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  1. #1
    Logiaqw's Avatar
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    Skyrim, Sandbox games and Existentialism

    Do you think those that enjoy sandbox games such as Skyrim are existentialists? Skyrim is a game that lacks a "good" compelling and deep story. Many appreciate Skyrim for giving them an environment/playground to do whatever they want, originally lacking meaning; the player finds meaning in something without meaning. The enjoyment of the freedom of creating a character with no set roles is also the appreciation of "existence precedes essence".

    What do you guys think. Are sandbox players existentialists?


  2. #2
    Empire's Avatar
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    I think to go as far as that is a bit much, but yes, one of the best parts about skyrim is the free-roam and the ability to do whatever you want in a more realistic/consistent world than most other video games.

    That and it just looks so goddamn beautiful.


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    Xanthochroid's Avatar
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    Skyrim is indeed one of the games with the most freedom, but I'd stand to disagree on your point on the lack of a solid storyline.

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    Logiaqw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Xanthochroid View Post
    Skyrim is indeed one of the games with the most freedom, but I'd stand to disagree on your point on the lack of a solid storyline.
    I am not the biggest fan of skyrim, but I do really enjoy the elder scrolls lore. However, the lore was established before skyrim and unless you read the books and texts, skyrim doesn't do a good job of absorbing the player into its story. It is really underwhelming when you finish the conflict between the thanes or the different factions; the npc acts as if nothing had happened. To me, skyrim seemed incomplete and unpolished due to the abrupt ending to important quest lines and continuous bugs on both the console and pc versions.


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    Empire's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Logiaqw View Post
    I am not the biggest fan of skyrim, but I do really enjoy the elder scrolls lore. However, the lore was established before skyrim and unless you read the books and texts, skyrim doesn't do a good job of absorbing the player into its story. It is really underwhelming when you finish the conflict between the thanes or the different factions; the npc acts as if nothing had happened. To me, skyrim seemed incomplete and unpolished due to the abrupt ending to important quest lines and continuous bugs on both the console and pc versions.
    :/

    That is like saying Dark Souls didn't have a good story.

    its more about the immersion than the actual "plot". But more or less the thane battle was secondary to the dragons.


  6. #6
    Logiaqw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Empire View Post


    :/

    That is like saying Dark Souls didn't have a good story.


    its more about the immersion than the actual "plot". But more or less the thane battle was secondary to the dragons.
    Skyrim and dark/demon souls all have well crafted lore which immerses the player into that particular universe. But, it does not have a strong direct narrative to guide the player; which is the purpose of a story in a game. I agree with you that all those games have strong backstory/lore for immersion, but lacks compelling story to guide and motivate the player. This goes back to the question I posted: are players who enjoy these immersive games that lacks a predetermined destination/goal; who are content on making meaning by their own imagination, existentialists.
    Last edited by Logiaqw; 11-26-2013 at 06:16 PM.


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    Aborted's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Logiaqw View Post
    Skyrim and dark/demon souls all have well crafted lore which immerses the player into that particular universe. But, it does not have a strong direct narrative to guide the player; which is the purpose of a story in a game. I agree with you that all those games have strong backstory/lore for immersion, but lacks compelling story to guide and motivate the player. This goes back to the question I posted: are players who enjoy these immersive games that lacks a predetermined destination/goal; who are content on making meaning by their own imagination, existentialists.
    The only pitfall of your argument is that Skyrim indeed does have a strong storyline, albeit achieved through Sidequests and Faction stories rather than a central plotline. Even at that, I still believe that the Main storyline is strong in its own regard. A better example would be a true Free-Roaming sandbox, such as Grand Theft Auto or Saint's Row (Both of which are severely lacking in all intellectual aspects).
    You were seeking strength, justice, splendour.
    You were seeking love.
    Here is the pit, here is your pit.
    Its name is Silence..


  8. #8
    Sybrid's Avatar
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    Look...when I met Skyrim and saw the trailer I got goose-bumps.
    I played it like 2 years ago and it is still the best game I have ever played (AC2 the second best). The story was awesome but it was too short but I think they focused more on the free-roaming and the side quests to make you the strongest motherfucker ever.
    So yeah...Skyrim has the most extensive free-roaming,as for my opinion off course.

  9. #9
    Logiaqw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Aborted View Post

    The only pitfall of your argument is that Skyrim indeed does have a strong storyline, albeit achieved through Sidequests and Faction stories rather than a central plotline. Even at that, I still believe that the Main storyline is strong in its own regard. A better example would be a true Free-Roaming sandbox, such as Grand Theft Auto or Saint's Row (Both of which are severely lacking in all intellectual aspects).
    Well it is all subjective. I could argue that GTA also has a strong story line; especially with the recent release of GTA 5. The reason i brought up the original question is that I did not really enjoy Skyrim and i felt that most of it is just fetching and escort missions without capturing my attention with its story. Other people really enjoyed Skyrim for its pure sandbox aspects.


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