The Escapist recently caught my attention with this article on speedrunning. If you're not familiar with the concept, some people spend WAY MORE time trying to master games than you or I do. In fact, they spend countless hours and thousands of lives (digital lives of course) trying to master game levels, determining the most efficient paths to complete a level - or in some cases the entire game - in the shortest time possible. There are plenty of other worthy examples on YouTube; just search for "speed run" after the title of your favorite video game.
Would you have the patience to master this??? I doubt I would.
It's not the end result, but rather the journey that matters most!
Learning the Art of Game Programming
Showing posts with label None. Show all posts
Showing posts with label None. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Serious Games... Seriously?
As I continue reading and learning more about games, there's one categorical phrase I see repeatedly that always stops me in my tracks: Serious Games.
Every time I see it I have to wonder, "What is a serious game?" To me, the concept of a GAME always implies (or at least makes an attempt at, though some fail miserably) a connection to... FUN! Despite my limited research, I've learned that the phrase describes the type of games intended for simulators and educational purposes. In other words, a flight similator used by the Air Force to train new pilots might be considered a member of this category.
Perhaps I'm making too big a deal over terminology, but I think educational programs of this type should simply be called "simulators." But then someone might argue that they enjoyed the simulator, and so to them it is a game! :) Nonetheless, the phrase just always hits me as an oxymoron.
Have you played any serious games lately? Would you say they were fun?
Every time I see it I have to wonder, "What is a serious game?" To me, the concept of a GAME always implies (or at least makes an attempt at, though some fail miserably) a connection to... FUN! Despite my limited research, I've learned that the phrase describes the type of games intended for simulators and educational purposes. In other words, a flight similator used by the Air Force to train new pilots might be considered a member of this category.
Perhaps I'm making too big a deal over terminology, but I think educational programs of this type should simply be called "simulators." But then someone might argue that they enjoyed the simulator, and so to them it is a game! :) Nonetheless, the phrase just always hits me as an oxymoron.
Have you played any serious games lately? Would you say they were fun?
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