TychoCelchuuu Posted January 1, 2014 eh, try using the chair that's turned away from the desk to jump on one of the desks on your left at the beginning, then fall outside the map. If that's not entertaining then I'm not sure what else would be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted May 19, 2014 Semi-replying to Merus in the recently completed video games thread: The main storyline of The Stanley Parable leaves a lot of unresolved questions, like where his co-workers went or the purpose of the deception. As far as I can tell, answers to those questions aren't even hinted at in the rest of the game. The story changes completely for each path. Is that true? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jake Posted May 19, 2014 Yes that is true, but the game is about neither of those things - or at least it is not a about their resolution. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ninety-Three Posted May 19, 2014 The main storyline of The Stanley Parable leaves a lot of unresolved questions, like where his co-workers went or the purpose of the deception. As far as I can tell, answers to those questions aren't even hinted at in the rest of the game. The story changes completely for each path. Is that true? Yes and no. There are several paths which provide an explanation for what's going on, but like how the Joker got his scars, they're contradictory and there's no indication that one takes precedence over the other. That lack of... continuity? Consistency? is the one thing I didn't like about the game. I enjoyed the narration in most of the paths, but I started by heavily exploring the door on the right, and elements from a few of the paths gave me a sense that this was a world that operated on rules. Specifically, I got the sense that Stanley was in a story, and his attempts to fight the narrator caused damage to the fabric of his world. I was far from a complete understanding, but I felt like by seeing the content on a few paths, I was able to start putting together an understanding more advanced than "Anything can happen, unpredictably". But as I kept going, each path provided information that didn't fit together to form a larger picture. Eventually I was forced to accept that there was no grand mystery of the Stanley Parable to be figured out across multiple playthroughs, the story of each path exists in a vacuum. It made the game's end a bit of a letdown. Instead of any grander conclusion, I finished the last path, spent a run or two confirming that I couldn't find any more paths, and then declared to myself "Well, I guess I've seen all there is to see. Done with that now." In the game's defense, I can't imagine how they could make it end any other way, but in my complaint's defense, that doesn't make it less dissatisfying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Merus Posted May 19, 2014 I took The Stanley Parable as exploring a bunch of ideas around the tension between player and game creator, exemplified by the iconic choice between the door you're instructed to go through and the door you're not. I don't think it's really intended to be coherent between playthroughs, in large part because your participation in the story changes what this story is 'about'. It's a parable. Specifically, the 'canonical' playthrough is the parable, where by following the Narrator's instructions precisely, you demonstrate your ability to make your own meaningful choices, and deviation from the path is an elaboration on the ideas brought up by the parable. I also get the feeling it's not particularly malicious about the idea of telling stories in games, but that's meta-knowledge. On the other hand, the 'custom map' ending in the original mod makes a great point that the retail release doesn't really try - the closest is probably the corruption ending, where the player has full freedom but no meaningful interaction, but not making that point in the full release is a little odd. At the least, I can't really imagine a game where most of the fun is in finding new bits of dialogue really intending to say that this is a degenerate way of building games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dewar Posted May 19, 2014 I need to get my wife's family sharing thingy setup so I can try this. I like the narrator enough to have bought the DOTA announcer pack (and even launch and play a game!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murdoc Posted May 19, 2014 I decided to play the new version (remake?Upgrade? Retail version?) and wow, did I enjoy it a lot more than the mod. Maybe because it's been a few years and my gaming disposition has changed or what I consider a "game" to be has lightened, but I think it's mostly the tone of the narrator didn't sound so condescending and my memory of that Will Farrell movie has faded. Anyway, great little narrative game, a lot of cute stuff in it and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the branches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prettyunsmart Posted May 19, 2014 Maybe because it's been a few years and my gaming disposition has changed or what I consider a "game" to be has lightened, but I think it's mostly the tone of the narrator didn't sound so condescending and my memory of that Will Farrell movie has faded. It also seems to be a self-conscious attempt to make the retail game less cynical. I had a chance to talk to the game's writer about the tonal shift, and he basically described the mod as a much angrier/darker thing, while his changing perspective on the game's theme lead to a more optimistic, if less focused final version. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murdoc Posted May 19, 2014 Ah good point, I found the mod took itself too seriously, but the retail had some light stuff in it which I enjoy more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikemariano Posted March 2, 2015 This is a bizarre reason for thread-necromancy, but apparently Kevin Spacey plays The Stanley Parable in the new season of House of Cards? And he's the president now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bjorn Posted March 2, 2015 This is a bizarre reason for thread-necromancy, but apparently Kevin Spacey plays The Stanley Parable in the new season of House of Cards? In Season 1 and partway through 2, he plays shooters (mostly CoD I think) to blow off steam in the evenings. But once he becomes VP, the Secret Service tells him connecting online gaming services is too much of a security risk and they can't allow it. I haven't got to this part of Season 3 yet, but I'm assuming he's just playing SP games now since he still can't go murder punks in CoD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuperBiasedMan Posted March 2, 2015 He also played God of War I think. They give it an oddly clear view in screen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Merus Posted March 2, 2015 From what I understand, he's playing The Stanley Parable at the behest of his biographer, who's a video game journalist because in the world of House of Cards, video game journalists are good enough writers to become presidential biographers instead of beloved comedians Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Architecture Posted March 3, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QqkZP_SScg One of my favorite awkward product placement moments in TV history. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ninety-Three Posted March 3, 2015 Wow, the looks on their faces at the end. I feel like their expressions are saying to each other "Can you believe we just did that?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BusbyBerkeley Posted March 3, 2015 Welp. Can't say I regret my choice to drop that show after the first episode. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites