The popularity of simulator games

[adoro]

The simulator genre is quite huge. Basically there is a simulator for anything. Aircraft, boats, trucks, trains, construction machinery, agriculture, even ... surgery. If you can think of any existing profession / activity then there is some kind of simulator for it I have been a gamer since I was 5 years old and I have always been fascinated by simulators. I’m 19 now, so I’ve played several simulators over the years. Still, I wonder why these are so popular. Most complex simulators embrace the realistic factor and push as hard as possible that the real point is that this is the real world of virtualization. The simulator takes that experience and talks about rebuilding in virtual form; ‘Worldliness’ is still intact. I’m sure real pilots must spend their downtime in-flight doing other stuff while the autopilot takes care of the plane—don’t judge me.
Anyway, what simulator passions do you have? Leave a comment below and tell me about your Sim experiences!

 

[AmandaRose]

The best simulator game ever is Advanced lawnmower simulator. It's so realistic how you mow the lawn

 

[Deleted User]

tangent: i've been watching a lot of shotgun videos lately, i'd like to see a hyperrealistic shotgun simulator, where you can make any type of round, mix pellet sizes, or try unconventional stuff like glass, nails, flour, etc, decide how much powder and wadding to use, shell length, gauge, what shotgun you will be firng your shell from, simulated failures when you put too much/too litle powder, or when the shell lentgh is too much for the chosen shotgun, etc

 

[Taleweaver]

Erm... To be fair, the surgeon simulator game isn't typical in the sense that it's just to goof off. Just like goat simulator and - you knew it had to be made - the dating simulator table manners(1).

Joke sims aside, I'd say their popularity is because it allows immersion in a certain activity. Not everyone wants to shoot everything that moves, lead huge armies or get in line to save the world from whomever 's in the queue to destroy our planet. Some just want to kick back and relax with a game. Some find joy in solving smaller problems or want to search for efficiency. It's also a way to experience the best parts of a job without the boring, taxing, responsible and/or dangerous aspects of it.


(1)which has perhaps the most hilarious game trailer ever

 

[Deleted User]

I never understood the point of these games, yes, they're meant to be simulators, but a lot are just a joke.

All my life playing racing games helped me being that into real life by adapting it properly, taking what's good of it and keeping the "illegal" part out of it. Didn't need a "Driving Simulator 2020" game for it.