The eight console generation is upon us, and the as it’s been in any industry for as long as we can remember, the competition is fierce. The rivalries between the different tech giants has always been some of the most talked about and discussed competitions. Within the smartphone market it becomes most natural to mention Apple vs. Samsung; When it comes to home computers we once again see Apple, but this time around we typically going at it toe to toe with Microsoft’s Windows. But the same way we see Apple involved in rivalries in multiple markets, we also see Microsoft going at it in two very different genre’s. As I’m sure you know, Microsoft is one of the leading two within the console market, and they are alongside Sony at the very forefront for one of the most harshly debated «wars» within the tech industry. I’m of course talking about Sony’s Playstation vs. Microsoft’s Xbox in the world famous «Console war».
I'm about to tackle one of the most heavily and brutally debated topics on the internets many video game sites. I will decide once and for all the official 8th generation console for chase game reviews, as i post my PS4 vs. Xbox One article, some time later this week. Keep tuned in!
torsdag 27. februar 2014
tirsdag 25. februar 2014
Life in 8-bit
In my life i have multiple passions. Mainly working out, movies and of course; video games. But there are some I have yet to share with you. I'm absolutely consumed by my love for two more things: 8 bit art and tattoos. I know for a fact I'm going to get a 8-bit art tattoo, and seeing as how the internet is filled with countless gigabytes of source images, and seeing as I have a laptop loaded with Photoshop I decided to see what I could throw together into a nice compilation poster including some of histories most influential and powerful games. Though I love this design I certainly won't promise I'll turn it into everlasting art on my body; although let me say the possibility is there that I might use an altered version of this. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say this is just a little something something to keep you guys popping in while I work on a more extensive article about witch next-gen (well, technically they're now current-gen) console is the one for you, and witch one I deem superior. Hope you like this little compilation art!
søndag 16. februar 2014
Mirror's Edge (2008) review
Mirror’s Edge
PS3, Xbox 360, PC
EA, DICE
Parkour, First-Person Action
Mirror’s Edge was published by Electronic Arts back in 2008 to a long line of very positive reviews, accompanied by a few mediocre ones as well as rather disappointing sales numbers. Although wether or not you like a game is a subjective matter, those of this games reviews that where poor, as well as the low sales numbers, shows a very close-minded side of the general gaming community, and the lack of persistence. Today, most gamers want to jump right in and be great at a game the first time. They want it to be instantly fun and rewarding, and they want the learning curve not to serve as a way to actually create the experience, but just as a way to flush it out. Whilst this is all fine, it’s part of what scares developers, or rather publishers from taking risks and making something new. That’s why i’m so fond of the meteoric rise we’ve seen in the indie game community. People actually making something new and fresh. Now the rise of indie games is great, but the problem with those games is that there’s simply not more of them. Because of very limited budgets and small teams, the games they put out often provides a great experience, but only for a short period of time, and they often lack flushed out features. The world needs more big publishers willing to take risks and let the developers create something new and different, instead of yet another «Need for Duty: Warfighter on the battlefield of soccer playing golfers» . Whilst i do love many of those AAA titles, they are not the only things a game can be. We need more; we need games like Mirror’s Edge!
In 08’ EA took a risk, and let DICE use the Unreal Engine 3 to create what i deem one of the most original and best video games ever made. Games before Mirror’s Edge have had climbing systems. Assassin’s Creed packed (and still packs) a fantastic parkour system (in the game wrongfully labeled as Free-running; yes there is a difference) that does play a major part of the game, but it’s not what it is all about. It’s not a parkour simulator. Mirror’s Edge on the other hand, is just that. It does something no other game I know of have done neither before, nor after it. It puts you into a realistic first-person perspective (you know, where if you look down you can actually see your body) and it gives you the power of running free. You can leap gaps, climb pipes and edges, and preform wall runs. Sounds simple enough? Well yes, it is; and most certainly in a good way. You have at your disposal the basic tools for navigating a gorgeous urban environment, feeling like a genuine parkour master. Some people dislike the game because they say it’s too hard. They say you never truly feel free, because you always have to stop up, look for where to go, and carefully aim your leaps. Others, especially reviewers, complain that it’s too repetitive. You constantly see the same red edge, pipe or platform you need to reach or jump from. These views displays either one of two things. Lack of persistence, or lack of insight. Yes, the first time you play thru, you are likely to stop up quite a few times, and your flow, witch really is the whole point of Mirror’s Edge gets ruined. Yes, there are quite a few of the same jumps and pipes, all colored in red (if you play on a difficulty lower than Hard). What you need to think about is just why that is. You play as Faith, a member of a group of couriers called «Runners» and the color red in the game symbolize «Runners vision», a visual representation of your objective and the default route you can use to navigate the environment. I mentioned that the first time or two through the game you will stop quite a few times and your flow will be ruined. Imagine how much more you would be forced to stop up if they didn’t helped you out with runners vision as well as similar leaps and edges. It’s so that when you come to an level you haven’t played before you’ll still recognize certain iconic shapes, leaps and gaps and know that’s where you need to go. It’s to try and create a flow where you don’t have any because you don’t know the level yet. Witch brings me to my second point. Mirror’s Edge is decently enjoyable from the get-go. An above mediocre title you can kill a boring weekend with. But it’s when you actually go thru for the third or fourth time in a row, that you will experience one of the most wonderful times you will ever have in a video game. The feeling when you nail a hard segment with perfect flow. Hit every gap smoothly. Learn new shortcuts and new ways of getting from A to B faster and faster, that feeling is just pure magic.
I’ve heard people say it’s repetitive, and I can for instance quote another respective reviewer who said «it’s weird that a game that focuses so much on free-running is constantly asking me to jump of the same ledge». Well, the fun part is, the game doesn’t. Yes, runners vision always represents the easiest way of getting there, and most people start developing tunnel vision for this. They seem to think Mirror’s Edge is just like every other video games, where you have no freedom beyond a linear level design. But trust me, that’s just not the case, because in pretty much every segment of the game there is multiple alternate routes, and they can often be combined, making your very own. If you look up speed runs on youtube you will see people going through a whole level barely even touching upon the same path you took when following runners vision to the letter. The mechanics really are at the core of the game, because I’ve seen people take more paths and combinations than DICE could’ve possibly have thought of. This is a prime example of superb level design, and the granting of excellent mechanics allowing people to freely make their own experience, complimented by absolutely gorgeous visuals that have aged extremely well.
As previously mentioned, in Mirror’s Edge you pay as Faith. A key member of a group of couriers called the «Runners». The city has become a police-state, with everything under surveillance and everything being controlled by someone sitting behind a huge desk with a telephone on it, and The Runners are delivering messages and items for the opposing factor (It’s obvious that the runners are needed, seeing as emails and phone calls are pretty much of the table in a city like that). When a Mayoral candidate out to make a difference in the city’s extensive surveillance of it’s citizens gets assassinated, and the murder is pinned on Faiths sister, you have to use your abilities as a Runner to save her and uncover the truth behind the murder. The story is not very flushed out, and neither are the characters, but we are treated to a very cool setup and something that works as a fantastic excuse for use of the excellent runner mechanics. In addition, the cutscenes has some very cool hand-drawn artwork, giving it a very artistic and old-school feel, but they are put into motion with pretty animations and full voice over work, then again: you’re unlikely to re-watch them after you played through the story once.
I have now layed down the basics for why the arguments against Mirror’s Edge are relatively wrongfull. The game presents a vast world with amazing level design, with lots of alternate paths allowing for exploration and increasing your time on speed runs, witch are available after you finish the game. It is a game that only becomes more and more fun every time you play it, but lack of persistence or an approaching deadline has meant that many gamers and reviewers quit after the first or second walktrough. This is such a shame because the true charm in Mirror’s Edge comes when you’ve played it trough enough that you know every environment by hearth. Enough that you learn most of the major shortcuts. It may seem like a lot of work compared to just buying a game that is «fun from the get-go» but i promise you, the end result is just so incredibly much more rewarding. There is simply no feeling out there in the world that can match the feeling of finally nailing something you’ve tried to master for so long, and in Mirror’s Edge, that feeling will come again and again. Provided you stick with it for more than 5-6 hours.
This game does has some short comings as far as the story goes, but the story is not the point of the game. If this was intended to be best enjoyed the first time through, I’d give it roughly 60-65/100. But It’s not. You don’t give World of Warcraft a low score because it is boring the first 10 levels. Of course not, you have to get a little up there. Learn as well as unlock the abilities that actually makes the game so fun. This is also the case with Mirror’s Edge, only the abilities you unlock are your own. It’s not «now, if you press R3 faith will do a special move», It’s actually you yourself gaining a skill-level, witch makes the game so infinitely much more fun, that I will give this game a final Chase Game Score of 92/100.
PS3, Xbox 360, PC
EA, DICE
Parkour, First-Person Action
Mirror’s Edge was published by Electronic Arts back in 2008 to a long line of very positive reviews, accompanied by a few mediocre ones as well as rather disappointing sales numbers. Although wether or not you like a game is a subjective matter, those of this games reviews that where poor, as well as the low sales numbers, shows a very close-minded side of the general gaming community, and the lack of persistence. Today, most gamers want to jump right in and be great at a game the first time. They want it to be instantly fun and rewarding, and they want the learning curve not to serve as a way to actually create the experience, but just as a way to flush it out. Whilst this is all fine, it’s part of what scares developers, or rather publishers from taking risks and making something new. That’s why i’m so fond of the meteoric rise we’ve seen in the indie game community. People actually making something new and fresh. Now the rise of indie games is great, but the problem with those games is that there’s simply not more of them. Because of very limited budgets and small teams, the games they put out often provides a great experience, but only for a short period of time, and they often lack flushed out features. The world needs more big publishers willing to take risks and let the developers create something new and different, instead of yet another «Need for Duty: Warfighter on the battlefield of soccer playing golfers» . Whilst i do love many of those AAA titles, they are not the only things a game can be. We need more; we need games like Mirror’s Edge!
In 08’ EA took a risk, and let DICE use the Unreal Engine 3 to create what i deem one of the most original and best video games ever made. Games before Mirror’s Edge have had climbing systems. Assassin’s Creed packed (and still packs) a fantastic parkour system (in the game wrongfully labeled as Free-running; yes there is a difference) that does play a major part of the game, but it’s not what it is all about. It’s not a parkour simulator. Mirror’s Edge on the other hand, is just that. It does something no other game I know of have done neither before, nor after it. It puts you into a realistic first-person perspective (you know, where if you look down you can actually see your body) and it gives you the power of running free. You can leap gaps, climb pipes and edges, and preform wall runs. Sounds simple enough? Well yes, it is; and most certainly in a good way. You have at your disposal the basic tools for navigating a gorgeous urban environment, feeling like a genuine parkour master. Some people dislike the game because they say it’s too hard. They say you never truly feel free, because you always have to stop up, look for where to go, and carefully aim your leaps. Others, especially reviewers, complain that it’s too repetitive. You constantly see the same red edge, pipe or platform you need to reach or jump from. These views displays either one of two things. Lack of persistence, or lack of insight. Yes, the first time you play thru, you are likely to stop up quite a few times, and your flow, witch really is the whole point of Mirror’s Edge gets ruined. Yes, there are quite a few of the same jumps and pipes, all colored in red (if you play on a difficulty lower than Hard). What you need to think about is just why that is. You play as Faith, a member of a group of couriers called «Runners» and the color red in the game symbolize «Runners vision», a visual representation of your objective and the default route you can use to navigate the environment. I mentioned that the first time or two through the game you will stop quite a few times and your flow will be ruined. Imagine how much more you would be forced to stop up if they didn’t helped you out with runners vision as well as similar leaps and edges. It’s so that when you come to an level you haven’t played before you’ll still recognize certain iconic shapes, leaps and gaps and know that’s where you need to go. It’s to try and create a flow where you don’t have any because you don’t know the level yet. Witch brings me to my second point. Mirror’s Edge is decently enjoyable from the get-go. An above mediocre title you can kill a boring weekend with. But it’s when you actually go thru for the third or fourth time in a row, that you will experience one of the most wonderful times you will ever have in a video game. The feeling when you nail a hard segment with perfect flow. Hit every gap smoothly. Learn new shortcuts and new ways of getting from A to B faster and faster, that feeling is just pure magic.
I’ve heard people say it’s repetitive, and I can for instance quote another respective reviewer who said «it’s weird that a game that focuses so much on free-running is constantly asking me to jump of the same ledge». Well, the fun part is, the game doesn’t. Yes, runners vision always represents the easiest way of getting there, and most people start developing tunnel vision for this. They seem to think Mirror’s Edge is just like every other video games, where you have no freedom beyond a linear level design. But trust me, that’s just not the case, because in pretty much every segment of the game there is multiple alternate routes, and they can often be combined, making your very own. If you look up speed runs on youtube you will see people going through a whole level barely even touching upon the same path you took when following runners vision to the letter. The mechanics really are at the core of the game, because I’ve seen people take more paths and combinations than DICE could’ve possibly have thought of. This is a prime example of superb level design, and the granting of excellent mechanics allowing people to freely make their own experience, complimented by absolutely gorgeous visuals that have aged extremely well.
As previously mentioned, in Mirror’s Edge you pay as Faith. A key member of a group of couriers called the «Runners». The city has become a police-state, with everything under surveillance and everything being controlled by someone sitting behind a huge desk with a telephone on it, and The Runners are delivering messages and items for the opposing factor (It’s obvious that the runners are needed, seeing as emails and phone calls are pretty much of the table in a city like that). When a Mayoral candidate out to make a difference in the city’s extensive surveillance of it’s citizens gets assassinated, and the murder is pinned on Faiths sister, you have to use your abilities as a Runner to save her and uncover the truth behind the murder. The story is not very flushed out, and neither are the characters, but we are treated to a very cool setup and something that works as a fantastic excuse for use of the excellent runner mechanics. In addition, the cutscenes has some very cool hand-drawn artwork, giving it a very artistic and old-school feel, but they are put into motion with pretty animations and full voice over work, then again: you’re unlikely to re-watch them after you played through the story once.
I have now layed down the basics for why the arguments against Mirror’s Edge are relatively wrongfull. The game presents a vast world with amazing level design, with lots of alternate paths allowing for exploration and increasing your time on speed runs, witch are available after you finish the game. It is a game that only becomes more and more fun every time you play it, but lack of persistence or an approaching deadline has meant that many gamers and reviewers quit after the first or second walktrough. This is such a shame because the true charm in Mirror’s Edge comes when you’ve played it trough enough that you know every environment by hearth. Enough that you learn most of the major shortcuts. It may seem like a lot of work compared to just buying a game that is «fun from the get-go» but i promise you, the end result is just so incredibly much more rewarding. There is simply no feeling out there in the world that can match the feeling of finally nailing something you’ve tried to master for so long, and in Mirror’s Edge, that feeling will come again and again. Provided you stick with it for more than 5-6 hours.
This game does has some short comings as far as the story goes, but the story is not the point of the game. If this was intended to be best enjoyed the first time through, I’d give it roughly 60-65/100. But It’s not. You don’t give World of Warcraft a low score because it is boring the first 10 levels. Of course not, you have to get a little up there. Learn as well as unlock the abilities that actually makes the game so fun. This is also the case with Mirror’s Edge, only the abilities you unlock are your own. It’s not «now, if you press R3 faith will do a special move», It’s actually you yourself gaining a skill-level, witch makes the game so infinitely much more fun, that I will give this game a final Chase Game Score of 92/100.
mandag 10. februar 2014
Evil Cole - Digital inFamous art
Using my iPad, a stylus pen and the ingenious drawing app "Procreate" i laid the basics for this drawing, depicting an evil Cole for the amazing Playstation exclusive video game series inFamous. After having drawn Cole himself, as well as sketched up some of the surroundings, i imported it to Photoshop on my laptop and finished it up with the city around it (as it required straight lines i just couldn't nail with free-hand drawing). I also used Photoshop to do the lightning bolts because let's be honest, i can't draw "that" good.
I've had this project laying around for quite some time, but in honor of not having published a full-blown article for a few weeks, and also because the release of inFamous: Second Son is quite imminent, i decided to finish it up and publish it. There are a few things in the image I'm not quite satisfied with, mainly the prying eyes in the window, and I will do another sketching of those. If i can make them turn out better, as well as do some minor touch-ups here and there, will publish the new, improved version. For now though, seeing as I am in no way an expert drawer, I'm actually quite satisfied with the result and it served as a great practice ground both for digital drawing and Photoshop. The main focus of Chase Game Reviews will always be the articles and reviews, but from time to time, if I get a project like this where the result is what I can't call too embarrassing, I hope to publish it.
As always, my sincerest thanks for reading my blog
fredag 7. februar 2014
UPDATE — The future of Chase Game Reviews
First of all let me sincerely apologize for not having posted an article for some time. Secondly it’s important for you to know why, because it’s not for lack of trying. First of, I spent 4 amazing days at the Tromsø International Film Festival (my 3rd annual visit). The only unfortunate thing was that in that particular weekend, was when i would have had time to write, because i didn’t have work and i wasn’t behind on any studies. After that I have been very busy with my studies, working the weekends and I have to focus hard on my workout now, due to an upcoming strength test in school + because recently I have had troubbles getting back into my routine from before christmas. On top of all that, I simply couldn’t go on sleeping as little as I have, so I can no longer spend the nights going thru games to review, and actually writing the post. Upcoming now though I promise I will try as hard I can to find time in my schedule for my blog, because I have no intention of stopping. My next posts will most likely be a review of Mirrors edge, a PS4 vs. Xbox ONE comparison. Additionally, i hope to post a review of Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, witch will essentially be a review of the game itself. I did borrow it from a friend when the original edition dropped in 2013, but i never got thru it because i was so bussy with other games at the time. Now, however, i bought the Definitive edition and what little i have had of time for video games recently have been dedicated to raiding tombs, getting thru the story and spend some time in the multiplayer so i have enough knowledge to review the game.
Also, last time I was active I was looking at different color and layout options and i plan to resume that work, seeing as I have gotten feedback saying it can sometimes be hard to read my posts with it's current font, size and white-on-black color. I'm trying out a few different options now, and you may see a major or minor re-design of the site, although i plan to keep the basic layout i have now, unless i find something way superior!
Also, last time I was active I was looking at different color and layout options and i plan to resume that work, seeing as I have gotten feedback saying it can sometimes be hard to read my posts with it's current font, size and white-on-black color. I'm trying out a few different options now, and you may see a major or minor re-design of the site, although i plan to keep the basic layout i have now, unless i find something way superior!
lørdag 11. januar 2014
Are video games culture?
*this post is a translated, shortened and slightly altered version of a chapter in my final exam thesis. At my school we get one year to write an extensive thesis on a subject we chose freely, and mine is video games*
I, myself have always been fighting to persuade those I consider close-minded people that video games are in fact culture. They are a cultural medium on equal level with books, music, art and movies. It’s obvious ain’t it? Yet still for some reason so many are still in denial, whilst I sit here actually thinking of video games as the ultimate cultural medium. Think about evolution. Many different species on earth, all with very different skill sets and levels of intelligence. Evolution culminated in man. A being with the skill set of millions of other species, refined, perfected. Nature did that. Like so many animals we can crawl on all four, but for us that’s a choice because we don’t have to. We have two legs and we can stand up. We can think, run, climb, jump, swim, analyze and so much more. Nature evolved and created one new being, possessing more skills than any single being before. Now go back 50 years and we didn’t have video games. But we had most everything else within entertainment, we today consider culture. We had music, dancing, art, literature and movies. Culture has also evolved. From the simple folk tunes of ancient Greece and the middle ages, to something that is all around us at all times, in every possible genre. If you look at the first movies, there is simply no comparison to what we see today. Just like that, literature and art has evolved to become amazing, riveting stories. Wouldn’t the law of nature dictate that culture, as everything else, eventually evolve into not only being better at existing genres, but create something entirely new. A mix of all the others. Yes, it does, and that’s exactly what culture did. We now have video games. I will agree that in the first few years video games where not as much traditional culture because technology didn’t allow people to create anything very complex. Designers simply didn’t have the technology to put their culture and their own distinctive personality into a game, but even those first games are, just as all the games today, where and are a big part of pop-culture. Today, even if you argue that video games aren’t culture, you really need to think about it because at the very least they are a big part of pop-culture. My hopes however, is that if you didn’t believe video games are culture before, then you will after reading this.
I, myself have always been fighting to persuade those I consider close-minded people that video games are in fact culture. They are a cultural medium on equal level with books, music, art and movies. It’s obvious ain’t it? Yet still for some reason so many are still in denial, whilst I sit here actually thinking of video games as the ultimate cultural medium. Think about evolution. Many different species on earth, all with very different skill sets and levels of intelligence. Evolution culminated in man. A being with the skill set of millions of other species, refined, perfected. Nature did that. Like so many animals we can crawl on all four, but for us that’s a choice because we don’t have to. We have two legs and we can stand up. We can think, run, climb, jump, swim, analyze and so much more. Nature evolved and created one new being, possessing more skills than any single being before. Now go back 50 years and we didn’t have video games. But we had most everything else within entertainment, we today consider culture. We had music, dancing, art, literature and movies. Culture has also evolved. From the simple folk tunes of ancient Greece and the middle ages, to something that is all around us at all times, in every possible genre. If you look at the first movies, there is simply no comparison to what we see today. Just like that, literature and art has evolved to become amazing, riveting stories. Wouldn’t the law of nature dictate that culture, as everything else, eventually evolve into not only being better at existing genres, but create something entirely new. A mix of all the others. Yes, it does, and that’s exactly what culture did. We now have video games. I will agree that in the first few years video games where not as much traditional culture because technology didn’t allow people to create anything very complex. Designers simply didn’t have the technology to put their culture and their own distinctive personality into a game, but even those first games are, just as all the games today, where and are a big part of pop-culture. Today, even if you argue that video games aren’t culture, you really need to think about it because at the very least they are a big part of pop-culture. My hopes however, is that if you didn’t believe video games are culture before, then you will after reading this.
No first, let’s ask ourselves: «what is culture?». Well, in general
«Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts and more.»
Well; religion, cuisine and social habits, although they’re all culture, are not relevant for this particular article here quite simply because if games are culture they fall within the entertainment category. So now let’s consider entertainment. I don’t think a lot of people consider the bowling alley or an amusement park as culture, even though they’re both most certainly entertaining. No, when talking culture and entertainment, we’re talking the examples I’ve been using earlier here. Movies, books, art and music. Well, I challenge you sir, I challenge you to find anything in either of those three that makes them culture, that isn’t also present in video games. Simultaneously, let’s get rid of those haters saying games have no depth compared to other pieces of entertainment. Let’s rank them, based on complexity:
5. In a book we have a story, and that’s it
4. A painting is a painting, it’s art, absolutely, but it’s still just a painting
3. A song (can) require(s) not only a story to tell, but also a melody
2. Movies need a story, concept art, music, acting and the art of creating beautiful images in motion
1. Video games need a story, concept art, music, acting (yes, the people you see on screen are (for the most part) actors who have been recorded and then had their motions put into a digital skin) and above all: to create a good game it requires a painstaking attention to detail. The finesse, skill and artistic sense required to digitally create the beautiful environments gamers often are treated to, is absolutely enormous. Not only that, but it isn’t a movie, where the creators have full control. The game designers have to tell a strong story and deliver a riveting, beautiful or just adrenaline-fueled experience whilst simultaneously letting someone else take control. Potentially millions of people will play it, and they will all play it differently. How do you tell a great story, if someone else is playing it out for you? Naturally this changes with the type of the game. There are those who are much more tightly choreographed, and there are those who give you pretty much full control over your own story. The ladder ones are where the creators really have their work cut out for them, because they’re not so much making a story, but creating the tools for someone else to make their own. I often hear people (in particular women…hmm) saying «what’s so great about books that movies don’t have, is that you can make your own images». Well, compared to movies, you are right. You have no control and nothing left for you to create your own images in your head. But if use of imagination is what you want, I advise you to take a look at fantastic titles like Skyrim. Everything you do is up to you. You have (as good as) total control and the life you live is your own. You truly feel like a part of the world, and the only thing that is given you is a eventful world and interesting characters. Who you chose to be is completely up to you. And yet still, this is all created by someone. How is that possible? Isn’t that what you would call amazing? How can creating something like that be anything other than an art form? If you can’t see a video game as one singular art-piece after reading that, then consider this. No matter how you look at it, the game world is art. Every environment is created by an artist. It’s sketched out, drawn, designed and digitally created. Modeled. Sculptured. The characters in the world are created the same way. Then, what makes it into a video game is simply lines of code and animation added to make it move and react to your input. I’ll have a hard time taking you seriously if you say that taking art, and then adding some lines of code «under the hood» to make it move, all of the sudden make it so that it’s no longer art.
Now let’s back up a bit. When we talk about culture, we’re talking about the culture of either a specific part of the world or a country. Naturally, video games all have a country of origin, and as far as style, they’re pretty much divided up as the rest of the worlds entertainment. When overlooking the exceptions, the movies, books and games of the world are very much divided into western and eastern. It’s often rather easy (now I’m of course not talking about language) to tell if a movie is asian, and the same goes for video games. There is something distinct about asian culture that comes out in their video games, just as it does in their comic books, movies and music. If we move to Norway, my native country, the video game industry is not very huge, but we can see a trend in indie games to take on themes a norwegian would be familiar with through our folklore, ancient legends and children stories. We can see a bit of norwegian culture in them. Now that being said, in most cases the game industry has gone the same way as the movie industry. It’s becoming harder and harder to tell where something is coming from because the whole world is undergoing globalization, and this has especially heavily impacted the entertainment industry. We can be certain this is because the people behind the products generally want to make as much money as possible on their products, so they push for them to be as international as possible. That’s why if you want to examine a game for culture more specific to a country you need to look at indie games, in the same way for the same reasons as with movies. If you want to find a piece of preserved culture, and a bit of a countries soul and inside humor, you can’t look for the big budget studio productions. You need to look for those minor, locally produced, slightly weird gems. This goes equally for games.
Maybe now you’re sitting here waiting for a conclusion, telling you just why video games are culture. If you do, I’ll ask you to read this article again because you should have drawn that conclusion yourself several times over whilst reading this. Maybe you feel large parts of this article has been dedicated to explaining why video games are art; well yes. I talked quite a bit about that, and I feel I pretty well established that video games are art. I also established that they are an art form that often are heavily impacted by where they come from, and can typically be recognized in the same way, through the same characteristics as other pieces of culture from that part of the world. That being said, isn’t it pretty damn well established that art is culture?
onsdag 1. januar 2014
2014 Update
Hello my dearest readers (whoever you are, wherever you might be). Firstly, I'd like to start 2014 by sincerely wishing you all a happy new year and thank you for reading Chase Game Reviews. I hereby officially lay down my new year resolutions: work out with the frequency i did spring, summer and early fall 2013 (because unfortunately, the winter so far i ain't been sweating as much as i should), do better at my studies and above all else, write more and better posts for this blog. I'd also like to announce that I'm only a few hundred viewings away from reaching 1000 readings and on that day i promise to post my review of a game that is very special to me and i feel have been given far too little attention (hint, there is a lot in the game to bee seen with the color red). Up until then i will keep posting other reviews, trying to get back in the schedule of at least one post a week. Hope you enjoy reading my blog and i wish you the best in the year to come!
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