets say a good story can create a great motive for awesome gameplay to happen.

[@baklazan777]

***** Yeah you can ignore most of the things but from the very start there's a narrative and clear, albeit not explained, goal for the player - find the two bells -> get the vessel -> get 4 lord souls -> fight gwyn. It didn't just drop you in and say "here's a sword, fight something" ; 3 Tho can't really think of a better example in a single player game, maybe braid? That's pretty short though so not sure if it misses the original point

[@Mynameisnotsurelol]

Hawkfb54 Just Cause 2? I mean, if anyone knows how to make a game that's so goddamn fun simply through destructive vehicles and gunplay, it'll be Avalanche Studios. I know I probably sound like I'm just regurgitating the usual things you hear, but I'm regurgitating it because it's true. Just Cause 2 made Michael Bay finish, right there in his seat. Don't you want to soil yourself too?

[@CalifornieWay]

I like how balanced the Funhaus guys are during podcasts. They all have their different opinions about things but they recognize the differences between each other and between viewers and the rest of the population. It's refreshing to hear people share their view on a subject but not try to push that as the end all answer to life. Good job, guys, keep making these.

[@QuietlyHere666]

In my opinion, for a single player kind of guy I'm not interested in games that don't have a story, I'm not saying that every game needs a story or that not having one is bad, I'm just saying 'most' of the time I really only play ones that do. So my overarching belief is that no, it doesn't need one, but if it claims to have one, it needs to be good

[@warlordhax5995]

This^

[@KingHamp123]

I agree a story in the game don't need to be great or complicated but at least something that the player could get behind. Like just shooting a person in a game with no context is boring but once you tell me that person is a nazi or sumthin then you have everything you need.

[@adonissmartt2803]

Agreed

[@ELiTeKiLLa113]

Shadow Shade Out of curiosity, how do you approach a game? If a game claims to have a story, do you do background research on it to learn small details for an interest or is just a game of "I hope..." and then you leave satisfied or disappointed?

[@QuietlyHere666]

Aaron Haggard Not exactly, I like going into games knowing little to nothing because for me half of the fun of the game is learning from mistakes. Other than that, I just go by what the game maker (the word escapes me for some reason haha) says the game is, weather it be a platformer or anything, my opinion is just whatever you claim the game is, follow up on it, if you claim it has an immersive story that's what i want, if it claims to be a multilayer game mainly but it has a single player aspect to it added on, i don't expect much from the story, though a few of those have had a really good story and i was pleasantly surprised

[@thecrazytrino2708]

I have to say, I have never had an interest in podcasts. I just never understood why listening to someone else's conversation for an hour or so was at all enjoyable, but after listening to a few dude soups, you have converted me. I don't know whether it's just because I like you guys, but I finally get it. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!

[@Giovanni6501]

59:50?!?!?! Where the fuck are my 10 seconds?

[@shawlipson1782]

Oooooooh

[@oddmog]

CollidedGeneration i'll give you 10 seconds ;)

[@ca20mn]

That's what she said

[@NationGavin]

When you were discussing researching games in order to know which to buy, a thought came to mind. I really appreciate how part of my research on a game is watching FH and AH play said games and deciding weather it would be worth the money or not. So thank you for making me a smarter, better informed consumer of interactive media.

[@Guru8bit]

Does nobody actually know that The Witcher is literally taken from award winning books? Like, I was sure this was common knowledge.

[@legendblader01]

Yes, I knew this, but not DIRECTLY from the books

[@Shipoopiism]

Guru8bit Is no one going to mention The Witcher -sitcom- TV series?

[@adonissmartt2803]

Wow I did not know that you sir blew my mind 10/10

[@Sweenus987]

Guru8bit I didn't a friend of mine told me recently and I was like damn, must be good books.

[@LinkHimora]

Guru8bit Yeah its like they've never actually done there Jobs

[@OJEPICFANCYSAUCE]

I'm so jealous of how much it seems like you all love your jobs. I'm walking in my high school graduation tomorrow and really I'm just worried about life ahead and how easily it may become ass, but you all give me hope. Thank you very much and, as ever, keep up the great work.

[@Vyse684]

Hope things worked out for you 👍

[@OJEPICFANCYSAUCE]

@@Vyse684 Thanks friend, I hope life is good for you too

[@MrPhil360]

he touches the dirt all the time,at least twice pre mission.

[@MrPhil360]

MrPhil360 Pre mission dirt touches,the only way to get ready for the mission.

[@projectbpain44]

MrPhil360 I didn't understand what James was talking about because geralt is constantly touching the floor

[@MrPhil360]

.

[@MrPhil360]

Spidey-Kun "these tracks aren't human" "A body was dragged here" I have no idea either,alot of the quests are half investigation.

[@projectbpain44]

MrPhil360 LOL yea that's what i'm saying. I can't even count how many times he touched the ground to examine footsteps or blood.

[@anthonymilano8333]

I really enjoyed this debate of gameplay vs. story because I always have these kind of debates being in school for game design. Even though it has only been my first year of college in game design, I have already learned so much about it. Prior to college, I always had the opinion that story was so much more important than gameplay. But after my experiences in game design, gameplay is a lot more important than story. And not only is it more important, but it is 10000x harder to come up with gameplay, than it is to create a story. Even in just creating a simple board game, it took me weeks to brainstorm, plan, and test my game, to make sure it played well, was fun, and focused on the main mechanics I wanted my game to be about. It was way easier to change the story of the game, than to go and fix all of the mechanics and overall gameplay of my game. After going through these struggles, to relate it to the ever on going Destiny debates, at first I thought it was a bad game, because there wasn't a lot to the story of the game. But there are a shit ton of mechanics to that game that took years to develop, test and perfect. The upgrading to all the weapons, the player upgrades and armor upgrades, the different maps and game modes, it is just insane how in depth all of that is. And i think now, after experiencing a little of it first hand, my perception of what makes a good game has definitely changed. Everyone will have their own opinion, saying one is better than the other, and saying a good game is either more story oriented or a good game is more gameplay oriented. But, in my opinion, a great game, is a game that finds a great balance of both story and gameplay

[@deriznohappehquite]

Anthony Milano Except Destiny is widely regarded as being a mediocre game, so all those mechanics are wasted effort. Having an engaging story is ultimately more cost effective.

[@PJMack068]

***** I disagree about it being mediocre, or rather that it falls short because they left out heavy story content. I think the concept of Destiny would have blown people away if it hadn't been hyped as the next big Bungie epic, and having such an ambiguous story to the game definitely made Destiny pale in light of other Bungie games. But independently from other franchises it feels like what has made Destiny so tough to stay invested in is the lack of content to accompany the desire to explore. You're right, they nailed the well crafted gameplay, but when I play Destiny it always feels like I'm filling the hyper ambiguous role of "guardian" with a character that is only as variable as whichever shader I decide to put on and which weapons I earn as a random reward. I don't think Destiny falls short because it lacks a story, I think it falls short because it doesn't do much to help feel like you're playing your own story. Customization had to become almost exclusively aesthetic for this game to play at a good balance, and I can't enjoy it.

[@anthonymilano8333]

PJMack This game did get a lot of hype, which did not help the game at all. I don't think the game was lacking that much content. For people who like to explore game, and find everything they can in it, yes the game is lacking in that sense, but for the players who like to level up their character and gear to the highest level possible, and collect every piece of armor or weapon in the game, there was more than enough content for that. Every person who plays video games has a different player types. And not all games meet every single kind of player type out there. Destiny tried to combine exploring, conquering, and being an achiever in one game, which they got the achieving and conquering part, like collecting and leveling up everything in the game and beating other players and hard bosses in the game, but for people who are explorers or seekers, just going around in an open world environment, and seeing what they can find, it really lacked. they tried to encompass these three player types, but only effectively did two, which I mean, two out of three isn't too bad. I guess what I'm getting at is I agree with you, but slightly disagree. It's a game and people are going to play it the way they want to play it. And some people share these ways of playing a game, and others don't. I think just as a community, people should be aware of this and not look at a game from just one angle. Games are a form of art, and art has many different angles of perception to it. It can mean many things.

[@PJMack068]

Anthony Milano I definitely agree. Art not only can, but needs to be viewed on multiple levels. I don't wanna dive too deep on that but you're right, my perspective on what should be there isn't the objective purpose. I will say that what they are talking about in the podcast, about hopping in a game and making your adventure out of it, whether or not its what the developers intended- that is certainly something I had trouble with Destiny. If that's a result of a lack of supporting content for explorers/seekers then that's most certainly my problem with Destiny :/

[@TheExtremeTES]

Why are people still shit-talking about Witcher 3? I played game for 20 hrs now and It's great, everything they promised. They also gave 16 DLC's free + encouraging people to stream their game and monetize. You look at EA and Ubisoft and you say "Oh well, they do what they do", but these guys release an actual complete game with free stuff and people are complaining. Come on, people.

[@thatonetemplar]

I didn't know people were shitting on The Witcher 3. I don't give a fuck either way, lol. I'm buying it this weekend. I haven't gotten into a new franchise for a while.

[@Recardoguy007]

Same here for me man I'm loving this game. That tragic story on then cursed island in Velen was messed up. I messed up the first time on that mission as well. I got the ending form the ring lol.

[@The36th]

TheExtremeTES *They also gave 16 DLC's free* Let's face it. Most of Day-one DLCs are just content of the game that was ripped from the game but should be present on disc You bought...

[@The36th]

***** You're watching too many conspiracy hipothesis videos kid...

[@DTKloves8]

The36th actually, all of the dlc, free and payed, is going to be made after the game released with the exception of the 2 packs that came out the day of release.

[@At0mix]

The main reason why I believe video game stories can be better than movies or books is immersion. In the games I've enjoyed most, I've felt like I was the hero. Not a George Clooney or a Matt Damon, but me. I made those decisions, I did those things, I wasn't stuck in my chair watching a story unfold, I felt like I was the one creating it. There aren't a lot of games out there that have given me this feeling, but I know it can be done and that is what makes a game a better way to tell a story than a book or a movie, in my opinion.

[@YTwoKay]

Funhaus I've never heard anyone get excited about Uncharted because of the story all me and those I know care about are the set pieces and cool action parts. I like shooting guys while I jump of cliffs and run through the forest. Like I'm Rambo. The Uncharted story doesn't make sense anyway. The people you fight are just hired guards of things that do not belong to you. You aren't a hero or Indiana Jones your a mass murderer who steals treasure and it's awesome!!!

[@YTwoKay]

Charismatic murderers are the best kind, because they are loved by the people.

[@YTwoKay]

***** That's a little bit of a stretch

[@joebozza]

Thank God there wasn't any boring "special" guests this week. Much more enjoyable when its just you guys. P.s I think AC2 had a good story

[@jaafarkaoussarani9703]

''Yes!''- Totalbiscuit

[@CastledCard]

Jaafar Kaoussarani "Yes!" - Yahtzee

[@FatCatGames]

"All your base are belong to us!" - Yahtzee

[@АнимеКратко]

"YES!" - Bruce Greene

[@POOHHA]

I just want to say since I started watching you guys and Dude Soup and the Patch, I have come to love video games more than I used to. I use to enjoy gaming but I really have come to love the medium now just hearing you guys talk about the different aspects of it. I enjoy the fact it's not always raving or hating, but a nice balance of both. Keep doing what you are doing. You guys are a highlight of my week.

[@RATEDXWARRIOR]

Yes games need a good entertaining story because multiplayer sometimes gets a little boring

[@LinkHimora]

RATEDXWARRIOR Sometimes try all the time

[@RATEDXWARRIOR]

Kael Hyun depends on the multiplayer is the game from

[@ChrisAce117]

Halo 3 is still the best game I've ever played

[@LinkHimora]

ChrisAce117 Halo 3 is nothing compared to Suikoden II especially in the story department

[@projectbpain44]

Kael Hyun whats suikoden? Is that some japan game?

[@stblack404]

Brothers is a fantastic example of a story that could not be told in the same way in any other form of media, and it is fantastic. That game would not be what it is without its story.

[@shosray]

On the topic of story in games, I find that for me a good story/characters encourage me to finish games. I'd probably agree that gameplay is more important, but I usually don't find any motivation in games with super tight gameplay but lackluster stories, like Destiny or Minecraft. I'll enjoy them for their gameplay, but once the progression slows down I won't bother finishing them. I want to know where Joel and Ellie, or Geralt and Ciri end up in their respective universes. But of course, it's just an opinion, and there's always some exceptions. Just thought you'd appreciate some input.

[@KingNefiiria]

Games do not need a story to be good or popular. Sometimes a story will enhance and add on to a game, but Call of Duty doesn't need a story, Spyro the Dragon didn't need a story, Crash Bandicoot didn't need a story. The only thing the story did to these games was: add a neat way to learn the game, drive a narrative, and provide some sort of "reason" for these games to exist, because some people think that in order to play a game, you need a reason why the characters in the game are doing these things. Spyro could have literally been "get the gems, catch the eggs, rescue the dragons," with no intro story or outro story. Call of Duty can exist solely as a multiplayer experience. And Bruce made a great point, you can't find "good gameplay" on anything other than a game. You can find a good story in any form of media.

[@Partylikeits-br7bb]

Terra D Serph Spyro 2 and 3 had stories just not the first one. Just pointing that out if you meant all the Spyro games.

[@KingNefiiria]

Joseph Honora I'm saying they didn't need them to make the game fun, or functional. The story merely added to the game, and made things kind of interesting.

[@Fairfieldfencer]

Terra D Serph I sort of agree, but sort of disagree. I think games have their different draws; gameplay, graphics, story line, characters, etc. A prime example would be the first Mass Effect. No one praised that game for the gameplay; they praised it for the characters and the story. With newer instalments came better gameplay, broadening the audience. You could arguably call the RPG elements the gameplay, but you don't spend most of your time in that game making decisions. It is mostly third person shooting and exploration. And then you have games like Heavy Rain; they are very story driven. Tetris does not need a story, admittedly, but people in the game industry are considering if story is really needed. In my opinion, that would lead to a downward crash in quality like we have with movies these days. For example, the first blockbuster was Jaws. Solid acting, characters and story. Now it's Fast & the Furious, Transformers and a bunch of other one-shots with barely any creativity put into them, just throwing action movie stunts and scenarios into anything they can and hoping it makes a success. That trend has already raised its ugly head with all the Call of Duty clones, I don't want it gaining strength and taking over. These days, we get movies like The Avengers that, while fun, are rated not too far below The Shawshank Redemption. It's neck and neck with 2001: A Space Odyssey on IMBD. The Matrix has a higher IMDB rating than Casablanca. Anything resembling classics like that can barely be seen these days for all the high-octane, explosion-filled action movies. I enjoy both, but Hollywood doesn't look for creativity these days, just movies that look like they will sell because they can blow a lot of stuff up in them.

[@thatdesignerguy0]

Terra D Serph Why are you listing games from over a decade ago of course they don't have that good a story , the majority of games were just being made for gameplay at that point.

[@KingNefiiria]

Fairfieldfencer I think we need to either label video games as games, interactive narratives, or something between. I love Life is Strange, but I would be lying to you if I said it was a true "video game." I think making those distinct labels would help people understand that this is where video games have led to thus far: we have our games, we have our interactive narratives, and we have the in-betweens that are difficult to label either way. But I think a good example of how the story is completely unnecessary and can even get in the way of good gameplay is Sonic '06. Yes, the game is horrible, but how much more time could have been spent on the actual game that was instead spent on some bullshit "new storyline?" You run around the place, get the chaos gems, beat Eggman. Ya don't need to make a complex story in order to sell that.

[@MattMcConaha]

I don't remember the last time I played a video game and gave a single shit about the story. Games need to have good gameplay, that's why I play games. Just give me some options of stuff to do. If I want to see a good story, then I'll watch a movie. Not a tv series, specifically a movie. Side question, if I wanted to get a haircut like Adam's, what would I tell the barber?

[@yahazzi7768]

Matt McConaha what about mass effect 2? that had decent story and good gameplay or atleast IMHO

[@MattMcConaha]

yaHazzi 77 It's fine if a game has good story, but I don't pay attention to it. Also, I never played Mass Effect 2. It seems like too much running around and talking to people, which I don't want to do.

[@imihlb]

"Watchu Want?" "Just fuck my shit up"

[@MattMcConaha]

***** Play generic FPS #1354? No thank you.

[@thatonetemplar]

Bioware games in general have good stories and good gameplay. Personally, I really appreciate a story I can really interact with and play out for myself and not just watch actors do on a screen. The Dragon Age trilogy, I loved it for that. You feel like you're the hero, you're the one solving this big problem or doing whatever the story leads you into. Just having good gameplay doesn't necessarily lead you into being immersed in the world. You realise you are, in fact, you. It's harder to forget you're in a game. But with stories, immersion comes much, much easier, and I really appreciate that.

[@EhvinnTee]

ENEMY was my favorite film of last year! Major props, Adam, for actually knowing the film. I wish it was more well known. That, The Babadook, and Under the Skin were the best psychological horrors of the past couple years.

[@nickphillips3400]

My sister came into my rom while i was watching this(in fullscreen) pointed to Bruce and James then said they looked crazy and said "That bearded man in the front looks like he doesn't want to be there". i pointed to Lawrence and asked what about him? She asked me his name i said it was Lawrence Sontag. She said" Sconetag looks smart". Fun Haus summarized perfectly by someone who has never seen the show.

[@KRAJJI96]

It comforts me to know that at least one of you guys knows about Perth. Also it got a big laugh out of me because as a perth person myself, I know how far away we are from everything xD

[@b.i.8361]

Sorry guys I usually agree with you, but every time you guys bring up this argument I ALWAYS disagree. I still like and don't hat you guys. And I do agree that gameplay is more important than story BUT not by much. Idk if its just me but for a game to be good for me it has to have both good gameplay and an interesting story. I know I will probably get hated on by this, but to me an example would be The Last of Us and Uncharted. To me they have both fun gameplay and interesting story. If a game was pure gameplay and no story it would be fun for a bit, but I would get bored sooner than if it had a decent story. Idk maybe its just me were gameplay is higher rated than story, but story is a necessary staple in the game.

[@Culkin123]

Yup I agree.

[@KoujiTamino]

Big I. Not every game needs a story. It's gotten to the point where developers are looking at gameplay as something that's getting in the way of the narrative they're trying to tell, in which case they should just be making movies instead.

[@gastoncitou]

Big I. And each time they repeat it and they did it again in this podcast: Wether you think the story or the gameplay is the most important thing in a game, or even a good balance between both, it's totally up to each person. There's no argument to agree or disagree with here. For you the game has to have a good balance, for Funhaus the story is a plus, the end.

[@gastoncitou]

Big I. And sorry for the bad english, it's not my mother language so I hope my comment was understandable.

[@constructionninja3999]

***** Spot on

[@mikemaynard6281]

Howzit guys! Your videos have saved my sanity numerous times, especially OpenHaus, during the maddeningly arduous South African traffic. Thanks for all the laughs and keep up the amazing work. Big shout out from your SA fans!

[@Camambert2]

The "Geralt touching the ground" trailer wasn't the first trailer for The Witcher 3, not even close, it was like the 4th or 5th. They've actually shown gameplay in the first one.

[@Camambert2]

Noah Gillis Woodhouse! Why is this guy commenting under my comment?

[@Aeradom2000]

Camambert2 I really liked both the Monster trailer and the Yennefer one, as it reminded me of the connections I had to the character and the world.

[@iWrecksauce]

This was the funniest podcast so far. Thanks for the content dudes!

[@UltraZulwarn]

Now I think about it, "Videos Games NEED a Story?" is a wrong question to ask in the first place. It's like when you ask: "Movies NEED a Superstar?" or "Movies NEED Violent and Sex?" My point is, video games is a type of entertainment, and it is now more diverse than ever before, so much that asking a question whether they NEED something, aside from working probably that is (I'm looking at you Assassin Creed Unity!), is kinda pointless. But if I had to answer, then it would be: "No, videos games do NOT need a story. There is no need to have a story UNLESS that's what the developers want, in a way that they think it will make the game a great piece of entertainment. Also, Adam said something like: "I want to form and make my own story in a game,. that's what fun to me", and Bruce said: "If I want a good story, I will just go and read or watch something else". Yeah I agree with you guys, I can clearly see your points, and videos games need gameplay, but gameplay itself can be in any shapes and forms. What IF I just want to FOLLOW (watch) the the protagonists and HELP (play) them on their adventure? Sorry if I have to bring up Ni No Kuni again, but it is the clearest example. If Ni No Kuni was just a movie made by Studio Ghibli, it would still be a good one, but can you go around and explore the world of Ni No Kuni itself? Or having the excitement of fighting bosses & monsters? A movie could never pull all of that off entirely. The fact Ni No Kuni is a game, not a movie, is what makes it so unique. Video games in general don't need story, but what IS important is diversity/ You guys have always advocated for this, haven't you?

[@toran1995]

The thing is at the end of the day; hype, story or gameplay, all of it makes people have fun, its rare to actually have 'fun' reading a book or watching a movie. You can be interested or involved, but your not really having fun is the rare occasion where you start jumping up and down (mad max, it was always gonna be mad max). But games are different because its interactive, it makes it an activity that you can have fun with. So if what enhances that fun is a story you want to follow, or gameplay that makes you not want to put the controller down; then its fun and you cant deny someone that simply because its not YOUR fun. Also I just realised following Lawrence since he first came to machinima, he has completly transformed personality wise, good job Lawrence you've become such a fun person to listen to.

[@savagepinksock]

naughty dog need to bring back jak

[@deriznohappehquite]

***** I think The Last of Us started as a Jak and Daxter game.

[@roccobeatmeat]

***** because they're so similar...

[@savagepinksock]

***** :/

[@deriznohappehquite]

ZarracksGaming I can actually confirm that it did. It's amazing how much a game can change from initial concept to final game.

[@deriznohappehquite]

***** Oh ye of little faith: www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-10-03-the-last-of-us-devs-were-originally-going-to-reboot-jak-and-daxter

[@garrettchilders9806]

So I listened to this while passing a kidney stone... Thanks for entertaining me while I was in excruciating pain

[@willjones8111]

Personally, I think that Storyline and Gameplay are equally important, and whilst that seems like a really obvious answer, hear me out here: Yesterday i finished both Borderlands 2 and Shadow of Mordor and was really left wanting in both examples. The way i see it, i feel that exciting Gameplay, such as the epic shooting-and-looting of BL2 should motivate me to play the game, and storyline should give the player a reward for doing that, and give you something to think about when you're done playing the game. The endings of these were both really bad from both story and gameplay perspective (I'll TLDR and say that they were both far too easy and fell flat storywise, the villains were both pushovers and killing them wasn't satisfying.) even though the games as a whole were really good. Skyrim for me worked so well because of the way my actions made a story- my character had a personality and just discovering new places was exciting, giving a great explorative storyline rather than a narrative one: the story was your actions and the actual storylines of the game only existed to 'frame' your own journey In terms of more traditional narrative Gameplay, i'd plug Bioshock Infinite as the prime example as both Booker and Elizabeth felt like complex, interesting characters without detracting from game play like some of you seem to complain is happening in guitar hero. The end product was a brilliant mesh of fun gameplay which kept me entertained and then a brilliant story for me to remember afterwards and give my actions in-game meaning and weight. TL:DR Story and Gameplay, In my opinion, should interlock and not take precedence over one another. The gameplay should entertain you and the story should help you to be more immersed and give the gameplay meaning. Or maybe i'm just picky, idk. P.S stay awesome guys. Smile, Matt =)

[@frederthan]

Had a real hard time following your 5 lines of conversation...but the center of my brain LOVED it!!!!

[@runner9528]

Yay! No guests this week!!!

[@naruto17mirai]

Muzi Tshabalala Plain dude soup gets bland if consumed in consecutive amounts

[@runner9528]

WolfsCreed397 not for me.

[@naruto17mirai]

Muzi Tshabalala Too much of one thing isn't a good thing

[@Wakka999IFY]

Watching you guys helps me get through my uni work :D

[@pecadorr93]

Great game= good story + good game mechanics Good game= bad story + good game mechanics Mediocre/average game= good story + bad game mechanics Bad game= bad story + bad game mechanics Seems legit right? Just my humble opinion.

[@wiredvex99]

Yeah...yeah I can get behind that though no game in my opinion is bad I actually like to 100% any game these days Including achievements so I get alot outa my games good or bad.

[@bucky13]

Systematyc I don't think anyone could have put it better, this chart applies to damn near any game I can think of. Well put sir.

[@czar17_28]

What game with an awful story would still be consinder a good game?

[@RhoadsLocke]

Czar17 _ mario 2. It was all a dream but a great game.

[@czar17_28]

Sic Vic Well i kinda me a game with an actual story. I dont really know if Mario falls in that category

[@onetwojones383]

You guys are awesome. Ever since I randomly came across the train simulator video over a year ago, my girlfriend and I have been hooked on watching your content daily. My favorite series is ride to hell, every video made me laugh until I almost cried. The combo of the game being so bad and the commentary is extraordinary. I definitely recommend anyone new to this channel to go back and watch those videos. Keep up the good work guys. Also, Adam's 'They Live' shirt in this video is bad ass, where can I find it??

[@stephenbogan9522]

I get that James hate uncharted but doesn't psychonauts have an amazing story, with really cool set pieces, and third person gameplay? And besides collecting brains (relics) it's just the story mode.

[@nugking2021]

James was acting like the Witcher is the only company to ever make a CGI trailer

[@TheWtfanime]

I feel like whenever this question is answered the obvious answer is yes. Games do need a story because they are capable to telling a story that is emotional and moving with the added bonus of the player making choices that led the story to the ending. Some games though like the Souls games and Fallout can have a story with the "lack of story" approach because the exploration allows the character to discover the story themselves. Whereas destiny has no story so it's just horde mode the game. Personally I don't like that, I feel a story is needed to guide the game (but a game needs gameplay because it's a game) Even though the "lack of story" approach can work the story is still there, so I believe games do need story that's what single player means.

[@afatchimp]

TheWtfanime For me, story doesn't matter. It's really just there to give reason to the environments. Characters are important to me, though. Take Devil May Cry, as an example. Cheesy story, but the bosses and characters are interesting. It creates an amazing sense of atmosphere, and it takes the player through a variety of environments all within an island.

[@Harperlarp]

TheWtfanime GTA Online has no story and it's fucking awesome. I agree that a good story is always welcome in a game (as long as the game itself is fun to play) but I don't think every game needs a story to be good.

[@notpaulsen]

The obvious answer is, depends on what do you expect from the game. There isn't a definitive answer to the question simply because you define what you are looking for before playing a particular game. Example: Do some of the most played games in the world have a story that makes sense at all? Well, those most played games could be the multiplayer you play some hours a day, like League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Mortal Kombat or even Destiny? They are good games not because they have a meaningful story, but because they have good gameplay. You are playing a game to be entertained, by a good story, or good gameplay mechanics, it really doesn't matter, can be one or the other, or both. So the short answer is no, games do not need a story to be good, as long as they have good gameplay (considering we _play_ games, not just 'watch them' like a movie, is all about interaction). The long answer, a game is always better if it can combine the two, but if the story is good, and the gameplay is bad (a example of this could be having too many cutscenes), the game will be bad regardless.

[@Harperlarp]

Pablinho Edit: Disregard. My comment was made redundant when I read the rest of your comment.

[@notpaulsen]

Harperlarp Well, GTA Online is a great example anyway.

[@BKnight_]

In my personal opinion, a story is everything. I would pay a lot of money for a good, fun, indulging story that lasts over 60+ hours. A small example of this is Portal. It has an average length story, but it's incredible and well made.

[@wilhelmwundt2158]

I agree with you guys to a certain extent. While I do think a game could be fun without having a good story or even having one at all, for me anyway a game really leaves a lasting impression when it fully utilize everything at its disposal. When the game brings it's narrative, game play, art style, and environment together to make a complete work of art. I can't really call a game great when it doesn't do this, I mean the story could be great are the game-play but that doesn't really matter because it's only 1 aspect of it. Barely any game ever does this, seriously! I've only ever played 2 to actually do it Dark Souls and Shadow of the Colossus not saying there isn't more of them out there but those are the only ones I've ever played. If you guys know anymore please don't hesitate to tell me all about it. Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed lots of games other then Dark Souls and Shadow of the Colossus but I feel like these are the only ones I've played where if someone we're to go back and change any aspect of it would take away from my overall enjoyment of the game, yeahhh that's it..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................well bye

[@christinatelfort2213]

I agree

[@marlenetelfort4556]

There has to be more then just those two

[@COLTuber]

wilhelm Wundt Destiny. Although it was no where near as great as Darksouls or the great Shadow of Colossus.

[@KwanzaaJuice]

wilhelm Wundt It's "to a certain *extent*"

[@wilhelmwundt2158]

Kyle Grounds thanks

[@elzako86]

i love a good balance between story and gameplay as they are both important to me.

[@thwonker]

I'm conflicted... is Lawrence a good looking dude or not?

[@Lambda_Ovine]

BMF Gabe He is.

[@SirLarr]

BMF Gabe Absolutely not.

[@thwonker]

Oh

[@Lambda_Ovine]

Lawrence Sonntag Yes, yes you are.

[@warneverch4nges]

Yeah, he's a total babe.

[@passivehercules]

The team that is FUNHAUS is truly the one and only channel on KZbin that I try my hardest to watch each and every day. You all bring a great insight to gaming that I completely get on board with as well as give me great topics to bring up around my friends while at work. I would work for you all for free just to have an opportunity to work and be a part of the knowledge that you all produce each and every day. (Only problem is, i'm in the military right now......so it couldn't happen for a couple of years haha)

[@thedeacon491]

Hey guys, what are your opinions on the lack of decent couch/local coop games on the new consoles? Whenever I have friends around I don't have much to play with them.

[@nscoby9311]

I love all aspects of video games gameplay, art style, music, graphics, narrative etc but my biggest motivator is story!

[@katsuey]

I love you guys. But I think you're a tad misrepresenting a lot of gamer's intentions when playing games. Every gamer I talk to, and thousands all over different social platforms, highlight a strong narrative as a focal point of why they play certain games. Yes, you can get stories from other media, but other media don't offer the same amount of interactive storytelling that games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and yes, even games like BioShock and Uncharted offer. You're actively taking part in the story, even if it is sometimes on rails. While I don't think some games suffer from lack of story - I absolutely love Destiny (although honestly the lore and world of that game series is fantastic and it's just subtle storytelling - I think a lot of gamers - albeit avid ones - truly look forward to games having a compelling narrative for them to dive into. Gameplay is only one aspect of that, while - yes - a very important one, I believe games like The Walking Dead, Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, Metro Last Light Remember Me, Uncharted can suffer from rudimentary gameplay mechanics because of their interesting narratives. Also, totally my opinion here, but I find a lot of video game stories to be more interesting than most television. Anyways, as always, you guys are entitled to your opinions, just my two cents.

[@MickeyGeezz]

nobody is going to read this gigantic newspaper in a comment section

[@dementedp]

I like when you guys have special guests in your podcasts, BUUUT theres nothing like watching you 4 or any of the main FunHaus team memebers in the podcast.

[@jonathancohen963]

I think the reason for story being such a cynical topic is that in the last 2-4 years game developers are focusing more about gameplay than the story. I love games with good story. Uncharted series, the first two Batmans, skyrim and portal 2 were for me the last games that actually emphasized the story and effected the gamplay through it. A good example for this is the Mass Effect series. When the first two were more rpg-like and really focused on the story and how your choices actually affected things, the third one kinda lost the charm for me. It lost alnost any RPG elment and although the story was okay-ish it didnt have any impact on me. I also lost all care about story but not by choice, but because I can't find any new games with attracting story.

[@jonathancohen963]

Yonatan Cohen plus about the uncharted 4 thing. I cant see how they will make another game in the series because the third one kinda concluded everything.. I just hope they are not trying to just get more money with and okay game. Its nor their style

[@amitbenben712]

Yonatan Cohen f*cking douchebag stay away from my daughter

[@jonathancohen963]

amit benbenishti Im sorry mister cattanzara

[@lorenbiddle1564]

Just fucking love your workguy's. I wait all week for dude soup and it never disappoints. Thanks

[@calebdicknson5438]

If you guys were socks, i would fold u

[@cartmanofsp]

Caleb Dicknson were i bread, would u butter me?

[@sandromnator]

Caleb Dicknson If they where lamps, I'd turn em on. :)

[@millerrepin4452]

Caleb Dicknson If they were a computer I would keep them on

[@the83rdtrombonist60]

In response to a question about podcast that you posted a few weeks ago, I've never listened to a podcast before and never had an interest in it. However, I love listening to the podcast that you guys put out because it gives me the opportunity to think deeper about some of the things that I've already been thinking about in terms of gaming and media in general.

[@COLTuber]

James hates uncharted, last of us, bloodborne, what's next jak and daxter? Ratchet and clank? Crash bandicoot? Swear to god if you say somethin bout my nigga Sly. Nah im jus fuckin with u But seriously why do you have such a harsh disposition for, I'm just gonna say it, Sony exclusives. Sure you nitpick over other games like the Witcher and cyberpunk because they aren't what the trailer shows but you don't have I don't mean to say you're a fanboy by any means, all I'm saying is these game that aren't overhyped and are what they say they are and have beautiful stories and amazing cinematic gameplay, get amazing scores from all places, yet they get such crude judgment. why? Because the first, an almost decade old game, had some clunky controls and its almost ten year old graphics don't still hold up. and the last of us, yes i get the gameplay wasnt groundbreaking but it was still fun for most people who played it combined with the story made it a great game as a whole. Don't get me wrong you are definitely entitled to your opinion, and at least you state some basis for your claim, but i just don't see why it seems you have, in a way, such a vendetta against these Sony/naughty dawg games and why we don't see you calling out games on the other end of the table. Any way you guys are funny as hell and jus keep tht shit up. James is definitely the funniest.BOOM!!! fuck you Broose, Adumb, Lawrence, spoole(his names already stupid), jewel, and matt peaked in highschool. BOOM!!! lol the way yall improv and make shit up on the spot is hilarious. maybe bring back a forcequit style documentary or something. Im sure anything yall put out will be bomb.

[@GothamInGray]

I know it isn't for everyone, but I think Mass Effect has a better story than any movie, show or book I've ever experienced. I might be the minority, but that was the one I thought of when you guys brought up games with good stories.

[@Haydrn]

Destiny=Worst game ever made worse than ride to Hell retribution and Rambo the arcade shooter combined anyone who likes it probably likes those games too

[@Wulfy294]

Hayden C Sharing opinions is nice, but when doing so you insult others is not good. Please mature and than complain.

[@Wulfy294]

Wulfy294Hayden C then*

[@Wulfy294]

Hayden C And youtube just wants to make correcting myself an ordeal... Yay

[@Beyondfreshken]

Is this bait.

[@Haydrn]

Beyondfreshken yes

[@Toicks]

They said Perth at the beginning ! My little city hidden away, far away, got a mention! Woot :D

[@ChapsJo]

By far my favorite podcast! More Bruce rage please

[@NicoGonzalezEstevez]

The way Lawrence compared the ending to Uncharted 3 to Furious 7 was spot on 10/10

[@olerums]

Its good, when there is backstory for place and characters and its revealed through game play, not through long cutscenes. Thats probably the main reason why my personal favorite games are Borderlans and Fallout games.

[@danielhills6099]

I'll be honest, I definitely prefer the "predictable" bowls of dude soup. The formula is already perfect, there is no need for the other ingredients. Love the show

[@KUSHryan]

i started watching you guys around cuntlife times, since then theres been ups and downs but ive stuck with you ! the dude soup podcasts are currently my favorite thing to watch (really anything you guys do is my favorite), been counting down the days for this one, perfect blend of comedy and information, keep up the great work guys :) just one of your many fans

[@O13J1]

Its 3:30am in Texas and I have binder clips strapped to my nips watching you guys. Love your show, thanks for being so cool.

[@Huskasin]

Touching footprints on the ground perfectly details what you do in the game.

[@joepaulukonis9525]

Movies and books are media made to be analyzed the same way over and over again (A movie or book never changes, it's only your opinion or view of it that does), while games are media made to be enjoyed differently each time, therefore making any story-driven game somewhat contradictory. When they first said (and unanimously agreed) that story isn't nearly as important as core game play, it took me a moment to realize that what they are saying is very true. Nearly every game released now a days has some sort of story element, but the games that fans continuously play over and over again are enjoyed for their variation in game play, not their narrative. Great Podcast!

[@diezel74]

Loved this gaming/tv/movie podcast! More like this please!

[@galmorzu]

Adam went on and on about Halo lore some time back, covering things from books and the games. He loves it, he loves the games, he loves the story, and he loves the gameplay. And yet they keep going on just like some of the story-only extremists online, trashing the other side. When they say, if you want story, watch tv. I get it, but TV doesn't give you an interactive experience that you feel you can be part of. It doesn't give you any role to play. I think they get so caught up tearing down the "other side" of the argument that they forget, or just don't care to acknowledge, that the majority of gamers love an interactive story in those games that warrant it, but expect decent gameplay to back it up. The gameplay is what makes the experience enjoyable to continue with the story. Some games really don't need much, if any story. Especially puzzles, sims, rts's, things like minecraft, big multiplayer shooters...but a lot of games incorporate story in a way to sometimes give more meaning to the gameplay experience. That is absolutely okay, and I think Funhaus sometimes gets too caught up on the extremes of this argument and going after them instead of being more understanding of the issue in general. Would Adam be happy if they stripped all lore, story, and cutscenes from Halo completely? If it was just generic space marine shooter 2,000? Probably not. I don't think that's what they're arguing for, and neither are most game players. Everything has a balance. Good gameplay comes first, always, but a good story is what rewards the experience, and what invests the player. And while James agrees that Telltale's stuff isn't for him because it's just a choose your own adventure book..I think that's kind of the point. It's a choose your own adventure style story with moving images and voice acting. Not for everyone, but certainly with its own following. You don't have to like it, but it's there for the many people who do.

[@SuperDuper507]

I gotta say, I find it amusing that Bruce says "Don't play games for story idiot, watch movies and TV," right before he talks about hating movies and TV. I love you clowns.

[@MrHugeBook]

Interactive story is something you cannot get from a movie or a book. Having a hand in the characters experience of the story is amazing and can sometimes trump having a killer gameplay experience for me.

[@jasonbowers251]

Hahaha hit the nail on the head with the Micheal Bay discussion. Ask him to balance entertaining action scenes with just enough narrative to keep the plot moving. But dont you dare ask him to "read between the lines" XD

[@KrazyKong108]

Funhaus this episode of Dude Soup was not just entertaining but especially interesting to me. You guys cut down on the jokes a bit and got deep into discussion about upcoming games. As a 21 year old I'm not quite as old as you but definitely not in the younger demographic that you tease (I relate to the cheesy cheat code/Tony Hawk jokes). I just want to recognize that what makes your podcasts great is that you all have varying opinions and draw from different gamer perspectives, yet you all stay focused and have great push/pull discussion. I thought this podcast seemed super relaxed compared to previous ones, if you did anything different, it worked. Keep up the great work!

[@123ragago567]

It highly depends on the game, at least for me. Just like in movies, just like I dont watch Mad Max for the plot, I dont play games like Battlefield or Guitar Hero for the story. Some games need a story, others benefit from it, others simply dont need one. Also people need to stop hating. Love your attitude guys, I never thought someone could make a 1 hour video of just talking and make it interesting!

[@r0an3v3]

17:22 ironically, they would be unlocking Mothers Be Aware in the future by doing exactly that: playing every song until it unlocks itself

[@Minecraftaholic99]

One thing I would like to see in the Dude Soup podcasts is a timestamp for every new topic (place it in the description). I haven't watched Mad Max or interested in the game, but I didn't want to skip in case I missed the beginning of the next topic.

[@Bumblkillface]

I have to say, it is absolutely true that: "What you remember from a game is what you did in it." Games like Skyrim don't really have the best story though, they're actually kind of shitty in that regard. "Go get get a horn and then get a scroll and then kill a dragon!" You certainly remember what you did here, because the story is forgettable. BUT, a game with good story would make you remember what the characters did as what YOU did. I remember specific scenes from the Last of Us, and I get chills down my spine, because I remember the feeling of desperately pushing through a blizzard looking for Ellie. I was riveted. Even though I knew I was playing a video game, so whether or not I get there in 5 minutes or 10 would have no real impact on the story, I still felt that urgency that Joel was conveying. I felt what the characters were feeling, and I know that's not bullshit. That, my friends, is a good story.

[@bndncn]

"If [people] liked life, they wouldn't be playing video games." -James Willems 2015 I really like that guy.

[@pietka33]

it took me over half of podcast to actually see what is on Adam's t-shirt, and now i'm all out of bubblegum

[@joonghsv8888]

Lawrence: "No suprise ingredients, no shocking... aromas?" Bruce: "There'll be some shocking aromas"

[@moda00z]

"When is it going to end Danny?!?" best scene from bloodline, and i laughed through it. should i check a therapist?

[@Williamzc3]

Fable, that's a perfect example of what Bruce said. A game were you can choose whether to be bad or good or just a normal dude.

[@The00AK47]

I love when James starts talking about Uncharted and says, "Hit B to stick to the nearest wall..." I didn't know exclusive games on a PlayStation console had a so called B button on their controllers. It always looked like a Circle to me.

[@zanbanko163]

Here's my opinion why a story is important for the game. Games with just a good gameplay and no story tend to get old in about five years and then almost no one is playing that game anymore. Games with a good story are replayable because when you forget about the story you just go play it and experience it again. I for example love replaying Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, its about 10 old game but I keep going back and replaying it about every 2 years, the graphics and gameplay is not that great but the story is just so good and I love experiencing it again and still find out I missed something interesting in the story. PS love you guys, keep doing the good work!

[@xBabsXDx]

I know this is kind of unrelated, but when the Witcher's hair goes through his clothes, it kills it every time. I don't care about some glitches in the world, but by 2015 you'd think the devs would be able to sort out whats solid and whats not int the main character model.

[@MichealPiksRice2]

Loved the podcast. On the topic of Telltale games and "interactive" stories, DONTNOD has come out with a lesser known game called Life Is Strange. It's about a teenage girl named Max whose moved to a town called Arcadia Bay where she goes to school. Eventually, Max finds out she has rewind powers and this is where the game's originality truly shines in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, it's a lot more interactive than the Walking Dead series and with this game, your choices seem to actually affect the story quite a lot. I highly recommend you guys check it out if you haven't already.

[@Cathardigan]

I would gladly watch and listen and subscribe to an entire podcast dedicated to FH crew, especially Lawrence and James, discussing terrible movies. I know there's a ton of "terrible movie podcasts," out there, but damn you guys talk about them in a funnier way than everyone else.

[@jhawnnewman2352]

I can totally see where you guys are coming from with the story no story thing, I, like the Internet love story in a game (example: mass effect) but I also the core gameplay (example: destiny) Sooooo thank you guys for getting the other perspective out there, keep up the good work

[@mtylerryan]

Dude Soup of the day: Water, Broccoli Powder. Do not cook. Serve at room temperature.

[@WileyCoyotE53]

You Guys are Awesome and I love these podcasts not just to listen to or have background noise but as a way of getting a usually, well sometimes ,thought out response to questions that i have and also as a way of bouncing off my own ideas since there are usually always more than two sides to an argument and having your sides and mine which sometimes are the same, some are slightly the same and have a consenting opinion or which i flatly disagree with its always fun to see the other side or have the satisfaction that someone agrees with me Anyway, Great Video as Always, have a fantastic day and keep it up

[@stupidcow0073]

This is my first comment on a Funhaus video, but I have been watching all of your videos since about last August. It gives me something to look forward to while I am at work. I really enjoy your content. Keep doing what you all are doing. Also, if Adam needs someone to play Destiny with, I will help him get through some of the new Prison of Elders content or some PVP.