Probably NSFW - Note that killing a tank restores health for everyone.

Pt 2

Once I rose above the noise and confusion . . . but I flew too high.

"'The Simak book is a great story,' he said. 'Not such great writing, though. Not bad, I don't mean to say that, but take it from me, there is better.'
"Bobby waited.
"'There are also books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story, Bobby. Don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words - the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers that won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.'
"'Are there many of those, do you think?' Bobby asked.
"'More than the book-snobs and play-it-safers think. Many more. Perhaps I'll give you one. A belated birthday present.'"

-Stephen King in "Low Men in Yellow Coats" from Hearts in Atlantis

Sometimes when discussing innovation and narrative in games I fear I come off as one of Ted Brautigan's book-snobs. That is not my intent. I not only agree with the sentiments expressed above by the fictional Ted Brautigan about books but think a similar idea applies to games. Some games are fun regardless of innovation and story. There was nothing revolutionary or even evolutionary about Serious Sam and the story was certainly nothing to write home about but the game was a blast. I'm sure there are some game snobs who look down on Gears of War and similar games but sometimes you have to play just because the game is fun. Given my recent complaints about E3 and my review of Extra Lives I want to make it clear that I support that sentiment.

The quotes that Tom Bissell uses to introduce Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter sets up the dichotomy of the book from the start. One quote is from Shakespeare's Pericles and the other from Blade Runner. One a classic piece of literature and one a popular science fiction movie. The first is important because it reminds us that games (in the general, non-video sense) have been around for a long time (read The Immortal Game about the history of chess for some feeling of how long). The second because it speaks to the somewhat limited audience of video games and their frequent fantastical nature ("I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.").

More after the jump.

Ten years ago (June 2000) the game that remains my favorite video game of all time was released. Deus Ex is an amazing combination of the first person shooter and role-playing game genres. Add to that a near future setting where multiple factions/secret societies are vying to set the direction for the world including a shadow government that has created nano-augmented agents including JC Denton, the protagonist for just a great story and you begin to see why the game has a metacritic score of 90 (and a user score there of 9.5).

The sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, was a decent game but was streamlined (fewer RPG elements) and the story wasn't as good. So for over five years the Deus Ex series was dormant (although the closing of Ion Storm, the developers, was a factor here as well) with just hints that a sequel was in the works. But earlier this year we got a teaser trailer. 

Now with E3 coming up we have a more complete trailer (if this is gameplay I'd be really impressed). This gives more of the story background/setting for the game. I'm pleased that they do not seem to be tying this into JC Denton's story. This looks to me like it is using some of the best elements of the original game, so I'm becoming more hopeful that this will be a major release for this year.

Enough from me. Enjoy.

UPDATE: Sunday 6/20/2010 - For a similar viewpoint, check out this article from Chris Holt at MacWorld.

If you look over the list of games shown at one of the big press conferences, there is something for everyone. For fans of military shooters there is Call of Duty:Black Ops and the new Medal of Honor game; for fans of futuristic shooters there is Halo:Reach, Gears of War 3, Kill Zone 3, and Crysis 2. Shooters not your thing? How about some Portal 2 with the new trailer promising the return of GLaDOS in full form? Or if you like classic Nintendo, there's a new Zelda game, Kid Icarus for the 3DS, and the 3DS itself. And let's not dwell too long on The Old Republic, an MMORPG that threatens the wallets and clocks of gamers everywhere.

So no matter who you are as a gamer, there almost has to be some game coming out of the Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and Sony press conferences that appeals to you. The next 6 months to a year will see the continued release of huge titles. There will be fun games to play in the single player and multiplayer space. So as individual gamers we all win. (of course, there's a but after the jump).