[Dr. CKeymaster Rupees: 1,000 RupeesRank: Magic Sword]

For your Week One Quest, you were asked to play a game and share a reflection here.

(Remember, you must post once by 11:59 pm on Friday, September 9th, and again by 11:59 pm on Monday, September 12th.)

This is one of the last times you’ll be able to play and enjoy a game strictly as a “player.” (Soon, you’ll be viewing all games through the lens of game design, and you’ll be seeing everything differently…)

In your first post (by 11:59 PM on Friday), share the following:
– Identify and describe the game you played.
– Explain why you selected that game.
– Identify some of the game mechanics. (For example, was it a single or multiplayer game?)
– Reflect on the impact that those game mechanics had on your experience.
– Treat the game like a “text” and offer some related analysis. (For instance, does the game have an implicit message or a hidden agenda?)
– Think outside of the box. Include anything else you’d like to reflect on and analyze!

After you’ve posted once, respond to at least two of your classmates. Reflect on their own gameplay experiences, shared experiences that you’ve had, or connections to your own reflection! (Be thoughtful in your posts! Remember to be human and have a conversation — don’t be a forum-posting-robot!)

• This topic was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Dr. C.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I played was Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. It is a story based on the idea that Sir Francis Drake, an English-sanctioned pirate who stole from the Spanish, hid all of his millions of dollars in gold in different countries before he disappeared. The main character of this game is Nate Francis, an orphan who claims to be the direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake. He goes looking for this gold by following the clues Francis “left for him” and using the help of his trusty crew: Victor Sullivan, Charlie Cutter, and Chloe Frazer.

I love this game, because just like the Da Vinci Code series, it takes a piece of known historical mystery and spins it into a plausible, yet unlikely, adventure. This game is single-player in Campaign mode, and while there is a multiplayer mode, I don’t feel it’s worth playing. It being single-player means that the other members of Nate’s crew are part of the game, helping you find clues and fight (though they don’t really do too much). This makes it easier to play, since you don’t have to rely on a real person to help you against a computer. It also lets you figure out the mysteries and puzzles yourself instead of having other people help you (it would be too easy then).

I think the messages in this game are pretty hidden, mostly for the fact that it is a first-person shooting adventure game. I believe the messages in this story are about the family you choose, how important history is to the present, to come prepared to hold your ground in any situation, and to protect and trust your friends and family at all costs.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Vallika, I have always heard so much about the Uncharted games and how much people tend to enjoy them. I have played similar games that draw inspiration from historical settings, such as the Assassin’s Creed games. These single player adventure games with puzzles and action tend to be my favorite, so I may check this game out!

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Vallika,
I remember playing Uncharted 3 when it first came out, that was one of my favorite games on the PS3 back in the day. The campaign on this game was absolutely amazing for it’s time, and I completely agree with you on the fact that playing it alone is better, because you get the true experience. I also loved this game because it was based on real history, and it’s always great to see game developers get creative while using certain true factors.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I played this morning was Dark Souls 3. I selected this game as I have been playing it for the past few weeks and am hooked. It is a primarily single player game, with optional multiplayer components that allow others to join you and help or hinder your progress. The game itself is notorious for being very difficult, as enemies are very unforgiving, and all odds are always against you. However, with every failure I can learn from my mistakes and get closer and closer until I finally surpass the level. This leaves me with a much greater satisfaction than playing an easy game. I believe the game’s purpose is to encourage players to utilize their reflexes and problem solving abilities to get past levels, rather than spamming buttons or paying for advantages as other games often do. I have always been one to play games on a medium difficulty (which is often rather easy) to eliminate the stress of failure, but this game has changed my perspective and instead encourages me to improve my skills to adapt.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Altay!
I appreciate that you mentioned your experience with utilizing reflexes and problem solving abilities. It made me think about how I went to a vintage arcade in NJ this summer called Yestercades and played some old arcade games from the 80’s, like street fighter. In theory, these types of games are supposed to be fun fighting games, but you usually just end up spamming the controls as opposed to planning your attacks, which isn’t as rewarding or fun as the experience you described. I also like how you talked about the difficulty levels. I always choose the easiest level when I play games, but you encouraged me to think of it as building my skillset and perhaps choosing a higher difficulty.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Altay! This game sounds like it’s up my alley, I’ll have to look into it. Not sure if you ever do this, but when I’m first getting into games I watch people play them on YouTube. In general, I love games that incorporate problem-solving, it makes me feel better about not being the best with the controllers. For example, Life Is Strange is perfect for me haha. Have you ever heard of it?

Like your game though, I chose a game that focuses on reflexes/ dexterity rather than having the best gear or character, etc. Admittedly, mine was a computer game and only utilizes the up, left, & right arrows … so, it is much more simple.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Altay,
I’m very familiar with the game series, Dark Souls, some of my friends really loved playing that game despite how mad they would get at it at times haha. I tried playing it once, died three times and called it quits, so I give you a lot of credit for being able to play through the game that much. This game definitely challenges the player beyond belief, and makes them actually strategize rather than button spam, like you said.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I decided to play was Run 3. I play Run 3 any time I’m watching something and want to multitask; it occupies just enough of my brain without distracting me from what I’m watching. It is a single-player game (sort of a platform game) where you can get your little alien character to move left, right, or jump, but never stop. It involves a lot of hand-eye coordination and quick thinking about where and how you want the character to move.
I find Run 3 interesting because there are two separate modes, one with stages with clear objectives (get to the end of the stage and go on to the next), and the other is the infinite mode, which doesn’t have any definitive objective other than to go as far as the player can. The mode is still broken into separate stages characterized by different colored platforms and new mini-objectives (ex. beat this stage in only three jumps, pass this stage without jumping, etc.)
The player can also set their own goals or create their own mini-objectives to try and beat as they play. For example, I try to beat certain parts of the infinite scroll of platforms by only making the character jump without moving it left or right. To my knowledge, there is no hidden agenda in the game; it seems to be, at least to me, a mindless activity you can occupy yourself with. It takes very little focus and can get really repetitive, but it is also slightly addictive. I think the simplicity of the mechanics and the fact that the game itself is not very complicated have something to do with its addictive qualities.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Anna!
First, I want to mention that Run 3 is definitely a highly addictive game and reminds me of the types of mobile games I would play when I was in middle school whenever I was bored. I’ll add that I think the colorful/electric graphics in the game, as well as the fact that the tunnel/maze the player is running through appears infinite creates a sort of hypnotic experience that makes it hard to stop playing. I also agree that there isn’t much hidden meaning to the game, except to maybe persevere and get as far as you can down the infinite tunnel, although that may be a bit far fetched for a simple mobile game. Interesting response!

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Anna, I really relate to how you can multitask and play Run 3 while watching a show. Shows I am watching can often drag on, and I have to balance my focus between the show and a fun game. I believe platform games such as Run 3 are enjoyable for everyone, no matter what age or interests. This makes them great games to play with friends.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Reading this post brought back so many memories lol! I used to play Run and Run 2 all the time during high school and it was so addicting. I agree that it can get really repetitive because you have to start all over from the beginning if you fall and that can happen very frequently. I agree with Maria that there is probably no hidden agenda or implicit meaning behind this game other than the fact that when you don’t pass the level, it makes you want to keep trying until you pass.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Anna!

Yeah there probably aren’t any hidden meanings in Run 3, but I definitely relate to the mindless multitask game. For me, it would probably be Clash Royale, which is a simple multiplayer mobile game that I throw on during sports commercials and things like that.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Anna! I LOVED this game. Especially the roller skating part of it. You’re absolutely right, this game was made for multitasking, since it doesn’t really matter how many times you fall; it won’t put you on a lower level if you fall, only a higher one if you do well. That in itself makes me feel like a hidden meaning is to not give up, and that it can only get better the harder you try/more you focus.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

One of my favorite games to play is Scattergories. This game can be played as a traditional multiplayer board game, but for the sake of this Quest I downloaded the mobile app and played there. I selected this game because it is very nostalgic to me; I played it a lot as a kid during family gatherings. I also enjoy games that involve some sort of brain game or puzzle (like crosswords, Wordle, etc.).
Here are some of the basic Scattergories game mechanics:
The objective is to fill out a list of random categories with answers that all begin with the same randomly chosen letter. Points are scored by putting down legitimate answers that no other player puts down. Whoever earns the most points wins.
Each player uses the same list of random categories (for the traditional board game, this is a paper list. For the app, you will type your answers). (Ex. types of breakfast food, vacation destinations, TV celebrities, things you take to a beach). One player rolls a letter die on the board and calls out the rolled letter, which becomes the letter for the round of play. A 3 minute timer is started and all players fill in the columns on their answer sheet or type into the boxes on the app. When the timer stops, all players stop immediately writing and read their answers aloud until all 12 categories have been marked. Points are only awarded for unique answers. If two players have the same answer, no points are awarded.
As for how the game mechanics impacted my experience, the use of a physical timer when playing the game makes the game more invigorating and lively. Additionally, since points are only awarded for unique answers, it forces players to think out of the box and maybe even second-guess their answers as they may be unoriginal. This makes the game tricky and more complex, and in turn more exciting. This can also serve as a message that players can take away. In life, it’s often helpful to think outside of the box and think beyond whatever first idea comes to our mind. Scattergories also teaches players to not be impulsive, but instead to think deeply about their answers and decide if that answer is worth risking points. The timed component teaches us to think on the spot and pace ourselves, as players can answer any of the 12 categories in any order, but must complete the list in 3 minutes.
My personal nostalgia definitely comes from the tactile component of the game. The physical letter die, the timer ticking, and the feeling of pencil on paper while playing the game makes it a truly unique experience.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Maria!
I love Scattergories, and I totally agree with you about teaching players not to be impulsive (there was one round where I played all my first thoughts and ended up with only three unique answers-dark times). I also love the creativity that comes from Scattergories and the way it emphasizes the importance of looking at different perspectives. If everyone thought the same, there would be no point to the game.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Maria!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Scattergories! I haven’t played in the longest time, but it still remains to be one of my favorite games to this day. I never fail to get a good laugh from that game, and it’s even better when people start to panic and they start making up words to fill the blanks. I think that goes along with “thinking out the box” and being creative, when someone genuinely runs out of words, and then continues to make up a word and defend it when everyone shares their lists.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Maria!

I absolutely LOVE Scattergories! It’s for sure one of those games that I always go to if I’m bored or just need a good challenge. I love how you mentioned that thinking beyond the first idea that comes to mind is a good message to take away because I completely agree. To add on, I think it’s really funny how when we are given challenges such as Scattergories, practically everything we know goes out the window, and sometimes we completely blank. If you like Scattergories, you might like the game Text or Die on mobile. It’s similar in the fact that it gives you a category and you need to type in a word that matches, but the goal is to see who has the longest word that fits the category. As the water level keeps rising, you need to type longer words for all the categories it gives you. If you decide to play, let me know how you like it!

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I decided to play today was Fortnite on XBOX. I selected Fortnite because it is a very common game amongst the gaming world, but it is also one of my personal favorites. I also thought it would be interesting to take a game I’ve played for years and look at it differently than I had previously. The essential goal in Fortnite is to be the last man standing or the last duo/squad standing if you are in multiplayer mode. In order to be the last man standing, you must collect different materials to build with, different weapons to use against other players, and different immunity items such as shield potions to increase your health throughout the game.
Though there are several modes in Fornite, I chose to play Battle Royale squad, a multiplayer mode that pairs you into groups of four with other players worldwide. Squad mode makes the overall Fortnite experience much more competitive as you now have to fight off not just one other person but four other people to eliminate another squad from the game entirely. It also promotes a sense of unity amongst your team as you have to depend on one another for backup and rebooting if you happen to get eliminated. There is also a voice chat feature so you and your squad can communicate during the game, which makes it feel like you are actually together in real life and further prompts an eagerness to win.
Though Fornite may seem like a simple game for young adults, there are actually several hidden messages within the game. The main message revolves around the idea of “survival of the fittest”, which dates back to the days of Social Darwinism. However, as opposed to being about biological advantages, “fittest” in the gaming context would mean those who could build better, aim better, dodge better, collect better, strategize better, etc. Another message to take away from the game is that you don’t need the best equipment to win, instead, you need to learn to work with what you have. In fact, you could have all gray weapons (less advanced) and still win the game as long as you strategize your game plan correctly. Overall, the game’s complexity provides a pretty fun experience for players and also gives them new experiences every round.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hey Gabby!
After reading your post, I can make a lot of connections I hadn’t thought of previously between the game you played and the game I played. Both of these games feature compelling gameplay and require the players to think logically to reach their goals. Although COD is in a more aggressive environment than Fortnite, they both have frequent changes to their graphics and modes making the gaming experience more enjoyable.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Gabby!

I personally don’t really play Fortnite a whole lot, but I feel like I do from the amount of times that my brother and my friends talk about it. I agree with the complexity of the game acting as an advantage as a selling point for the game, because it is really interesting to see the different strategies that players come up with, and it can literally take hours of your day at a time, without you really realizing it. Plus, the game offers really cool skins that match different people and characters, and the dance moves really are hilarious. We should play it sometime again together!

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I decided to play is Call of Duty Mobile because it’s one of my favorite games that I enjoy playing for hours on end with friends, or just by yourself. It’s a very competitive game and who doesn’t like a little competition? I played the Frontline mode today. In the Frontline mode, the two teams have separate designated spawns on either side of the map. This mode hosts 10 players for each match, with 5 players per team. Players earn points for their team whenever they take out an opponent. The first team to reach 50 kills wins the match. That’s really all there is to it, at least on the surface. Underneath the surface of the game, there are so many different features that make the experience exciting.

There are a variety of different modes such as Frontline, Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Hardpoint, Gunfight, and Domination. These modes are multiplayer in which you compete with and against other players that have been randomly assigned. You can play alone, or invite your friends into the match and play with them. It also has a great progression system. As you level up, you’ll unlock new weapons, perks, killstreaks, and so on. Most COD games allow you to unlock attachments for your guns by using the guns in question (e.g., getting a certain number of kills with an AK-47 will unlock a red dot sight for the AK-47).

The ability to pull up and aim firearms, to relive the last few seconds of a fallen comrade’s life, and to realistically be stunned by nearby explosions were notable features that helped distance the game from its competitors. You can even talk to your team through the microphone to communicate kills. The Call of Duty multiplayer is very much reward driven. Every action has a response and every positive action has a reward. You get rewards for killing someone, helping to kill someone, killing multiple people consecutively, coming back from a series of deaths, and achieving a certain number of kills with a weapon. These rewards manifest themselves in per-match rewards (Killstreak bonuses like a helicopter) and persistent rewards (like a new weapon). These little micro-rewards lead players on with short term goals to keep them playing and enjoying the match and larger rewards to keep them coming back for additional matches. It is very easy to enjoy Call of Duty because these tiny little dopamine-burst rewards are pretty universally enjoyed. The game makes you feel like you’re always accomplishing something and there’s always another reward just around the corner. This is one of the many hidden agendas in this game, along with taking war and terrorism and turning it into a game. Getting good at Call of Duty requires a player to be extremely quick to react. A player should have the ability to make a number of key decisions in a very short span of time. Aiming down the sight quicker and sliding or crouching before your enemy can be the deciding factor in a gun battle.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Meteeka,

Call of Duty is definitely a quick-twitch game that relies on fast reaction times, and honestly, it takes some skill and strategy to customize your weapons loadout and perks (although I’m not sure how in-depth that is in the mobile version?). In my favorite COD games, weapon attachments will certain weapon stats while either decreasing another stat or sacrificing a slot for another useful attachment.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Archive.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hey Meeteeka!
From the limited amount of times I’ve played Call of Duty with you, I totally agree with you. It is definitely a very complex game that keeps you on your toes. I find it interesting how you used the weapon rewards as an example of an incentive for players to continue playing. I think having these little advances in weaponry and reward level also keep the game fresh and interesting as players would otherwise feel bored after a while of playing the same thing. This was overall a really great game choice.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

In your first post (by 11:59 PM on Friday), share the following:
– Identify and describe the game you played.
– Explain why you selected that game.
– Identify some of the game mechanics. (For example, was it a single or multiplayer game?)
– Reflect on the impact that those game mechanics had on your experience.
– Treat the game like a “text” and offer some related analysis. (For instance, does the game have an implicit message or a hidden agenda?)
– Think outside of the box. Include anything else you’d like to reflect on and analyze!

The game I played is Horizon Forbidden West, a single-player role-playing game I own on the PlayStation 5. The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, the player follows a warrior named Aloy who lives in a decimated world dominated by feral machines. Without spoiling anything, Aloy is sent on a mission where she must journey into the Forbidden West, where she is forced to overcome hostile warriors as well as machines. I selected this game because it’s the game I’ve been playing the most recently.

There are a multitude of mechanics in the game: grapple mechanics allow the player to climb up and down certain scalable objects;

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

SemesterQuest won’t let me delete or modify my incomplete post, so I’m reposting, sorry!

The game I played is Horizon Forbidden West, a single-player role-playing game I own on the PlayStation 5. The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, the player follows a warrior named Aloy who lives in a decimated world dominated by feral machines. Without spoiling anything, Aloy is sent on a mission where she must journey into the Forbidden West, where she is forced to overcome hostile warriors as well as machines. I selected this game because it’s the game I’ve been playing the most recently.

There are a multitude of mechanics in the game: similar to the Assassin’s Creed franchise, grapple mechanics allow the player to climb up and down certain scalable objects, crafting systems allow the player to build tools and potions, dynamic weather and time systems modify the game environment, certain enemies have varying reactions to different weapon types, and many more systems exist in the game. These mechanics allow the player to traverse most areas in the open world, and the detail in these systems create a sense of immersion. They also create strategy, by forcing the player to spend their resources wisely on healing potions and weapons, and also giving the ability to choose a weapon that is effective for both that particular fight, as well as the player’s playstyle.

As far as the story, the game touches on themes like friendship, power and control (over both living beings and inanimate objects), and the consequences of expanded artificial intelligence.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Evan. I’ve never played either installment of the Horizon series, but I have to say both games caught my eye due to their pristine graphics and interesting aesthetic. If I’m not mistaken, Horizon Forbidden West was a launch title for the PS5, so I’ve seen a lot of promo for that game and I must say it looks AWESOME. Unfortunately, I still have not gotten the PS5, and although you can play it on PS4, I would want to be able to fully experience everything the game has to offer via the capabilities of the newer console, which the game was designed for. I’m glad to hear the game is both fun and interesting, so I will definitely be checking it out when I can get my hands on a PS5.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I chose to look at was Beat Saber. I hadn’t picked up my Oculus in a bit so I figured I would analyze one of my favorite virtual reality games. I also figured the virtual reality setting may give a different perspective on games.

The goal of Beat Saber is similar to Guitar Hero in that a songs plays and there are notes to be hit during that song. The virtual reality aspect of the game allows the player an opportunity to use lightsaber-like swords to smash boxes in a certain direction in order to improve your score. The direction in which the boxes may be hit varies as does the color which corresponds with each hand.

Beat Saber is played as a single-player game but I think can be multiplayer though I haven’t explored that much. The games also allows you to make certain modifications as far how hard a level can be which can either improve your score or hinder the ability to gain more points. Some examples off the top of my head are not being able to fail mid-song, having disappearing notes, only using one sword, changing the songs tempo, or playing in a 360 degrees environment. I personally turn the settings on so I don’t fail mid-song just because I enjoy practicing the parts I’m not as good at while listening to/playing the entire song.

Through all these game customizations, I think think Beat Saber is a pretty straight forward game in that hitting the box with the right swing at the right time is how to achieve the best score possible. Despite the simplicity of the game, I think it’s mesmerizing to watch other people sail through the hardest courses possible on streams and edited YouTube videos.The game is played as a first-person game through a headset with wireless controllers, but content creators and streamers have immersed themselves into the game so viewers can watch them playing the game in the third person.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Kevin!
I’ve never played Beat Saber or any VR game, really; honestly, they kind of scare me. The idea of not really knowing where I am in any room messes with my head. I am curious though, you say it’s mesmerizing to watch, which I agree with, but what makes you like to play it so much? I figure it’s probably the feeling of accomplishment from completing a hard song, but I’m obviously not sure without any experience under my belt.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hey Anna!
It’s definitely unsettling at first to put the headset on but I do my best to play in an open environment plus there are boundaries the headset will create for your safety. Crossing the boundaries will immediately take you out of the game and show you your surroundings.

I personally like the immersive experience that VR provides and the small feeling of using lightsabers is cool. One thing I don’t like about VR is having pictures and videos taken of me while I’m playing just because it looks goofy

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Kevin! I absolutely love Beat Saber, I’m so glad you incorporated VR games in here. I always find that I feel I’ve worked out after playing the game. For me, the fact that you can completely forget about your surrounds with the headset on, it’s easier to put my whole body into it. It truly does end up feeling like you’re in the virtual world of Beat Saber.

I actually didn’t know about the settings to keep playing without failing the song, so thank you for that! It does sound like a good way to practice the tougher songs. Here, I definitely resonate with Fullerton’s article when he speaks about the balance of Challenge. Perhaps because it requires so much physical motion, finally completing a hard song feels so satisfying. I have to say, unlike a satisfaction I feel with other games.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

I really want to get an Oculus, but I’ve never used one before. I have put on VR goggles and seen all the movies about how VR is going to take over in a dystopian way (Ready Player One, Pixels, etc.), but not this one specifically. Is it disorienting? Or dizzying?

If you’ve seen the movie Johnny English Strikes Again, I have to say I love his VR walking platform, though it may not be child-safe enough for Johnny English’s use (if you haven’t seen it, I’m sure there’s a clip of that scene online).

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

It can be pretty disorienting after playing for a bit so its good to get a reality check here and there! Ironically I love Ready Player One just because of all the pop culture references however I do get a bit concerned whenever I see a meta-version of Mark Zuckerberg pop up on my screen. I’ll have to check that movie out at some point though. I enjoy seeing different adaptations to how technology can impact our future.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hey Kevin, I haven’t played much VR in my life, but I did play one game. It was beat saber. The most fun part really was putting those VR goggles on for the first time. The best way to describe it is probably how people were when movies were first invented. It was this new experience that we just weren’t used to. I know that physically I was in a living room playing this game, but the immersive experience was so new and interesting that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget it.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

Hi Kevin! I remember watching someone play beat saber. It’s nice to watch them make a chain of successful hits, and the music is fun to listen to as well.

I think its core mechanic of smashing the boxes is done really well and provides enough variation and difficulty to keep players interested. The gameplay is fluid and visually appealing.

I never played beat saber myself, but I can imagine it’s a great cardio workout.

[ArchiveParticipant Rupees: 0 RupeesRank: Newbie]

The game I played this week is Overwatch, a first-person shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. I selected this game because I have been playing it since its release back in 2016, and have been enjoying it ever since. The main appeal of Overwatch for me is the enormous cast of characters, each of whom have their own, detailed, unique stories and abilities. This creates an insanely nuanced but epic lore for the entire game, all of which you get without a classic “campaign” mode. That’s right, Overwatch has no campaign mode, but it’s story telling is still so in-depth, and you really feel connected to all the characters regardless.

Overwatch, as aforementioned, is a first-person shooter style game, meaning it is inherently multiplayer. It is also an online game, so you get matched up with people from all across the globe. The game set-up is reminiscent of that of a Call of Duty title, where teams of six players compete to capture objectives. However, that is where the similarities to CoD end. What sets Overwatch apart is that players have over 30 heroes to choose from, and all heroes are unlocked and playable from the moment the game is downloaded. Characters are divided into 3 categories: Tank, Damage, and Support. Each role has its own purpose within the game, and each hero within those roles is uniquely designed to play different strategies. Reinhardt, for example, is a tank hero who’s main feature is his giant shield that boasts 1,600 HP; whereas Roadhog, another tank, is designed for easily taking out vulnerable enemies due to his powerful multi-ranged shotgun and Scorpion-esque hook. Players on each team queue into those specific hero types, to create a balanced team composition that included two of each type of hero on each team. However, in the original versions of the game, the role-queueing mechanic did not exist, and players could select any designation of hero, with no limits.

The addition of the role-queuing mechanic to the game was actually very crucial. As I mentioned previously, before this mechanic existed, players could select any hero they desired, regardless of hero role. This lead to some very unbalanced matches due to unregulated team composition. Now that the structure of each team is set to include two of each hero role, the game is much more balanced during matches, leading to games that are much more fun.

In terms of game analysis, there is a lot to draw from. In the game’s expansive (obviously fictional) lore, “Overwatch” was a global military defense force comprised of many of the playable heroes, that, in the game’s present day, has since been disbanded due to controversies. The organization was formed to combat the “Omnic Crisis,” which was an ongoing war between humans and advanced sentient android beings. The Omnics were fighting for their own independence and rights to be equal to humans, but the many humans viewed them as just pieces of metal that did not deserve rights as a human. This definitely is meant to be a metaphor for nearly all past independence wars, and potentially even a message for future generations who may have to deal with the technological “singularity.” The message is essentially that all beings are created equal, whether they are carbon-based or made from machines.

As you can see, there are lots of subtle nuances to the gameplay and lore that make Overwatch so special and fun. If you’ve never played, I would recommend waiting until Overwatch 2 comes out on October 4th (less than a month away). Unlike the original, Overwatch 2 will be free to download and play!

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Woah Dalen!
I was always mostly just vaguely aware of Overwatch, but I never knew it went so in-depth! I have a question for you, though. Are Valorant and Overwatch similar? What sets them apart? I know way more about val because of my friends, and I’m curious if there’s a lot of overlap. I’ve always wanted to try playing Overwatch, so I’ll probably download it when the sequel comes out!

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Hey Anna, unfortunately I’ve never played Valorant. At most, I’ve seen advertisements and maybe even a bit of gameplay, but not much more than that. From what I have seen, though, it does look very similar to Overwatch, and I’m sure it’s derivative and inspired by it, too. However, people called Overwatch a Call of Duty clone when it first came out, and boy were they wrong. So, short answer, I have absolutely no clue.

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Hi Dalen! I used to love playing Overwatch back when it was first released in 2016. I agree that the huge cast of characters and unique stories/abilities made Overwatch very special. I remember wishing they added a story/campaign mode so that we could learn more about the characters, but sadly I don’t know if they ever will.

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The game that I most recently played was Fifa 22. I was playing that game because my roommate wanted to play against me. Fifa can be either an online or a single player game, depending on which game mode you choose to play. You can play with regular teams, you can build your own team, or you can create a player and play with them. The game mechanics in Fifa are usually pretty good but they can be buggy sometimes, which really throws you off. There isn’t really a implicit message or hidden agenda to this game, however I think the Fifa games give a lot more recognition to the sport in places where it isn’t as popular, such as the United States. Fifa not only expands the love of the sport to new people, but it can actually help educate people on the sport, as you play with real teams and real players, so you get a gist of what players are good and whatnot.

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One of my favorite games, and the game I chose to write this discussion post on, is called Clue. Clue is a murder mystery game involving yourself and at least 2 other people, in which you have to use your logical thinking skills and detective work to figure out the killer, the weapon, and the place of the murder. The game includes a gameboard, a notepad, cards, little pieces, and an envelope in which the answer to the previous questions are answered. Before the game starts, 3 cards (a person, weapon, and place) are randomly and secretly chosen to be hidden in the envelope and will be the answers to this game. Now, each player has to use their cards, ask other players questions about the murder, and their notepad to figure out the answer before every other player. I love playing this game for many reasons including the fact that I get to use my critical thinking skills, my competitiveness is fulfilled while playing this game, and the fact I have so much fun trying to beat my friends and family in figuring out the answer. Some of the game mechanics, such as the cards, had the most effect on my experience with this game, because it is like every play has a piece of the puzzle, and you have to figure out a way to collect all the pieces without sharing your piece. That concept is very unique and interesting to me, and I really enjoy trying to figure out the murder specifics on my own using these different game mechanics. The game’s hidden agenda, personally, is to trick people into playing a game, when in reality they are using thinking skills and becoming creative. I think it’s a fun way to trick people into doing an activity in which their brain is exercising, without them truly noticing what is happening. Furthermore, it’s also fun to see what different people come up with to use as their strategies, for instance, asking people for cards that they already have, so that they are forced to give a card of one specific category. In all, I love this game and I love the different analytical, logical, but entertaining ways that they get players to face off against each other.

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Hi Jaz!
I LOVE Clue; oh my gosh. I think my favorite part about the gameplay is the fact that every game is different. Sure, you can play with the same people and start to learn their tells and how they think, but no matter what, the actual design of the game calls for a new experience each time. I love being able to piece together information, and it’s always so gratifying when you can tell the person next to you is on the verge of figuring it out, but because of the order of turns, you’ll get the chance to win first. My family also will sometimes play with cheating as a rule; it certainly makes the game more interesting when you know at any second someone could be peaking over your shoulder and finding out everything you’ve pieced together so far.

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Whenever I see my family, clue is a must play for us. That side of the family and I will spend so much time playing board games after dinner, and I would consider it to be an absolute highlight. I will also say that the game clue gets intense. Since we all know each other so well, we try to analyze every person’s move, and sometimes, I’ll pretend to be writing something down, just so people think that there might some interesting information that was just said. I love that game.

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Hey Jasmine!!
I actually played Clue for the first time about a month ago and have been obsessed with it ever since. As you said, it is a very mind-driven game that requires a lot of strategizing. I agree with your statement that it exercises the brain without people even noticing! To add on, I think it’s really fun how there are endless possibilities in CLUE, and every round is a completely new mission. I also find it a tad bit funny when someone is super confident in their answer, and it turns out to be wrong. Great game choice, and we will definitely have to play sometime!!

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Clue is one of the most addicting games to play with family and friends! There is definitely a lot of memory and concentration that is involved with playing the game, especially if you want to win. It’s so fun every single time. I really like your analysis about how it’s tricking people into using their brain in the most engaging and thrilling way.

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I played “This War of Mine.” It’s a game where you play as a group of people living in a war zone and try to survive the war.

I selected this game because I enjoy playing it. I really like the realistic vibe of the game. At times, the game forces the player to choose between starving, stealing, and killing. It’s a single-player game. Each character needs food to survive and needs rest/medicine/bandages to recover. The game makes me aware of the choices I make, as characters who steal or kill too much can fall into depression.

I really like that the player can teach child characters how to do various things, such as making water filters and cooking. Sometimes, the only character who isn’t resting in bed during the day is the child. It shows the player some of the difficulties people face when living in a war zone.

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Hi Bunbun1k,

I recall having seen “This War of Mine” sometime in High School; I was captivated by the intertwining of a gritty survival game & a social simulator. The attachment the player feels to their characters whom will all develop unique attributes and personalities makes the stakes much higher, as being on the receiving end of a game over screen will be much more impactful and undesirable as a result. The game’s layout, which takes place on a 2D plane perspective akin to Terraria representing a war shelter, adds another layer of innovation to a game formula which is already few and far between. I can’t say that there is any game that is a very close analogue to “This War of Mine.” These types of games (or really anything with the potential to make the player feel scared or revulsed) have been a fixation of mine for as long as I can remember.

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Yeah, there is that strong attachment to the characters. I remember that each time a character of mine died suddenly, there was a feeling of shock throughout my body.

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Hi BunBun1k, that sounds like an interesting game! It kind of reminds me of the game Fallout, where you’re forced to make some really tricky situations as well. Fallout takes place in the year 2077, after a global nuclear war destroys all modern civilizations so you need to create a bunker and sometimes leave it as well. I have to say, I often find those games stressful because I end up getting so immersed in the game with my character. The choices, I feel, end up feeling like it is my life on the line!

Are there any decisions that really tripped you up while you were playing?

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Archive.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Archive.

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Yeah, I remember at least once, I ran a character into a fighting zone without proper equipment and died on that character. It was a heavy loss mentally for the other characters in the game at the time. Stuff like this makes me want to restart the game.

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Hi! I have never played this game but the concept is so interesting because it is so realistic and once you play for a while you start to really understand how survival mode works in a war zone. It’s so interesting that people can live through that via a game. Really great analysis!

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I played the game subnautica. It’s not a game that I would normally play, but the more I researched about it, the more it intrigued me. It’s an underwater horror survival game. There is no prominent story besides the fact that you crash landed on an alien planet that is completely covered in water and must find a way off of it. More details regarding the lore of the planet is revealed as you progress through the game by finding the proper materials in order to traverse deeper into the depths of the planet. I selected the game to really just get out of my comfort zone. Horror games aren’t really my think, but there was something charming about this one. It is a single player game that is not necessarily minecraft, but has certain elements that make it comparable. You need to collect a large amount of resourced in order to build survival equipment. It starts off lighthearted, but once you traverse further away from your landing site, or deeper into the water, there are these unknown creatures that are waiting to find you. I’ve been loving the game so far. It’s interesting because it is a horror game, so there are certain tense moment, but there is some peace in this idea of trying to hunt for these specific resources. I do think that the game does have a hidden message. As the story is further revealed, there are elements of the idea that previous life forms have damaged this planet and have taken advantage of its resources, leaving the rest of the ecosystem to eventually die out.

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Hi Chris,

Subnautica is an interesting game to use as a study because it straddles the line between multiple genres, namely survival/craft/open-world games such as Minecraft as you mentioned, Rust, or Ark, and horror as well, by virtue of having sections that get progressively more treacherous with darker terrain and more frightening enemy designs to compliment this. As with any good survival or horror game, it has its lulls in excitement to avoid burning players out. There are a surprising amount of games that blend the aforementioned genres, but Subnautica pulls this off maybe the best of them all; in my personal opinion, I think the game’s popularity is due to the subtlety in its horror and the element of exploration to progress. Many similar games have zombies as enemies & drive away many potential players due to the sharp sense of horror.

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Hi Christopher! The need to collect lots of material reminds me of other games involving building structures, like Raft and a zombie game on Steam I can’t remember the name of. Oh, the theme about creatures that have misused the planet’s resources sounds like commentary on our own world. I’m not into horror games myself, but I see the appeal of tense moments and surprises.

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The game I chose was “Metal Gear Solid V.” It’s a third person stealth game where you travel an open map either via vehicles & complete missions by either eliminating enemies or sneaking around them; whichever strategy is used is left to the player’s discretion. The completely open-ended moment to moment stealth gives the game a huge amount of depth and requires the player to think on their toes when confronted with adversity. Insofar as knocking out or killing threats, the player character Snake has a variety of tools to use, as well as tools to aid his stealth.

The game further immerses the player by way of including historical commentary on the Soviet-Afghan War & weaving it into its gameplay, such as when Snake requests briefs on enemies. This a method of non-traditional storytelling, as it requires that the player pays great attention to seemingly mundane interactions in order to piece together a coherent narrative. Most of my favorite story based games tell the story through gameplay rather than cutscenes & Metal Gear Solid V is no exception.

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Hi Kwabena!
I’ve heard a lot about the Metal Gear Solid series, specifically that it has great storytelling. I love story-based games and this non-traditional type of storytelling seems very interesting. I’ll definitely have to check this out sometime!

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The game I chose was “Splatoon 2”. It is a third-person shooter in which the main multiplayer mode is a “turf war” style battle. In order to win, your team must “paint” more turf than the opposing team. I chose this game because the next installment in the series is coming out soon, so I wanted to revisit the older game.
In this game, you can either create a team with your friends or be matched into a random team. For me, both options have yielded fun experiences. On one hand, playing with friends is guaranteed to bring fun and heightened team coordination. However, wordlessly communicating with a group of strangers creates unique feelings of unity and closeness. Though, playing with strangers has its drawbacks — it can be frustrating when cooperating with individuals who are seemingly unskilled or new to the game.
Multiplayer, round-based games such as Splatoon 2 work using a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement. This means that an unknown (variable) amount of time passes between each win (reinforcement). You have winning and losing streaks, but you’ll keep playing in order to chase the high of a “good game”. It makes sense that games like these (other examples being Fortnite, Apex Legends) are incredibly addicting — this is the same system of reinforcement used in casinos. This was a very smart design choice made by the developers.
I think that the overall theme of this game is the perseverance of human cooperation. Splatoon 2 shows that it is human nature to want to work together toward a common goal.

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Hi Julia! I must admit, I’ve never played a splatoon game in my life, but it always looked fun and I’ve always wanted to try it. Maybe when the new installment comes out, I’ll give it a try. Splatoon sounds very similar in structure and game set-up as the game I reviewed, which is Overwatch. In Overwatch, you can also create a team of your friends or be matched randomly. However, instead of trying to paint the map or cover more “territory,” the object is to capture objectives or move payloads by filling up the capture meter. I think there are many similarities between the two games, so maybe Splatoon will be a good game for me!

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The game I played is called Run. It is an online, single player game where you only need to use your arrow keys. Your arrow keys allow you to move left, right, and to jump. It runs on a loop so as soon as you press Start, your alien character begins running through a 4-wall portal. The game does not initially present you with instructions so you have to die a few times to figure it out. It also does not tell you that you can move to any of the other 3 walls. For example, if you move far-enough to the left or right, you will begin “running” on that wall instead. Each wall has its own set of obstacles in the form of gaps. If you fall into a gap, you die and start over. You must jump over each gap or avoid it by switching to another wall. You can play “normal” or a “fast” version, but I recommend beginning with “normal.” After every 10 levels, the color of the portal/walls change, letting you know you have advanced to the next section. When you leave the website, it also allows you to keep your progress that way you never need to start over; unless you want to.

Unlike most games, this does not tell a story or attempt to bring you into another reality. You are simply playing as a tiny alien character running through portals. The aim is to get to the end of the “run” by successfully avoiding all gaps. There is also not one-specific way to win. You can take various routes and still win, so long as you can avoid falling into a gap. This game is intuitive and suitable for most ages, with dexterity being the prime factor for success.

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The game that I played was Ludo. Since this board game was always a childhood favorite, it was the first one to come to my mind for this assignment. It is a multiplayer game, usually four people play at a time. It is a square board with four bases in each corner and each base is a different color. Each person takes turn rolling the die clockwise and cannot take pieces out initially until they roll at least one 6. Each player can only move the number that they roll each time. The goal is to bring all 4 pieces into the home triangle area and the first one to do that wins. If a piece is passed by another player, they have to go back home and cannot get out until they roll a 6 again. These game mechanisms of Ludo create a sense of urgency to get to the home area as fast as possible and the thought of making another player’s piece go back to square one is thrilling. The game definitely improves your concentration and makes you think strategically about each move because all four players are moving and the dice determines their next move and as a player you have to analyze the board before making your next move according to the die that you roll.

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