Feel the Digital Adrenalin

Let's start with a simple statement. I LOVE to play video games. I still remember when I first play Super Mario Bros. Don't forget Contra, Tetris and oh-so-difficult Load Runner. Then when I have a PC in 1993, I enjoyed Digger, PC-MAN, Jill of The Jungle and the very first Prince of Persia.

Why I like video games? I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with beautiful graphic and simple yet interesting gameplay that even small kid like me can understand the basic concept of the game mechanic. Maybe it has something to do with those neat animation and bright sprite.

One thing I remember about all those games is that they're not hard to beat. Anyone can beat Alien Boss in Contra. But the game can be played even it doesn't have what we call now as 'tutorial' or 'walk through'. I can't imagine if Super Mario Bros. has tutorial for beginner. Video games nowadays have all kind of tutorial. Even Farmville has its own tutorial (in my opinion, Farmville is not a video games).

I'm not a hardcore gamer. I'm more to casual gamer. I play games when I want and I don't feel the rush to end the game quickly or with the highest high score. I tend to lower the graphic setting if the performance become sluggish and I can't play the games. If the games is too hard or too bad, I will continue slowly until I finish the game.

If I have to describe what types of games I like to play, I will answer 'thinkings man games'. Lets compare two games: Half-Life and Farmville (what? again?). Half-Life is more hard to play than Farmville. Half-Life needs 3D graphic card in order to play the game. Half-Life shoots things; Farmville harvest crops. Half-Life have blood and gore; Farmville is suitable for children and family.

But why did I played Half-Life? Because it's not mindless killing game. It's not as simple as point-and-shoot game. I have to think and become active to advance the game. If I fall in Half-Life, I will die. If I exposed to radioactive material for a period of time, my health will decrease. If I got shot a number of times, I will be a dead man. And when I finish playing Half-Life, I feel so ALIVE!

Compared to Farmville, the gameplay is still the same. You harvest your crops. You fertilize your neighbors  crops. You gain experiences and level up. And then its wash-rinse and repeat process. Leveling up has no significant meaning. You still harvest the same damn crops. Plant the same tree or plant (well, you got new seed by leveling up. But still the process is the same). Where is the satisfaction? What do you gain by playing Farmville? Does Level 500 means anything besides have a bigger plot or fancy hot-rod tractor? In Half-Life, the game ends when you defeats the boss. In Farmville, you will play the game FOREVER.

Forget Half-Life and Farmville, it's time to play another 'thinkings man' game. Its called Portal. Never heard of it? Watch this video.



Got the idea? And now I'm waiting for Portal 2..