In a recent piece on the upcoming title Metro 2033, in PC Powerplay, the journalist raved at lengths about how 4A were striving to create an incredibly immersive experience, and this immediately grabbed my attention from a design perspective, and as a point of innovation. But how, I wondered, could a game create a feel that was so radically different as to garner the attention of an article? Some very fine attention to detail. Everything about the game has been designed in order to make you feel as if you’re in the shoes of the character, but what especially impressed me was the way in which this was done. Everything was so natural and believable, from having to check your oxygen levels on an old wrist mounted diving watch, to keeping track of your ammunition through a transparent magazine; everything about this game is striving in leaps and bounds towards creating a more visceral experience to really capture a grim and unforgiving vision of the apocalypse , something that STALKER has fractionally missed time and time again.
The fact that STALKER feels slightly inadequate in this area is an interesting issue because it is evident that GSC poured a lot of care, and talent into crafting a believable universe with surreal undercurrents. Irrespective of this, it appears as if they’re inadvertently undermining their own great efforts by interrupting all of this finely tuned atmosphere with incongruous heads up data displays that more often distanced the player from the universe they are occupying. It’s not a huge surprise that Metro 2033 sways this way with the knowledge that the company was founded by offshoots from GSC who may have had their own vision or stalker, and regardless of whether or not this vision is captured in a linear adventure or not, it’s very clear that they care dearly about the experience they are providing for the player.
Immersion is a funny thing in the sense that it cannot be physically measured by instruments in order to gauge it’s presence, this is an activity that’s best left up to the player. And this is a good thing in some respects because humans have emotions, and will react in an individual way in certain circumstances. The trouble with this is that there is no definitive way of designing a properly immersive experience without a great deal of experience in both designing games, and playing alike, so I’m going to summarise, from my understanding what makes a top immersive experience in order to clarify the nuts and bolts of what is a somewhat esoteric branch of this crazy industry.
The interface to a game is what essentially permits you to be involved in whatever’s going on, otherwise you might as well be stumbling around in the darkness without a flashlight. Being shot at. Being borne down up by Cthulhu. The trouble is, and interface should be relative to the type of game it’s trying to assist, and this is often sorely neglected.
For my first example, I take three games, no, wait four games and compared their attributes. Call of Duty 4 (BECAUSE MW2 IS NOT IN MY POSSESSION YET, OK) – the optional interface; Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction – the comfortable, non invasive interface; STALKER (potentially excluding Call of Pripyat) – the arbitrary interface with a vengeance; finally, Metroid Prime 3 Corruption -the clever, appropriate interface.
There a four things in common about these games, they all have interfaces, but what defines them is how they’ve been implemented. First up we have CoD 4; this game is interesting because it gives you the option to completely switch off your interface in favour of a more realistic approach. Now I liked this since it removed all the clutter, and telepathic stats counters from your screen, but the trouble here is there is no way in which your equipment (ammo, grenades etc) can be monitored. I’m sorry Infinity Ward but that was a bit of a faux pas. Had it used a system similar to Metro 2033, it would have prevailed, but in turn it would have rendered the heads up interface slightly redundant, or vice versa.
Ratchet and Clank has always been a great example of unobtrusive, yet informative interfaces, but my memory will only permit access to this particular game, so here goes. In RaCFToD, the interface is essentially divided into three parts, one that serves as an ammo counter, and one that monitors health, and one that informs you on pickups (bolts, raritanium). Each segment of this interface only pops up when it is needed, and starts off hidden. In my opinion, this is a very nice touch, not only because this type of game doesn’t necessarily need a clever interface, but because they did include one and the one they included is not only effective and informative, it looks rather nice as well.
STALKER, I apologise in advance for bringing you up on stage once more, you old curmudgeon, but you are the paradigm of both game design and humanity, however… My main gripe I have with STALKER, a game with nice touches on its nice touches, is that it’s all terribly dragged down by what isn’t an ugly interface, it’s just a lore murdering one. This game is supposed to paint a grim vision of a sort of apocalypse, were rough men walk the zone, some in search of riches, some because it’s the last place on earth that would accept them. The penny that dropped? It seems as if all stalkers walk around with monitors glued to their faces in order to inform them of their issues when they have perfectly (if not somewhat questionably) serviceable PDA’s that could have been jury rigged to display this information, but this probably would have been inaccessible. I’m at odds here because I’m really not sure how they would have displayed persistent damage and armour degradation without a HUD, so I’m going to finish this is a resounding “dunno”. All I can say is that the 2009 Complete Mod drastically improved it.
My final point of analysis is on Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, a game I’ve not played myself, but one Jack assures me had some finely crafted interfacery. First of all, all data displays are relevant to the Varia Suit’s display which is divided into designated areas for health, ammo, maps etc, and all of this was believable. Furthering these design triumphs, the panelling of the helmet reflects its exterior design, and also interacts with the environment to the extent where rain is visible on it, and Samus’s face is occasionally reflected within.
Interface design is really just one, of what I’ve found to be a list of at least 7 different points, but this seemed most relevant to me precedent of Metro 2033. Also, I’m reluctant to write any more because I don’t want this to become a thesis.
Merry non-denominational holiday season
Miles Newton – The Machination, Creative Director
Hello great blog, I just checking the blog for discovering an idea or else an exciting article. Excellent information, thank you for distribution. Samir
With everything which seems to be developing within this specific subject material, all your viewpoints tend to be very stimulating. However, I appologize, because I can not give credence to your entire plan, all be it exciting none the less. It would seem to everyone that your remarks are generally not completely justified and in reality you are generally your self not entirely convinced of your point. In any event I did take pleasure in reading it.
Hey would yyou mind letting me know which
Together with the whole thing which appears to be building throughout this particular subject matter, a significant percentage of opinions are quite refreshing. Nevertheless, I appologize, but I can not subscribe to your whole idea, all be it exhilarating none the less. It seems to everybody that your remarks are actually not completely justified and in reality you are generally yourself not really thoroughly convinced of your point. In any event I did take pleasure in looking at it.
A lot of of whatever you claim happens to be astonishingly legitimate and that makes me wonder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this with this light before. This particular article really did switch the light on for me personally as far as this issue goes. Nonetheless at this time there is one factor I am not too comfy with and whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual core theme of your issue, permit me see what all the rest of the visitors have to say.Very well done.
I do enjoy the manner in which you have presented this specific concern plus it does indeed present me personally a lot of fodder for thought. However, coming from what I have seen, I basically trust when the actual feed-back stack on that people today stay on issue and not get started upon a soap box associated with the news du jour. Yet, thank you for this fantastic piece and while I do not agree with the idea in totality, I respect the point of view.
purely inspired 100% pure garcinia cambogia 1600mg hcg before and after pictures 30 days red wing village green coffee mug acai bowl recipe frozen formula 1 noni for dogs hoodia gordonii argentina women photo psyllium ati technologies chitosan distributors flowersfoods xanthan gum definition what color are lipozene capsules glucomannan candida spit
I have recently started a web site, the info you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. cheers
Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
This piece of writing will help the internet people for creating new web site or even a blog from start to end.
Thanks for finally talking about > %blog_title% < Liked it!
If you wish for to increase your knowledge only keep visiting this site and be updated with the latest information posted here.
I was just searching for this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative sites in top of the list. Usually the top web sites are full of garbage.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who has been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch simply because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your internet site.
I pay a visit every day a few blogs and sites to read articles, except this website offers feature based articles.|
I want promote sex video youziz.com Best xxx porn movie, look latest fucked scene http://guidemesupplements.com/
After looking over a few of the blog articles on your website, I honestly appreciate your technique of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my website as well and tell me what you think.|
http://www.pornogratisdiario.com
very nice put up, i certainly love this web site, carry on it
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided brilliant transparent idea
Together with almost everything that appears to be developing throughout this particular area, a significant percentage of points of view are actually somewhat exciting. Having said that, I am sorry, because I can not subscribe to your whole plan, all be it refreshing none the less. It looks to me that your commentary are generally not totally validated and in simple fact you are generally your self not even completely confident of the argument. In any case I did appreciate looking at it.
Thanks, I have just been looking for information about this subject for a while and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive about the supply?
Dead pent written content , thanks for information .
– Als ich Katrin daraufhin besteige, ist es schon wieder um mich geschehen.
construction dumpster
see here http://www.iluvroy.com/sitemap573.php
I dugg some of you post as I cogitated they were handy handy
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome website!
Private fotomodelle – – Scharfes Solosex-Video!
wandte der Klapptisch ein, und alle anderen nickten traurig.
Direkt zum Besichtigungstermin…aber der Süsse wird erstmal auf Schwanz und Zunge geprüft…Er fingert und leckt unsere Votzen, wir lutschen seinen geilen großen Pimmel….aber wartet nur das ist nur der 1.