People don’t live in ‘reality’ 100% of the time. I think a game can be made for every non-reality desire. And I think it can cross over into real world too.
I love games, and I’ve been listening to a bunch of game developer conference lectures and they love games too.
One thing I like is that Jane McGonigal said she wants to kill television. Me too. It is a one way static medium. Just like radio shows died because they lacked visuals. Television too should die because it lacks interactivity. I don’t care if you want to watch pop singers compete, it should still be a game. You should still have the option to manipulate it, give your input, see output changed, even participate. Instead of watching an action show, why can’t you play one, or if you aren’t feeling particularly active, make it more automated and dictated. How about comedy? Can you make a comedy game that is intelligently written and fresh like a tv show? Some ‘funny’ games have come out, but they just insert laugh gags that will get stale, that is not what a tv comedy show is about. Can we do interactive humour? Or a comedy writer-written non-player-character? What would it be like to have a role in an episode of the office? Maybe too many people are unfunny and lack confidence and skills to participate, but I think we should try to make that a game. I run improv drama games at camp and it _can_ work. Lower expectations, have some guidance and boom, its a fun game
I’d play it.
What about killing the telephone too. I find it hard to gab on the phone, looking at a wall, but if both parties were engaged in a common activity, or could see each other, or representations of each other, I think it works a lot better. I wish emotional feedback could be more accurately represented than emoticons!
Although I hate social ‘games’ that have no meat. Its hard to do it without being unbelievably bad.
Can we kill music in its static form? It already is sorta happening with guitar hero and rock band. How else can it be made interactive. Dance games too, add new elements to music. These things if made easier could turn music into a game at all times, last.fm tracks music played, it could sort of be a game too.
What about cooking? eating even? Or running? (gdc lady suggested nike plus be a MMO)
Dating/Flirting already is a game, can we track it? Or create a system around it to make it better? easier for people to find what they want? e-dating does this, but do people consider this to be a game? There are also a lot of these elements in games, but do people consider that flirting/dating?
Where does the line between game and reality cross?
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I love games though for a few reasons
- Games connect you with people, real or imaginary. … although too many are uninspired and lifeless, but this is a problem both in real life and imaginary land.
- Games have character, they conjure up feelings or experiences otherwise impossible.
- Games have environments, new worlds, wildly changing, thoroughly detailed and immersive.
- Games have Mario, who I think I almost consider as a friend?
- Games have Megaman, who I think is just unbelieveably cool looking, arm is a gun, can slide along ground, swing a sword, adapt to new guns, upgradable parts, you can see his face and big smile. “ya!”. A sweet soundtrack, I want those things!
- Games have trackable progress, leveling up
- Games have “showtime moments” boss battles, adrenaline rushes
- Games have definitive victories, beating another player
- Games can give complete conclusion and accomplishment, beating the game
I wish I had these feelings in real life, or I wish I could conjure them in someone else. Reality or gaming-world.
I like making games.