Comments on: Empaty, Games, Choice, and Agency http://www.jeffongames.com/2010/01/empaty-games-choice-and-agency/ This is Jeff. This is Jeff On Games. Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:22:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jeff http://www.jeffongames.com/2010/01/empaty-games-choice-and-agency/comment-page-1/#comment-41282 Jeff Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:49:09 +0000 http://www.jeffongames.com/?p=230#comment-41282 I absolutely agree, but it is something you absolutely have to consider in games. If the choice isn't actually a choice from a systems point of view, does it actually matter? Bioshock I think failed in this respect, because the choices in that game are systems choices and plot choices, but neither really matters. I also think we can actually use this mentality to our advantage in some cases. Taking advantage of min/maxers to such an extent that any attempt to "game the system" ends badly. Sure, you get your reward (money, weapons, etc) now, but at what cost to the character? And those that the character (and you, hopefully) cares about? It's not an easy problem, but possible. I absolutely agree, but it is something you absolutely have to consider in games. If the choice isn’t actually a choice from a systems point of view, does it actually matter? Bioshock I think failed in this respect, because the choices in that game are systems choices and plot choices, but neither really matters.

I also think we can actually use this mentality to our advantage in some cases. Taking advantage of min/maxers to such an extent that any attempt to “game the system” ends badly.

Sure, you get your reward (money, weapons, etc) now, but at what cost to the character? And those that the character (and you, hopefully) cares about?

It’s not an easy problem, but possible.

]]> By: Andrew Jacobs http://www.jeffongames.com/2010/01/empaty-games-choice-and-agency/comment-page-1/#comment-41281 Andrew Jacobs Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:32:54 +0000 http://www.jeffongames.com/?p=230#comment-41281 You know, this brings up a really good point that's been rehashed in countless recent blog posts. We're breeding a generation of gamers that are compulsively playing games to get rewards. In this case the player wonders, "How does Kunta get rewarded for answering with his African name?" Does he get some sort of currency toward a scheduled reward (a "spirit" level-up of some kind)? <a href="http://www.number-none.com/blow/slides/rant_2006.html" rel="nofollow">Johnathan Blow had a pretty extensive rant</a> about this kind of thing and how playing Ultima games offered a more diverse set of challenges to complete the game. You were basically required to do the normal leveling rote work but the end-game involved being tried on your performance in 8 virtues. You know, this brings up a really good point that’s been rehashed in countless recent blog posts. We’re breeding a generation of gamers that are compulsively playing games to get rewards.

In this case the player wonders, “How does Kunta get rewarded for answering with his African name?” Does he get some sort of currency toward a scheduled reward (a “spirit” level-up of some kind)?

Johnathan Blow had a pretty extensive rant about this kind of thing and how playing Ultima games offered a more diverse set of challenges to complete the game. You were basically required to do the normal leveling rote work but the end-game involved being tried on your performance in 8 virtues.

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