Thursday, January 9, 2014
Interview with Winter (Winterview)
Here is an interview that I had with Winter, a professional Starcraft II player who is in the top 3% in the world. He's a really cool guy, and I got to learn a lot about him in this interview.
I've never been too much into E-Sports all that much, but after having sitting down with Winter, I'm definitely singing a different tune.
Winter's links:
Youtube
Twitch TV
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
"So... What's The Most Important Part of Video Games?"
I came over to a friends house after a lousy date on Wednesday night, and I regaled them of my recent vacation and my more recent date. As things tend to do with me, the conversation diverged to video game talk. I've made a few new friends here and a lot of them don't know much about me and what I do. I begin to tell them of how I want to change the conversation of video games, why I play them, and how I want to share them with everyone with my writings. She then posed the question of what sets video games apart from other mediums. "What is the most important part of video games?"
I pondered it for a second, but I came back with: "Their interactivity"
This is what matters most about video games, and it's what sets them apart from other mediums. It's interactive storytelling. The story doesn't have to be very good mind you, but all the same the fact that you can play a video game makes it all the more impactful. The fact that you, the player, fought as hard as you could to complete that level, it is an accomplishment. It was all on you to hit that button at the exact moment that was necessary in order to make that jump, shoot the bad guy when his weak spot was exposed, carry on that combo. You did that, and it was awesome.
Video games can do so much, and it's with their level of interactivity that allows us to experience them in some small way. I may never visit another planet, wear a suit of power armor, and use an assault rifle to smash an aliens teeth in, but I can with video games! That's cool. It's because I got to take control of the character, and do all of that stuff through the video game that made it special.
Video games also offer a lot of choice. Whether it's through the options that it gives you with items, such as a sniper rifle or a shot gun, or a varied move set of a character in a fighting game. Players are given the choice to play how they like. With shooters, I prefer to grab an assault rifle and attack the enemy at mid to close range. Meanwhile another player would prefer to keep their distance with a sniper rifle, and pick off crucial enemies from a distance. With fighting games, I like to constantly attack with a particular character, keeping my enemies close and always in range. While another player will use that same character to keep their distance with their opponent, and wait for openings. Games allow us to express ourselves through play styles and options that are given to us.
However, just by making a game interactive can really make an impact on the player. By having interactivity and allowing the player to experience whatever your game has to offer in a pseudo first-hand experience, it can leave quite the impression. The horror game Amnesia, is so powerful because it has interactivity. It is down to the player to take those steps forward, deeper and deeper into the darkness. Players have to push themselves past barrier of fear in order to experience the game, and overcome the game's challenges.
Shadow of the Colossus is a game with fantastic gameplay, and a mysterious story. The gameplay of Shadow of the Colossus allows players to accomplish many great things, including overcoming their fears. In the game, there's a colossus for every kind of thing imaginable. These great creatures represent fear, in its many different forms. For me, it was the gigantic eel colossus. I have a fear of the deep, and it was terrifying for me to willingly dive into the lake where the beast dwell. Because of the interaction with the game, I could feel like I fought the colossus myself. I controlled the character, I fought the colossus, and I came out on top. And actually, this kind of helped me out in a small way. I faced my fear of the deep and won.
Video games put players up against a whole host of things, and because they let us face them ourselves, we grow a little bit as people.
Tell me what you think. Has a game changed your perspective on something or helped you grow in some way? Has the interactivity of a game enhanced your experience of a game because it was you playing it? Let me know in the comments!
Here's a video from Extra Credits on gameplay mechanics as metaphor. I highly encourage that you play the game that they talk about in the video.
I pondered it for a second, but I came back with: "Their interactivity"
This is what matters most about video games, and it's what sets them apart from other mediums. It's interactive storytelling. The story doesn't have to be very good mind you, but all the same the fact that you can play a video game makes it all the more impactful. The fact that you, the player, fought as hard as you could to complete that level, it is an accomplishment. It was all on you to hit that button at the exact moment that was necessary in order to make that jump, shoot the bad guy when his weak spot was exposed, carry on that combo. You did that, and it was awesome.
Video games can do so much, and it's with their level of interactivity that allows us to experience them in some small way. I may never visit another planet, wear a suit of power armor, and use an assault rifle to smash an aliens teeth in, but I can with video games! That's cool. It's because I got to take control of the character, and do all of that stuff through the video game that made it special.
Video games also offer a lot of choice. Whether it's through the options that it gives you with items, such as a sniper rifle or a shot gun, or a varied move set of a character in a fighting game. Players are given the choice to play how they like. With shooters, I prefer to grab an assault rifle and attack the enemy at mid to close range. Meanwhile another player would prefer to keep their distance with a sniper rifle, and pick off crucial enemies from a distance. With fighting games, I like to constantly attack with a particular character, keeping my enemies close and always in range. While another player will use that same character to keep their distance with their opponent, and wait for openings. Games allow us to express ourselves through play styles and options that are given to us.
However, just by making a game interactive can really make an impact on the player. By having interactivity and allowing the player to experience whatever your game has to offer in a pseudo first-hand experience, it can leave quite the impression. The horror game Amnesia, is so powerful because it has interactivity. It is down to the player to take those steps forward, deeper and deeper into the darkness. Players have to push themselves past barrier of fear in order to experience the game, and overcome the game's challenges.
Shadow of the Colossus is a game with fantastic gameplay, and a mysterious story. The gameplay of Shadow of the Colossus allows players to accomplish many great things, including overcoming their fears. In the game, there's a colossus for every kind of thing imaginable. These great creatures represent fear, in its many different forms. For me, it was the gigantic eel colossus. I have a fear of the deep, and it was terrifying for me to willingly dive into the lake where the beast dwell. Because of the interaction with the game, I could feel like I fought the colossus myself. I controlled the character, I fought the colossus, and I came out on top. And actually, this kind of helped me out in a small way. I faced my fear of the deep and won.
Video games put players up against a whole host of things, and because they let us face them ourselves, we grow a little bit as people.
Tell me what you think. Has a game changed your perspective on something or helped you grow in some way? Has the interactivity of a game enhanced your experience of a game because it was you playing it? Let me know in the comments!
Here's a video from Extra Credits on gameplay mechanics as metaphor. I highly encourage that you play the game that they talk about in the video.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
I Love a Girl in Power Armor
Samus Aran has always been one of my favorite characters in video game history. Samus is calm, stoic, efficient, capable, and calm. I think that she's the best representation of the female gender in video games. Yet, that's rather unfortunate.
For as awesome as I think that Samus is, she seems to be represented by the fact that she's a girl. Most promotional art of Samus accentuates her femininity to a rather excessive degree. For example, this piece of promotional art for Super Smash Brothers Wii U:
That's a rather sexy looking walk for someone who has suffered the loss of her parents right in front of her, fought and defeated a legion of space pirates, nearly exterminating an entire species, nearly losing her life several times, and a trained killer.
When I was first introduced to Samus, I like most other people did not know that she was indeed female. The first Metroid game that I ever played was Metroid II: The Return of Samus, for the original Gameboy. It was my favorite game to play. I loved to explore and go deeper and deeper into the planets core, fighting off the terrible monsters that dwell there. I always thought that the main character was a robot, with some kind of sense of morality, whose goal was to find and kill all of these terrible creatures for the good of the galaxy. I first learned of the characters name while looking at the instruction booklet to the first Super Smash Brothers game for the Nintendo 64. My brother then told me that Samus was her actual name, and that she was a girl as well. My response was that of awe, then something to the extent of "huh." as her being female wasn't really that big of a deal to me. I still loved Metroid, and all of the games that came out for the series, as I've played most of them. Samus became one of my favorite characters.
However, I must admit that I would not want to meet Samus in real life. I've built her up in my mind as someone who doesn't talk much to anyone. Samus works alone, and she accomplishes most things on her own, in solitude. I'd imagine the interaction would be rather awkward and quick as she would most likely not have time for small talk as there is more than likely some planet that needs saving. I imagine Samus as being a stoic and aloof person. However, that isn't what most depictions of Samus seem to paint her as.
Back when the original Metroid came out, there was a big shock when the main character was revealed to be a woman. The ending, played well enough, revealed Samus standing in a bikini.
This makes it pretty obvious that Samus is indeed female, but the thing is, there are better ways to do this. In fact, here they are.
Here's one where she's just wearing a one-piece suit.
It's rather easy to tell that Samus is a woman, without accentuating her figure in a sexual way.
Here's another where Samus just has her helmet off.
Maybe this one doesn't get the message across quite as well, because it was still the 1980s and dudes with big hair was still kind of a thing.
Samus' sexuality was a pathetic reward for the most hardcore of players who were able to complete the game under the very particular requirements. Is this really how we should be treating the first major female character in a video game?
Unfortunately the cycle continues with future installments of Metroid games. In Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo, Samus got fleshed out a bit and became more of a character than a vehicle. Super Metroid is hailed as one of the greatest games of all time, and rightfully so. That game rules. However, with greater technology, come better graphics. Which the developers didn't hesitate to use toward fleshing out other aspects of Samus
Why does Samus have to lose all of her armor, and reel back as if she were in throes of ecstasy as opposed to pain. Why not just remake the death from the original Metroid, but more fantastic? What was wrong with this?
Griping aside, the sexuality of Samus is made further evident by the endscreen of Super Metroid.
YES WE GET IT! SHE'S A GIRL! Of course she would be fit, because she's an adventurer. Yet, I don't think that she would be wearing some kind of future space bikini. It just isn't practical. What would be more practical is some kind of suit that covers the entire body, and connects to the power armor in some way. Oh wait.....
This is kind of a double edged sword when it comes to the character design of Samus. It is practical, and it does suit her needs, yet it also shows off every possible curve of her body. I really do like Samus, and not because she's attractive. I like Samus because she manages to accomplish impossible odds, all on her own. She doesn't use clever one liners, or give any sass, because those things are unnecessary. Samus is brutally efficient, and that's part of what makes her such a cool character. She may be a lady, but she a ruthlessly cold bounty hunter.
Samus' sexuality has been used as a treat for every single one of the Metroid games. It really is pathetic. From the early days of the NES to the Gameboy
It gets worse with Metroid Fusion. Check out some of the bonus art, that is all official Nintendo license!
All of these are unlocked after beating Metroid Fusion. There are others that show Samus in her suit taking off her helmet, making the big reveal of "Samus is a girl", yet they still feel the need to include pictures of Samus, catching some R&R after a hard days work of being infected with a virus that nearly killed her, fighting off giant robots and abominations, killing a giant dragon (again), and barely escaping with her life. Don't get me wrong, I like to unwind a little after a hard days work, but I think I might be a little bit traumatized after the crazy things that transpired during that particular adventure. Conversely, the art that is unlocked in the Japanese version of Metroid Fusion shows Samus fully clothed, and reflecting on her past, remembering what it is that she's fighting for.
I just think that Nintendo is spoiling, what has the potential to be, a fantastic character. I know that Samus Aran is not my character, and I've built up a lot of her character in my mind. Though, I think that having a female character that isn't shoved around like some kind of sex object would be a really positive thing. I like the character of Samus that I've made up. She's kind of awkward, and quiet. She probably wouldn't know the right thing to say in a conversation. Samus should be some kind of stoic, estranged badass of a character, but instead we get all of this nonsense.
Samus is a girl, and a pretty one at that. She can dress however she wants. Even though she can't, because she's a video game character, designed by a bunch of dudes. That's kind of sad. Also, how does she fit all of that hair into her helmet?
That's all for today! Hope you had a good new year. I'm looking forward to 2014.
Thanks for checking out my blog, see you next time!
P.S. I didn't include any citations from Metroid: The Other M, because it was not developed by Nintendo. It was made by Team Ninja, who is normally headed by Tomobu Itagaki, whose design philosophy is "unless there are elements of both sex and violence, then it is not entertainment". That guy's kind of a jerk, and although he wasn't around for the development of Other M, the game still sucked and it still adhered to that philosophy. Besides, if a Nintendo game isn't made by Nintendo, it doesn't count. The Legend of Zelda games had a few that weren't made by Nintendo, and we all know how that turned out.
SHUT UP!
For as awesome as I think that Samus is, she seems to be represented by the fact that she's a girl. Most promotional art of Samus accentuates her femininity to a rather excessive degree. For example, this piece of promotional art for Super Smash Brothers Wii U:
That's a rather sexy looking walk for someone who has suffered the loss of her parents right in front of her, fought and defeated a legion of space pirates, nearly exterminating an entire species, nearly losing her life several times, and a trained killer.
When I was first introduced to Samus, I like most other people did not know that she was indeed female. The first Metroid game that I ever played was Metroid II: The Return of Samus, for the original Gameboy. It was my favorite game to play. I loved to explore and go deeper and deeper into the planets core, fighting off the terrible monsters that dwell there. I always thought that the main character was a robot, with some kind of sense of morality, whose goal was to find and kill all of these terrible creatures for the good of the galaxy. I first learned of the characters name while looking at the instruction booklet to the first Super Smash Brothers game for the Nintendo 64. My brother then told me that Samus was her actual name, and that she was a girl as well. My response was that of awe, then something to the extent of "huh." as her being female wasn't really that big of a deal to me. I still loved Metroid, and all of the games that came out for the series, as I've played most of them. Samus became one of my favorite characters.
However, I must admit that I would not want to meet Samus in real life. I've built her up in my mind as someone who doesn't talk much to anyone. Samus works alone, and she accomplishes most things on her own, in solitude. I'd imagine the interaction would be rather awkward and quick as she would most likely not have time for small talk as there is more than likely some planet that needs saving. I imagine Samus as being a stoic and aloof person. However, that isn't what most depictions of Samus seem to paint her as.
Back when the original Metroid came out, there was a big shock when the main character was revealed to be a woman. The ending, played well enough, revealed Samus standing in a bikini.
This makes it pretty obvious that Samus is indeed female, but the thing is, there are better ways to do this. In fact, here they are.
Here's one where she's just wearing a one-piece suit.
It's rather easy to tell that Samus is a woman, without accentuating her figure in a sexual way.
Here's another where Samus just has her helmet off.
Maybe this one doesn't get the message across quite as well, because it was still the 1980s and dudes with big hair was still kind of a thing.
Samus' sexuality was a pathetic reward for the most hardcore of players who were able to complete the game under the very particular requirements. Is this really how we should be treating the first major female character in a video game?
Unfortunately the cycle continues with future installments of Metroid games. In Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo, Samus got fleshed out a bit and became more of a character than a vehicle. Super Metroid is hailed as one of the greatest games of all time, and rightfully so. That game rules. However, with greater technology, come better graphics. Which the developers didn't hesitate to use toward fleshing out other aspects of Samus
Why does Samus have to lose all of her armor, and reel back as if she were in throes of ecstasy as opposed to pain. Why not just remake the death from the original Metroid, but more fantastic? What was wrong with this?
Griping aside, the sexuality of Samus is made further evident by the endscreen of Super Metroid.
YES WE GET IT! SHE'S A GIRL! Of course she would be fit, because she's an adventurer. Yet, I don't think that she would be wearing some kind of future space bikini. It just isn't practical. What would be more practical is some kind of suit that covers the entire body, and connects to the power armor in some way. Oh wait.....
This is kind of a double edged sword when it comes to the character design of Samus. It is practical, and it does suit her needs, yet it also shows off every possible curve of her body. I really do like Samus, and not because she's attractive. I like Samus because she manages to accomplish impossible odds, all on her own. She doesn't use clever one liners, or give any sass, because those things are unnecessary. Samus is brutally efficient, and that's part of what makes her such a cool character. She may be a lady, but she a ruthlessly cold bounty hunter.
Samus' sexuality has been used as a treat for every single one of the Metroid games. It really is pathetic. From the early days of the NES to the Gameboy
It gets worse with Metroid Fusion. Check out some of the bonus art, that is all official Nintendo license!
All of these are unlocked after beating Metroid Fusion. There are others that show Samus in her suit taking off her helmet, making the big reveal of "Samus is a girl", yet they still feel the need to include pictures of Samus, catching some R&R after a hard days work of being infected with a virus that nearly killed her, fighting off giant robots and abominations, killing a giant dragon (again), and barely escaping with her life. Don't get me wrong, I like to unwind a little after a hard days work, but I think I might be a little bit traumatized after the crazy things that transpired during that particular adventure. Conversely, the art that is unlocked in the Japanese version of Metroid Fusion shows Samus fully clothed, and reflecting on her past, remembering what it is that she's fighting for.
I just think that Nintendo is spoiling, what has the potential to be, a fantastic character. I know that Samus Aran is not my character, and I've built up a lot of her character in my mind. Though, I think that having a female character that isn't shoved around like some kind of sex object would be a really positive thing. I like the character of Samus that I've made up. She's kind of awkward, and quiet. She probably wouldn't know the right thing to say in a conversation. Samus should be some kind of stoic, estranged badass of a character, but instead we get all of this nonsense.
Samus is a girl, and a pretty one at that. She can dress however she wants. Even though she can't, because she's a video game character, designed by a bunch of dudes. That's kind of sad. Also, how does she fit all of that hair into her helmet?
That's all for today! Hope you had a good new year. I'm looking forward to 2014.
Thanks for checking out my blog, see you next time!
P.S. I didn't include any citations from Metroid: The Other M, because it was not developed by Nintendo. It was made by Team Ninja, who is normally headed by Tomobu Itagaki, whose design philosophy is "unless there are elements of both sex and violence, then it is not entertainment". That guy's kind of a jerk, and although he wasn't around for the development of Other M, the game still sucked and it still adhered to that philosophy. Besides, if a Nintendo game isn't made by Nintendo, it doesn't count. The Legend of Zelda games had a few that weren't made by Nintendo, and we all know how that turned out.
SHUT UP!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Adventure!!!!!
Boy howdy, have I had an adventure. I just finished up the most radical, encouraging, refreshing vacation of my life and I feel like I can take on the world. It's been an absolute blast seeing family, and seeing some some off. Changes have to happen in order to move forward, and I think that changes are coming my way, and I'm the one to make them happen.
The dream is to be a writer for a wide spread video game publication, and I think I got all the encouragement that I needed, and now, more than ever, is the time to move things in the direction that I want them to go. I've been struggling with depression and various sorts of the blues, but the truth be told, I was the one who put myself into those corners. Video games have helped me through a lot of it, and even connect with a lot of different people, yet video games aren't the thing that are going to get me anywhere. It has to be me. I have to push the start button to get this adventure going.
The same goes for you. I'm sure you're in a similar position. I'm scared to death of the real world, which is why I choose to spend my time in one that doesn't exist. Though, the reality is, that it's not all that bad, and though the world may tell me otherwise, I can get things done. I can accomplish things, and so can you. With determination, and focus, and casting off your fears and doubts, you will be able to overcome. I'm telling this to you as much as much as I'm telling this to myself.
Here I sit at the airport waiting for my plane to board, waiting to get back to the frozen wasteland that I call home, and I'm ready to get stuff done. I've got a few plans laid out before me, and there's no reason to not try at least one of them. So, wish me luck and keep the good vibes coming, all your love and support really helps me through.
I put my heart and soul into this blog, and though it might be riddled with minor grammatical errors, I still give it my all. Thank you everyone.
By the way, have I told you about my Let's play videos? No? Well that's rather silly of me. I'm playing Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Here's the first video, it's not all that good, but they get better I promise!
The dream is to be a writer for a wide spread video game publication, and I think I got all the encouragement that I needed, and now, more than ever, is the time to move things in the direction that I want them to go. I've been struggling with depression and various sorts of the blues, but the truth be told, I was the one who put myself into those corners. Video games have helped me through a lot of it, and even connect with a lot of different people, yet video games aren't the thing that are going to get me anywhere. It has to be me. I have to push the start button to get this adventure going.
The same goes for you. I'm sure you're in a similar position. I'm scared to death of the real world, which is why I choose to spend my time in one that doesn't exist. Though, the reality is, that it's not all that bad, and though the world may tell me otherwise, I can get things done. I can accomplish things, and so can you. With determination, and focus, and casting off your fears and doubts, you will be able to overcome. I'm telling this to you as much as much as I'm telling this to myself.
Here I sit at the airport waiting for my plane to board, waiting to get back to the frozen wasteland that I call home, and I'm ready to get stuff done. I've got a few plans laid out before me, and there's no reason to not try at least one of them. So, wish me luck and keep the good vibes coming, all your love and support really helps me through.
I put my heart and soul into this blog, and though it might be riddled with minor grammatical errors, I still give it my all. Thank you everyone.
By the way, have I told you about my Let's play videos? No? Well that's rather silly of me. I'm playing Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Here's the first video, it's not all that good, but they get better I promise!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Paradox of the Horror Genre
I do not like scary things. I like spooky things, and I kinda like creepy things. Like the Tear Drinkers from Brutal Legend, but I do not like things that are genuinely scary. Like the game Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Which, I own for some reason. I have been playing said game for the past few weeks, and I've had a ball with it. It is so much fun to be scared out of my wits, and be able to press onward after an ordeal has occured. The difference between seeing a horror movie, and playing a horror game is this: control. When you go to see a movie, there is nothing that you as the audience can do. You can squirm, you can yell, but you hold no factor in how the story plays out. When you play a horror game, you control the character, and how the scene plays out. The story doesn't change, but it was by your skill that you survived and lived to tell the tale. I haven't beaten Amnesia yet, so no spoilers. I just want to talk about what I have ascertained about the genre from playing Amnesia.
When I play the game Amnesia, I hate it. I hate the dark, I hate the scary things, I hate the sounds that are coming from nowhere. I hate it. I dread every second that I take control of the game, and I' miserable. Yet, when I put the game down, and talk about it with other people, I sing its praises. That doesn't make any sense. Though, it does somehow. The game throws all sorts of terrible things at you, as the player, and you have to overcome them. You have to get away, avoid them, and survive. Survival becomes your primary objective, and it is all that matters. Who cares about the story when there is a man eating monster that is just on the other side of the wall? Then there is the payoff of actually making it out of that horrible ordeal, and being able to catch your breath. Survival has never tasted so sweet. I've survived some pretty intense uphill battles in Halo, or Call of Duty, though I never felt threatened. Those firefights were all about strategy, and when to move where, and who to take out next. In Amnesia, your sensibility is lost to fear. You're thrown into a state of shock that you have to fight your way out of because you must live. You have to survive, you can't let this terrible monster win. SO you fight off the fear, and you run for your life. You run, you hide, and you do everything that is within your power as Daniel to get away and live to fight another day. That's how it goes, isn't it? That's the rush. That's where all the excitement comes from. It is this rollercoaster of emotions that goes from dread, to joy in a matter of seconds. It's incredible.
That's the paradox of the horror genre to me. I hate playing the game, but I love the excitement that comes after surviving. Amnesia is certainly one game that is a must play, even if you're like me and you don't even like the horror genre. Face your fears, and have fun doing it.
When I play the game Amnesia, I hate it. I hate the dark, I hate the scary things, I hate the sounds that are coming from nowhere. I hate it. I dread every second that I take control of the game, and I' miserable. Yet, when I put the game down, and talk about it with other people, I sing its praises. That doesn't make any sense. Though, it does somehow. The game throws all sorts of terrible things at you, as the player, and you have to overcome them. You have to get away, avoid them, and survive. Survival becomes your primary objective, and it is all that matters. Who cares about the story when there is a man eating monster that is just on the other side of the wall? Then there is the payoff of actually making it out of that horrible ordeal, and being able to catch your breath. Survival has never tasted so sweet. I've survived some pretty intense uphill battles in Halo, or Call of Duty, though I never felt threatened. Those firefights were all about strategy, and when to move where, and who to take out next. In Amnesia, your sensibility is lost to fear. You're thrown into a state of shock that you have to fight your way out of because you must live. You have to survive, you can't let this terrible monster win. SO you fight off the fear, and you run for your life. You run, you hide, and you do everything that is within your power as Daniel to get away and live to fight another day. That's how it goes, isn't it? That's the rush. That's where all the excitement comes from. It is this rollercoaster of emotions that goes from dread, to joy in a matter of seconds. It's incredible.
That's the paradox of the horror genre to me. I hate playing the game, but I love the excitement that comes after surviving. Amnesia is certainly one game that is a must play, even if you're like me and you don't even like the horror genre. Face your fears, and have fun doing it.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Gameplay is a Vehicle
Gameplay is an important part of a video game. In fact, it's what makes a video game, well, a video game. Without it, we just have a movie. In most cases, the focus of a game is on its gameplay and mechanics. In others, it's a way to progress the story with elements of interactivity. Gameplay is the vehicle in how the medium moves along, while the game's layout and story is the track.
A while back I was playing Final Fantasy X in an effort to work through my backlog of video games. I can't say that I've picked up the game for a while. However, it got me thinking about the mechanics of the battle system, and how it differed from my other experiences with other Final Fantasy games. FF X uses a turn based battle system, that also changes with the actions that the player takes. For instance, a standard attack will keep the order of battle. However, if I decide to use an item, use an ability, or cast a healing spell, the order is changed. This allows me to strategize, and puts more weight on the decisions that I make in battle. Though, admittedly, I was playing Final Fantasy X for its story, as opposed to its gameplay. While the battle system is solid, it's nothing all to special. Granted, it's a majority of the game, but it's more of a means than a focal point. Final Fantasy games, and other RPGs, are primarily all about the story that they want to tell. However, gameplay is still important. Gameplay is the reason I haven't invested as much time into other Final Fantasy games. I find that the ATB system isn't functional, nor conducive to carrying the game. There's nothing wrong with a turn based battle system. Pokemon proves this with every game. Turn based is safe, and reliable. Like a mini van.
That being said, other games have an immense focus on their gameplay, such as fighters, platformers, shooters, and the like. These games spend a long time in development having their mechanics worked on. Having them be refined to the highest end. To make the controls tight and responsive. Super Meat Boy is a good example of this. In SMB, the player has full control over the character, yet is sent against nearly impossible obstacles. These boards are extremely difficult, but can be overcome with skill and patience. It's all possible within the confines of the games mechanics. Like a driver trying to shave off seconds to get a better time each lap, or to move up to the next position on his conquest for first place. Games that focus on their gameplay are like sports cars. Their fast, responsive, and extremely dangerous because you'll end up dying a lot. Though, when you've mastered it, you come off looking like a badass because you can swerve around corners and maintain control every inch of the way. Games with gameplay are its primary function are like a Lamborghini.
Some games don't necessarily have a set track. They allow the player to go anywhere, and do anything that they want to. These games can go off the beaten path, and go mudding, get dirty, and have fun doing whatever catches their fancy. Skyrim is one of those games. Skyrim allows players to go wherever, and do whatever they please. If they wish to become a master of the arcane arts, then they can do so. If a player wants to become a master of the sword, wearing heavy armor, and carrying a shield to plow through enemies because stealth is for the weak, then they can do so. If the player wants to be a deadly shadow that takes out his enemies from a distance, or slit throats, then they may do so. If the player wants to become a werewolf; and the list goes on. Other games like Just Cause 2, let the player go wherever they want, and blow up anything they want. These game can allow for total exploration, for both on and off road. These games are like a Hummer.
Some games try and do something different. Some games experiment. They've still got four wheels and an engine, but there's something... different about them. They don't obey what is traditionally considered a game, they do things differently because they understand that games can do more. The Walking Dead video game by Tell Tale Games tells an emotional story, with character, and heart. The game doesn't really have anything of a traditional game. There isn't much action, yet there's a lot of drama. There is gameplay to be sure, but not as we understand it. Games of earlier days were still experimenting with gameplay, and game design. The Dreamcast is home to many of these, including: Ecco The Dolphin, Crazy Taxi, Jet Grind Radio, Space Channel 5, and Shenmue are only a handful of games that broke the mold of what a game is. These kind of games take what we know as a game, and modify it to become something more, something different, something wonderful. These games are kind of like... well, this:
As important as gameplay is for a video game, it's really more of a vehicle. How much fun you have with that vehicle is how well it functions. Game play is absolutely crucial to a game, as it can make or break it. There have been several times that I haven't completed a game because of its broken gameplay, as everything hinges on it. That being said, it isn't everything. If Mass Effect didn't have the story, or universe that it did, it wouldn't be the same game.
What are some games that you play for just the gameplay, or vice versa? Are there games out there that you couldn't care less how the gameplay and mechanics were so long as you got to experience the story? Let me know in the comments!
Monday, December 2, 2013
Lovely Day for a Stroll
I like the city where I live. It's pretty cool. There are tall buildings, shows to go to, things to do, shops that don't exist anywhere else. I live in a pretty cool town. I occasionally like to go for a walk and explore, but not now. It's too cold outside for that.....
That's why there are video games. I've talked about the escapism of video games, and the places I like to go there, but it isn't very often that video games have places that I want to go to. I'm usually lost in the story, characters, or action to take the time and just roll around. Come with me on a journey, as I talk about the different video games that I just like to walk around in.
Skyrim
I picked up the ultimate edition of Skyrim during the fall sale on Steam. It's kind of silly that I did so, being that I already had it on my 360, but what separates the PC version from its console counterparts is the community driven mods. Mods can shape the game in many different ways, whether it be something silly or game changing. The mods I've downloaded are purely graphical, and make the game even more of a wonder to behold. Skyrim was already a good looking game. I got lost in it for hours, just wandering around, exploring in caves and fighting bandits. Skyrim is one of those games that I can get lost in because there's no real pressure to do anything in particular. Now, every now and then a dragon can just drop in wherever he pleases, and that puts a damper on my musings. However, that's all part of the experience. Skyrim is something of a marvel, because while there is a fast travel function, I don't use it. I just like walking, and taking in the sights and sounds of Skyrim. I don't mind doing nothing in the game. I'm just a tourist as far as I'm concerned.
Assassin's Creed II
AC II is a game that is full of action, character and conspiracy, and a game filled with wonder and immersion. After I beat Assassin's Creed II for the first time, I still wanted to hang around and just do stuff. However, I'm not really good at screwing around, and getting in trouble and causing chaos. So, I decided that I would just wander around Italy. I've always wanted to go to Italy, though, I may not get the chance to ever go there, Assassin's Creed II gave me that chance. The cities that the players visit are full of live. All of the NPCs have their own agendas, and errands to run. They have places to go, and people to see. The architecture of the city is simply marvelous. The towering buildings and the back alleys that wind through the city, and Venice. Oh Venice. Most of my traversal of Venice is on her rooftops, but my goodness what a city to behold. The people that you come across have the most amazing outfits that are intricately detailed, and you can tell by their style of dress what class they hold, and what their profession is. Assassin's Creed is a game where you can just go sight seeing, and relax.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto has always been a sandbox for many gamers and a place to just wreak havoc upon the helpless. Though, as I've mentioned, I'm not very good at that sort of thing. One thing I am good at, is driving. GTAV has a massive world that I can explore, and most of it is connected by roads. One of my favorite activities in the game is just to drive along the coastal highway from the southernmost point to the north. It's like a mini road trip. What helps is the absolutely killer song selection that the developers have chosen for the radio stations. My favorite is the hipstertastic Mirror Park Radio, that plays synth pop, and has a pretentious hipster DJ who claims not to be a hipster. When I've had my fill of driving, I take a walk along the beach, or around the city, and gaze up with awe at the skyscrapers that cast shadows that consume the landscape. Dropping eaves isn't very polite, but it's hilarious to listen in on the conversations that people are having. Whether it's one side of a cell phone conversation, or some guy talking to his fellow bro about a girl, San Andreas is full of life. Every area has its own set of rules and cliques that rule it. I recommend GTAV solely based on this facet of the game. One can truly get lost here.
Red Dead Redemption
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love Red Dead Redemption. I love the ability to walk down the streets of Armadillo, or Black Water and say hello to people. I love the sunsets. I love the star filled skies at night. I love roaming around the desert and hunting animals, or picking flowers. I love the eloquence of John Marston. I love the idea of fighting for something that truly matters: family. I love taking down the bad guys on the wanted poster, and cleaning up the land with a bit of wild west justice, and making a tidy sum. My favorite part of the game was towards the end when John Marston is finally allowed to see his family again, and you just run your ranch. It is what Jon had wanted all along and he finally got it. He got an honest life. And I got to experience it, and be around his family. I loved watching John Marston teaching his son how to run the ranch, and how to hunt. It wasn't action oriented, there was no shooting bad guys, or anything like that. I was just living out someone elses life, in a beautiful and detailed world. I love John Marston, and his character. He's one of my favorites. I couldn't find a video that accurately depicts my love for the game and the land that it created, so here's one about the man behind the voice of John Marston.
Those are just a few, I'm sure that there are others. Maybe I'm just a boring person, who enjoys the mundane things in video games about action. Though, I find it's a wonderfully pleasant contrast to what is considered the "norm" in video games. I think that's something to think about next time you play a video game. Take in the world, don't just look at it.
That's why there are video games. I've talked about the escapism of video games, and the places I like to go there, but it isn't very often that video games have places that I want to go to. I'm usually lost in the story, characters, or action to take the time and just roll around. Come with me on a journey, as I talk about the different video games that I just like to walk around in.
Skyrim
I picked up the ultimate edition of Skyrim during the fall sale on Steam. It's kind of silly that I did so, being that I already had it on my 360, but what separates the PC version from its console counterparts is the community driven mods. Mods can shape the game in many different ways, whether it be something silly or game changing. The mods I've downloaded are purely graphical, and make the game even more of a wonder to behold. Skyrim was already a good looking game. I got lost in it for hours, just wandering around, exploring in caves and fighting bandits. Skyrim is one of those games that I can get lost in because there's no real pressure to do anything in particular. Now, every now and then a dragon can just drop in wherever he pleases, and that puts a damper on my musings. However, that's all part of the experience. Skyrim is something of a marvel, because while there is a fast travel function, I don't use it. I just like walking, and taking in the sights and sounds of Skyrim. I don't mind doing nothing in the game. I'm just a tourist as far as I'm concerned.
Assassin's Creed II
AC II is a game that is full of action, character and conspiracy, and a game filled with wonder and immersion. After I beat Assassin's Creed II for the first time, I still wanted to hang around and just do stuff. However, I'm not really good at screwing around, and getting in trouble and causing chaos. So, I decided that I would just wander around Italy. I've always wanted to go to Italy, though, I may not get the chance to ever go there, Assassin's Creed II gave me that chance. The cities that the players visit are full of live. All of the NPCs have their own agendas, and errands to run. They have places to go, and people to see. The architecture of the city is simply marvelous. The towering buildings and the back alleys that wind through the city, and Venice. Oh Venice. Most of my traversal of Venice is on her rooftops, but my goodness what a city to behold. The people that you come across have the most amazing outfits that are intricately detailed, and you can tell by their style of dress what class they hold, and what their profession is. Assassin's Creed is a game where you can just go sight seeing, and relax.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto has always been a sandbox for many gamers and a place to just wreak havoc upon the helpless. Though, as I've mentioned, I'm not very good at that sort of thing. One thing I am good at, is driving. GTAV has a massive world that I can explore, and most of it is connected by roads. One of my favorite activities in the game is just to drive along the coastal highway from the southernmost point to the north. It's like a mini road trip. What helps is the absolutely killer song selection that the developers have chosen for the radio stations. My favorite is the hipstertastic Mirror Park Radio, that plays synth pop, and has a pretentious hipster DJ who claims not to be a hipster. When I've had my fill of driving, I take a walk along the beach, or around the city, and gaze up with awe at the skyscrapers that cast shadows that consume the landscape. Dropping eaves isn't very polite, but it's hilarious to listen in on the conversations that people are having. Whether it's one side of a cell phone conversation, or some guy talking to his fellow bro about a girl, San Andreas is full of life. Every area has its own set of rules and cliques that rule it. I recommend GTAV solely based on this facet of the game. One can truly get lost here.
Red Dead Redemption
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love Red Dead Redemption. I love the ability to walk down the streets of Armadillo, or Black Water and say hello to people. I love the sunsets. I love the star filled skies at night. I love roaming around the desert and hunting animals, or picking flowers. I love the eloquence of John Marston. I love the idea of fighting for something that truly matters: family. I love taking down the bad guys on the wanted poster, and cleaning up the land with a bit of wild west justice, and making a tidy sum. My favorite part of the game was towards the end when John Marston is finally allowed to see his family again, and you just run your ranch. It is what Jon had wanted all along and he finally got it. He got an honest life. And I got to experience it, and be around his family. I loved watching John Marston teaching his son how to run the ranch, and how to hunt. It wasn't action oriented, there was no shooting bad guys, or anything like that. I was just living out someone elses life, in a beautiful and detailed world. I love John Marston, and his character. He's one of my favorites. I couldn't find a video that accurately depicts my love for the game and the land that it created, so here's one about the man behind the voice of John Marston.
Those are just a few, I'm sure that there are others. Maybe I'm just a boring person, who enjoys the mundane things in video games about action. Though, I find it's a wonderfully pleasant contrast to what is considered the "norm" in video games. I think that's something to think about next time you play a video game. Take in the world, don't just look at it.
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