I'm writing something that requires me knowing a little bit about video game, especially the horror kinds. The last time I played was back when Mario Brothers were new... So yeah, I know they've come a long way since then. I've been watching a bunch of playthroughs on YT and it seems to me that all they do is going around finding different clues while waiting for something to jump out at them. Is that really all there is to them? Please enlighten me, lol. And, if anyone knows anything about VR games, fill me in, please.


Thanks!  

You need to wear a VR headset to truly appreciate it.

I don't play horror games unfortunately and only play games for their story value. I'm looking forward to this one coming out later this month...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=xjwqnsOhKnI

Describing them as you have is a bit like describing reading as just sitting looking at letters.

Horror games are like horror movies, except you play an active role and have added agency in that you can control the proceedings.. Which adds a layer of vulnerability and tension.

Vr is genuinely frightening tbh. Just walking into a shed at the beginning of Resident evil 7...shit!!

Horror games is like taking part in a Saw film.

It also depends on the genre.

FEAR was a first person shooter that had a Japanese horror style.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear I'm writing something that requires me knowing a little bit about video game, especially the horror kinds. The last time I played was back when Mario Brothers were new... So yeah, I know they've come a long way since then. I've been watching a bunch of playthroughs on YT and it seems to me that all they do is going around finding different clues while waiting for something to jump out at them. Is that really all there is to them? Please enlighten me, lol. And, if anyone knows anything about VR games, fill me in, please.

I never got into horror games, or movies, for that matter. But, I will tell you this: what has been said is right. It's not enough to be told what the experience is like, you have to experience it for yourself.

Now, to an extent, what you've found in those YouTube videos is accurate. Horror games are like horror movies. It is something you can pump out cheaply and throw a few jump scares into, but those are usually the smaller, indie companies, not the AAA companies with the budgets and talent to make larger narratives.

VR games, for the most part, are still in their infancy, so they fit more into the jump scare-only category. There are some that are higher quality, but it's a limited selection thus far.

I don't like the horror games either. Jump scares only work once and then it seems cheap. The game I gave in my link is the only VR game I've ever looked forward to playing.

VR is definitely the future, I just wish it was way better than it currently is. I've been waiting for decent VR for nearly 30 years now - always thinking, it's just around the corner.

Okay, appreciate the input. It's not like I'm against video games. In fact, one reason I stay away from them is that I can easily get hooked and play 24hrs straight. I do not want that at this time in my life.

I guess my real question was poorly framed, what are the aims of these games? Mystery, finding clues? Find a way out? Shoot 'em up type monster games where you try to survive? I guess that's what I'm looking for.  

I love the Resident Evil games. The new RE2 remake is incredibly intense. Last game that actually scared me was the original Dead Space.

It really depends on what type of game. Shooters the objective is usually get through all the levels and kill the final boss. Horror shooters are more likely to have some mystery/investigating elements but the ultimate objective is usually to defeat the final boss.

Haven't played much VR or puzzle solving horror, from what I've seen the goal might be something like collect all the clues to solve the mystery.

If it's survival horror, the goal is often just to survive as long as possible.

There are so many different types of games!

Since you're talking about horrors, there are some excellent third-person role-playing games and first-person shooters that combine intense action with a strong story. The purpose is to test your skills while engaging you with story, so the ending is doubly rewarding since you get to finish the story.

Other horror type games are more like mysteries full of jump scares and anxiety-inducing music. Those tend to rely even more on story, and will often employ cinematic cut-scenes or triggered in-game events to add to the tension.

Some horror in games come from their setting and horrific events happening that aren't even explained. You're as much in the dark as the character, and your only reward is going through this fascinating world until your character survives but you still don't get any answers. (Inside does this really well and the ending is oh so satisfying.)

I'm pretty well versed in games, I've been a gamer most of my life and try to keep up with the new stuff coming out. Let me know if you need help with your project.

Like others have said : It depends on the game.

Usually a combination of survival and uncovering a mystery.

Survival horror is probably the most interesting. Your character is usually dropped into a situation massively unprepared, with limited or even no resources at all and you have to find ammo and food and such to try to survive against tough opposition whilst also uncovering the truth about something.

There are games where you have to solve puzzles. Games where you have to hide from enemies whilst solving puzzles, games where you are trying to stop yourself going insane, games where you just have to kill everything, games where you have to take photographs of ghosts, games where you are being chased and must escape... And a combination of all of the above.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Survival horror is probably the most interesting. Your character is usually dropped into a situation massively unprepared, with limited or even no resources at all and you have to find ammo and food and such to try to survive against tough opposition whilst also uncovering the truth about something.

Yeah, I don't have time to play anything these days, but I used to love the open world/sandbox/survival stuff.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films games where you have to take photographs of ghosts

I loved that game. Creepy and often downright scary.

The use of radio in Silent Hill had a similar effect but still a pale comparison.

I just finished the Resident Evil 2 remake. Absolutely superb. Probably the best in the series (that I've played). Good balance between the atmospheric survival horror of the original games and the no-holds-barred action of the later ones (say RE4 on).

Jump scares every now and then. It's Resident Evil, so there's gonna be a few. But they're generally sparse and strategically placed.

This one in particular felt like it capitalized on the survival horror angle the best out of the series. The zombies are slow, but they're not that slow and can take a lot of punishment. You're definitely taking a risk combating them. You need to be a good shot, or you could easily get killed, if not waste a ton of bullets you might need later and not be able to recover. Sometimes the best choice is to leave zombies alone and just move around them when you go through certain areas. All this to say there's a pretty well-thought-out strategic element to the gameplay that's consistent throughout (which is amped up following the introduction of Mr. X, big ass dude who follows you around everywhere you go; just hearing his footsteps somewhere off in the building can be pretty chilling).

I do love me some horror video games. Scariest game I've ever played is in fact not horror but stealth: Thief: The Dark Project. I consider the first two games in the series the best video games of all time. Also enjoy Clive Barker's Undying (first-person shooter with a horror plot), Silent Hill, Resident Evil obviously, and others.

That said, watching other people play video games can be very boring. You really have to get in there. Occasionally, I'll enjoy such videos as a simple spectator, but I'll generally watch them for walkthroughs when I'm stuck in a particular game.

I'm a Tomb Raider fan, through and through. I like Third person shooter.
The last TR was the weakest, and disappointed me.

So far, all the others (hubby has played & I've tried) - The Last Of Us, Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, Call Of Duty, Assassin's Creed, all leave me cold.

Horror wise: Until Dawn, Alien, Isolation, - sooo boring.

Sounds like I might like Resident Evil...
Would love to try VR.

Awesome answers! I think I have my questions answered.

Even though I'm not looking to get into playing games, I'm actually considering getting a gaming set-up at home. Having watched these playthroughs, I'm really impressed with the visuals and I think it could open up my eyes and mind to new worlds. One of my biggest issues when writing scripts is my inability to think large.

Thanks again!

Rene, I probably will hit you up on that offer.  

Gaming is why my scripts take ages to get finished lol

Playing Battlefield V, Assassins Creed Odyssey and Conan Exiles on the Ps4

My kids do all of the gaming... we have two Xbox Ones, a PS4, and a dedicated gaming PC, as well as PS4 VR and the Lenovo VR.

Personally, I don't do much of it these days unless a game with a good story comes out and I want to play through it. I've tried to win a few contracts writing for games but never managed to get in on one. Writing for a big game like GTA would be better than selling a script to Hollywood.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I've tried to win a few contracts writing for games but never managed to get in on one. Writing for a big game like GTA would be better than selling a script to Hollywood.

We actually have a member here who goes under the user name Dr. Mabuse, who writes for the big games. He hasn't been around here in a few years now though, but occasionally pops up on FB. He's a VERY good writer and is also a Brit. He wrote one of the funniest OWCs ever. It was a western and featured characters from SS. It probably wouldn't be funny now if you don't know the characters, but if you knew them, it was really really great.  

I have an older gaming laptop and an XBOX 360, so I'm limited in what I can play now. Recently I've been playing Civilization VI, Subnautica, Frostpunk, and The Long Dark.

The Long Dark is possibly my favourite game ever.

Quoted from ReneC Recently I've been playing Civilization VI...

I have that in my Steam account. I love strategy games and have played all of the Civs since number 3. I've also played all of the Total War games... partly because of what they teach me about history. I recently bought 'Kingdom Come, Deliverance' and played through several hours so far. It's an open world RPG set in medieval times.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I have that in my Steam account. I love strategy games and have played all of the Civs since number 3. I've also played all of the Total War games... partly because of what they teach me about history. I recently bought 'Kingdom Come, Deliverance' and played through several hours so far. It's an open world RPG set in medieval times.

I have lost so much of my life due to the Total War series (they have focused too much on their Warhammer series lately though) - There used to be a TV show where they used the Total War engine to recreate historical battles and the contestants had to try and win the battle - was very good.

Is Kingcome Come worth it? I've had my eye on it for ages - ever since they were crowdfunding to get it made.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I have that in my Steam account. I love strategy games and have played all of the Civs since number 3. I've also played all of the Total War games... partly because of what they teach me about history. I recently bought 'Kingdom Come, Deliverance' and played through several hours so far. It's an open world RPG set in medieval times.

I'll have to check it out. The combat reminds me of the Elder Scrolls series (Daggerfall was my fave of those) and not as complicated as The Witcher series.

It's a little glitchy, but there's a lot to like and appreciate. It may not be for you in the end, but I think if you don't at least have a go that you will be missing out. It's different to anyhting else I've ever played. It's slower, more true to life. The battle system is difficult to learn and there's a lot to learn, so it takes time and effort. The horse riding seems a little clunky but they may be because I haven't ridden enough. Everything takes maintenance, so you have to wash regularly, and your food spoils over time.

Total War: Three Kingdoms is being released later this month. I usually wait for games to drop a little in price before I buy them though. It also helps to wait for the genuine reviews to come in.

Quoted from ReneC The Long Dark is possibly my favourite game ever.

That's the purest survival game there is and really puts the rest to shame.



Love the Civ games and Total War... Europa Universalis IV is great too.

Most addicting games of all time for me are probably Morrowind, Path of Exile, and Gwent.

There is an Indie zombie survival game on Steam called Project Zomboid - I haven't played in a while but it's addictive and bloody hard to survive

Quoted from Matthew Taylor There is an Indie zombie survival game on Steam called Project Zomboid - I haven't played in a while but it's addictive and bloody hard to survive

Yeah, it's pretty cool. Especially when you crank up the pack sizes. 7 Days to Die is great too if you like building giant zombie death trap fortresses.

Quoted from MarkItZero Yeah, it's pretty cool. Especially when you crank up the pack sizes. 7 Days to Die is great too if you like building giant zombie death trap fortresses.

Who doesn't?

Is there simply a character who plays a fictional game in the story, or will this get into mods (given the horror genre, maybe a mod that somehow makes the game actually dangerous)? Games only tend to have a modding community of the game has a dedicated fan base, which should hold true even for a fictional game in a film.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I love strategy games and have played all of the Civs since number 3. I've also played all of the Total War games... partly because of what they teach me about history.

Then you would have like the original Civilization, it teaches you that any mountain could explode in a volcanic eruption... unless the closest city has a temple in it

Quoted from FrankM Then you would have like the original Civilization, it teaches you that any mountain could explode in a volcanic eruption... unless the closest city has a temple in it

haha, we have to forgive some elements that are there for gameplay reasons. I learned a lot playing Civ. I used to prefer Alpha Centauri though to be honest, which was kind like mankind's sequel. Playing Civ these days isn't as much fun. I played Civ6 on Emperor level and won a couple of times. Then I moved to Immortal level and got beat pretty quickly... and then I got bored and haven't played it since. I'll still buy Civ 7 when it comes out, most likely.

I've played quite a few horror games. There are usually 2 kinds, but they overlap quite a bit and sometimes grab stuff from other genres, just like films do:

-Survival horror: In the classic sense, these are usually in the third person perspective and the character has some degree of means to defend themselves, but they usually have limited fighting prowess or potential (i.e. you might get a gun at some point, but good luck finding enough bullets). There is usually, though not always, and emphasis on puzzle-solving as well.

-Stealth horror: These types of games are generally newer (or at least have risen to prominence more recently). They are usually in the first-person perspective. Your character is almost exclusively a total wimp with little or no means of defending themselves, and has to rely mostly on clever stealth tactics to avoid enemies. If an enemy grabs you, you are usually done, and if you manage to find a weapon it tends to be more of a stalling tactic than a true means to kill your enemies.

Most (or all) horror sub-genres in video games tend to make combat intentionally unattractive, since if the combat is too good, the game would devolve into a common action-fest. That said, there is such a thing as an action-horror game, but in my experience they simply tend to be normal action games with loads of gore and ugly shit (i.e. Resident Evil 6 and Doom) so I wouldn't call them horror games at all, tbh.

The goal of most horror games is to guide your character through a variety of locations with their life; most of them are more about the journey than the destination. Jump scares, in my experience, tend to be more effective in games than in films as well, because you absolutely must be thoroughly immersed in what's on the screen in order to solve or find all the keys/clues/puzzles, etc. and lots of those are incredibly granular in detail. When watching films, we tend to occasionally drift into "passive watching" territory either consciously or unconsciously, so jump scares tend to fall flat more often (at least in my case). This cannot happen in video games because the character's movement and their advances in the story depend entirely on you.

A lot of horror games (not all or even most, but a lot of them) also have multiple endings depending on how you performed throughout or certain key choices you make. I believe this is done to encourage replay value as well as good and thorough play-throughs, as most horror games have miss-able "easter eggs" or extra content in them that the developers hope you won't miss (because work and manpower went into them).

Still, despite the possibility of multiple endings and content you're able to miss, as far as exploration in itself goes, most (though not all) horror games are linear by design. They are rarely, if ever, a sandbox with total freedom.

Hope this helped.

Awesome Julio! Thanks!  

My son is going to put together a gaming system for me. No rush I told him unless they don't want me to have time to babysit.  

I bet he gave you a strange look when you asked for one of those.