Honestly, have you ever thought about what separates a game from other entertainment media, like say, a good book, or even a great movie?
While chatting with my brother over the holiday season (a tad intoxicated, I will admit), he asked me just such a question and, I must say, I struggled to answer him. My brother then quickly followed up with another question too add direction to the first, “Can a game have as much depth as, say, a good book or a movie?” Promptly I gave a defiant yes! A good game could certainly have as much depth as a book and a movie! But, on quick inspection, I realized I could not name one game that offered as much depth as good literature – not even close.
Sure, there are games like Heavy Rain and some role-playing games that offer character and plot growth, but they certainly could not be compared to the depth of scope offered in a book. Movies on the other hand and games, I believe, can be on par when it comes to depth.
This idea bothered me for a while and I had to think about it more carefully. So I decided to break it down in an article to see what you, the reader, think about the subject.
Needing some kind of criteria, I decided I should compare literature and film against gaming. I would look at each medium’s ability to weave a story, to create a visual feast and, finally, to immerse the consumer. For the sake of space, I have only looked at literature and film, where one could quite easily include much more.
The Story
We can first start off by looking at the story telling elements contained within a great game and how they compare to a great book or movie.
When it comes to a game versus a book under this criteria, I think there is very little contest. Books offer so much more depth when weaving a tale, like I previously mentioned. Now movies, on the other hand, can be tricky.
After consideration, I feel that the control offered in gaming can work against the potential for great story telling. For example, say you are playing a game and you do silly things like kill bunnies, or wear a frilly dress, all while playing a morose moody character. Giving the player to control the character’s behavior potentially destroys character continuity, and can seriously hurt a structured narrative.
Winner – Literature / Books
Visuals
Next we can look at what is offered visually by each medium. Obviously, books are right out the window here, unless one considers graphic novels or the like but, really, I do not class those as “books”, and you should not either.
When it comes to gaming, we have some truly astounding visuals but, it has to be conceded that movies win easily. Just go watch something like Avatar (which I am sure all of you have).
Winner – Film
Interactivity/emersion/engagement
Now we get to the interactive element, and it is here that the gaming medium blows all of them out of the water.
One could argue, perhaps, that a book offers a degree of cognitive emersion using one’s imagination to envision the world, but the fact that the story is set in stone kills the interactivity factor. Movies generally give you everything on a platter.
So it is here that gaming wins with no contest with its ability to interact within a world at one’s discretion. Unlike film and literature, the connection between the product and the consumer is two-way. Not only do we consume, but we provide feedback, which in turn affects our experience going forward. This provides a level of emersion which don’t think other forms of entertainment media can compete with.
Winner – Games
Conclusion
So, looking at this, each medium excels in a different way, which is pretty interesting. Like so much in life, it comes down to personal preference. Personally, I love control, manipulation and escapism, so gaming suits me better than most other media. Perhaps that is true of most gamers? Wanting control is something we crave. Obviously, I still enjoy a good book or film, but I spend the vast majority of my free time gaming.
There is much more to this, I believe. Sadly, I do not have the space to fully delve into its murky depths.
So, I ask – why do you prefer games over, say, books or movies? What do they offer that truly sets them apart from other forms of entertainment? << Share your thoughts in the forums.
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