Would I gain something by playing it and not just watching?

[slo]

Because you know, gameplay. I need it.
If I'm only at the keyboard to advance someone's all-important story, the youtube does this just fine on its own.

[Hakke]

there are small puzzles to resolve, enemies to avoid and you can die.
so its not a walking simulator. its more like a science fiction horror adventure.

so far i really enjoy how the game tells the story and i actually read every log entry and listen to all audio-tapes etc. finding the story really entertaining overall. :)

imho the experience of the game is well worth the admission price. spoiling the experience with an youtube-video would be an unspeakable sacrilege - at least for me personally. :D

[zment]

Also, if you play it and not just watch it, you experience the game in a more primal level: you decided to around the corner where the enemy was, not just some protagonist you identify yourself with. Makes the chase scenes feel that much more scary.

[3quarks]

Watching can be playing too. The Last Express for example.

Playing a computer game against a computer is always a matter of compromise. And balance: between how well the devs executed it and how much you're willing to get into it.

[Hakke]

i can kind of understand if the OP doesnt want to play someones all-important story. i often feel the same in games. i usually prefer to play around in sandbox games without any story at all.

but frictional is for me one of the few developers that do the story-telling thing right.
the way they deliver their stories is just very exciting for me. if the writing is of high quality or not i cant really tell but the subjectmatter is fascinating science fiction stuff and i always love that.

and they also dont stick always to the same formula.in Soma the player character actually speaks which i found upsetting at first because unlike in Amnesia i feel kindof detatched. but now i´m actually interested to hear what my avatar is going to say next. even if he is a pretty naive and obvious chap ... :D

[Caidezes]

The problem for me is that, while this may have a good story and atmosphere, I can just as easily read or watch one of the many great science fiction stories available in other types of media. Without any conventional gameplay mechanics other than simple puzzles and walking, it's just not much of a game for me.

Here's hoping someone mods in more player interactions later on. That would definitely get me on board.

[slo]

Suddenly it feels like a sad day. Thanks everyone.

[tehFoist]

Frictional's games are some of the most immersive experiences for me personally. If you are just hoping to absorb content, go ahead and watch YouTube. If you want to get lost in the incredible atmosphere you aren't really going to get that in a video IMO.

[Space Wolf Hudson]

You can make multiple decisions in the game. However, I don't know yet in what way those decisions will alter the story, since i'm just 4 to 5 hours into the game.

If you just watch it you won't be able to make those decisions for yourself.

[IsaAurinkoinen]

If you just watch it you will lose one of most immersive gaming experience so far. Watching movie wont ever bring this scale of experience and this game is already reasonably priced which is steal from game this good. IMHO

[N]

Even if this was just a scary walking-similator, it's much scarier to have to press the walk button than to watch someone else do it.

If you're too scared though, we understand, you can watch mommy play it on youtube so she can hold your hand when the scary monsters come out.

[Cyber_Chupacabra]

I did not played the game yet but saying that you can experience the horror game the same way by only "watching" it is ridiculous. Of course it will be 100% better if you play it yourself. Not to mention the overall quality of the experience. Come on, what kind of question is that? ;)

[solotany]

I don't even know how it's possible to enjoy a "game" by watching it, you can't immerse yourself at all. Just play it. Especially with SOMA, it lives of it.

[Gotta Ramble]

Idk, do you prefer to jerk off or watch other guys do it?

[slo]

Well, if there's no room in a game for my story as well, I don't feel immersion anyways. Like in AMFP or Outlast, where I was playing a magical anti-frustration auto-healing rubber man and everything was on rails, I was running around like a headless chicken and everything was just fine.
Unlike real life, rails are the safest place in video games.

[Statue]

Originally posted by Gotta Ramble:

Idk, do you prefer to jerk off or watch other guys do it?

Aw, why can't I do both at once?