Does anyone else think that elaboration on the story as it related to the Ghostbusters when they weren't ‘on the job’ might have helped carry this premise better? Now don't get me wrong, I stand by my love of GBTVG, but one of the things that has been bugging me lately, and indeed bugged me all along about the game, is that we never really see what the Ghostbusters are doing when they're not out battling ghosts. I realize that the presentation of an idea differs by medium, and you have to keep gamers shooting things, but really, I think it would help this sort of title move past just being good.

Some of the scenes that stand out the most for me from both movies in terms of pure storytelling are the parts when the GB are out of uniform (so to speak) like when Peter is inspecting Dana's apartment for the first time, or the scene where Ray and Winston are driving across the bridge discussing the existence of God.

I've been thinking on this for awhile now, and I can't help but wonder if it might have improved the story of the GBTVG game. They do this a bit in Metal Gear Solid (especially Guns of the Patriots), and I think it would have been especially good to see here.

-edit- Don't think this means I want to see them sitting around watching TV or doing laundry, just that a break from the action to develop the plot when not surrounded by a dozen ghosts would have been a welcome addition.

Ayame Ex_Goddess;153304
Does anyone else think that elaboration on the story as it related to the Ghostbusters when they weren't ‘on the job’ might have helped carry this premise better? Now don't get me wrong, I stand by my love of GBTVG, but one of the things that has been bugging me lately, and indeed bugged me all along about the game, is that we never really see what the Ghostbusters are doing when they're not out battling ghosts. I realize that the presentation of an idea differs by medium, and you have to keep gamers shooting things, but really, I think it would help this sort of title move past just being good.

Some of the scenes that stand out the most for me from both movies in terms of pure storytelling are the parts when the GB are out of uniform (so to speak) like when Peter is inspecting Dana's apartment for the first time, or the scene where Ray and Winston are driving across the bridge discussing the existence of God.

I've been thinking on this for awhile now, and I can't help but wonder if it might have improved the story of the GBTVG game. They do this a bit in Metal Gear Solid (especially Guns of the Patriots), and I think it would have been especially good to see here.

-edit- Don't think this means I want to see them sitting around watching TV or doing laundry, just that a break from the action to develop the plot when not surrounded by a dozen ghosts would have been a welcome addition.

That would have required actual writing though… For us to see what the GBs do in their off time they would have had to spent time doing an accurate design of the firehouse and progaming things with actual depth instead of just little “artifacts” that do the same thing over and over again and “interaction” functions that are more than just pressing x and seeing a little animation. Some of the reviews that came out right before the game released talked about how cool it was to “hang out with the other GBs in the firehouse between missions”. That, more than anything else, got me really excited about this game. Too bad they didn't deliver on any of those expectations! The only things you can do with the GBs at the firehouse is walk up to them and listen to them while they say their little schpele and that's it. Wow, isn't that fun.

I was kind of hoping that the GBs would be roaming around the firehouse doing random things and saying random things. Maybe they'd come and play a game of pool with you. Maybe there would be other in-game games that you could play with them. Maybe you could actually play the Qbit or pinball games. Maybe you could actually help them solve the narrative of the game by completing puzzles or by utilizing the PKE scans by doing some sort of research on them. Why couldn't they have made it so that before you get to run off to the next level, you have to solve part of the story/mystery first? Why, why, why, why.

It all comes down to what I've been saying all along. This game was way over hyped and suffers from ambitous, but lazy, programming. It doesn't help that all the GB heads out there don't want to look at the game from a critical standpoint. They just want to express how happy they are that someone finally came along and gave them another chapter in the GB universe.

StayinPuft;153305
That would have required actual writing though… For us to see what the GBs do in their off time they would have had to spent time doing an accurate design of the firehouse and progaming things with actual depth instead of just little “artifacts” that do the same thing over and over again and “interaction” functions that are more than just pressing x and seeing a little animation. Some of the reviews that came out right before the game released talked about how cool it was to “hang out with the other GBs in the firehouse between missions”. That, more than anything else, got me really excited about this game. Too bad they didn't deliver on any of those expectations! The only things you can do with the GBs at the firehouse is walk up to them and listen to them while they say their little schpele and that's it. Wow, isn't that fun.

I was kind of hoping that the GBs would be roaming around the firehouse doing random things and saying random things. Maybe they'd come and play a game of pool with you. Maybe there would be other in-game games that you could play with them. Maybe you could actually play the Qbit or pinball games. Maybe you could actually help them solve the narrative of the game by completing puzzles or by utilizing the PKE scans by doing some sort of research on them. Why couldn't they have made it so that before you get to run off to the next level, you have to solve part of the story/mystery first? Why, why, why, why.

It all comes down to what I've been saying all along. This game was way over hyped and suffers from ambitous, but lazy, programming. It doesn't help that all the GB heads out there don't want to look at the game from a critical standpoint. They just want to express how happy they are that someone finally came along and gave them another chapter in the GB universe.

Don't be Hatin.

But seriously, you try and program a game and see if you don't try to find shortcuts when possible.

The only thing that really bugged me about the game was at the begining of each level (minus 1) they would leave the firehouse and then arrive at the destination…but nothing inbetween. Some narrative and scenes in the commute would have been nice….but that's just me.

::edit::

I would also like to point out that I am almost positive (since I do not have any connections to TR as much as I wished I did) that there was more stuff that was cut out over the course of development that would have helped make the narrative more cohesive in that manner.

Interesting idea. I think it's kinda up to your imagination.. i.e Egon working on New Equipment, Ray could be reading a book , Winston could be helping Egon out and Peter could be playing video games or eating. lol.

I'm usually in agreement with StayinPuft on the game's critique… but I'll disagree here. I don't think you needed more interaction in the Firehouse than you already have. However, the puzzle solving part would be very interesting and a great breakup of the gameplay. Maybe give players the option to let the Ghostbusters solve it… or you can do some minigame/puzzle to help them solve it.

JamesCGamora;153307
Don't be Hatin.
But seriously, you try and program a game and see if you don't try to find shortcuts when possible.

I have, and I have. Nothing nearly so ambitious which is why I say that I still love the game despite what I mentioned above. Thing is, one of the things in my mind when I wrote this was that scene from GB2 where the guys go to examine the Vigo painting. All the GBs are in uniform except Peter which I think is a small touch that helps flesh out his character (I _still_ wonder why Peter went to the museum party dressed in his GB uniform when he was supposed to be semi incognito). Of course, to do that scene for the game would have required a separate concept sheet, turnaround, character model, texture map, etc which translates into hundreds of extra hours of manpower which results in a higher cost and longer wait time. Also, as mentioned, exposition when you're not actively involved pulls a player out of the gameplay experience. Its a fine line to walk here, because it's a movie-tie in, and decent narrative is usually a point where those sorts of games fall flat.

StayinPuft;153305
That would have required actual writing though… For us to see what the GBs do in their off time they would have had to spent time doing an accurate design of the firehouse and progaming things with actual depth instead of just little “artifacts” that do the same thing over and over again and “interaction” functions that are more than just pressing x and seeing a little animation.

What else can you expect from the medium. Any game is fundamentally based on a button press and related animation. (I know this is an over simplified look at it.) Be that, a pick up animation…or a shoot weapon animation. Yes, they could have included numerous different interactions with objects but it would boil down to the same thing. Don't forget this game wasn't made just for the dedicated fans…so an accurate design of the firehouse wasn't really needed, i'm pretty confident the casual player isn't going to notice the absence of the third floor. I understand where your critiques come from the game…and somethings I agree with…but when it comes down to it…it is just a game.

Ayame Ex_Goddess;153313
I have, and I have. Nothing nearly so ambitious which is why I say that I still love the game despite what I mentioned above.

I think he was talking to StayinPuft.

The game really falls down on the lack (or shortness) of the cinematics and in-game cutscenes. I understand why they put alot of the dialogue while you are playing through, but a few more cutscenes to expand characters and story would have been nice.

JamesCGamora;153307
Don't be Hatin.

But seriously, you try and program a game and see if you don't try to find shortcuts when possible.

The only thing that really bugged me about the game was at the begining of each level (minus 1) they would leave the firehouse and then arrive at the destination…but nothing inbetween. Some narrative and scenes in the commute would have been nice….but that's just me.

::edit::

I would also like to point out that I am almost positive (since I do not have any connections to TR as much as I wished I did) that there was more stuff that was cut out over the course of development that would have helped make the narrative more cohesive in that manner.

It's not my job to program a game though… I'm not a game programmer! I know that there are games out there (and production houses) that DO take the time to really put a “spit polish” on their games. Rockstar Games is one such house. GTA4 was clearly rushed to market and it is still head and shoulders above 99% of the games out there. All the sights and the sounds and the interactions and even the trash blowing by on the sidewalk are absolutely beautiful! You can tell that they put a painstaking level of detail into this game and it creates an amazing experience.

I honestly don't get the same feeling from playing GBTVG. Everything is one dimensional and once you've beaten the game, there really isn't any point in going back through the levels. Adding those things that I mentioned in my original post, would have made the game alot “deeper” and you probably would have spent twice the amount of time playing the game as you already have…

I agree that there weren't enough CGI/cut scenes to push the narrative along. After playing through the game, I had to stop and think about what the actual story was! I watched every cut scene from start to finish and never “skipped” through them. By the end of the game I had a general impression of what the story was but after posting on here a few times, I discovered that there were also alot of holes in my understanding of it. GTA4 had a copious amount of cut scenes and even the missions gave you clues as to what the story was as you are the driving force it!

In GBTVG I felt like I was really detached from the story. Maybe it was the original GBs vs. the Rookie or something but it basically felt like the other characters were moving the story and I was just there to “bust ghosts” and meet checkpoints. I never got involved in the story because there was no reason to be. As long as you trap this ghost and kill that boss, you'll keep progressing.

I've also said this on another thread, but this game SORELY needs more cut scenes. I think the cutscenes that did make it are too short and don't emphasize main story events nearly enough. It's like you are too distracted by what Venkman is saying to grasp anything else. To Reitman's credit, he knew how to balance the comedy of Venkman with the neccessity of providing the serious moments to keep the plot moving. For GBTVG to be considered a “sequel” to the movies, it probably needs atleast another 20 minutes of cut scenes!

I have also said (to much dismay from other members) that I believe the decision to push the release of the game 8 months back to June was purely for marketing reasons. Sony wanted the game to release with the Blu Ray on the 25th anniversary so they could market both concurrently. Hell, it worked on me! I bought the game and the Blu Ray on the same day! Maybe the game did need an extra month or two for “polishing” but in no way do I believe that there is an EXTRA 8 months worth of work in this game. It's like they finished it in November, put it on a shelf and brought it out for the media tours…

StayinPuft;153305
…but lazy, programming.

buahahaha!

seriously, don't assume until you know what really goes on behind the scenes.

StayinPuft;153327
I have also said (to much dismay from other members) that I believe the decision to push the release of the game 8 months back to June was purely for marketing reasons. Sony wanted the game to release with the Blu Ray on the 25th anniversary so they could market both concurrently. Hell, it worked on me! I bought the game and the Blu Ray on the same day! Maybe the game did need an extra month or two for “polishing” but in no way do I believe that there is an EXTRA 8 months worth of work in this game. It's like they finished it in November, put it on a shelf and brought it out for the media tours…

and your belief is wrong.

hell, most of us wished we had more than 8 months to finish up the game.

You ask for more cut scenes then you say the game didn't need the last 8 months?

All of us were here until the final hour of the final day putting stuff in. Hell, you should see the list of stuff I didn't get to put in because we ran out of time.

Again, don't assume anything you know is correct until you get a clue as to how games are made.

Also, don't compare this game to GTA4. That's apples and oranges. GTA4 had well over 300 to 400 people working on it. We had roughly 70. GTA4's budget was also roughly 100 million dollars, this game was what, around 15 million?

Also, most of all the “interactive stuff” in the firehouse was cut to focus on more important things. I would think that a better game experience is what the majority of people want, not extra ambient animations in the firehouse.
The guy working on the Q-Bert game was hospitalized in the final week too. so yeah…

Ayame Ex_Goddess;153313
I have, and I have. Nothing nearly so ambitious which is why I say that I still love the game despite what I mentioned above. Thing is, one of the things in my mind when I wrote this was that scene from GB2 where the guys go to examine the Vigo painting. All the GBs are in uniform except Peter which I think is a small touch that helps flesh out his character (I _still_ wonder why Peter went to the museum party dressed in his GB uniform when he was supposed to be semi incognito). Of course, to do that scene for the game would have required a separate concept sheet, turnaround, character model, texture map, etc which translates into hundreds of extra hours of manpower which results in a higher cost and longer wait time. Also, as mentioned, exposition when you're not actively involved pulls a player out of the gameplay experience. Its a fine line to walk here, because it's a movie-tie in, and decent narrative is usually a point where those sorts of games fall flat.

i had a formal suit for him on my list.

It was cut last minute to focus on other, more important things that needed attention.


—

now, all that being said, yes, the game has it's issues. I wish we had the time to fix all that.

I was working on credit screens similar to the movie (with the character doing stuff while their name is on screen), but was unable to deliver due to other priorities.

I think people just expected this game to never end. The game experience is roughly 4 times longer than the movies and the script is much much longer. It's the love for the franchise that makes people feel this way. The game isn't really that much shorter or longer than most linear games out there right now. It's something we're all going to have to get used to. The longer it takes to make a game, the shorter it will be. This is happening everywhere.

I accept the criticisms, everyone has their opinions and are entitled to them. I'm just happy that the game is being received positively.

Skanker, have I mentioned recently that I want to have your babies?