[gameprogrammer] Re: How to save games?
- From: Bob Pendleton <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gameprogrammer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 13:39:33 -0500
On Fri, 2005-09-16 at 17:25 -0500, brianevans wrote:
>
> Bob, I'm curious what things may be done in fiction that can't be done in
> video games? I would think that in the degenerate case, you can do
> everything in a video game that you can do in a book: just print text out
> to the screen. Doesn't mean it would WORK or even be a game really. I've
> heard some stuff on interactive fiction, but I'm not quite convinced yet?
In a game, you are playing you. No matter what the game, even in the
most immersive RPG the only character you can play is yourself. Sure, it
is you playing at being the wolfoid from planet X, or a half elf, or
what ever, but you are still you. In a book the author can put you
inside the mind of a different person. He can let you read the thoughts
and experiences and interpretation of events from the point of view of
someone who is not you. In more complex fiction you might see the events
of a story as interpreted by many different viewpoint characters.
The result is you the reader (or watcher) can experience a different
point of view from your own and come to understand and even sympathize
with the point of view of someone very different from your self. Ever
read an Anne Rice novel and come away with a feeling of sympathy for a
blood sucking cold blooded murdering vampire? I have...
But, even though you can play at being a vampire in a game, you can't
get the motivation or the point of view of a centuries old creature of
the night, because you aren't one. Even though you can play at being a
knight of the round table, you can't actually play at having the
religious and cultural point of view of a real knight. In a book, you
can be shown how that cultural experience affects the behavior of a
knight.
I hope that makes sense. The fact that you are a participant in a game
means that you can not be a spectator of the inner thoughts and feelings
of a fictional character, only your own.
>
>
> PS: Sorry about that last post. I've had one too many philosophy classes.
Perhaps, but that is better than having one to few philosophy classes.
Personally I don't think it is possible to have to much knowledge or too
many experiences. Though, I can tell you from personal experience, that
there are many experiences that any sane person will choose not to have.
And many others that you will choose not to have, but you will have them
anyway.
Bob Pendleton
>
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