Every game is 'on-rails' - Fable: The Journey creative director

by Gaetano Prestia Featured 10 Comments 18 Votes 1417 Views 17/07/2012 Back to News

Every video game made today is "on-rails" according to Lionhead Studios creative director, Gary Carr.

Mr Carr says that, because you're always pushing buttons in a game in a certain order to achieve results, most games are "on-rails", or, eternally attached to a specific mechanic or direction in the game.

“Every single game is on-rails," said Mr Carr. "I can score a fantastic goal on FIFA if I press certain buttons in the right order at the right time, that’s the rails bit."

He believes that Peter Molyneux's post-E3 2011 rant was to address people that said Fable: The Journey wasn't on-rails.

"I think, if we had done this again, we would have just said, yeah, it’s on rails," quipped Mr Carr.

On-rails is "necessary to make the game work really well" according to Mr Carr. "We are building a story-based game, a well-crafted world, a powerful narrative, a beautiful looking game. All our money is going into that. We are not messing with alternative control schemes any more.”

Do you agree with Gary Carr's remarks that all games are "on-rails"?

Source: CVG

By Gaetano Prestia - Bio

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Every game is 'on-rails' - Fable: The Journey creative director Comments

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I can understand what he's saying, even in skyrim there's things you can't do, even open world games there's things you just can't do, you can roam but especially you need to go a certain way to finish the story

M@ndyz said: I can understand what he's saying, even in skyrim there's things you can't do, even open world games there's things you just can't do, you can roam but especially you need to go a certain way to finish the story



Personally, I think it's an outrageous comment. You need some consistency with the mechanics otherwise it's just confusing and complex when you can simplify things down with a set of mechanics. When you drive a car you might be doing the same processes all the time but you're going to a different place.

"On-rails" limits your interaction with the world, where you can go, your overall freedom.

I think he's just trying to cover the game's poor critical reception thus far.
Wah? Then..... by his logic.... it's not possible for video games to ever not be on rails, unless they get to the point where they're practically identical to real world situations :S
Tano
+

Makra said: Wah? Then..... by his logic.... it's not possible for video games to ever not be on rails, unless they get to the point where they're practically identical to real world situations



Well, he did work with Peter Molyneux... :P
Lol. Yeah it's a ridiculous comment, hardly thought out at all.

"I can score a fantastic goal on FIFA if I press certain buttons in the right order at the right time, that’s the rails bit."

Really? [Facepalm]
So in other words this might be a crap game? [MOG]
Desi
+
I think that's a ridiculous idea, like saying that life is on rails because every needs to breathe and eat to stay alive.
I think he's getting linear and on rails mixed up [Facepalm]
Well then I guess life is on rails too.

Born, live, die.
Be clever, work hard, succeed.
Eat food, digest it, take a crap.


Desi said: I think that's a ridiculous idea, like saying that life is on rails because every needs to breathe and eat to stay alive.


barters81 said: Well then I guess life is on rails too.
Born, live, die.
Be clever, work hard, succeed.
Eat food, digest it, take a crap.



There is only The Lord's will.

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