Varin Parekh - Week 3: The Identity of a Game
Out of all the myriad ideas I had floating around in my head concerning the theme of “identity”, one never really stuck out to me until now.
That idea?
The identity of a video game. Now, indulge me for a moment: games, at first glance, might not seem even close to the topic of identity, but identity comes in many shapes and forms. Identity, for example, can also mean the core elements of a particular item, and in this case, a game.
What do I mean by this? Simple: imagine your favorite game series. It has withstood the test of time and remained fairly popular throughout the years. New releases may have new elements, broach new genres, but it always has common elements tying them all together. It could be fan favorite characters that reeled you in, the exhilarating gameplay, the fun moments you have playing (and losing) in multiplayer gameplay. By keeping core elements and mechanics like these, corporations/developers have succeeded in keeping franchises alive and well for a long time by preserving the game’s “identity”.
Take Call of Duty, for example. Sure, the settings change from WWII to the Cold War, far future, present day, etc. However, gamers keep coming back to play the newest installment to get a fresh take on the classic Call of Duty formula: rapid gunplay mixed with open-area maps, intuitive shooter mechanics, teamwork elements, and an emotional yet compelling campaign mode to top it off. This formula has been perfected for more than 2 decades, and it has earned millions for the developers: Activision Blizzard. The Call of Duty “identity” is a proven success, and it should have remained that way.
However, as you can see in the image above, the latest Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, has been a massive failure and is currently regarded as a universal joke—an extremely unfunny and downright offensive one at that—because the developers have completely failed to adhere to the identity of these games: janky, extremely unfun maps where normally would be open, vast areas; extreme shortage of polish and abundance of bugs; a story irreparably damaging the narrative built through the series of Call of Duty: Black Ops, and a clear lack of effort, with obvious AI asset usage across the board. My best friend, formerly an avid player of these games, is now disillusioned with the franchise as a whole, and there are millions like him.
Identity is the one of, if not the biggest virtue of a recurring story, whether it be a movie series or games. Retaining the vital aspects of a game is not only immensely profitable but does right by the people that love it. A series' identity lies in these key elements, making it important to preserve. In a time where inflation is skyrocketing and people must be increasingly wise with how they spend their money, identity retention will be a deciding factor for if game franchises succeed…or survive.
Hi Varin!! The topic you chose for the blog is very interesting. I am not a video game fan, but I am a huge fan of animations and comics, I would hate it if AI was used in the animation process or if the quality was bad. I like the tone of your blog, it feels friendly and formal at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHi, Varin, it is a truly interesting approach to identity in the perspective of a game. I usually considered identity to be more of a human aspect that relates to emotion , but I understand your reasoning of a game’s traditional aspects of gameplay as in identity. I think these gameplay aspects are considered as an identity because of the unique experiences and memories it creates towards the players(people). For example, Geometry dash and Fortnite would have different identities because they create a vastly different experience for its players. These differences are a direct result of their differences in gameplay and styles. I totally agree with your point that a sequel(Or more) of a game should adhere to the previous identity of the game, because why would it be a sequel if it differs drastically in central gameplay compared to the previous work? Your point of retaining identity could be applied to people; people should retain their identity in all circumstances. I liked the specific example of C.O.D that you have used in this blog; it perfectly relates the idea that you have talked about. Thanks for writing this blog and I can’t wait to read your next blog!
ReplyDeleteVarin, I think that your definition of identity is an intriguing concept, and the way that you argue this is very systematic and structured. Thank you for your explanation of the Call of Duty video game; it both gives me more insight into the gaming realm and supports your point. It is clear that you have a good familiarity with the game, genre, and player response to the finished product.
ReplyDeleteI do have to admit that while I do not value every game for its existence in a specific genre, I will follow games because of certain formats - or pieces of the game’s ‘identity,’ as you term them. I will agree that some games, books, or other pieces of media have failed catastrophically because they changed a portion of their identity that players or readers loved. To sum it up, I think that your viewpoint of a game’s identity is well-structured.
Hello Varin! I think your title is very interesting and unique because it is something that I have never heard of before. I like your overall structure, it is very well organized with many different paragraphs that come together uniformly to elaborate on your main point. I also really enjoy how you used Call of Duty as a reference for your blog! I personally really like that game and I think it's very interesting. I really agree with your point of Identity. It keeps the game alive because it is something that resonates completely with the player and fans around the world. If you suddenly changed an important character within the franchise it would be completely unpopular because that character or certain “identity” is what's keeping the game alive. I think this topic is overall very creative and interesting because I never thought about the deeper meaning and identity within a popular video game such as Call of Duty. This not only shows that Identity is not something within a person or something that characterizes a person, but a way of gaining profit. I think this idea can tie well to other topics. Take a youtuber for example. Lets say Darren Watkins Junior otherwise known as Ishowspeed suddenly stopped streaming with the same amount of energy he currently has streamed with in the past. People associate him with his crazy behavior and it is an interesting part of his character that many people value. Without that people would likely not watch because it doesn't hit them in the same way. In a sense it could be unfamiliar or unorigional. I personally laugh all the time because of the memes of him on instagram and youtube. I would actually throw a tantrum if he starts to calm down because I only watch him because of his character. This was an interesting blog of your Varin. I think it effectively analyzes the deeper meaning and psychological intentions behind Identity in Video games. Keep up the good work Varin!
ReplyDelete