A Thing: Why I Play Games
Coming off of a Penny Arcade comic I just read, I've started to wonder. This is, really, one of the most fundamental questions of gaming, yet it is one that few people ever seriously consider.
Why do we play videogames?
Gabe said, in his post, that he doesn't play it for the challenge; he plays it for 'new art', to see the next level, the next animation. And that's me, to some extent. But I need to think about this. It's an important question, after all; I've been gaming since I was 6 years old, and I'm 19 now. Why have I been doing it?
The first thing that comes to mind is the story. While I certainly play games because on some level I enjoy all the beautfiul art and (occasionally) stirring music, at the heart of it I play games to be told a story. I want to meet a character, be taken on their journey with them, and struggle with them to reach their goal. I want to have the whole plot unfolded for me on the way. I want an experience.
This doesn't preclude me from playing non-story games, of course, and this is where things get complicated. Games like Worms or Timesplitters 2 - which don't so much have 'stories' as 'flimsy excuses for blowing shit up' - still hold places near to my heart.
Story isn't even a factor sometimes, even in a game with a strong one. Do you know why I played Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? Not because of the big over-reaching plot, though that was nice. I played it for all the little details. I played it because I wanted to run around as a Bard, using Speechcraft and swordplay above all else; I played it because I wanted to dick around for hours on end, exploring all the little sidequests; I played it because goddamnit it is an extremely pretty game. Story is not always the deciding factor in these situations. Just like all other humans, I don't want to be emotionally engaged all the time. Sometimes you just need to run around and enjoy yourself.
I think the main reason that I play games may be a combination of all these things. I play games because they're fun, and I like playing them, and I want to be taken on a journey and told a story. I play games for the experience, I suppose. I play games because they interest me, because I like them, and because I have fun with them. Occasionally, a game will really interest me - maybe because of a little plot hook, maybe because of a cool move I saw in a trailer, maybe because of Internet jokes, even - and I'll play it, regardless of this. Maybe I play games just because they pique my interest?
But that doesn't stick with games I've already played. Every time I pick up a Final Fantasy, I know the changes are going to be superficial at best, I know that the story will be maddeningly similar to the last one, and I know that I'll still enjoy myself immensely.
So, what's the answer?
I think I play games simply because I enjoy playing them; just to have fun. Everything else is just a bonus.
...so, why do you guys play games?
(Next IoG update sometime today/tomorrow. I got comics to catch up on.)
Why do we play videogames?
Gabe said, in his post, that he doesn't play it for the challenge; he plays it for 'new art', to see the next level, the next animation. And that's me, to some extent. But I need to think about this. It's an important question, after all; I've been gaming since I was 6 years old, and I'm 19 now. Why have I been doing it?
The first thing that comes to mind is the story. While I certainly play games because on some level I enjoy all the beautfiul art and (occasionally) stirring music, at the heart of it I play games to be told a story. I want to meet a character, be taken on their journey with them, and struggle with them to reach their goal. I want to have the whole plot unfolded for me on the way. I want an experience.
This doesn't preclude me from playing non-story games, of course, and this is where things get complicated. Games like Worms or Timesplitters 2 - which don't so much have 'stories' as 'flimsy excuses for blowing shit up' - still hold places near to my heart.
Story isn't even a factor sometimes, even in a game with a strong one. Do you know why I played Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? Not because of the big over-reaching plot, though that was nice. I played it for all the little details. I played it because I wanted to run around as a Bard, using Speechcraft and swordplay above all else; I played it because I wanted to dick around for hours on end, exploring all the little sidequests; I played it because goddamnit it is an extremely pretty game. Story is not always the deciding factor in these situations. Just like all other humans, I don't want to be emotionally engaged all the time. Sometimes you just need to run around and enjoy yourself.
I think the main reason that I play games may be a combination of all these things. I play games because they're fun, and I like playing them, and I want to be taken on a journey and told a story. I play games for the experience, I suppose. I play games because they interest me, because I like them, and because I have fun with them. Occasionally, a game will really interest me - maybe because of a little plot hook, maybe because of a cool move I saw in a trailer, maybe because of Internet jokes, even - and I'll play it, regardless of this. Maybe I play games just because they pique my interest?
But that doesn't stick with games I've already played. Every time I pick up a Final Fantasy, I know the changes are going to be superficial at best, I know that the story will be maddeningly similar to the last one, and I know that I'll still enjoy myself immensely.
So, what's the answer?
I think I play games simply because I enjoy playing them; just to have fun. Everything else is just a bonus.
...so, why do you guys play games?
(Next IoG update sometime today/tomorrow. I got comics to catch up on.)