Personal Games History
My personal history and experiences with games, really cannot be summed up to any level or 'capacity' that would do it any justice; yet I do not have the time available to write what would result in something resembling that of a novel, in both size and scope, as my 'library' of games is just far too extensive, and many of which a game within that collection holds some special place or significance over my development from a child to a man. Words can never begin to describe it, so instead I'll focus primarily on the 'main' experiences of my gaming history (though naturally, some of these will be missing from this blog) that ultimately influenced and led me to the types and styles of games (and other forms of media) that I enjoy today...
The 'TV Boy' was in fact the first ever console I played (and first 'set' of digital games to my recollection) and so was to prove my introduction into the world of gaming...
Comprising of over a 127 individual games, the product supported, essentially, a multitude of highly varied gameplay options to the player, in the form of industry 'coveted', arcade 'classics.' Although simplistic in nature by todays standards, the game developers (of which several companies were involved in the console) were successful in engaging the player within an experience (whilst being limited in the technology available) to this extent, the games were able to reach audiences in a 'pick-up-and-play' form of entertainment, which remains just as engaging for many people today (including myself) as it was to the people or audiences in it's original conception and subsequent release.
The Fifth Generation of Video Game Consoles (the 32/64-bit Era, Known also as the '3D Era')
'Batman & Robin' was the first ever game (that supported '3D' graphics) that I had been introduced to and from which I had the benefit of, and the ability to, permanentely 'access' (as my brother had recieved a 'PlayStation One', as a gift, with this game being included within that package.)
The game was to have a huge impact on the way I viewed games but also, more importantly (now that I reflect and reminisce on this particular experience) the way in which it was to inform my 'decision-making' as to the type of gameplay experience I found to be the most compelling, for me, personally, which was the idea of this 'sandbox', 'free-roaming' type of gameplay. To summarise, the game was to affect the types of games I was to 'gravitate' towards, in the future, solidifying my passion for 'open-world' games.
Free-roaming, as a form of gaming, essentially offers the player the 'choice', choice in not only where the player desires to go, often within a large scope/radius (Batman & Robin had not only fantastic graphics for its time, in my opinion, but also a large 'radius' for the player to explore within) but also how he or she chooses to traverse that terrain, and when.
I never actually got much further than the first 'level' (within 'Batman & Robin) as not only was it a challenging game (the gameplay is akin to the 'Dead Rising' series of games, in that events occur at specific times, and if you do not collect the necessary evidence before that time, then you essentially fail the mission) but, then again, I never really felt the desire to progress much further; here I was, a very young person, with a creative mind, and I had essentially been given this digital 'sand-box' to play within, this is really where my passion for gaming began, especially for the freedom in creating my own stories or outcomes within games (where I otherwise couldn't.) I always found (and still continue to find today) that the 'game' (any game essentially) never truly offers a complete 'experience' in the way that I desire it (don't get me wrong, there are plenty of games out there with a strong narrative and a highly engaging visual experience, throughout, of which many of those games I will include within this section of my blog) but more so, these games offered me, really, the 'tools' by which to develop, and create, my own experiences from (essentially allowing me to 'live-out' my own desires and fascinations, within the 'constraints' of the world provided.) The next game 'on the list', did just that, and it could possibly be the most influential (and actually still one of, if not my all time favourite) game in the way it was to impact upon me, the game I speak of is 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'...
In order to better 'gauge' what this game was to have over my own personal growth, development and ultimately my interest as a child (I can't even begin to fathom the forms of media I perhaps would not be interested in today, had it not been for the influence of this game) it's important to situate the whole experience within the context to which I was exposed to the game...
I had no prior knowledge of the game save past the brief mention of it by other 'kids' in the playground, who would play games that recreated the adventures and experiences of the game (the 'popular' kids would assign 'roles' to each of us, as the different creatures and characters featured within the game, and of course I played along, pretending to fit in yet having no knowledge of what the other kids, along with myself, were supposed to be, or in fact, what they were even talking about for that matter.)
My next 'exposure' to the game was such an unbelievable and defining experience for me, personally, that it is difficult to amount in words. The experience was during my 8th birthday (what would have been just over four months since the games release) and I was allowed a 'big gift'. When taken to select something, I was walking around (what was then the 'Dixons' store in Bluewater) and I knew instantly that I wanted a console of my very own but something different from my brother (who was the 'sole-owner', as was the case between my brother and I whenever we got anything, of the 'PlayStation One') so I knew I wanted the 'Nintendo 64' but knew not what game I wanted with it. Whenever I purchase anything (especially these days) I always 'assess' and spend alot of time thinking in the shop about what it is I really want, the extent to which I want it and how long I feel it'll last me for (I really do prefer purchasing items that will last for a very long time, and something that I can return to, often in years to come) for my first game I didn't really have this issue/problem; this could have been due to the selection available at the time but I really do not think this is the case. Although I knew little to nothing about it, I gravitated towards 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time', to the point that I don't recall what else was out then, I simply walked into the shop and picked up that game (holding the box and subsequently 'studying' the booklet in awe before ever playing the game, something I rememebr vidily, and still do with games to this day.) This process of simply walking in and buying something I knew that I wanted and that I 'must have' (without any pre-collection or defintive knowledge of what it was I was buying, past the artwork on the box, yet knowing that it was amazing) is something I never have done since, atleast not in quite the same way (and quite as successfully.)
With 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' as my first ever game, the sequal that was to proceed it, was a title for which I know I have never had so much anticipation and excitement for and have ever had since, for a any particular game; the sequal is of course 'The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.' Whereby its predecessor had given me the 'tool's necessary to enact 'figmants' of my own imagination, whilst also simply 'breath-taking' experiences (I would spend hours simply riding around on 'Eponya', the horse/mount, for example, without ever losing interest, something I would equally enjoy doing now, perhaps this contributed in some way to my great interest in horeses?) the sequal would also see me take this much further, as I absolutely love any game that provides me the ability to shift form (possibly my most favourite 'power' that there is.) Shifting from from a 'Goron', to a 'Zura' (two fictional species featured with the I.P. of the 'Zelda' universe) and eventually even a giant was unbelievable to me then, as it is to me now, the game was simply incredible, and offered another enthralling and long lasting experience for me.) Resulting in many hours of gameplay time, past the games 'completion', it depicts (particuarly well) my motivation or 'incentive' for my progression through the primary narrative, which, essentially, is to 'complete' the game in order to gain access to as many of the aforementioned 'tools' as possible (this explains also my consistant 'saving' during interesting gameplay options or 'variants' for a given 'level' or section of the game, with the intention being of course to return to the said 'section' of the game so as to 'relive' the experience time and again.
I tended also to 'gravitate' towards the games that offered me (as a player) the experience of controlling a certain creature (animal or 'monster') caring little for the graphics or critical reception (ultimately its success as a product) of the game, for primarily, my being such a young age, I cared little for such things (and whilst, yes, reviews from respected gaming 'sources' do offer a useful base as to whether the game is right for me) when purchasing today, I still do find games, often produced by independent studios, that might provide an expereince not seen in any 'triple a' title. Games such as 'Beast Wars' (whilst not particularly a very enjoyable game it) allowed me to control dinosaurs and animals (such as the cheetah) whereby in other games, I would not have this opporunity. This desire or 'need' to 'play-out' my own fantasies of life as another creature, influenced greatly my game idea, and subsequent project that I 'pitched' during the interview stage for this course, which, essentially, was a realistic wildlife 'simulator', providing the player with just that, the ability to control a creature, in this case an animal such as the lion.
'Rugrats: Search for Reptar', similarly, was a game that featured the ability for me to take control of something other than a human (though in this case, this experience was pertaining to a particular level at the end of the game, as opposed to the game in its entirety.) The level in question allowed you, as the player, to take control of a character (essentially a tyranosaurus rex) entitled 'Rex'. I must have spent hours upon hours endlessly re-living that one experience (that amounted to perhaps two or three minutes of game-time?) I would also prolong it, refuzing to allow the game to progress any further (and essentially 'end'.) Although I was not timed, I absolutely hate timers in games, often finding that this hinders on my chosen style of play. I'll spend days or months just 're-living' or acting out an experience, much like when I find a new song I like, I'll put on the option to re-play and listen to it hundreds of times in a row without losing interest.)
'Croc: Legend of the Gobbos' was another game on the PlayStation that I was obsessed with as a youth. The games platforming style of progression, coupled with its unique visuals and compelling (albeit simple) storyline, had me playing the game from start to finish, on more than one occasion.
'MediEvil' on the PlayStation, was another equally enchanting game during my youth, and also another of my favourites upon growing up. Whilst the story is fairly cliche (atleast at a first glance, e.g. good knight v.s. evil sorcerer/necromancer) the artstyle was so unique and simply breathtaking in its imagination, originality and 'whimsical' nature. The diversity in the levels the player traverses through were also equally welcome and satisfying in completing. The whole experience is something that is very nostalgic for me, and is as memorable for me today as it was the first time I played it. The soundtrack to the game also leant itself extremely well to the experience and is something that made it a particularly enjoyable one for me then (and now) and with the risk of delving too deep, the story (again, whilst fairly cliche, but then again, what games during this era were not? Not many granted, in my opinion) offered a moral relevence that is hard to see in games of the current generation, whereby the main protagonist (the hero 'Sir Daniel Fortesque') was glamorised for heroic deeds/efforts he had not performed in life, and so in death he is given a second chance to earn his celebrated status by saving the world of 'Gallowmere', simultaneously obtaining his revenge by destroying 'Zarok' and therefore fulfilling his destiny and rightfully earning his place and within the 'Hall of Heroes'. An interesting story of redemption and an inspiring tale of one (who in life was prepared to accept gratification and an official title for 'deeds' perhaps not befitting his status, yet in death, one) who is not content with 'living' with his reputation as something he knew he had not earned.
'Conker's Bad Fur Day', is, without a doubt, one of my favourite games of all time. Besides the fact that I possibly played this game over and over again, like no other as a youth (possibly even more so than the 'Zelda' titles I mentioned earlier, although this is for different reasons, due in part to the multiplayer featured in the game) the game also featured a huge variety of levels available to the player, and vastly different situations (feeling much more like a game and several expansions than a simple 'stand-alone' title) that would warrant such a high replay-ability. Produced by the company 'Rare' for the Nintendo 64 console, I admit now (and knew full well back then) that I was perhaps far too young to have been playing this game, for essentially, the some what 'cartoony' aesthetics (or visual style) chosen for the game (that was at this point, synonymous with 'Rare's' style, as made famous by perhaps one of the more 'well-known' of their intellectual properties, their 'Banjo-Kazooie' title, a game I must say I have never owned or fully played) did not reflect the adult content of the gameplay and story itself (which If I remember correctly, I believe I relied on when convincing my parents to let me get the game.)
I mentioned earier on this blog about games that would have an influence over the types (or forms) of media that I would enjoy (as the 'Zelda' games most probably influenced my passion towards 'sword and sandel' and 'traditional' fantasy epics, for example, although I also owe this greatly to my father, who read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and C. S. Lewis as a child) this is definitely one of those games.
Again, aimed at a more mature audience (and essentially marketed as such) the game is celeverly 'disguised' (although I'm sure this wasn't their intention) as a friendly platforming game, along the likes of 'Mario' or 'Donkey Kong'; yet as I probably shouldn't have had access to, let alone played this game at the age that I did (I actually had no idea what this game was about, save for having played it around a friends house) I understood all of the references to popular culture (namely films) that were mentioned in the game, and yet were almost all aimed at an older audience (films such as Ridley Scott's 'Aliens', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', 'Jaws' and 'Saving Private Ryan.') The sexual themes, the over the top violence and parodies to popular movie franchises provided me with a form of entertainment that I cannot even begin to describe in words (and now that I think about it, this probably is one of the most played console games of mine, of all time, as I still find myself returning to play it, with equally such fervour as I did a child.) Again, the feature of multiplayer (something that the 'Zelda' titles didn't have) amounted to some of that play time, but by no means most of it; as with the 'Rugrats' game that I mentioned above, 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' also featured a level that (unlike the aforementioned game) came close to perfection (in my mind as a child then) for allowing myself to 'live-out' my own fantasies. I watched many horror films as a child (something my parents wouldn't permit, but my friend's parents were not so strict on) and none were to have quite an affect on me as films pertaining to vampires or werewolves (or similar creatures.) Bram Stoker's Dracula was (and still is) a particular favourite of mine, and the level that parodied this (in my opinion) seminal piece of film history, was a classic piece of brilliant gameplay, and implemented with equal mastery for its time.
Though implemented with the sought of 'toilet-humour' that is evident throughout much of the game, this level allowed the player to control 'Conker' (the protagonist in the story, and the main character the player controls) in a vampire-bat form (the object of which was to briefly 'stun' the attacking villagers with your own Guano, before carrying them via flight, to a grinder; the subsequent blood from the victim would then feed Dracula and eventually lead to this particular 'bosses'' demise as his new-found bulk/weight would cause him to drop into the grinder below and perish, returning you to your former state.)
I must have spent thousands of hours literally prolonging this level (avoiding what was required to progress) so that I could arrive as close as possible to the feeling of what it would be like to be not only a vampire, but also a bat (and whilst the game did feature 'cartoony' graphics, my imagination simply filled in the blanks, something I would do with similar media such as the 'Disney' films for example, or more recently, the 'World of Warcraft' game and subsequent expansions, whereby the graphics do not need to be realistic in order for me to feel emmersed within the world.)
I did play and continue to own, many, many more games on the 'Nintendo 64' and my brother's 'PlayStation' (including games such as 'Vigilante 8', 'Gran Turismo', 'Turok: Evolution', 'Tomb Raider 2: Starring Lara Croft' etc.) but the games above (whether they were personal favourites of mine, or were mentioned due to their interesting gameplay mechanics) are the ones that stand out for me on these particular platforms.
The Sixth Generation of Video Game Consoles (the 128-bit Era)
Continuing on from the 'theme' outlined within the game previously mentioned, another vampire 'affiliated' experience (and a game in which I obtained immense satisfaction from, and something that only added more 'fuel to the fire' to my passion for vampires and the supernatural) was the game 'Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain.'
Whilst I haven't in fact played any of the other games in the 'Legacy of Kain' series, this game provided me with not only interesting gameplay mechanics, but a thoroughly 'gripping' story-line also, leading to this game as another of my 'all-time' favourites.
Perhaps somewhat similarly (in terms of its dark, European/'Gothic' inspired architecture and supernaturally 'theme) and without a doubt one of my favourite games I ever played, is the game 'Devil May Cry.'
I originally played this game at a kiosk, in a French Supermarket. I had no prior knowledge of the game, whatsoever, but I saw that it was on display and I watched in both bewilderment and amazement as this French boy played through a level of the game (I remember waiting perhaps 30 minutes before I had the opportunity myself of playing the game.) The graphics (in my opinion) were unbelievable for the time; before I realised that the game on the screen infront of me was playable, I mistook the visual for a game cinematic, again, before it 'dawned on me' that in fact these were the in-game graphics. I do not want this 'account' to quickly turn into a review of the game but I'll simply say that I was instantly enthralled by and subsequently 'hooked' into the intellectual property of the game that day, and have since owned and played all of the subsequent iterations (except for the third installment) to date.
The 'Halo' game on the 'Xbox' and the 'Grand Theft Auto' series of games (namely 'Vice City' and 'San Andreas' for the 'PlayStation 2') are games that need little description concerning the impact that they had on me, as very likely, the experience was similar to that of many other thousands of people that experienced these games. For me, personally, 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' was an aswer to my desires for finally having a fully-fledged, 'free-roaming' experience within a game (in the 'truest' sense of the expression.) The game offered me the feeling of being able to do what I wanted, and when I wanted and for its time (save for its predecessor 'Grand Theft Auto 3' which I didn't in fact play) was an entirely unique experience. The story-line (whilst interesting) was something of a 'side-note' to the enjoyment and true freedom I got in simply exploring the world and harnassing its various 'tool's at my disposle. This also an example of a game whereby the developers couldn't truly predict the soughts of outcomes and 'feats' players would subsequently discover and achieve (essentially they built this virtual 'sandbox' and included various 'toys' for the player, and simply unleashed them into this world, and make of it as they saw fit.) Halo, however, sought of re-defined the 'First-Person Shooter' ('FPS') genre for me (as not being too much of a 'FPS' fan, I did play the 'Call of Duty' games however) as the inclusion of vehicles into this somewhat original 'sci-fi' fantsy setting, was a hugely enjoyable experience for me, that got only better with the mulitplayer featured in the game (I have only ever played these series of games for its multiplayer feature I must admit, as the story became rather generic for me, personally, after the second game.)
'Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty' was a game that led to a defining moment for myself, as this was the game in which I started considering games as a serious medium, past personal enjoyment or simple innocent, competitive fun.) Similarly to my experience when buying 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time', I knew nothing about this game prior to my purchasing it. I bought the game in a tiny shop, that dealt largely with second-hand games, but this was their only copy of a brand new game (of which I didn't realise or know of then) of this game entitled 'Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'. Again, having no prior knowldge of the franchise (of which there is a huge following for) that I was about to 'step-into', I simply scanned the front and back of the box (the artwork for the front of which I was encapsulated by, with not only its style but presentation also) and the story and graphics from a brief 'glance' on the back, peaked my interest enough, I guess, for me to purchase the game (this game of which was to have one of the greatest impacts on me that any game has ever had.)
The graphics were phenomenal, and the art style (of stylised realism) was to have an influence on me personally, and artistically/creatively. The story featured in the game (which was actually a sequel to a game I had never heard of, let alone played) was essentially a postmodernist interpration of 'real-world' events (or political climates) as relevent to recent or current 'history' (perhaps being one of the first games to do so e.g. in using this postmodernist 'feel' to add both realism and to drive the story forward.) The game felt very much like I was within a film (perhaps a Hollywood big-budgeted 'epic') as opposed to simply interacting with a game, and the impressive visuals, coupled with the somewhat mature and well-developed narrative (along with undeniably somewhat 'cheesy'/'over-the-top' moments strewn throughout the experience) I feel contributed to this level of emmersion for me perosnally (looking back also, and having further knowledge of, in terns out the games were in fact inspired by Western Hollywood 'Block-busters' as well as being directly influenced by the film 'Escape from New York' from which the characters, and to a certain extent, the plot, was referenced from.) Hideo Kojima (the producer behind the 'Metal Gear' franchise) orginially wanted to be a Director of films, and I feel this influence is evident in much of his subsequent work in the Video Game industry. The characters of 'Raiden' and 'Vamp' are my personal favourite (controversially) from the games (having since played all of the consoles games to date) although I understand that this would probably be met with some annoyance from general 'Metal Gear' fans, and these two character tend to be hated by the community at large (though I don't see why, I feel they offer more really, whether that was intentional or not, than perhaps the other characters featured in the game.) On a side note, the bonus 'making-of' DVD that came with the game (that essentially followed the progression of and outlined the development and intentions behind the creation of the game) had a profound influence on me when growing up. I also own the official book of artwork to this particular game (entitled 'The Art Of Metal Gear Solid 2, Sons Of Liberty, Yoji Shinkawa Official Illustrations Book Part 2') which I had won in a competition I had entered in a games magazine, as a child; the artwork also continues to inspire me with its originality and 'freshness' in the simplicity of its lines.
I was also one to play almost all of the 'Spider-Man' games for the consoles (culiminating in my favourite, 'Spider-Man 2', yet I also played its 'next-gen' sequal, 'Spider-Man 3', which was arguably not as good, at least in my opinion.) The 'Superman Returns' game, which is technically of the 'next-generation' of games (whilst a failure in terms of both the story and gameplay) did feature an open-world experience and unique gameplay mechanics (the latter two qualities of which can be shared with 'Spiderman 2') which offered the player an experience which cannot be seen in any other game to my recollection and personal history in the games I've played.
As stated with the 'Fifth Generation' of games I mentioned above, there are far too many games that I have played and currently own, that each offered a unique and defining experience for me, and each 'deserve' a place in this 'list' of my personal history of games (which is true also for the remainder of this section of my blog) but alas, I cannot accomodate this in the time and space I have available, which is why I have had to refine both my 'list' and subsequent 'descriptions' of the games I have chosen and decided to include...
The Seventh Generation of Video Game Consoles (Also Currently Known as the 'Next Generation' or 'Next-Gen' Era)
