Jonathan and I had a conversation on this that I think is worth blogging about. What is the point of video games? For many, they're just entertainment. That's pretty much what I thought of them too until June of 2014, when I stumbled across a wonderful, deep-voiced man that likes to wear pink mustaches. Mark "Markiplier" Fishbach!
Through watching his gaming channel, I came to find out that there's a whole other world of games out there. Indie games. Games not made by big game companies, but by individuals who just want to make a game. Sometimes they'll make a game not worrying about profit at all. And a lot of these games, I enjoy just as much or even more than AAA title games.
Games like the Stanley Parable, Don't Starve, and Five Nights at Freddy's have become immensely popular amongst gamers.
A lot of these games are designed for the purpose of entertainment, to have fun, to be enjoyable, but this is not the only reason for games. Sometimes story will be the focus of the game. To the Moon is a great example of this, as it has a very creative and engaging story. The player explores and immerses themselves into the world.
Other times, games are an experience that you just have to be involved in. These are some of my favorite to watch. There's one that came out recently that simulates what's like to have an anxiety attack in order to give others a glimpse of how serious it can be.
Presentable Liberty is a game where for basically the entire game, you are in a prison cell the size of a bathroom stall, but through a series of letters, you receive information about what's going on outside. There are multiple characters, none of which you ever meet in person.
There's another game that I did a post on before called The Beginner's Guide. It's a fantastic story, and completely turns the idea of what a video game should be upside-down. It is 2 hours long, but I highly recommend watching it if you're interested and have the time.
From games like these, I've come to see games as more than just entertainment, but as stories, as experiences, and as a way that some people express themselves.
Those three Let's Plays are amazing, doing a blog post later on The Beginner's Guide. But games like those are ones are ones that really changed the way I view video games.
ReplyDeleteMarkiplier!! I love him
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