The Gamer's Quarter

Ketch · . Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 420

http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/games/crash.html

I don't agree that there will be a 'crash', but I'd like to discuss the assertion that fun in games is of two types, hand-eye coordination and imaginative immersion. I've become quite tired of the first one, and find that the imaginitive immersion of games is quite limited due to a) the type of stories we tell b) how we interact with them.

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

I wonder which of these categories games like chess fall under. Or Brain Training.

You can pretty much disregard everything David Wong says that's not jokes about poop, dick and Fred Durst. Once he wrote a 2000-word article about 'why you shouldn't commit suicide' and it amounted to 'because you'll go to hell'.

For all his half-baked punditry and naive pop philosophy, he is sometimes on the money. I liked his 'monkeysphere' idea. Most of the time, though, he's far wide of the mark.

edit: in answer to your question maybe try Monkey Island?? :-0

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

I like both styles a lot still. I don't really think that they cross realms too frequently. I don't want to make a list thread, but I will give you some that I really enjoy for imaginative immersion.

Silent Hill 2 is the game that really made me realise that games can do so much more with their medium than just pressing buttons. The story makes you think, the enviroment is immersive, yet the controls are a bit clunky (mainly in combat). Tip: If you play the game switch the control setting to 2D in the option menu.

Killer 7 is a good example of one that doesn't cross into the first catagory at all. The game is mainly about immersing you in the style of it, and then making your brain piece together this scattered plot that seems like it may be the most confusing thing ever conceived.

Shadow of the Collosus touches on both catagories and shows a lot of potention. There is a large amount of emotion, the combat is well implemented and the world is immersive. The story/emotion/immersion is there but not as stong as some games that only focus on that aspect, and vice versa with the combat.

Obligitory Half Life 2 mention. It gets combat down very good, and the immersion is there, but I don't really have a connection with the game beyond high entertainment value. The story is good and I feel like a part of it, but I don't really have the empathy level that I do with some of the others mentioned. It is a good example of the state of the medium in what it can do, there is just a low emotional connection involved.

So there are some things you might want to explore.
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Lackey · . Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada

I guess he's just talking about games that you fall in love with for the feeling of playing it and those that you fall in love with because of what the play represents? I still think it's sort of a false dichotomy since a great game would use both.

Er, this has already been said. Well, here's to reinforcing a point!
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