Textbook of Gaming

For this last entry in this series, I’ll be following on from the links between video games and representations of atrocities, and looking at where games are currently being used for educational purposes with the aim of proposing how the Holocaust could finally have its representation in video games. Obviously, the likes of Wolfenstein, Battlefield 1, and Spec Ops: the Line are not meant for educational purposes. But the inclusion of elements that promote education, from the plain and objective use codices, to the more self-reflective narratives, has expanded in games like these three examples. If these methods used by these commercially and critically successful games could be blended with the current and growing movements of educational and “serious” games, could they enhance or supplement current educational models? Currently, educational games, or edutainment, are still in their infancy, despite several major studies concluding that using video games in a classroom settin...

One of the many complaints about video games we have all heard over the years is that they are a toy, a distraction, and ultimately harmful to children’s creativity because “all you do is push buttons.” Well that argument has officially been validating by Nintendo, and the opinion that games are toys may have just created the best peripheral accessories for any console, including Nintendo’s own Wii Fit . In short, Nintendo Labo is the best thing since sliced Jesus. Last week Nintendo surprised everyone with the reveal of their new Nintendo Labo system. I say system as if it’s a new gadget, but it is as basic as you can get. You see, when you buy a Labo , you get 25 sheets of cardboard. These sheets of cardboard contain pop-out segments to construct new peripheral accessories for the Nintendo Switch . No need for glue, as everything is designed to fold and slot into place. Some elastic bands might be needed, however, because of the cool stuff. Some of the components a...

I feel that, recently, gamers have had access to a greater diversity of game price-points than ever before. There’s still the full price £50 titles, but now we are starting to see the revival of the £30 small budget game; then there’s the good old £5 – £15 indie titles, and the expansion of free to play games. It is a great time to be a gamer at any price bracket, if you are able to look past the greed fuelled scummy antics of Activision-Blizzard and EA, that is. But the release model I’d like to briefly discuss today is that of the episodic game. These games have been around for nearly a decade, and I’d like to explore their strengths and weaknesses here. The Positives An episodic schedule can extend the life cycle of a game by spacing out the story over several months or even over the course of a couple of years, depending on the scope of the project. This spreading out of content releases gives the developers both more time to work on the game whilst generating money fr...

The importance of sound design in video games, or indeed any media, cannot be understated. From explosions and gunfire to wind and rain beating down, these aspects of visual media are there to enhance the illusion of reality. But what of musical scores and soundtracks? Today I want to look at how these are used and ultimately the meaning behind their specific uses. As with a lot of games theory, the history of film must be considered. Back in the early years of film, music was laid over the moving images partly due to the lack of sound recording equipment, but also to cover the sound of the projection equipment. Once these issues were solved, however, music continued to be used – why? Well it also had the effect of expanding the films reality, allowing the viewer to become more engaged with the film and gain a much deeper experience and relationship with the film. This is why film soundtracks have become so iconic. From the absurdity of “Ride of the Valkyries” in Apocalypse ...