should've written a book, etc

i'm going to take this opportunity to point out how i feel about this (again).  there's something to be said for a game's ability to place the audience into the events unfolding, however superficial these events may be.  i don't think enough people bank on this kind of mentality when they're designing their games, at least on the story front.  story always seems to be this disposable, discardable thing that's better left to literature in favor of gameplay, and i don't really like that attitude when (like i said before) the story becomes an integral part of the entertainment experience. 

something that doesn't really have anything to do with the current subject but it's something i'll voice anyway:  writing credits only get thrown around when you're someone like seanbaby or jay pinkerton or old man murray, and that needs to change.  people need to be recognized and rewarded for writing good games; more often than not it seems like people are rewarded with writing positions on games for writing other stuff instead.

I think you're misunderstanding me on the should have written a book thing.  I was saying that people out there end up making games that are MOSTLY A BOOK, with absolutely horrible gameplay that the player is supposed to suffer through to get the story.  When this happens, they were better off just writing the story since they completely neglected everything else.  Writing is VERY important in games, but when writing is the ONLY part you get right then it's in the wrong medium--there is no benefit to it being a game if the game is just a book that's hard to get through because of poor gameplay.

I think I understand but I have two issues with this sentiment.  One is a question:  what do you consider good gameplay?  The example
I bring up is whether or not selection from menus constitutes gameplay.  The other is asking where you would classify interactive fiction?  Can there be some bleed-over with regards to what constitutes gameplay in an interactive simulation?   

Does anyone know where I can get some good hero graphics for an ABS?

[ One with cool hair and at least a sword animation ]
[ And if so, I could also use an HP and MP HUD bar also ]

stuff you said that made a lot of sense

this stuff

it's pretty hilarious that these two posts are in such close proximity

I suggest if possible that you have a team of programmers.  I don't know how everyone else feels about that, but basically I think that the more you have to think about each thing like programming, mapping, and storyline, the less attention you can dedicate to any one aspect.  Each member of the team should be solely responsible for one thing, like mapping, or writing the story, or doing all of the programming (although, there are some things like scouring the net for resources, designing monsters and equipment, etc., that are so easy that you don't need to dedicate an entire person to them).