Weekly Poll: Favourite Game Setting? Finished! [Archive]

Wereboar

25-02-2012, 05:57 PM

I would say "sci-fi" but the way I understand this term pretty differs from its common definition (especially here, where it is paired with "futuristic"). I prefer alternative history and worlds that are use scientific method in the explanations "what would have happened if..." but it is not limited to futuristic settings. This is why I like retrofuturistic worlds (steampunk "Martian Dreams", dieselpunk "Crimson Skies" and technofantasy "Arcanum"). And I'm not a fan of space operas or sword&sorcery. So, 20th +/- 2 centuries works best for me.

Of course "Fallout" series that are both futuristic (XXII/XXIII century) and retrofuturistic (good ol' 50's) with tons of gallows humour and cultural references really takes the cake.

Japo

25-02-2012, 07:20 PM

Historical!

I like sci-fi when it's plausible, for example Ghost in the Shell.

I don't like fantastic settings most of the times, but it depends on their quality. I love Tolkien, and the Elder Scrolls universe (as described in Daggerfall and subsequent--but unlike the setting, the plots in TES games are awful). I feel most other fantastic settings are nothing but playing or battling grounds with no substance.

EviL GaMer

25-02-2012, 08:26 PM

First post, so, hi! :D

Have to go with the sci-fi/futuristic option, though I'd like to say that I like "realistic" or plausible science-fiction the most, hard sci-fi. It's very hard to find though, right now only Fallout comes to mind and maybe Bioforge (haven't finished it, but what I saw, seemed to fit). Oh, and Beneath a Steel Sky, of course.

Also I don't consider space opera sci-fi, it's more like fantasy in space, as it doesn't explain the science, things just work.

EDIT: Forgot another one or two rather Policenauts and Snatcher

Diamondfist

25-02-2012, 10:15 PM

I rarely have one favorite thing; I wish I could vote for two choices here!

I woulda voted for Fantasy and Sci-Fi/Futuristic, but I chose Fantasy, because that is what I was taught when I first learned of role-playing games. I've grown to love sci-fi/futuristic though, and it ties with fantasy for fave gaming genres. Looking forward to seeing the results of this poll.

Eagle of Fire

25-02-2012, 10:30 PM

Very close call for me between sci-fiction and fantasy... But since I'm a DM in D&D I decided to call fantasy on this one.

BranjoHello

25-02-2012, 11:07 PM

Fantasy is my first choice, it can be implemented in every game genre.
Historical setting goes home with silver medal.

RRS

26-02-2012, 12:11 AM

My 4 primary choices were thought as a narrowing down of possible choices, of which there would be more, as these do mix well. As some of you mentioned, some characteristic settings are a cross-between: contemporary + sci-fi = post-apocalyptic, historical + sci-fi = steam/dieselpunk, sci-fi + fantasy = Star Wars etc.
Still, even in these examples, there's always the dominant element (e.g. Star Wars is mostly sci-fi, with only small amounts of fantasy).

On a side note: did you notice how often the creators choose generic sci-fi or fantasy? It's easier to make up own world and rules, rather than going through a painstaking research process as in the case of historical setting.

Japo

26-02-2012, 12:17 AM

Star Wars is mostly sci-fi, with only small amounts of fantasy

I'd almost say the opposite.

RRS

26-02-2012, 12:34 AM

I'd almost say the opposite.
...and we'd both be right, go figure. Considering all the geeks dressed up in Jedi robes, I'd say it's fantasy, too. Too bad I love that other "Empire, Rebels, smugglers" part of SW universe.

Still, ask yourself question: is SW world possible without the Force etc.? as a proof I can give you stories or games where there are no Jedi or Force use.
Now, can you imagine SW world without space ships, blasters, robots, aliens?

Eagle of Fire

26-02-2012, 01:49 AM

No, there would be no SW without the Force. Even Jar Jar Binks and Yan Solo use the force even though they don't know how or why. They are simply force sensitive.

hiraghm

26-02-2012, 09:19 AM

Why does it say I'm not allowed to vote, even though I'm logged in?

DarthHelmet86

26-02-2012, 09:21 AM

Possible due to the caching issue, try ctrl+f5ing the page or have a look in this thread if you are using Firefox http://www.abandonia.com/vbullet/showthread.php?t=27331 .

hiraghm

26-02-2012, 09:24 AM

...and we'd both be right, go figure. Considering all the geeks dressed up in Jedi robes, I'd say it's fantasy, too. Too bad I love that other "Empire, Rebels, smugglers" part of SW universe.

Still, ask yourself question: is SW world possible without the Force etc.? as a proof I can give you stories or games where there are no Jedi or Force use.
Now, can you imagine SW world without space ships, blasters, robots, aliens?

Forget the robes. It's fantasy because it applies Clarke's 3rd Law to almost all its 'science'. Everything is doubletalk, from "hyperspace" travel to "the farce".
Even Lucas admitted that it was a WWII adventure story set in space. It's also fantasy rather than science fiction partly because it is anti-technology.

hiraghm

26-02-2012, 09:26 AM

Possible due to the caching issue, try ctrl+f5ing the page or have a look in this thread if you are using Firefox http://www.abandonia.com/vbullet/showthread.php?t=27331 .

Ahh, that explains it. I just very recently upgraded from Firefox 3.6.x to 10.x.

hiraghm

26-02-2012, 09:29 AM

...and we'd both be right, go figure. Considering all the geeks dressed up in Jedi robes, I'd say it's fantasy, too. Too bad I love that other "Empire, Rebels, smugglers" part of SW universe.

Still, ask yourself question: is SW world possible without the Force etc.? as a proof I can give you stories or games where there are no Jedi or Force use.
Now, can you imagine SW world without space ships, blasters, robots, aliens?

Yes I can. "Lord of the Rings", "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever", King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table...

DarthHelmet86

26-02-2012, 09:31 AM

Could you please not multi-post like that. Either address all the comments in one post or go back and edit the last post if no one else has commented please.

RRS

26-02-2012, 09:38 AM

Even Jar Jar Binks [...] use the force even though they don't know how or why.
I do hope this is irony, right? You just didn't use emoticons?

Yes I can. "Lord of the Rings"...
You mean you agree with me? Because you've just said SW without sci-fi elements becomes generic fantasy.

There was no Force in games such as X-Wing, TIE Fighter or Dark Forces, yet they retained all look&feel of Star Wars. Star Wars without its technology is just another fairy tale, indistinguishable from others.

Smiling Spectre

26-02-2012, 09:40 AM

I am big fan of Fantasy... but mostly it's too cliche. Knights, dragons, elderly wizards, point-eared elves and ugly orcs. Oh, still good but diversions are welcome!

So I am in "techno-fantasy" actually, as it's much rarer in PC games. Steampunk is good. Star Wars is great. Warhammer 40 000 sounds very attractive as setting. Even Batman and Spiderman have it's quite unique place!

As I am ok with true SF too (like Ringworld or Fallout), I voted for Future/SF. :)

Tomekk

26-02-2012, 10:03 AM

I mostly enjoy fantasy settings, preferably the ones that aren't too bland, cliche or cookie-cutter, such as that of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, or maybe even Bioware's "Dragon Age".

But, my favorite setting has to be a combination of those listed in the poll, like Sci-Fi/Fantasy of the "Might & Magic" series, "World of Warcraft", etc. or the combination of Steampunk and Fantasy as seen in Troika's "Arcanum", which was truly unique and amazing :)

Mighty Midget

26-02-2012, 10:23 AM

Not sure which setting I would say is my favourite since my favourite genre is simulation, preferably flight sims, be it planes or space ships, WW1 or Star Wars, it's a flight sim. YAY. So which option should I go for?

NB: I pick "contemporary" then since it's the closest match for the average sim.

Scatty

26-02-2012, 12:16 PM

I am big fan of Fantasy... but mostly it's too cliche. Knights, dragons, elderly wizards, point-eared elves and ugly orcs. Oh, still good but diversions are welcome!
Just a notice: you should try Gothic (1 and 2), if you didn't yet. It does have knights (well, paladins), dragons, elderly (but full of vigor) wizards and ugly orcs, but it's all rather different than in other RPG's. Prison inmates and weed junkies hard world feeling, rough guy jokes and talking and germanic Middle Ages all thrown in kinda, which makes for a quite unique Fantasy game. And it knows how to make fun of itself sometimes, like with the over-the-top righteous, rule-abiding paladins.
Avoid Gothic III and all following it though.

Tracker

26-02-2012, 01:06 PM

Oh, well, I chose Fantasy -I think I played more fantasy games than any of the other settings. But rather dark fantasy. Beyond Divinity, Morrowind, Disciples, and such (though I still couldn't find time to try the Krynn series). Sci-fi is good as well, but mostly because Star Wars looks like a sci-fi world (I never said it is) - or maybe Deus Ex is something I'd prefer playing. And for contemporary games I like, maybe crime stories are the best - Max Payne, Mafia.

P.S.: Historical games never really worked because of historical accuracy. Just look at the FPS scene - either they are action movie clones like Call of Duty.

Lulu_Jane

26-02-2012, 01:06 PM

I hate dragons, but I'm seconding Scatty's recommendation, also try Risen :)

Japo

26-02-2012, 03:50 PM

Historical games never really worked

Really?

- Civilization series (http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/civilization-series)
- Colonization (http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/59/Colonization.html)
- Centurion (http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/23/Centurion+-+Defender+of+Rome.html)
- 1869 (http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/446/1869.html)
- KOEI Historical Simulation series (http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/koei-historical-simulation-series)
- Total War series (http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/total-war-series)
- Patrician series (http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/patrician-series)
...

Capo

26-02-2012, 05:10 PM

Futuristic/Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk for me.

Japo

26-02-2012, 08:39 PM

I forgot to say that I hate anything that has zombies in it. Maybe I didn't a couple of years ago, but it's so hackneyed now I'm sick of this retro fad.

Eagle of Fire

26-02-2012, 09:51 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle of Fire View Post
Even Jar Jar Binks [...] use the force even though they don't know how or why.
I do hope this is irony, right? You just didn't use emoticons?
No, why? It is a well known fact too.

Are you only being dense because you don't like Jar Jar Binks? :huh:

There was no Force in games such as X-Wing, TIE Fighter or Dark Forces, yet they retained all look&feel of Star Wars. Star Wars without its technology is just another fairy tale, indistinguishable from others.
Why would there be "the force" in simulation games? Those games are exactly what you would experience if you would enter Vader room, the one which close on him. You see it briefly once in the movies I think.

Beside, what technology? In Star Wars? There is nothing really technological there, it is really a basic Sci-fiction setting. The Force (and the Jedi) are what make Star Wars different from any other sci-fiction show. Nothing else.

Lulu_Jane

27-02-2012, 08:12 AM

I'm confused, are you arguing with yourself? :D

DarthHelmet86

27-02-2012, 08:24 AM

I think he is trying to claim that Rebel Fighter and Tie Fighter were just simulations in that game world, not real events. A pity that is in no way the case, they were depicting events from the Star Wars Extended Universe. You can easily have a Star Wars game with little to no mention of the force, it isn't a required part of the story structure, however the sci-fi aspect isn't either, blasters, light sabers, faster then light travel, space flight are major aspects of the series. But even then I could see them being not needed, a simple story about a young man on a backwards world with no access to high tech weapons or space but still being hunted by the Sith for his Force abilities.

So to put it in a shorter way, yes I could see a Star Wars game without the Force or Sci-Fi...but without both no I don't think that would work.

Also if you think the tech talk in Star Wars is just double speak, you might want to look into the cannon books that explain the tech and have a talk to the scientists who have said that in the near future a weapon like the light saver is possible. Star Trek was just as bad for techno-babble to make its future tech work, all Sci-Fi movies and show are really. To explain future technology based on what we know today is impossible, to us in reality the tech would look more like magic then science. So they need to make a bit of a leap add in new tech talk to make it seem real and sciencey.

jonh_sabugs

28-02-2012, 03:16 PM

Where's the all of the above option?

RRS

28-02-2012, 10:29 PM

I'm also playing & enjoying games from all of the above settings, the point is about picking just one you like the most.

Smiling Spectre

29-02-2012, 04:52 AM

Scatty, Lulu_Jane, thank you for recomendations. I am not very big fan of all this first person RPGs (so it's a main reason why whole Gothic and Elder Scrolls series passed beside me), but I see too many recomendations of it recently... I can try it later. :)

Scatty

29-02-2012, 01:37 PM

Actually, I wouldn't put the Elder Scrolls series together with Gothic. They're pretty different kind of games, even if both series share first person view. Morrowind is yet most comparable to Gothic of all Elder Scrolls series, even if from all of them I would recommend Daggerfall most, but they all share the kinda cold, a bit (or quite, you name it) aimless huge world.
Not so in Gothic, that one is almost the opposite - the game world is rich with "hand-crafted", full of details content and lively NPC's doing their (different for each one) day-duties. It's a very good simulation of a living world, and each corner of it has it's own purpose and interesting details.

Smiling Spectre

01-03-2012, 03:21 PM

Scatty I have weird connections in my head, so sorry for that. Of course, this games are different in terms of "global" gameplay, but in most taken moments you do the same things: wave your sword (aim your bow/cast your spells - no matter) trying to kill this annoying enemy. Both games are realtime, both are stats-dependant, both are first person and both have requirements of two skills: quite fast reflexes and ability to orienting in 3D-world. So they are "similar" for me. :) Also, that makes me quite wary, as I am not a big specialist of it.

On the other hand, I have more skills than I thought (as I was able to play Borderlands recently), so actually it have sense for me now to try this sort of games too. :)