Written in 2019:
Video games are the most unique form of media because they allow consumers to interact with the media in a way that is near impossible to replicate. In film, writing, or music creators have full control of their audience. In video games, the only things that influence the audience, in how they consume the media, are their own decisions and skills. No two people will have the exact same experience while playing a video game because of the hands-off control the creators have on a player’s experience.
One might struggle on a level of Super Mario, while another might complete it without taking damage. However, when a creator guides the player to make a single decision that could alter the entirety of a playthrough, is where the player’s experience becomes apparently unique to them. Game altering player decisions are the most unique aspect of video games.
There are three types of game-altering decisions. The first being gameplay alters the decision. These decisions are usually made at the beginning of a playthrough of a game, and heavily alter how the rest of the game plays out. However, they usually do not alter the game's story much. An example of a well-executed gameplay altering decision is the player’s choice out of three starter Pokemon. Each Pokemon has their own strengths and weaknesses, so the player has to treat each encounter differently than if they chose a different starter. Another type of player altering decision is story altering decisions. These are usually made towards the end of the game and will leave an impact on how the player will experience the final moments of the game’s story. A game that uses this type of decision well is Life is Strange, where the final decision of the player is to sacrifice Chloe or Arcadia Bay. Each decision shows the player a final cutscene and conveys a message; both are different depending on the choice. The last type of game-altering decision is a combination of story and gameplay, where the player makes an initial decision that would affect the entirety of the game. A game that executes this type of discussion exceptionally well, and is my personal favorite game because of it, is World of Warcraft. The first decision you make is choosing a race to play. The entire perspective of the story changes based on the race the player picks and the quests that are available to the player. An orc’s story revolves around conquering while maintaining honor, so their quests are about invasion and slaying worthy foes. On the other hand, a human’s story revolves around diplomacy, so many of their quests are about helping other races and saving innocent people from threats. Simultaneous gameplay and story-altering decisions are a testament of creativity for a game designer, and if they are executed well they can greatly improve the quality and replayability of a game. These are the types of decisions I strive to incorporate into my projects.
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