Social reciprocation.

Increasingly videogames are being judged on their multiplayer components, as part of a value proposition.... But I dont want to speka about that. I want to say why it's important.

As humans we want to tell stories, to learn from them. To pass judgement and make decisions based on others experiences. We are social.

Singleplayer narrative driven games are becoming less popular becuase their interaction is driven by violence as a form of expression - they spawn the same voyeuristic conversation that films do. A massive part of GTA among the mainstream, upon it's release was the anecdotal story. By no means am I the first to establish this, but it's a point coming ever more into relevance as we edge towards complete online integration.

But while there is a fuss about a limited expressive palette for videogames, something I have seen being explored very little is the idea that even very basic interaction can still be enjoyable when shared, regardless of how primitive.

Tale of Tales' 'Endless Forest' is a great example of this. A socially active community, with individuals outside of videogames.

Another recent example is Demon's Souls, with quasi-MMO elements. Integrating humility into the game without breaking he fourth wall. It's a clever design.

I will hopefully revise these thoughts and come up with a more composed post later this week.

Thoeretical Stuff-kneesis

Like many things in life we find parallels. We look to analogies to explain, or simplify. I even make assumptions, based on these comparisons. Not always clever.

But I threw up some parallels the other day while driving, and so far they've stuck. I am new to driving, and the experience of learning a non-literal interface, and understanding the medium of transport you are in hearkened back directly to videogames for me.

It was the control; me the 'Driver'. It was just like cracking open a new game and 'feeling' it. It's how games like Call of Duty are popular. They have the control of a Porsche. Players love the feel of the control they have, and like any driver, they love how the Porsche interacts with the track. This addresses moment to moment visceral enjoyment.

As a precursor to this driving lesson, I'd had a conversation with a friend. I find that pub's make people much less embarrassed talking about videogames, try it if you want some ideas bounced about. Regardless, my friend was speaking about more superficial elements of videogames. The worlds... The characters... The events.

The term 'Tourist' has been brought up to me recently in videogame context, on a popular videogame analysis blog, and it made sense. In the same way, the intrepid explorer finds the best view from the mountain, or the weathered tourist finds the best restaurant in the city, we play games sometimes, for the environment, atmosphere, people and events. This addresses some peoples immense fascination and enjoyment of worlds and characters, sounds and visuals.

So these two things came together and made utter sense to me as I was being told to restart the engine after I'd stalled in front of some green lights. Politely infuriated drivers all pulled into the other lane to move off and I considered leaving the rest until later.

I did just that, a little while longer than later. It wasn't until my head finally hit the pillow I started thinking about what I find fun in games besides these two elements, I'd already dubbed in my little black book 'The Driver' and 'The Tourist'.

It was immediately clear, as it is relatively simple. Games, not videogames are about challenges and part of the fun is overcoming these challenges, whether they are self imposed or creator imposed. And videogames are still games, even if deeply contextualised.

The part of us that creates, analyses or beats challenges. That part garners the same response to me psychologically that solving a mathematical problem does. A feeling of achievement, sometimes relief - maybe even a little bit of elitism! What profession deals with problems or analyses them? A 'Mechanic'.

To sum up, I think by following this simple theory, that there may be some more ease in analysing videogames. Even if none of you feel passionately enough about it to apply, it, I know I will and I may even report back how it works out!

Kyle

Que!?

Virtual analogies. It's the name of this blog and what it's about. Analogies of the virtual variety. Something metaphoric that is not literal. Considered naming this blog something less fancy, but there's got to be some pretense to attract the right peer group. So if you're asking the right question saving me the rhetoric, then the answer should be: Videogames, it's about videogames.


I am ofcourse very important in my own mind, and while I can (and most frequently do) write these thoughts down in a book, it's great to discuss them with peers. And if you are reading this, then you are my peer. Do me a favour; disagree, concur and educate me on whatever whim comes to me in the night, and gets scrawled in this synthetic leather book.

I have plenty of thoughts right now. But I will keep this as the introductory post. Hopefully means you have less discrepancies to pick out.

Anyway, thanks for dropping by and lets hope this takes off a bit.