That thing about games...
You know that thing… Just can’t put my finger exactly on it…
Video games are often hailed as the 8th art, and not without proper justification. But there's so much more to them. From their storyline, art, music, voice acting, cinematic, spin-off items, dedicated fan support and pure effort of their developers, video games could define a whole art genre on their own. It might sound like crap to some, but hey, so is 90% of everything else! What makes video games so special for each of us differs from gamer to gamer.
Nostalgia is one of the key factors that gets most of us attached to video games. That iconic Super Mario Bros. theme or the original Playstation startup sound sure evokes deep and meaningful feelings and memories to whoever spent quality time with them. Game companies have been accused of exploiting and profiting off our nostalgia but then again, they are companies, not charities.
Music is another major component of video games. We’ve come from Konji Kondo crafting the timeless catchy Super Mario Bros. theme for the NES to Journey’s soundtrack being nominated for a Grammy. We even have concerts and orchestra that perform for them. That the popularity and quality of video game music has grown so much speaks for itself. Without music, games wouldn’t be as meaningful as they are.
Did you check the recent performance of The Legend Of Zelda: Symphony Of The Goddesses?
Other games yet entice you with other features. Some, like the Metal Gear Solid series, have a strong and captivating storyline, albeit confusing for some. Others, like BioShock, tell a whole story with its environmental, visual and level designs. These aspects have been exploited in games more recently, giving them more of a sense of professionalism.
Video game visuals are not to be forgotten. For long gamers have been dreaming of photo-realistic graphics but there’s a certain charm to pixelated games that won’t die, and is instead on the rise, especially in indie games. Moreover, video games visuals can be inspirations for fan art. For instance, most of my hobby drawings are based on video game characters, and they are what keeps this hobby of mine going. (Don't forget to share your fan arts for Temp'n!)
There are also, often less appreciated, features to video games. Take for example title screens, pause menus and even continue screens. These are all subtle pieces of work that forms part of the game and deserve our appreciation.
I mean, look at Xenoblade Chronicle's title screen!
You might currently be enjoying those features, or others that are more appealing to you, by sneaking around in Metal Gear Online or keeping track of the current League of Legends World Championships or even by eagerly awaiting the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes to enjoy those features. In any way, don’t let the hype down. And let me know what’s it about video games that makes them so special for you!
Nostalgia is one of the key factors that gets most of us attached to video games. That iconic Super Mario Bros. theme or the original Playstation startup sound sure evokes deep and meaningful feelings and memories to whoever spent quality time with them. Game companies have been accused of exploiting and profiting off our nostalgia but then again, they are companies, not charities.
Music is another major component of video games. We’ve come from Konji Kondo crafting the timeless catchy Super Mario Bros. theme for the NES to Journey’s soundtrack being nominated for a Grammy. We even have concerts and orchestra that perform for them. That the popularity and quality of video game music has grown so much speaks for itself. Without music, games wouldn’t be as meaningful as they are.
Did you check the recent performance of The Legend Of Zelda: Symphony Of The Goddesses?
Other games yet entice you with other features. Some, like the Metal Gear Solid series, have a strong and captivating storyline, albeit confusing for some. Others, like BioShock, tell a whole story with its environmental, visual and level designs. These aspects have been exploited in games more recently, giving them more of a sense of professionalism.
Video game visuals are not to be forgotten. For long gamers have been dreaming of photo-realistic graphics but there’s a certain charm to pixelated games that won’t die, and is instead on the rise, especially in indie games. Moreover, video games visuals can be inspirations for fan art. For instance, most of my hobby drawings are based on video game characters, and they are what keeps this hobby of mine going. (Don't forget to share your fan arts for Temp'n!)
There are also, often less appreciated, features to video games. Take for example title screens, pause menus and even continue screens. These are all subtle pieces of work that forms part of the game and deserve our appreciation.
I mean, look at Xenoblade Chronicle's title screen!
