Opinion Poll: Storyline or Gameplay?

[Tik]

I am in the process of making a new pack, but I am not very interested in having storyline involved. It'd pretty much be a bunch of unique levels strung together.



However, if most of you like a good storyline, I'd be more than happy to throw one in for ya. So, that's why I want your opinion. Storyline or Gameplay?

[Newspaz]

Storyline and gameplay.

[Fquist_old]

My thought exactly.

[Cesar]

A good action&puzzle storyline and some action&puzzle gameplay. 'nuff said.

[Derby]

Gameplay always comes before storyline. Gameplay can often change what you think about the storyline, but not so often vice versa. A creation is based heavily on how it functions, and not so much on its background. Should you create a storyline (which is recommended for extended play), you should obviously make one that relates to the gameplay.

[EvilMike]

For games like jazz2, try not to have your gameplay driven by the story. Always put gameplay first.

[~SPLASH~]

gameplay goes first. storyline is kinda kewl, but gameplay is much better, after all, u need to be able to play some good levels right?

[Ninja Dodo]

both



gameplay get's you playing and storyline keeps you playing... http://jazz2.nagcentral.com/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[ElectroPiZZa]

Also, the storyline has to have some kind of appeal to it. There are a few "customary" storylines that have been overused in the past by almost every media; such as the ol' "OHH DEAR ALIENZ R INVAEEDING eeERRTH!!1111 U HaeEV 2 ESCPAE LOLOLOL!!!!!111" and the "your name is Blajamarakazoink B. Flarfangoofer, and you have to escape from this maze and get all 500,000 GOLDEN-SUPER-MEGA-DUPER keys to unlock the PORTAL OF DOOM!!!!!111111111". Redundant.

As you can see, a good storyline requires a plot, a time setting, a character, and, in the worst case, a storyline. It has to create a mood, a thought-provoking plot, and a... OH WHO CARES, IT'S JUST A JAZZ 2 LEVEL

[Derby]

"Another Story" is an example of gameplay driven by storyline. The author had to be brilliant to actually make a good pack out of it, and believe it or not, he did. I still play it sometimes because the storyline is absorbing to the point that it absorbs. ;-P

[Fear]

Gameplay is the most important, but a little storyline here and there can be something too.

[Tik]

Hmmphness. Well, try to decide on one or the other. Would you not like a string of Jazz 2 levels altogether with no plot, or just a whee little bit of storyline? String of levels would be much easier.

[EvilMike]

In a few days I am going to release two levels together with no storyline at all. Will that mean they are bad levels? No. In fact, a story would just make things confusing.

[Fear]

I disagree with you here EvilMike.



The story would explain why the levels are in that order or with that tileset so its not like... from easter 1 to haunted house back to easter 1 for no reason.

No you could make a story explain that.



the story is what makes strings of levels get higher ratings.

[Tik]

Yeah, so a LITTLE story is okay in order to explain what's happening during gameplay?



Blah.

[Fear]

Yes, but without the blah at the bottom, you see the story is meant to enhance the gameplay. Even the real jazz and jazz 2 have stories, but just not too much...

[Coppertop]

Yes, the levels are sort of a story in their own right. The story line just helps fill in the blanks, I think.

[Fear]

Faith would be a good, but offending story..