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Poll

What person do you prefer adventure game narrative to be?

I prefer the second person
- 25 (75.8%)
I prefer the third person
- 8 (24.2%)

Total Members Voted: 32


Author Topic: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?  (Read 1470 times)

Mafia_Puppet

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When playing a rogue-like adventure like DF:Adventure Mode. Your character's name is McUrist. Which person do you prefer when narrative text is reported?

Second Person: "You have been shot in the foot by an arrow!"
"You entered the room."
"You found a potion!"

Third Person: "McUrist has been shot in the foot by an arrow!
"McUrist entered the room."
"McUrist found a potion!"
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Boozebeard

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2012, 02:28:11 am »

Second person. It helps with ~*~*~my immersion~*~*~
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Trif

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2012, 03:25:13 am »

Second person.
"You are likely to be eaten by a grue" is more dramatic than "Urist McRandom is likely to be eaten by a grue".
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Quote from: Toady One
I wonder if the game has become odd.

Neonivek

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2012, 03:27:54 am »

Probably second.

I have heard good third person narrative before, but in those games it was a lot like a storybook. (It wasn't Bastion... I am actually one of the few people who don't actually like Bastion's narrative... mostly because "I CAN SEE what is right infront of me")
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Trickman

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2012, 12:05:13 pm »

In all the good narrative-immersive games out there the player gets treated in second person. Coincidence? You decide! :o
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DavionFuxa

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2012, 10:53:27 pm »

Third Person tends to be better if your playing a game that is story like or has some semblance of a plot. If there is no story or plot then it's better in second person.

Since most Rogue-likes are devoid of story or plot, therefore, Second Person is usually better.
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A Google Doc I wrote up in regards to making a new 'workable' definition for the Roguelike Genre:
Defining the Roguelike Genre

Trickman

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2012, 10:46:51 am »

Third Person tends to be better if your playing a game that is story like or has some semblance of a plot. If there is no story or plot then it's better in second person.

Since most Rogue-likes are devoid of story or plot, therefore, Second Person is usually better.
Planescape: Torment uses second person. Your argument is invalid.

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Putnam

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Re: Do people prefer second or third person narrative in adventure games?
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2012, 10:53:12 am »

And ultima and fallout and every western RPG that ever existed >_>