(NOTE: I'm working on getting photos up in this blog. Sorry they aren't here yet!)
Something that is absolutely essential in works of art is the creation of a world, a place to transport the viewer/reader/player to, and to completely engross them in that place. If you look at film juggernauts like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or James Cameron’s Avatar, this is something that they excel at. They all provide a world that you can easily lose yourself in for the duration of the film.
Have video games reached this point of world creation? Six or seven years ago, I would have said no. But today, it’s a huge, resounding YES. Take 2K Games’ Bioshock for example. Bioshock takes place in a city called Rapture. Rapture is a dark, dreary, run-down and (mostly) abandoned city that was built under water. Through windows you can see underwater vistas, with bubbles rising up from the depths. Cracks hang in the ceiling, ocean water drips into the city, and the floor has been flooded. Lights flicker and you hear the creaking of metal all around you. You begin to wonder just how safe this city is. It’s all very claustrophobic and engrossing.
Now, the physical representation of a world is not the only thing that’s needed for someone to become fully engrossed. It has to be psychological as well. Rapture is a place where people can alter their genetics to become stronger, faster, and smarter. It may sound silly, but it’s actually quite chilling to explore a world where its inhabitants freely altered their genetics, losing their humanity in the process. Rapture’s society has destroyed itself through their genetic mutations—people have gone mad, become addicted to the genetic drugs, and killed each other. The inhabitants left in the city can hardly be considered humans.
As you explore the city, you come to understand the previous population’s political views and societal values, you become familiar with its celebrities and icons, what they did for recreation, and eventually how the society began to tear itself apart. Suddenly you realize what a work of art Rapture is—an incredible world that you’ve been fortunate enough to get a glimpse into.
I haven't played this game before, but you make it sound fascinating. Definitely want to see pictures once they're up! I agree with what you said about how necessary it is to be able to lose yourself in the created world. The fact that video games are becoming a medium for art is very exciting and I hope people learn to appreciate it as more games integrate very detailed artwork into the gameplay.
ReplyDeleteAh, Rapture. Bioshock's wonderfully creative playground, 2K Game's masterpiece is the posterchild as games portrayed as art. I would also like to mention "Would You Kindly" as a deceptively beautiful narrative aspect of the game, however this does spoil the plot of the game a fair bit. Very nicely written!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am so lucky to be able to review all the gamer's blogs. I'm a girl who's never played video games before but all my friends play them. I used to be that friend that would sit back and be bored while everyone else played for hours, but recently I've started becoming really interested in them! I've started paying attention to the games, the missions, the characters, and it's all much more fascinating than I ever realized! The game Bioshock sounds really interesting. I love how players are able to learn about the society that used to live in Rapture and are able to uncover the past through playing. Not only does it sound interesting to play, it sounds interesting to watch which is very important to an observer like me. I would have no problem relaxing and absorbing the story of Bioshock while my friends play for hours, and hopefully someday soon I'll be able to join them.
ReplyDelete