About Me
Archive for February 2014
This is a topic that I've had in mind for quite some time--of course--since I began dwelling in video games again. But what strengthens my desire is my recent realization of history in means of communications; books, photography and films went through almost the same stages of evolution in helping mankind convey messages. It's pretty fascinating, if you ask me. However, I'm not going to debate entirely on why video games are means of art. The attention here is to point out perspectives and share personal stories; specifically my own history in video games.
Self expression through interactive visual information
Hideo Kojima, one of the legends of video game developing, argues that video game aren't art due to it's nature of heavily relying on commercialization and capitalism. I couldn't agree more. Interactive visual representations started out as mind exercising games such as puzzles and board games. It was in the 70's when video games were possible to be commercialized; with releases such as Space war!, Pong and Maze war. I notice that most mediums age in a relatively same way; starting out with a structured motive for reasons such as documentation or religion. It then continues to mass production or commercialization; sharing the information with the world. Lastly, I believe that most means of communication ends as a medium of art; expressing aesthetic values of a culture, nation, religion or an individual. So, has video games mature into a solid art form? Hideo Kojima's statement on the matter was said around 2006. Dude, I was 12 at the time. It has been 8 years. The thing is, Hideo Kojima pointed out the aspect of art for individuals; a medium that can convey one soul's desire in self expression (Those artsy farsty people). I, myself, had enjoyed video games as an entertainment and also indulging the aesthetic values it presents. So, here's a long and unnecessary explanation that it can be an art form for individuals and why it's already meaningful now.
A medium to feed my ego
Maybe my first game was Digimon World on Playstation 1 but it was the WWE Game series that kept me attached to the console. Dude, I was first introduced to WWE through the game! I had tons of memorable moments with my brothers and cousins by playing this game. It was entertaining and that's enough for a child at my age at the time. Like other annual sports game, it's ambitions in delivery were merely for satisfying the sport's fans; with rewards that doesn't captivates you in critical thinking or even self reflecting. This franchise did, however, deliver that desire with the General Manager Mode (My favorite!) and then replaced it with Story line mode; giving players the choice of creating their own matches and rivalries among their favorite wrestlers. Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough.
The game changer
Of course, I did played other game titles between these two. This includes the infamous Grand Theft Auto San Andreas which I didn't enjoyed playing. No, it's not the game-play; the admittedly revolutionary game mechanics that changed gaming history. It's just hard to enjoy it when people kept hogging over the controller; doing nothing but 'creative' ways of massacring the public. To me, the end product is still the same...you killed someone...congrats. It was Prince of Persia that stimulated me in a way that I've never felt before in a game; the 3D puzzle mechanics, the awesome graphics (One of the best in it's time) and the different story line just swept me away. From that life changing discovery, it made realize two things about myself: I'm a different type of gamer and I like being creatively challenged in games. This may not be a game that embodies individualistic self expression but it did made me feel like an individual.
A long hiatus
Some time after the release of Playstation 3, new games for the Playstation 2 started to go down. Sure, the WWE game franchise continues it's availability for the PS2 but they stopped in 2011. Having only one game title to look forward to wasn't enough and I, along with my brother, spent a lot of time replaying favorite games. We didn't had the money to buy a Playstation 3 and I was a devoted user to analog controllers so converting to keyboard just wasn't an option. I did tried go back into the game scene when a new Prince of Persia game was about to release. Sadly, my knowledge in PC games were limited (I didn't even knew how to install a game) and to make matters worst, I was cheated when I bought the PC version of the game. So, I didn't bothered any more about games.
An influence
(This should be very obvious if you've been following my blog =P )
While I forget the ambitions of playing new games entirely, I did follow some walk-through of video games on Youtube. I think it was starting to become a 'genre' in the Youtube community at the time. The graphics would be jaw dropping and the game-play would seem interesting. But it was one title that really influenced me the most. Assassin's Creed was not only a stealth game (My favorite genre in games) but also a game with a strong story; more in depths than other games that I've encountered before. I followed only the story from the first installment to it's fourth. The vast historical background and intriguing story just fascinates me as a movie enthusiast. It was until Assassin's Creed Revelations where I draw the line; being truly inspired by the story. After watching a video of other players enjoying the game, I told myself "That's it, I have to play this game's sequel next year no matter what!". And so I did. Oh, I had the time of my life; enjoying both game-play and the story. The franchise had inspired me to write in a different way than before; focusing on culture, history and realism. That's what I'm trying to point out in games nowadays whereas it's influence sparks passion intellectually.
The possible future
By the way, I played it on the PC; forcing my fingers to adjust. Of course, I tried out other game titles which were mostly awesome. I've dwell more into the industry in terms of marketing; just to know what is going on with this fairly young medium. While most of my statements are rather personal, emphasizing more on my favorite games, here are game titles that I truly believe can elevate this medium as art:
The story is simple; you're a young woman returning home after travelling abroad and you found out that your family is nowhere to be found in the house. The game-play exploits the video game medium by telling a story in a very fresh way; truly exploring the concept of interactive stories. You simply explore the house; interacting with objects and reading any piece of paper you can find that reveals the story. It is you who mix the pieces together; engaging a simulated life's event in a new way. The detail is also there; indicating that this is set in 1995. All of the pop culture's influence can be seen and implemented very well in conveying the mood.
Another exploration of the medium, Journey is a game that tackles the advantages of the medium quite differently. The game-play is one of those classic adventure games; travelling through a pretty straight forward path while solving puzzles to get there. Unlike Gone home, it's multi-player which means you have the options to resolve the game with a friend. However, you don't know who your partners is; no pictures, no names or chat box. You simply communicate through musical chimes; exploiting sounds in ways that most games haven't tried before. The setting is beautiful and breathtaking; bringing a sense of emotion to a game that you haven't felt like before.
Of course, I did played other game titles between these two. This includes the infamous Grand Theft Auto San Andreas which I didn't enjoyed playing. No, it's not the game-play; the admittedly revolutionary game mechanics that changed gaming history. It's just hard to enjoy it when people kept hogging over the controller; doing nothing but 'creative' ways of massacring the public. To me, the end product is still the same...you killed someone...congrats. It was Prince of Persia that stimulated me in a way that I've never felt before in a game; the 3D puzzle mechanics, the awesome graphics (One of the best in it's time) and the different story line just swept me away. From that life changing discovery, it made realize two things about myself: I'm a different type of gamer and I like being creatively challenged in games. This may not be a game that embodies individualistic self expression but it did made me feel like an individual.
A long hiatus
Some time after the release of Playstation 3, new games for the Playstation 2 started to go down. Sure, the WWE game franchise continues it's availability for the PS2 but they stopped in 2011. Having only one game title to look forward to wasn't enough and I, along with my brother, spent a lot of time replaying favorite games. We didn't had the money to buy a Playstation 3 and I was a devoted user to analog controllers so converting to keyboard just wasn't an option. I did tried go back into the game scene when a new Prince of Persia game was about to release. Sadly, my knowledge in PC games were limited (I didn't even knew how to install a game) and to make matters worst, I was cheated when I bought the PC version of the game. So, I didn't bothered any more about games.
An influence
(This should be very obvious if you've been following my blog =P )
While I forget the ambitions of playing new games entirely, I did follow some walk-through of video games on Youtube. I think it was starting to become a 'genre' in the Youtube community at the time. The graphics would be jaw dropping and the game-play would seem interesting. But it was one title that really influenced me the most. Assassin's Creed was not only a stealth game (My favorite genre in games) but also a game with a strong story; more in depths than other games that I've encountered before. I followed only the story from the first installment to it's fourth. The vast historical background and intriguing story just fascinates me as a movie enthusiast. It was until Assassin's Creed Revelations where I draw the line; being truly inspired by the story. After watching a video of other players enjoying the game, I told myself "That's it, I have to play this game's sequel next year no matter what!". And so I did. Oh, I had the time of my life; enjoying both game-play and the story. The franchise had inspired me to write in a different way than before; focusing on culture, history and realism. That's what I'm trying to point out in games nowadays whereas it's influence sparks passion intellectually.
The possible future
By the way, I played it on the PC; forcing my fingers to adjust. Of course, I tried out other game titles which were mostly awesome. I've dwell more into the industry in terms of marketing; just to know what is going on with this fairly young medium. While most of my statements are rather personal, emphasizing more on my favorite games, here are game titles that I truly believe can elevate this medium as art:
The story is simple; you're a young woman returning home after travelling abroad and you found out that your family is nowhere to be found in the house. The game-play exploits the video game medium by telling a story in a very fresh way; truly exploring the concept of interactive stories. You simply explore the house; interacting with objects and reading any piece of paper you can find that reveals the story. It is you who mix the pieces together; engaging a simulated life's event in a new way. The detail is also there; indicating that this is set in 1995. All of the pop culture's influence can be seen and implemented very well in conveying the mood.
Another exploration of the medium, Journey is a game that tackles the advantages of the medium quite differently. The game-play is one of those classic adventure games; travelling through a pretty straight forward path while solving puzzles to get there. Unlike Gone home, it's multi-player which means you have the options to resolve the game with a friend. However, you don't know who your partners is; no pictures, no names or chat box. You simply communicate through musical chimes; exploiting sounds in ways that most games haven't tried before. The setting is beautiful and breathtaking; bringing a sense of emotion to a game that you haven't felt like before.
What drives me to write this article is the fact that video game is still young; aging well in some areas of it's offers while being exploit by others for profit (As usual). It doesn't matter if the masses wouldn't accept video games as means of art because it's definitely shaping the future now; creating more creative individuals in all fields of work.
That's all what I have to write, thank you for your time and have a nice day every body!
