simon
New member
I have been wondering what it is about games that keeps us coming back for more. I mean there are plenty of other things that we can do that require our imaginations to run wild but what is it specifically about gaming that keeps us so hooked. Was it a specific game or was it the details that made up a group of games. For me it was Diablo 1 that got me into gaming, but the things that made the game so fun was a whole host of things. If It weren't for that game what would I be doing?
Below is a list of what you could do instead of gaming that offers some enjoyment for that much needed r and r.
Books require a lot of imagination - but you can only do it by yourself and then talk about what you read with friends unless you get it on pdf or something and get together with a bunch of friends and read it on a projector screen. Yay now that would be fun, team reading exercises for the win!
Playing games outside - Not much imagination, unless you imagine a big crowd watching because you dream of being the next Schalk Burger or new cricketing sensation Vernon Philander, well that is if you are 12 and playing backyard sport with some friends. I know I was like that when I was a lil one. However if you are like me and cursed with fare skin this choice isn't the easiest to do all the time. Too much sun cooks me like tomorrows tomatoes for breakfast. So this is more late afternoon when the sun is cooler so long as the wind stays away.
Watching movies / series - nice and simple, some imagination required but it lacks one important factor which I consider vital in gaming. You must be able to have some control and be able to carve out some of the story or at least have some control on how the story unfolds. Predictable things stop a lot of replay-ability.
Hanging out with friends - well unless you doing some of the above or other activities with them its going to be pretty much sitting around talking about, well the usual stuff. Gets a bit boring sometimes.
So out of these things what keeps me gaming is
Use of imagination - remember those games way back when that required user imagination that the game only told you stuff like "monster in front of you, what do you do?" you then type in turn around and go back, pick up stick. Then, go back to monster, "hit monster with stick". Those were the days for a lot of people, it was a book with pictures that you could control.
The comfort of your own home or another place you call a 2nd home - its just so much better to put your feet up, eat some junk food, sleep when you want and play when you want, not get sun burnt, play with good volume (compared to an internet cafe) and sometimes its just nice to have a stay at home day. I know I miss those.
The game I am playing must let me have choices that change the story or the way it plays out. I can't stand being told this is the beginning, this is the middle and that's the end. There is nothing you can do about it and it will be that way throughout the game and every time you play it. Well might as well just read the back of the box to get the story, play with sound off and skip through the movies coz you aint going to miss anything (hey that reminds me of soapies on tv
) A good story is something that you remember in the same way some of us remember our parents reading Aladdin and his Lamp by our parents when we were 5. Good memories of something that may not be true but your imagination makes it as real as real life. You will want to have some impact as that makes a great story different each time. Its like reading The Hobbit, being knocked over by a car, forgetting you read the book and then re reading it. Sometimes I wish I could forget what happens in some stories I know.
Some other things required for gaming to be enjoyable or to keep you coming back for more
Lately competitions in gaming has really picked up offering multiplayer games a whole new twist with Starcraft 2 having ladders and competitions happening all time where small fortunes can be won if you are good enough to be number one. Practice makes perfect and perfect makes money. Some people even have careers from gaming like Fatal1ty etc.
Social games on facebook have hit the world by storm and are becoming increasingly popular even among more hardcore gamers. It allows for you to keep in contact with friends, gives you a break from the mainstream AAA titles and brings in something similar to the Indie gaming experience. These games are even bringing in new gamers which is a real win for everybody else as it pumps more money into the gaming market which allows us to see more games that we would like to see.
Difficulty curve. This has also helped more people to broaden there horizons in games. More people are playing games that they never used to play as games such as rpg's now are easier to play. Good news for some and bad news for others, but thats a whole different article all together.
Graphics. Games are pushing the boundaries more and more. Hardware is constantly improving allowing games to become more realistic visually. It helps games be a lot more immersible. It helps when the enemy looks like a human or alien or whatever compared to a few pixels. Unfortunately some games are better left at being memories.
Audio. Often overlooked in game audio really makes games better. When I was younger I wasn't allowed to have the speakers turned on as the family computer was in the lounge and everyone complained about the noise. Its nice to have music that sets the tone for the place you are playing in, voice actors who are good and are really interested in what they are doing. Risen (Piranha Bytes) made excellent use of Kai Rosenkranz musical talents and Lord of the Rings actor John Rhys-Davies which really helped set a professional audio experience. Piranha Bytes continue to keep a good focus on audio with their sequal to Risen in Risen 2. A making of video can be seen at
http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rc...axN2VbmZWMSoDvsNw&sig2=V1CqiEAlQ7qOmnBk-ERhcw
where they explain more on how audio makes a good game.
Here is an article from a site called guyism in which they give reasons why men like to game. (btw you didn't win an iphone on the top of the links page suggests so don't click it, your computer will give problems)
http://guyism.com/entertainment/10-reasons-men-love-to-play-video-games.html
I am sure there are more things which keeps you coming back to gaming, what makes your experience unique? Is it the game or the love of gaming? Do you feel there is anything I missed?
Below is a list of what you could do instead of gaming that offers some enjoyment for that much needed r and r.
Books require a lot of imagination - but you can only do it by yourself and then talk about what you read with friends unless you get it on pdf or something and get together with a bunch of friends and read it on a projector screen. Yay now that would be fun, team reading exercises for the win!
Playing games outside - Not much imagination, unless you imagine a big crowd watching because you dream of being the next Schalk Burger or new cricketing sensation Vernon Philander, well that is if you are 12 and playing backyard sport with some friends. I know I was like that when I was a lil one. However if you are like me and cursed with fare skin this choice isn't the easiest to do all the time. Too much sun cooks me like tomorrows tomatoes for breakfast. So this is more late afternoon when the sun is cooler so long as the wind stays away.
Watching movies / series - nice and simple, some imagination required but it lacks one important factor which I consider vital in gaming. You must be able to have some control and be able to carve out some of the story or at least have some control on how the story unfolds. Predictable things stop a lot of replay-ability.
Hanging out with friends - well unless you doing some of the above or other activities with them its going to be pretty much sitting around talking about, well the usual stuff. Gets a bit boring sometimes.
So out of these things what keeps me gaming is
Use of imagination - remember those games way back when that required user imagination that the game only told you stuff like "monster in front of you, what do you do?" you then type in turn around and go back, pick up stick. Then, go back to monster, "hit monster with stick". Those were the days for a lot of people, it was a book with pictures that you could control.
The comfort of your own home or another place you call a 2nd home - its just so much better to put your feet up, eat some junk food, sleep when you want and play when you want, not get sun burnt, play with good volume (compared to an internet cafe) and sometimes its just nice to have a stay at home day. I know I miss those.
The game I am playing must let me have choices that change the story or the way it plays out. I can't stand being told this is the beginning, this is the middle and that's the end. There is nothing you can do about it and it will be that way throughout the game and every time you play it. Well might as well just read the back of the box to get the story, play with sound off and skip through the movies coz you aint going to miss anything (hey that reminds me of soapies on tv
) A good story is something that you remember in the same way some of us remember our parents reading Aladdin and his Lamp by our parents when we were 5. Good memories of something that may not be true but your imagination makes it as real as real life. You will want to have some impact as that makes a great story different each time. Its like reading The Hobbit, being knocked over by a car, forgetting you read the book and then re reading it. Sometimes I wish I could forget what happens in some stories I know. Some other things required for gaming to be enjoyable or to keep you coming back for more
Lately competitions in gaming has really picked up offering multiplayer games a whole new twist with Starcraft 2 having ladders and competitions happening all time where small fortunes can be won if you are good enough to be number one. Practice makes perfect and perfect makes money. Some people even have careers from gaming like Fatal1ty etc.
Social games on facebook have hit the world by storm and are becoming increasingly popular even among more hardcore gamers. It allows for you to keep in contact with friends, gives you a break from the mainstream AAA titles and brings in something similar to the Indie gaming experience. These games are even bringing in new gamers which is a real win for everybody else as it pumps more money into the gaming market which allows us to see more games that we would like to see.
Difficulty curve. This has also helped more people to broaden there horizons in games. More people are playing games that they never used to play as games such as rpg's now are easier to play. Good news for some and bad news for others, but thats a whole different article all together.
Graphics. Games are pushing the boundaries more and more. Hardware is constantly improving allowing games to become more realistic visually. It helps games be a lot more immersible. It helps when the enemy looks like a human or alien or whatever compared to a few pixels. Unfortunately some games are better left at being memories.
Audio. Often overlooked in game audio really makes games better. When I was younger I wasn't allowed to have the speakers turned on as the family computer was in the lounge and everyone complained about the noise. Its nice to have music that sets the tone for the place you are playing in, voice actors who are good and are really interested in what they are doing. Risen (Piranha Bytes) made excellent use of Kai Rosenkranz musical talents and Lord of the Rings actor John Rhys-Davies which really helped set a professional audio experience. Piranha Bytes continue to keep a good focus on audio with their sequal to Risen in Risen 2. A making of video can be seen at
http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rc...axN2VbmZWMSoDvsNw&sig2=V1CqiEAlQ7qOmnBk-ERhcw
where they explain more on how audio makes a good game.
Here is an article from a site called guyism in which they give reasons why men like to game. (btw you didn't win an iphone on the top of the links page suggests so don't click it, your computer will give problems
) http://guyism.com/entertainment/10-reasons-men-love-to-play-video-games.html
I am sure there are more things which keeps you coming back to gaming, what makes your experience unique? Is it the game or the love of gaming? Do you feel there is anything I missed?
