Here's a question: Why does it seem that in every video game (okay, not every one, puzzles games are pretty good about it), but in most games, at least, there seems to be a strong element of violence? Anything medieval HAS to have a sword, anything modern needs a gun, the future needs lasers, but most games out there don't ask you to use a hammer and nails. Most of them are about destruction, rather than creation, and i think society reflects that. That's not to say that violent video games Cause violence in people, but rather the opposite. Art, including video games, is a reflection of ourselves, and our violent nature is reflected in video games. So, to that end, i propose a challenge:
I am looking for a short video game project, something simple, and something based around pacifism and creation. Anything at all. Share this around with your friends, and have anyone you know who might have an idea for a game like this post it in the comments of this blog. On May 31st, i will read through every comment, and select a game to make. Remember that the idea should be short, simple, and about peace and creation.
After i have chosen a game, i will sprite it, program it, and make it available for download here on the blog, with credits given to the person who created the concept.
Remember, any questions you have about this, ask in the comments, and i will clear them up.
Now, get in there and get creative!
Pacifism and creation... that makes me think of the simulation games that were really popular back in the 90's and early 2000's, like Civilization, Sim City, SimAnt, etc. I know that's not really a submission or idea or anything, but I thought it was worth mentioning a few pre-existing video games in that vein of thought.
ReplyDeleteA thing to remember with those games, is that they did their best to depict things in a realistic manner, so although you could choose to be peaceful in Civilization, you could also be a warmonger, and even though you could make a well-balanced, functioning city in SimCity you could also inflict natural disasters and the like. Nothing is every purely peaceful, just as nothing is every purely violent. So it makes sense why you would want to make a game countering the purely violent, but just keep in mind that nothing is ever black and white.
~Missy
It's true that a lot of those games were about the true-to-life simulation, one of the best parts of them was the creative element. Especially in Roller Coaster Tycoon, the creative and imaginative elements are what made the games so interesting. Although, i admit, those types of games are on a much larger scale than i am looking for in this contest.
ReplyDeleteHow simple/complex of a game are you looking to design? Like, pac man or Angry Birds simple, or something story-oreinted (like a simplified version of Portal or Lego Harry Potter, for example), or just something interactive?
ReplyDeleteI think that a smaller game, along the lines of pac-man or angry birds can have a great deal of story incorporated, and that's exactly the sort of game i am looking for. Something that is a simple concept with a lot of playability.
ReplyDelete