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Games are escapism, right? So why can't you escape when you're in a game? Let me give you an example: The Star Wars series of games - Bounty Hunter was meant to be a game where you can be stealthy, but the developers put too much emphasis on being Jango Fett. The Clone Wars lets you control teams of clones and fly ships and stuff, but it's very limited in how you go about it. I just ordered "Dropship" off a certain website, but when I get it I'm not going to be part of a peacekeeping corp. - I'm gonna be Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Yoda, or whoever the hell I want to be!
And this leads me nicely into the point of this topic. When you play a game, what do you see? Do you emerse yourself to the point where you believe that you are the character, or do you you just think that it's all a load of code, x does this and y does that according to design? The answer is both. When our eyes see the action on the screen, messages are sent to our brains that trigger parts of the body to act and feel certain ways. If a game is done well (good cut-scenes, good gameplay etc...) it can feel like you're part of the action and our bodies will be stimulated by this.
But then on the other hand, it's a load of code written by someone else for your entertainment. Games can't think for themselves, they're all pre-programmed to act certain ways depending on changes around them. What you see is a picture rendered by someone in a small room in Hackney, or something. It's not real, but your body reacts to it like it is. The very notion that you can sit down and be transported to another place and be someone, or something else seems far fetched, but that's exactly what's happening.
Metaphorically speaking, it all depends on which buttons need to be pushed. Have you ever wondered why you're no good at running, but still enjoy the rush of beating your mates at International Track & Field? Or why blasting aliens is so much fun, even though you've never shot anyone before? Different people's brains respond to different actions and stimuli in different ways. The job of the programmer is to trigger these feelings and emotions to help you be part of the game. Did you ever see that Whiskas advert that was meant to be for cats? Lots of flashing lights and contrasting colours that apparently cats could interpret, but we couldn't. It wasn't 100% true though. Different cats would react in different ways, some weren't even bothered at all.
How many times have you picked a game based on your favourite film or TV series and thought it was going to be amazing, only to be let down by poor coding or design work? This happens frequently, as the transition from one medium to another can lose any empathy that may have been felt for certain aspects of it. Games developers nowadays concentrate a lot more on catching the 'feel' of a film or TV series for games, sometimes even incorporating new areas of plots that were never shown originally. Fans will see this and be able to become part of their favourite shows.
But wouldn't this make computer games the perfect medium? If you walk up the street you can see, hear and interact with objects, the same as you would in a game. With the introduction of broadband gaming you'll soon be able to interact with real, live people in all manner of activities. Games let you do anything you can do in real life and much, much more that you'd never be able to do. But there's still a marked difference to how we react to 'real' objects and those within a game. As soon as developers work out how to trigger our senses in the same way as real-life does, the line between gaming and reality will become more and more blurred.
And this leads me nicely into the point of this topic. When you play a game, what do you see? Do you emerse yourself to the point where you believe that you are the character, or do you you just think that it's all a load of code, x does this and y does that according to design? The answer is both. When our eyes see the action on the screen, messages are sent to our brains that trigger parts of the body to act and feel certain ways. If a game is done well (good cut-scenes, good gameplay etc...) it can feel like you're part of the action and our bodies will be stimulated by this.
But then on the other hand, it's a load of code written by someone else for your entertainment. Games can't think for themselves, they're all pre-programmed to act certain ways depending on changes around them. What you see is a picture rendered by someone in a small room in Hackney, or something. It's not real, but your body reacts to it like it is. The very notion that you can sit down and be transported to another place and be someone, or something else seems far fetched, but that's exactly what's happening.
Metaphorically speaking, it all depends on which buttons need to be pushed. Have you ever wondered why you're no good at running, but still enjoy the rush of beating your mates at International Track & Field? Or why blasting aliens is so much fun, even though you've never shot anyone before? Different people's brains respond to different actions and stimuli in different ways. The job of the programmer is to trigger these feelings and emotions to help you be part of the game. Did you ever see that Whiskas advert that was meant to be for cats? Lots of flashing lights and contrasting colours that apparently cats could interpret, but we couldn't. It wasn't 100% true though. Different cats would react in different ways, some weren't even bothered at all.
How many times have you picked a game based on your favourite film or TV series and thought it was going to be amazing, only to be let down by poor coding or design work? This happens frequently, as the transition from one medium to another can lose any empathy that may have been felt for certain aspects of it. Games developers nowadays concentrate a lot more on catching the 'feel' of a film or TV series for games, sometimes even incorporating new areas of plots that were never shown originally. Fans will see this and be able to become part of their favourite shows.
But wouldn't this make computer games the perfect medium? If you walk up the street you can see, hear and interact with objects, the same as you would in a game. With the introduction of broadband gaming you'll soon be able to interact with real, live people in all manner of activities. Games let you do anything you can do in real life and much, much more that you'd never be able to do. But there's still a marked difference to how we react to 'real' objects and those within a game. As soon as developers work out how to trigger our senses in the same way as real-life does, the line between gaming and reality will become more and more blurred.
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Unbeliever wrote:
> How do I see computer games?
>
>
> Erm...with my eyes?
Ahhh... i didn't see the 27,000 replies that were the same as mine. Okay, naff jokes aside, I see computer games as a form of escapism from the mundance realities of life. I also see them as a way of beating your friends!
> How do I see computer games?
>
>
> Erm...with my eyes?
Ahhh... i didn't see the 27,000 replies that were the same as mine. Okay, naff jokes aside, I see computer games as a form of escapism from the mundance realities of life. I also see them as a way of beating your friends!
How do I see computer games?
Erm...with my eyes?
Erm...with my eyes?
I've only felt escapism on a choice few games. Halo is a perfect example, and really draws you in. For example, later on in the game there's a huge ground battle with swooping ships, big tanks and loads of ground troops. And when you're battling these alien punks, you're not thinking 'wow, the developers did a really great job with the AI', you're thinking 'ag, get out from behind that tree you mutha...' - that's not something I come across very often.
The Getaway almost managed it, but spoiled it by having such a shody camera that brings you back down to earth with a thump.
The Getaway almost managed it, but spoiled it by having such a shody camera that brings you back down to earth with a thump.
Nice post mm. I see Computer games as a relief from the pressures of life.
Bit like books really.
Bit like books really.
I slow-clap at all you mofos. Good day to you.
Joins in the slow clap
Asher D wrote:
> How do I see computer games?
>
> With my eyes.
Well done for being the second person to make that 'hilarious' joke.
*claps slowly*
> How do I see computer games?
>
> With my eyes.
Well done for being the second person to make that 'hilarious' joke.
*claps slowly*
How do I see computer games?
With my eyes.
With my eyes.
I can't believe that you don't get the option to play Red Faction as Arthur Scargill.
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