Far Cry 3: A Video Game That Critiques Video Games

["Cane Dewey" Johnson]

www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/12/how-to-make-a-video-game-that-critiques-video-games/266301/

A fascinating article, though I'm not sure how many people who have played the game have picked up on the themes of the game that the developer here suggests.

Also, this article is the second time today I've heard about the concept of 'gamification', which I've started doing some reading on.

Anyway, do people agree or disagree with this viewpoint?

[AFN: Judge Shred]

I love Far Cry 3. I have been playing the hell out of it for 4 months. This is so far off base. It doesn't critique anything, it use stereotypes and gaming tropes really well, better than most games. But it doesn't make any type of statement about game design or story. It is a fun, good, well written and acted game. Nothing deeper than that.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

^ How have you been playing a game that came out on the 4th of this month for 4 months?

Seriously though, FC3 doesn't look to push the envelope in terms of video game narrative or anything like that but it definitely looks to be the most pure fun to be had with a game released this year.

[Mac]

I dont get the critique either. Its a game thats a good mix of gunplay and stealth in a pretty neat environment.

[Sektor]

I love this game, but it's not Bioshock. The transition from scared 1%er to Rambo seems pretty well done, but it's not really asking any original questions.

[AFN: Judge Shred]

Dec 26, 2012 22:54:30 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

^ How have you been playing a game that came out on the 4th of this month for 4 months?

Seriously though, FC3 doesn't look to push the envelope in terms of video game narrative or anything like that but it definitely looks to be the most pure fun to be had with a game released this year.

Meant to type four weeks, then though "hey, saying a month is easier" then mixed them together and mad my self look like I have the dumb.

["Gentleman" AJ Powell]

Dec 26, 2012 23:05:34 GMT -5 Mac said:

I dont get the critique either. Its a game thats a good mix of gunplay and stealth in a pretty neat environment.

The stealth kills are awesome. Being able to stab a dude, throw his knife at his buddy & then kick him at him with a live grenade. So awesome.

Also, releasing a Tiger to maul a camp will never get old.

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Usually it's on a less extreme level, because they want you to feel comfortable. Any game that involves interrogation techniques, or beating someone up so you can get information, those games are all about the excitement of forcing someone else through violence to tell you something. In Far Cry we try to change that experience because the person that you're trying to get information from is someone that you actually feel very uncomfortable doing it with.

Huh, is it really that common? I really don't remember any game that does that.



Anyway, I actually read a Cracked article that did pick up on these ideas, but argued that what Far Cry 3 does is less subverting or parodying gaming clichés and more just copying them.