Wednesday, June 4, 2014

EXP Podcast #279: Where is the Wonder?

I've always wondered whether that sword is heavy.
Image from SuperGiant Games
Many of us have been playing games for decades now, which means we’ve seen a lot. Huge advances in computing technology, the evolution of controller schemes, the rise and fall of Gex the Gecko: there’s been a lot at which to marvel. Bryan Rumsey from Gamer Jockies wonders whether we’ve reached the point where the capability of games to inspire a sense of wonder has diminished. Have all the years of exploring virtual words and memorizing the Pokedex made the average game experience blasé? Whether you’re a jaded veteran or perpetual enthusiast, we’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.

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Show notes:

- Runtime: 32 mins 05 secs
- “A Jaded Gamer: Searching for Wonder in Games,” by Bryan Rumsey, via Gamer Jockies

3 comments:

  1. I think the problem is that most people are essentail playing the same game over and over. It's a known problem, that you even touch on here, that big studios are trying to minamize risk by producing tried and tested formulaes. Thing is, there are PLENTY of games that deviant from these mechancs it's just that they're not being played. But here's the thing I've learned from experence: I think the people who feel they have lost their sense of wonder wouldn't enjoy them. Take and old game like Under a Killing moon. The way you control that game is so far removed from any modern First Person game that it's unwielding to the point of frustration. But I feel that that's precisly BECAUSE we're used modern games control.

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  2. Portal definitely captured that sense of wonder for me and showed what else could be done in a FPS without relying on scripted events like Modern Warfare did.

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  3. Totally agreed. When you start to see the cracks (both in GlaDOS' personality and in the walls themselves) the game starts to seem much bigger and more mysterious.

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