Core Motivations: Why I Like the Things I Like
Or: "lpslucasps-core, unfunny edition"
Here's a selection of games that encapsulate neatly some aspects of videogames that I love and what I tend to search for when looking for what to play. These game are not necessarily my favorites of all times (except for CK2, which is literally my favorite of all times), they're just good points of reference to talk about these aspects and motivations!
Here's a selection of games that encapsulate neatly some aspects of videogames that I love and what I tend to search for when looking for what to play. These game are not necessarily my favorites of all times (except for CK2, which is literally my favorite of all times), they're just good points of reference to talk about these aspects and motivations!
15 Games
Movement
The control over our own bodies is so culturally significant that we have a whole part of society dedicated to it - sports. I believe that's what makes platforming so enticing: it replicates in digital form the mastery over movement we humans love to strive for (or contemplate others strive for, 'cause sometimes actually doing sports is a chore)
The control over our own bodies is so culturally significant that we have a whole part of society dedicated to it - sports. I believe that's what makes platforming so enticing: it replicates in digital form the mastery over movement we humans love to strive for (or contemplate others strive for, 'cause sometimes actually doing sports is a chore)
Crazy Aesthetics
I have nothing against games with "realistic graphics", but ain't they a bit of a wasted potential sometimes? I mean, you can create any landscape and world imaginable in videogames, and even some no one else has ever imagined. Games that try to do just that always catch my attention.
I have nothing against games with "realistic graphics", but ain't they a bit of a wasted potential sometimes? I mean, you can create any landscape and world imaginable in videogames, and even some no one else has ever imagined. Games that try to do just that always catch my attention.
Complexity
It's not as if I only like complex and obtuse games - I mean, my love for platformers is in part because I can just turn off my brain and let my hands do the talking most of times. But games with absurdly complex systems that interact in even more absurdly complex ways are fascinating to me. It's as if the whole game itself was a puzzle and to solve it I have to learn all of its mechanics and interactions.
Of course, complexity for complexity's sake can be harmful. If mastering complex systems is fun, then a game that is so obtuse that it seems impossible to master without a guide isn't exactly enjoyable.
It's not as if I only like complex and obtuse games - I mean, my love for platformers is in part because I can just turn off my brain and let my hands do the talking most of times. But games with absurdly complex systems that interact in even more absurdly complex ways are fascinating to me. It's as if the whole game itself was a puzzle and to solve it I have to learn all of its mechanics and interactions.
Of course, complexity for complexity's sake can be harmful. If mastering complex systems is fun, then a game that is so obtuse that it seems impossible to master without a guide isn't exactly enjoyable.
Thematic Consistency
Does sticking to a single theme and using every aspect of your game to get your point through help you make a better game? Not necessarily, but it will make your point stick.
Does sticking to a single theme and using every aspect of your game to get your point through help you make a better game? Not necessarily, but it will make your point stick.
Level Design
The other half of the "movement" motivation. After all, if you're gonna move, it's better be through cool places that let you show off your skills!
The other half of the "movement" motivation. After all, if you're gonna move, it's better be through cool places that let you show off your skills!
World and Quest Design
A big world full of quests is not worthy it if the world isn't interesting and you feel compelled to complete the quests. I want a game to make me think "damn, I could live in this world".
A big world full of quests is not worthy it if the world isn't interesting and you feel compelled to complete the quests. I want a game to make me think "damn, I could live in this world".
Mix & Match
A lot of games fit neatly into a specific category or genre. These categories and genres are just cultural constructs, though, and I really appreciate games that can deconstruct them by mixing seemingly unrelated genres in novel and interesting ways.
A lot of games fit neatly into a specific category or genre. These categories and genres are just cultural constructs, though, and I really appreciate games that can deconstruct them by mixing seemingly unrelated genres in novel and interesting ways.
Roleplay and Immersion
Playing a role is not the same thing as choosing a role, let alone doing whatever you want. To me, true roleplay comes when there's some kind of resonance between you and your character and you want to act how your avatar would act in that world.
Playing a role is not the same thing as choosing a role, let alone doing whatever you want. To me, true roleplay comes when there's some kind of resonance between you and your character and you want to act how your avatar would act in that world.
Mechanical Subversion
Even if genres are social constructions, they were constructed for a reason. They act like a common language that gamers and developers can use. If you're familiar with an RPG or platformer, you can start playing a similar game and understand how it works after just a few minutes - sometimes almost immediately.
But that can make things feel a bit stale. So I love when a game comes and subverts how a common mechanic or genre is "supposed" to work.
Even if genres are social constructions, they were constructed for a reason. They act like a common language that gamers and developers can use. If you're familiar with an RPG or platformer, you can start playing a similar game and understand how it works after just a few minutes - sometimes almost immediately.
But that can make things feel a bit stale. So I love when a game comes and subverts how a common mechanic or genre is "supposed" to work.
Music
There's a little man inside my head that will put some songs on repeat endlessly. If I don't placate him with some good tunes from times to times, he'll choose the most despicable and irritating song possible out of spite.
There's a little man inside my head that will put some songs on repeat endlessly. If I don't placate him with some good tunes from times to times, he'll choose the most despicable and irritating song possible out of spite.
Atmosphere
I have no idea how to define "atmosphere", all I know is that I love it.
I have no idea how to define "atmosphere", all I know is that I love it.
Lore
Some games just need to shut up and let me figure things out for myself.
Some games just need to shut up and let me figure things out for myself.
Getting Lost
There are digital places that even though I could have never visited in real life, nor anything like it, something deep inside of me recognizes. Wandering alone through these places, getting lost and eventually finding my way fills me with a unique kind of nostalgic melancholy; as if I was yearning for places I don't really know but wanted to know.
There are digital places that even though I could have never visited in real life, nor anything like it, something deep inside of me recognizes. Wandering alone through these places, getting lost and eventually finding my way fills me with a unique kind of nostalgic melancholy; as if I was yearning for places I don't really know but wanted to know.
Self-Expression
Is your avatar you? Or is he just a bunch of numbers and skills with weird hair? Even if in the end every avatar is actually just the latter, I love games that can fool me into thinking they're actually the former.
Is your avatar you? Or is he just a bunch of numbers and skills with weird hair? Even if in the end every avatar is actually just the latter, I love games that can fool me into thinking they're actually the former.
Emergent Narrative
"Making your own story" in and of itself is not that interesting. Rather, I find it much more interesting when the world reacts and interacts with your choices - sometimes making you do things you didn't even consider at first in response.
"Making your own story" in and of itself is not that interesting. Rather, I find it much more interesting when the world reacts and interacts with your choices - sometimes making you do things you didn't even consider at first in response.
3 Comments
I get it, I'll love Outer Wilds, now let me cry in peace with my potato pc and slow internet.
Don't worry, you'll get around to play it. Someday.
CDX
1 year ago
"Hum, Outer Wilds checks this box. And this other box. And also this one. And th... Fuck it!"