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CAN FANGAMES BE GOOD?
Posts
Sam
2200
Sam
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CloseMost people look down on most fangames and commonly taunt people for being unable to come up with their own universe - however, GamingW are currently having a fangame making competition and everyone's gone nuts for it, saying they can finally make their dream fangames without being looked down upon. Some of their ideas are pretty kickass too!
So, why is it people tend to disregard fangames?
So, why is it people tend to disregard fangames?
Shinan
4314
I think fangames get a lot of shit because many fangames are... Well... They don't "get it". Many fangames are made by overenthusiastic kids who think "this and that is the coolest ever!". Or sometimes (especially in fanfiction) they think something was wrong in the original and want to change it. X and Y should have gotten together not X and Z. Or adding a character that is essentially the author wanting to be part of the coolness (Mary-Sue).
However I think that there's great potential in making fangames that are set in predetermined settings, using characters that are already known. Playing around in that universe for a bit. I like the idea of fanfiction. Numerous "what if" scenarios and stuff like that. But I like fanfiction that follows canon as closely as possible, fanfiction that plays in unexplored areas of a setting. I guess most just want to see their favorite characters do stupid stuff but I want... Essentially "spinoffs".
The problem with making a fangame that follows canon is that there's so much to think about and so much that can be wrong that IN FACT it takes more effort to make a good fangame than it takes to make an original.
However I think that there's great potential in making fangames that are set in predetermined settings, using characters that are already known. Playing around in that universe for a bit. I like the idea of fanfiction. Numerous "what if" scenarios and stuff like that. But I like fanfiction that follows canon as closely as possible, fanfiction that plays in unexplored areas of a setting. I guess most just want to see their favorite characters do stupid stuff but I want... Essentially "spinoffs".
The problem with making a fangame that follows canon is that there's so much to think about and so much that can be wrong that IN FACT it takes more effort to make a good fangame than it takes to make an original.
Dark Gaia
3474
Can a fangame be good? Depends. Depends on various things. Is it an excited 12 year old's Final Fantasy VII sequel, or is it an experienced RMer's remake of a classic title or a mainly original title LOOSELY based on the real series?
Like all games, it comes down to one thing: If the game is well made and is fun to play, then you will enjoy playing it. For fangames, this is quite hard to grasp as because you are sitting down to play a game labelled Final Fantasy with the expectations of what an FF game would present, and not the expectations of an independant fangame someone has made using FF as a basis.
Although the game may be perfectly fine RM wise, it is a bad FF game, thus you consider it bad.
Like all games, it comes down to one thing: If the game is well made and is fun to play, then you will enjoy playing it. For fangames, this is quite hard to grasp as because you are sitting down to play a game labelled Final Fantasy with the expectations of what an FF game would present, and not the expectations of an independant fangame someone has made using FF as a basis.
Although the game may be perfectly fine RM wise, it is a bad FF game, thus you consider it bad.
Yes, they can. However, coming up with your own characters and your own setting and your own universe will always be a better idea.
maladroithim
1495
Fangames can be good, but why bother? If you are making a good game it is more artistically sound to actually have an original concept.
VerifyedRasta
581
author=brandonabley link=topic=2946.msg57338#msg57338 date=1232561630
Fangames can be good, but why bother? If you are making a good game it is more artistically sound to actually have an original concept.
I agree completely with this, but some times you just love a game so much that you want to make a small remake to it, just for the fun of it.
Yes, fan-games CAN be good, in the same way that socialism CAN work and that violence CAN be the answer.
In all three cases, just...not historically, and not usually.
In all three cases, just...not historically, and not usually.
captainregal
1356
I made a fan game for my first game and the story blew ass. I thought I had to make my own story and not just reuse some of the same material from the old game. There in lies the problem with fan games. If you use the same story as the origanal game than my make the fan game.
VerifyedRasta
581
author=captainregal link=topic=2946.msg57352#msg57352 date=1232563062
I made a fan game for my first game and the story blew ass. I thought I had to make my own story and not just reuse some of the same material from the old game. There in lies the problem with fan games. If you use the same story as the origanal game than my make the fan game.
Wait, are you saying you should use the exact same story, or not?
author=Max McGee link=topic=2946.msg57347#msg57347 date=1232562781Winner winner, chicken dinner.
Yes, fan-games CAN be good, in the same way that socialism CAN work and that violence CAN be the answer.
In all three cases, just...not historically, and not usually.
My issue with fangames is the lack of personal integrity for the project. I spent years working on a large fangame and it was coming along great at the end, but then I realized the biggest issue: it would never truly be my own creation.
I've played a few fun fangames, which I guess answers itself; yes, because as far as I'm concerned, if a game is fun, it's a good game in it's own right regardless. I guess it depends on what you want to get from making or playing a game!
What I notice about most fangames (and alot of fanfiction in general) is that they tend to have bad writing, gameplay, artistic, etc. quality as compared to games or stories with original ideas. This isn't to say originals completely own fangames all the time no matter what, or that all fangames suck; the same rules apply for fangames as with originals. However, fangames just have that kind of statistical bad reputation (just look at DBZ, FF7, Pokemon, insert other pop culture item here fangames).
Blitzen
3253
I agree with WIP. If you want to be able to claim authorship of something like a game or a game design, it has to come from your own creativity.
But then again, there is the idea that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously and if you think it would be fun to do it your way, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't.
Speaking from my own experience, I enjoyed working on a fan game because I had a lot to work with already, and it was actually one of those "retraints provoke creativity" sorts of things. You set your style, inspired by the original, you set your story, inspired by the original, and then you proceed to make the game the way as you esperienced it or you would make it if you had complete control yourself.
A lot of the time it is done out of a misguided fanboyism, but I think that if a fangame were to surpass the original in terms of design and content, then it would just be a great work of homage.
Of course, there is the idea that you are not creating somethign truly unique. You are essentially piggybacking on the creative efforts of others unless you so choose to stand apart from the franchise.
But then again, there is the idea that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously and if you think it would be fun to do it your way, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't.
Speaking from my own experience, I enjoyed working on a fan game because I had a lot to work with already, and it was actually one of those "retraints provoke creativity" sorts of things. You set your style, inspired by the original, you set your story, inspired by the original, and then you proceed to make the game the way as you esperienced it or you would make it if you had complete control yourself.
A lot of the time it is done out of a misguided fanboyism, but I think that if a fangame were to surpass the original in terms of design and content, then it would just be a great work of homage.
Of course, there is the idea that you are not creating somethign truly unique. You are essentially piggybacking on the creative efforts of others unless you so choose to stand apart from the franchise.
But then again, there is the idea that we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously and if you think it would be fun to do it your way, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't.
Speaking from my own experience, I enjoyed working on a fan game because I had a lot to work with already, and it was actually one of those "retraints provoke creativity" sorts of things. You set your style, inspired by the original, you set your story, inspired by the original, and then you proceed to make the game the way as you esperienced it or you would make it if you had complete control yourself.
A lot of the time it is done out of a misguided fanboyism, but I think that if a fangame were to surpass the original in terms of design and content, then it would just be a great work of homage.
Yes. With that said, I really hope that you finish FFE someday.
maladroithim
1495
author=Blitzen link=topic=2946.msg57381#msg57381 date=1232566312
Speaking from my own experience, I enjoyed working on a fan game because I had a lot to work with already, and it was actually one of those "restraints provoke creativity" sorts of things.
This is actually a very good point.
I tend to avoid fan games.
Not because they are inherently bad, but I'd rather people put forth the drive to make something original. Even if it isn't great.
Not because they are inherently bad, but I'd rather people put forth the drive to make something original. Even if it isn't great.
Seeing how all my games are fangames, I like to believe it's possible to make a good one. In my case, though, this:
and this:
...apply. I kinda dug my own grave making it the way I did. I have plans on how to make it better, though, so maybe someday it'll be something more respectable.
So, do I think a fangame can be good? I do. But, the creator has to be careful how they execute everything, and be prepared to face a lot of negative paradigms.
author=Dark Gaia link=topic=2946.msg57305#msg57305 date=1232546273
mainly original title LOOSELY based on the real series
and this:
author=Atavus Dei link=topic=2946.msg57379#msg57379 date=1232565961
fangames just have that kind of statistical bad reputation (just look at DBZ, FF7, Pokemon, insert other pop culture item here fangames).
...apply. I kinda dug my own grave making it the way I did. I have plans on how to make it better, though, so maybe someday it'll be something more respectable.
So, do I think a fangame can be good? I do. But, the creator has to be careful how they execute everything, and be prepared to face a lot of negative paradigms.
Anaryu
8848
That's why there's so much "Yay!" over the GW contest. It's a valid excuse to make a fan-game without all the "Oh god, it's a fan-game, leave it alone" stereotyping.
There will be some who rip on any fan-game, but when it's done for a contest when the rules say "Must be a fan-game?" You'd look like a real idiot for coming into a thread like that and complaining about it...
A fan-game is only as good as it is. If you try hard enough you can liken just about any original game to "cliches" or "tropes." But a good game is still a good game, a bad one still a bad one.
There will be some who rip on any fan-game, but when it's done for a contest when the rules say "Must be a fan-game?" You'd look like a real idiot for coming into a thread like that and complaining about it...
A fan-game is only as good as it is. If you try hard enough you can liken just about any original game to "cliches" or "tropes." But a good game is still a good game, a bad one still a bad one.
Reives
1087
Aye, fan games are obviously physically capable of being good, and I've seen some rather amazing ones around, e.g. Chrono Crisis.
I think the problem with them is that they're usually motivated by the honeymoon period of addiction to a certain show/game/story - and you just want to see it continue/be a part of it. But when that honeymoon stage wears off, most are suddenly thinking "wait a minute, with all this effort, I could be working on something that actually belongs to me - and it is then either abandoned or half-assed.
At least, that was what I took from my own experience with it. :x
I think the problem with them is that they're usually motivated by the honeymoon period of addiction to a certain show/game/story - and you just want to see it continue/be a part of it. But when that honeymoon stage wears off, most are suddenly thinking "wait a minute, with all this effort, I could be working on something that actually belongs to me - and it is then either abandoned or half-assed.
At least, that was what I took from my own experience with it. :x
