Hate the Game
by Christian Keyes - March 26, 2006 / 2:15pm View more articles
Many people ask me, "Hey Christian, what video games do you play?" They look at me in my glasses, see that I own a computer with blue LEDs in it and just assume that I'm huge into cutting edge games. I'll admit that when I was in elementary school I rocked the Commodore 64. I could even program my own games to keep me occupied.
10 PRINT "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"
20 INPUT N$
30 IF N$ = "CHRISTIAN" GOTO 60
40 PRINT "HAHAHA GET OFF OF MY COMMODORE 64!"
50 GOTO 40
60 PRINT "WELCOME CHRISTIAN. WE SURE SHOWED THEM."
70 END
Fig. 1 - The Microcomputer
Me: How do I jump??!!?!
Friend: Press ABAB UP LEFT DOWN LEFT L1 L2!!
Me: Pardon?
Friend: ABAB UP LEFT DOWN LEFT L1 L2!
Me: Sorry, didn't catch that last...what now?
Playstation: FATALITY!
Watching me play a video game is allegedly pretty hilarious. I was trying to think of a decent analogy, but I couldn't come up with one that wouldn't offend the elderly or someone with tourettes. But I digress.
Fig. 2 - What is jumping?
Why am I not interested? Because despite what today's youth and my little cousins will tell you, holding a controller and sitting on a couch can't possibly come close to the real experience of...whatever is going on in that game. I have vowed not to play video games until my actual movements and physical efforts can be translated into the game play.
When a good friend of mine told me about Dance Dance Revolution many years ago, I thought, "Finally! It's about time. Thank you Japan!" This game forces you to actually dance in time to hot dance tracks from...somewhere else. Arrows appear on the screen and you step on the corresponding arrows on the floor. This same friend that introduced me to this concept lost 30 pounds in one month by playing this game. However, I lost all respect the moment I saw him sitting in a chair playing the game on his computer with the arrow keys. FATALITY! What is wrong with these kids?!?!
This brings me to my intended thesis for this blog. What if there was a way to combine challenging game play in a tech-savvy environment that also challenges the player physically? It turns out that there is...in Spain. I was reading in Wired magazine the other night that a $20 million dollar game has opened known as "La Fuga" or "The Escape". Rather than tell you the whole story, I'll let you read how incredible this place sounds for yourself right here. Basically, a player is given an RFID wrist monitor and they try to escape from a high tech prison. Players have to solve riddles and complete tasks while maneuvering through the building physically; climbing over nets and tunneling through ball pits. If you fail, you leave the game. When you play again, you are presented with different scenarios and more challenging tasks. The set direction and design looks amazing and immersive. I'm considering a trip to Spain just to give it a try. Better yet, I was immediately reminded of 5Wits in Boston. Much closer...I Google mapped it. 5Wits has a similar game called "Tomb" where small groups travel through an Egyptian tomb and solve challenges. Although it doesn't sound nearly as complicated or physical as La Fuga, I'm still dying to try it.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that we find a way to break out of the standard video game model and evolve into more advanced ways of having fun. Ones that challenge us mentally as well as physically. That being said, I'm planning a trip to Boston to get my Indiana Jones on. Put down those controllers and let's redefine "gaming".
10 PRINT "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?"
20 INPUT N$
30 IF N$ = "CHRISTIAN" GOTO 60
40 PRINT "HAHAHA GET OFF OF MY COMMODORE 64!"
50 GOTO 40
60 PRINT "WELCOME CHRISTIAN. WE SURE SHOWED THEM."
70 END
Fig. 1 - The Microcomputer
Hours of entertainment for myself and my siblings. I was pretty excellent at Moonpatrol and Ghostbusters as well. However, that's where my gaming skills end. I had that C64 while my friends were playing Nintendo and saving up allowance for Sega. By the time the Playstation came out, I was completely clueless about gaming. Part of the problem was operating the controller. I've got 2 arms and 2 legs. The controller has more joysticks and buttons than NASA. Sure, I'd try to learn:
Me: How do I jump??!!?!
Friend: Press ABAB UP LEFT DOWN LEFT L1 L2!!
Me: Pardon?
Friend: ABAB UP LEFT DOWN LEFT L1 L2!
Me: Sorry, didn't catch that last...what now?
Playstation: FATALITY!
Watching me play a video game is allegedly pretty hilarious. I was trying to think of a decent analogy, but I couldn't come up with one that wouldn't offend the elderly or someone with tourettes. But I digress.
Fig. 2 - What is jumping?
When a good friend of mine told me about Dance Dance Revolution many years ago, I thought, "Finally! It's about time. Thank you Japan!" This game forces you to actually dance in time to hot dance tracks from...somewhere else. Arrows appear on the screen and you step on the corresponding arrows on the floor. This same friend that introduced me to this concept lost 30 pounds in one month by playing this game. However, I lost all respect the moment I saw him sitting in a chair playing the game on his computer with the arrow keys. FATALITY! What is wrong with these kids?!?!
This brings me to my intended thesis for this blog. What if there was a way to combine challenging game play in a tech-savvy environment that also challenges the player physically? It turns out that there is...in Spain. I was reading in Wired magazine the other night that a $20 million dollar game has opened known as "La Fuga" or "The Escape". Rather than tell you the whole story, I'll let you read how incredible this place sounds for yourself right here. Basically, a player is given an RFID wrist monitor and they try to escape from a high tech prison. Players have to solve riddles and complete tasks while maneuvering through the building physically; climbing over nets and tunneling through ball pits. If you fail, you leave the game. When you play again, you are presented with different scenarios and more challenging tasks. The set direction and design looks amazing and immersive. I'm considering a trip to Spain just to give it a try. Better yet, I was immediately reminded of 5Wits in Boston. Much closer...I Google mapped it. 5Wits has a similar game called "Tomb" where small groups travel through an Egyptian tomb and solve challenges. Although it doesn't sound nearly as complicated or physical as La Fuga, I'm still dying to try it.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope that we find a way to break out of the standard video game model and evolve into more advanced ways of having fun. Ones that challenge us mentally as well as physically. That being said, I'm planning a trip to Boston to get my Indiana Jones on. Put down those controllers and let's redefine "gaming".
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5 Comments
It's crazy, but follow me: instead of using a controller and a broadband connection to play agianst your friends, you find an open field and a ball and you actually physically interact with the game. I'm expanding this idea and will be following up with 'The Sims: Legit Reality", where instead of sitting in front of a monitor, you actually pick up a newspaper, get a job, and then physically act out the motions of sending faxes, getting arthritis and toiling thanklessly to feed your family.
life © 2006 Patrick McPhail