This blog primarily started as a way for me to record my travels in Japan and then anywhere else. With the passing of my adorable cat Pippi following my return from a quick trip to Thailand, I found it difficult to maintain this blog. I’m disappointed by that, because I do quite enjoy writing, though forcing writing every day is a bit difficult.
So, while not really a ‘New Years Resolution’ (though I’ve resolved to do this in the new year, so, for all intents and purposes it is a New Years Resolution), I’ve decided to write about the things that interest me. There’s no rhyme or reasdon to it, I’m not aiming to ‘review’ anything, or give a real synopis of media I have consumed. That of course may happen, but it’s really just a way for me to write and discuss media that interests me that I often don’t have anyone I can actually properly discuss with (this pertains mainly to video games, where I have few people in the flesh who I can talk to about games and most video game forums are…well….video game forums).
I thought I’d use this post to introduce some of my readers from the earlier blogs into what I think is particularly interesting about Video Games. Video Games still make up the majority of my media consumption. I read a lot, watch TV shows a lot, watch some movies, listen to mostly the same music I’ve always listened to and play a lot of games. I don’t play games as much as a lot of other people play games, but I’d say it’s more than most people I know. Video Games are a lot like any media in that everyone has different tastes, consumes games in different ways, and on different platforms. One guy I know plays pretty much just the one game, Dota 2, but has put around 2400 hours (not exaggerating) into that game solely.
I’m a bit of an all-rounder. I like most “genres” (that’s the most appropriate term, though it doesn’t quite work as well as it does for films or novels – I’ll probably have a specific post about video game “genres” later) except really for fighting games, which I’m quite simply no good at, and horror games because I dislike horror anything. Oh and MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) games – which I’ve never enjoyed. I’m not a platform elitist. I have owned or currently owned the following gaming platforms in my lifetime: Atari 2600, IBM PC, Gameboy Colour, Nintendo 64, Sony Playstation, Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PC.
So a lot.
The time I spend with games has wavered. In my teenage years and early 20s I could literally (literally literally, not figuratively literally as it is mostly used in the vernacular now) spend a whole day playing a game or multiple games. Now, after an hour or so (unless it is a particularly gripping game) , I’m bored and need to do something else. My reading habits have gone the same way.
So what do I look for in games? Well, there’s no one thing in particular. And I’m about to provide a “list” as to what to look for in games that pretty much over simplifies the whole equation. This doesn’t actually cover everything, but might provide a simple guide as to what makes up a video game. I suppose you could call these the ‘tropes’ of video games. By that, novels often fit into a genre (crime fiction, horror, sci-fi, romance etc.), but the authors will use particular tropes to construct their novel, be it the use of 1st person narrative rather than 3rd; the syntax that they employ, whether or not they use colloquialisms or jargon, the timeline they employ, do they have multiple narrators? etc.
For me, video games break down into these sorts of areas:
- Gameplay
No surprise here for the first pick – gameplay. That’s really a silly term. They’re games and you play them – well done Sherlock. Books aren’t described by their “bookread”, but that’s because (with the exception of Braille or Audiobooks), all books are read. In that the reader uses their eyes, their knowledge and context to consume the words. The meaning behind these words will change from person to person, but the basic act is the same. For video games, the same basic function is happening. The player hits a button, or moves a stick and something happens. (Or, with games now, could make hand gestures, or yell at the game, move a mouse and click, tap the screen etc.) But each game’s ‘gameplay’ is different. In Super Mario, you tap A and jump. In Super Meat Boy, you tap A and jump, but jump slightly differently to Super Mario. In Street Fighter, you tap A and throw a punch. In Forza Horizon 2, you tap A to use your handbrake. The same button translates to different actions for different games. In each and every game, that action feels different (that’s the only word I can think of the describe it). In a game such as Civilization V, the “gameplay” (the clicking) isn’t really the “gameplay” at all, it’s more the intelligence systems within the games and what happens each turn that keeps you drawn in. Basically “gameplay” boils down to: does the game feel good to play? Is it enjoyable?
Some games can use their other facets to overcome poor gameplay, but good gameplay will generally trump in and win everytime. Quite frankly, if I want good story, Video Games aren’t my first go to (not yet), but if I want good gameplay, well, outside of sports, they’re the one.
- Graphics
This fits more into movies than novels. How a game looks is fairly important, but not the most important. Some games go for hyper realistic graphics. Others don’t but instead focus on their stylistic choices to create a great looking game. Some games try to generate style or atmosphere through their graphics, in combination with their sound and music choices (as do movies). I don’t have a lot to say about Graphics because I’m not a big “graphics” guy. I haven’t upgraded my PC to the max in the pursuit of the ultimate graphics. I do still appreciate a great looking game though. I’m also not hugely swayed by cutesy graphics, but I appreciate cool stylistic choices. Same with films or art, different people appreciate different things and I like that games encompass that too.
- Story
You can have a fun game with a crappy story. Not every game needs to be a classic. Some awesome and fun games have no real story (Super Mario, Forza Horizon 2), some games allow you to basically shape your own story (Civilization, The Sims etc.), some games rely solely on their story (Telltale Adventure Games etc.), some combine having an average overall story with really meaningful character development or side stories (Dragon Age: Inquisition etc.), some games have a completely NUTS story that just keeps appealing anyway (The Metal Gear franchise). There’s too many possible spin offs to narrow down more categories, just like books or movies I suppose. Some games are like trashy airport, Dan Brown-esque novels. You know they’re terrible, but they’re fun to consume anyway. Games though, don’t hold up too greatly on the other end of the spectrum, no one wants to play the Dostoyevsky of games. However though, some games recently are using their gameplay to tell some really serious stories (Valiant Hearts, Papers Please, This War of Mine). For me, a good story based game is important. I have always preferred single player story driven games to anything else (this will link in to my next dot point), so I need something that will maintain my interest – to drive me to see what happens next.
- Online/Multiplayer
I’m going to say it. I could not really care much less about Online multiplayer in Video Games. Most randoms you encounter online in games are not people you really want to play a game with. Not many of my friends have games and play online, and it requires too much effort to co-ordinate. I’m not really in to ‘chatting’ to people online, so that aspect has no appeal to me. That’s the biggest shame in modern video games, is the shift to online multi-player. Most of my positive video gaming memories from my youth stem from what are called “local” multiplayer experiences. Basically, playing a video game with someone who is actually there next to you. Playing games such as Goldeneye, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart or Halo with people who could cheat off the same screen, or to be there to actually interact with was just damn fun. Online has been used to replace, rather than enhance that, and I don’t like it. Just look at the reactions of the people in the image below. From my favourite video game website www.giantbomb.com . They’re playing a local game of Mario Party on Nintendo 64. See if you can work out who Drew is (the guy who has just pulled off a rewarding move), and who Brad is (the guy who’s just been screwed over). I’ll leave you to guess who Dan and Jeff are.
- Music/Sound
My last category (I’ve missed so many others, maybe for another day). Similar to graphics, I’m not a big music/sound nut, but bad sound design is really noticable. Good sound design, like good sound effects and good cinematography in films, does its job in that it’s not noticed because it becomes a part of the world you are inhabiting. Good video game music (depending on the type of game, some have little to none, some use licensed music tracks, and others, like below, are just awesome) can really match the action you are taking, get you hyped and draw you in.
Next time: Probably a bit of a look at Dragon Age: Inquisition
Moshi Moshi! Daniel Desu. 