Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar and lead writer on Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, recently discussed his approach to storytelling in open-world games. He drew inspiration from Victorian literature, citing its influence on the sprawling narratives of his own titles. The author notes that Victorian authors such as Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, and Leo Tolstoy are known for their detailed world-building, which is reminiscent of the immersive experiences offered by modern video games.
Houser's approach to game design was influenced by his love of Middlemarch, Sherlock Holmes, and cowboy pulp fiction. He aimed to create a sense of realism in Red Dead Redemption 2, with a focus on physicality and a non-linear narrative structure. The author praises Houser's achievement, stating that the game successfully blended elements of Victorian literature with its open-world gameplay.
The author reflects on how this interplay between Victorian literature and modern game design is shaping the future of storytelling in video games. As open-world games continue to evolve, they may draw inspiration from a wide range of literary sources, including classic novels and pulp fiction. This fusion of genres could lead to innovative new narratives and gameplay mechanics that redefine the genre.
One potential area of exploration is the use of pacifist options in game design. While many stealth games offer non-violent playthroughs, they often require significant skill and strategy to succeed without killing enemies. Houser's approach to Red Dead Redemption 2's narrative structure may have inadvertently reinforced the idea that violence is a necessary aspect of gameplay.
However, there are examples of games that successfully incorporate pacifist options, such as Splinter Cell, Dishonored, Undertale, and Fallout: New Vegas. These titles offer players alternative approaches to completing challenges and overcoming obstacles, which can be both rewarding and challenging.
As the video game industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how writers and designers incorporate elements of Victorian literature into their work. The potential for innovative new narratives and gameplay mechanics is vast, and it may lead to a new era of open-world games that are even more immersive and engaging than before.
Houser's approach to game design was influenced by his love of Middlemarch, Sherlock Holmes, and cowboy pulp fiction. He aimed to create a sense of realism in Red Dead Redemption 2, with a focus on physicality and a non-linear narrative structure. The author praises Houser's achievement, stating that the game successfully blended elements of Victorian literature with its open-world gameplay.
The author reflects on how this interplay between Victorian literature and modern game design is shaping the future of storytelling in video games. As open-world games continue to evolve, they may draw inspiration from a wide range of literary sources, including classic novels and pulp fiction. This fusion of genres could lead to innovative new narratives and gameplay mechanics that redefine the genre.
One potential area of exploration is the use of pacifist options in game design. While many stealth games offer non-violent playthroughs, they often require significant skill and strategy to succeed without killing enemies. Houser's approach to Red Dead Redemption 2's narrative structure may have inadvertently reinforced the idea that violence is a necessary aspect of gameplay.
However, there are examples of games that successfully incorporate pacifist options, such as Splinter Cell, Dishonored, Undertale, and Fallout: New Vegas. These titles offer players alternative approaches to completing challenges and overcoming obstacles, which can be both rewarding and challenging.
As the video game industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how writers and designers incorporate elements of Victorian literature into their work. The potential for innovative new narratives and gameplay mechanics is vast, and it may lead to a new era of open-world games that are even more immersive and engaging than before.
But what I'm not sure about is if the pacifist options in games like Splinter Cell and Dishonored are really just an afterthought or if they're actually part of the designer's vision. Like, did Houser just kinda forget to include it in Red Dead Redemption 2's story? 
Or is it something more? Either way, I'm excited to see where this literary influence thing takes the industry. Maybe we'll get more games like Undertale that actually challenge us to think about our actions. 
. It's like, imagine playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and being able to choose between a violent confrontation or a sneaky escape route 
. I think it's awesome that Dan Houser drew inspiration from Victorian literature - those authors knew how to create complex, immersive worlds 
.
. I mean, who says that stealth and strategy can't be just as fun as blowing things up? 
.
and now i'm thinking about how much i love those old western movies like high noon and butch Cassidy & the sundance kid... anyway, back to dan houser's story - i think it's so cool how he drew inspiration from victorian literature... have you read middlemarch? 
. But seriously, it's dope to see how gaming is influencing literature and back again! I mean, imagine a world where Splinter Cell and Fallout: New Vegas collab... the stealthy, non-violent vibes would clash with the post-apocalyptic grit 
. One thing's for sure, it's gonna be wild ride! 
. Can't wait to see what the future holds for open-world games 
I'm totally stoked about Dan Houser's take on storytelling in open-world games! He's like, totally diving into the world of Victorian literature for inspiration 
. We're gonna see some amazing innovations and mashups of genres that'll blow our minds. And who knows, maybe we'll even get a game that combines the best of Victorian literature with open-world gameplay. That would be, like, totally mind-blowing 
!
Like, why can't we have more of those kinds of options in future games?
Can't wait to see what devs come up with next 
. I mean, who needs realistic characters when you can have ones that are straight out of a soap opera? And don't even get me started on the whole pacifist option thing... like it's really hard to design a game where you can actually not kill people and still call it "immersive"? 
It's just a bunch of developers trying to be all PC and moral about their games. Mark my words, we'll just see the same old violence-ridden gameplay with some token pacifist option tacked on. The industry will never change... 