Source: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/lie-down-try-not-to-cry-cry-a-lot
Usually, we do not connect the world of emotions with video games. Well, at least not the deepest emotions and reactions like crying in pain of loss, writhing in pain because of the broken heart... You get the idea. Sure, we all know raging players trying to destroy their keyboards and other mad kids, but it's not something that gamers are particularly proud of.
(Here I've tried to find any video showing a raging gamer without curse words that would expel me from this course, but I failed.)
Probably the first game that shattered the hearts of people all over the world was Final Fantasy VII. In old good days, every video game had saving points, levels of difficulty to choose and cheats or tricks to use. We knew how to win – a permanent death of a character was never an option. It all collapsed when Aerith, a beautiful, innocent girl from Final Fantasy VII was doomed to die during the game. Players were not prepared for this - a love story between her and the main character developed slowly, she was too unique and powerful. Some of the fans even tried to alter the code of this game to keep her alive!
Today, more and more game developers invest in the emotional side of their products, creating new titles based entirely on it. Journey, which was called by numerous sources the best game of 2012, is the greatest example. We play as an anonymous, red-hooded person wandering through the desert. As we struggle to reach the top of a mountain, another player appears near us. We can't communicate with each other, but only with mutual help we can reach the end of the game. The silent friendship is formed, and when... SPOILER ALERT!... a friend dies, the tears come streaming heavily.
To The Moon is another emotional game made by the small, indie studio. It's worth mentioning that there's even a challenge connected to this one! "To The Moon Challenge", as people call it, is practically "how long can you play this game before you start crying". Personally, I was pretty strong during the whole walkthrough, but the ending just crushed me and left in tears of the whole evening. Below you can see the random reactions of players - major spoilers there, so please don't watch if you want to play this game in the future! Anyway, the compilation shows clearly that it's no matter who plays the game - grown-up men cry the same as the young girls.
Question time!
1. Do you often cry while watching movies, reading books or playing games? What were the most emotional moments for you?
2. Do you think that putting a strong emotional side in games is a wise production plan to grant some more money, or is there more to it?
3. Would you like to play any of those games above? Or have you done it before?
I don't cry very often, but I do so.
ReplyDeleteBut I have never played an emotional game. I downloaded a trail of Journey, but maybe it's not very good, because of it. I mean, that it's a trial, and not full version. But would love to play some more!
I don't know, if putting an emotional end to the game is a money thing, but it's an amazing thing for the gamer. It's like with a book or a movie: if we can attach emotionally to it, it's much better, than when we don't....
1. Do you often cry while watching movies, reading books or playing games? What were the most emotional moments for you?
ReplyDeleteAs a male I cry all the time. Those movies will touch my soul from the very inside. There are great movies there - but laughing can make me cry.
2. Do you think that putting a strong emotional side in games is a wise production plan to grant some more money, or is there more to it?
Female gamers are not very common to be honest. Games are places for us to run away from reality, not to bring reality and emotions to us. I'm a guy so the only thing I want from a game is for it to be fun. Not really emotions (guysin relationships will know)
3. Would you like to play any of those games above? Or have you done it before?
Don't know, I've played a lot of games already, so it is possible. but since I don't remember them I migh not liked them that much, sorry (I'm not sorry tbh :P )
I think it's especially interesting when we see male and female players reacting the same, as in the To The Moon compilation above :)
ReplyDeleteAnd girl gamers are sooo common today, I remember few years ago when we were treated like unicorns (which was pretty annoying), fortunately now it's a normal thing - not only when it comes to playing indie titles, but also in big commercial productions made for fun only - like Battlefield or CoD.
Yes, that Moon compilation was amazing, and all those complaints about killing of character....
ReplyDeleteAnd Armand: I'm sorry, my husband is in a relationship, and he's the one who prefers to watch all drama movies, and eventually play an emotional game (although he does play Battlefield as well....)
1.Movies that I prefer not make me cry. I usually watch horrors, comedies, or action films. I also like documentaries ones. Films that evoke in me the strongest emotions are those based on facts - according to the story, which are frequently touching . I don’t cry - but this isn't a necessary condition to determine whether the film impact on me emotionally.The most emotional moments - surely the death of the main character or his closest friend, whose the viewer had time know and like, but also human powerlessness arising from the times in which he happened to live (for example times of war)or struggle with the disease, which is impossible to defeat.
ReplyDelete2.With so strong competition, the game needs to stand out, to encourage to purchase. Emotions that triggers, remain in memory for long – it isn’t another item to be deleted from the list, shelved, forgotten. The player more likely reach for the next part or return to an already purchased. It can be stated that this is a long-term strategy. Honestly, very good strategy, which further propels itself through the opinions of other players - arouse curiosity in a person, makes that he also wants to check whether the game is actually able to do the same with his emotions. The man is an emotional being. This fact is used for the purposes of sale, not just in games, but also in many other areas of our lives.
3.I haven’t played any of these games yet. If I ever find some time, who knows?
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ReplyDeleteI rarely cry watching movies or reading books. As far as games are concerned I never cry playing them. The time when I was playing games was long time ago, so I didn't have opportunity to play those emotional ones. Nevertheless, when I was watching those game trials I had the same feeling as I have watching some movies- I feel that the aim of creators was to leave me in tears. It won't be nothing bad about it if I don't know those simple stylistic treatments - opacity effects between scenes, “moving” music , slow motion. All of those stylistic treatments sometimes make me cry, but knowing a little about using them I feel that my tears are fake.
ReplyDeleteAs Mariusz Sz. wrote, for some players playing games is connected with creating strategy. I don't think that adding emotions is something essential for such players- who are , according to my observation, in majority.
I did't play neither of those games , but I never say never.
Actually I never cried whilst playing computer games - I just don't bond with the characters that much. I felt bad playing The Cave (SPOILER ALERT) - a beautiful adventure game that at the begging feels really innocent and pleasant, the narrator voice is calming and even friendly. But then you need to do all of those truly horrible things to people to get out of the cave. Definitely putting a strong emotional side to games will make them more interesting and playable, but I wouldn't think that's a "publicity stunt" just to make more money. Actually if you make grown men cry they will be probably too ashamed to recommend the game to others.
ReplyDeleteI definitely won't play "To the moon" as I truly can't stand the pixelated graphics - I know that my nostalgic side should love this, but it simply doesn't. Journey looks nice and I might play it when I have time. But honestly I might not as I already have 200+ games on Steam and played only about 10% - I just never have enough time.
Magda, I think you should try Dear Esther then - it's very cheap on Steam, it's crazy emotional, very beautiful and also... very, very short :)Perfect for a free evening with a cup of tea and a box of napkins to wipe some tears away.
ReplyDeleteI would call it often by sometimes I cry while watching movies or reading books, the most emotional moments for me are where two persons find each other after one of them is missing or they are just seperated for some time. When someone die it rather makes me angry because:
ReplyDelete1. In 99,9% of cases more emotional and weaker person "have to" devote him/her self. (father of the superman in Man of the stal, Decard Cain, 99% of females in video games ;) )
2. Often this death is just because main character have apear more "tragic" (Batman) and sometimes have to have some reason to go and kill "the bad guy" (Punisher).
I would not like to play those games because I don't like to involve my emotional part in gaming this much.
I’m a sensitive person. I often cry when I watch a movie or read a book. For me, the most touching moments in a movie are when animals are doing something brave or cute. I’m also moved when I see or read about a romantic scene with couple in love but they cannot be together. Yes, I’m a typical girl ☺ I have some moments in the movies or books when I always cry.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, I don’t play games, so I don’t know if they should be very emotional. For me games should based on fun and adrenaline, not on tears.
1. Do you often cry while watching movies, reading books or playing games? What were the most emotional moments for you?
ReplyDeleteNot often, only when there is really something to cry about. Like Disney movies :) As of last cries... Frozen T_T.
2. Do you think that putting a strong emotional side in games is a wise production plan to grant some more money, or is there more to it?
I think it depends on the game, but if done properly it's great idea. I think everyone who played Mass Effect felt Shepard's pain and struggle. (Especially if you played whole trilogy).
3. Would you like to play any of those games above? Or have you done it before?
Didn't play them, maybe some day I will.
Yes I happen to cry when I watch movies full of emotion. We the main character must decide to do something bad or even worse.
ReplyDeleteEvery moments that our humanity is testing, I feel we are dealing with art.
Strong emotions of course are plan to grant some more money for them creators, but also are the keys that we talk later about it.
I didn't played, and now I don't have time to play games.
I must admit that I sometimes cry while watching movies, or maybe not cry but get extremely emotional. Especially when some loved by the main character is being killed, you know what I am talking about, don't you? I aslo cannot deal with agression towards animals, especially dogs….Putting a strong emotional side can be pretty good idea to sell more stuff - people get more attached to such products. I don't play any games. The last time I played video game was like 10 yeras ago and it was The Sims. I even didn't want to create the life for the characters I only wanted to build houses for them:P So my answer to the last question is : definately no.
ReplyDeleteWhile I really love truly immersive games, the ones that make you completely detached from reality, somehow I've never really had an emotional moment while playing. Sure, there are times when I feel slightly guilty or sad because of something that has happened in a game, but that's still far away from crying.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I haven't yet played the right game. I might try the ones shown here, though they don't seem like the kind of games I'd like.
1. I don't cry very often while watching a movie, but there is one, I remember of, that contains a scene during which I'm always crying,and it is The Lion King.
ReplyDeleteI also was crying during a scene from Listy do M. movie, which was a surprise for me.
2. I think this is a good idea, though unconventional a bit.
3. I haven't played any of these games mentioned and, to be honest, don't really have time and patience for this kinda stuff. Still, I do have some favourite games I like playing, but I can't call myself a "gamer".
1. Do you often cry while watching movies, reading books or playing games? What were the most emotional moments for you?
ReplyDeleteOh not really. I can be sad on some movies but books and games? Never. For me its more about music.
2. Do you think that putting a strong emotional side in games is a wise production plan to grant some more money, or is there more to it?
For sure. Story is also very important. Try The Last of Us game, best I have ever played.
3. Would you like to play any of those games above? Or have you done it before?
Maybe when I was younger. Now usually games are boring for me. After few hours
of playing I leave it.