A Small Observation on Cinematic Storytelling in Video Games

I can tell you now this is not that short of an observation, but I think it's short in how expansive this could all really be written. Video games are not always a linear platform. They don't have the same rules and restrictions as cinema does, due to the combination of autonomy of movement with the player and the levels that are designed for them. That freedom is crucial in making the player understand the world or exposition the game is meant to be telling them on more than one occasion.

The issue I have with most games is that a lot of their exposition and worldbuilding is done through cutscenes that are incredibly obtuse and could be a lot more subtler. Either bits of dialogue or extended sequences create a world that feels more like a poorly produced play rather than a world I am living or playing through. In his GDC talk, Antony Johnston, writer of the Wasteland comics, the Alex Rider series and the first few Dead Space games, shows how important cutting unnecessary bits of dialogue and action is within the game Alan Wake.

I've always been a fan of "kill your darlings" in writing as more often than not it keeps a writer humble and self-aware with their writing. For example, I had a whole opening bit explaining why Bioshock Infinite is awesome and going into a good two paragraphs on how the first act sets things up properly...then I read Brendan Koegh's piece on it and realise he is smarter, articulate, older and better at writing about that than  I am and may ever be. So I decided to focus on Johnston and Alan Wake instead....for now.