Look Out Your Windows. Vista?

Attempting to describe the joys of gaming to a non-gamer can be an uphill struggle.  Trying to impart what you have played through and the pleasure that you have had playing it, can be a waste of time.  I’ve found in many situations, attempting to describe gameplay is a complete no-no, the subtle nuances of gunplay, combos or delicate control is wasted on the uneducated.  The upshot of all this is that I often resort to telling the non-gamers about the visuals of a game, be it how real they look or how impressively awesome the visuals can be.  The sad thing is that as much as I can paint a visual picture of what I’ve seen, you really can’t beat seeing these games with your own eyes.  Perhaps on even more of a sad note, the average non-gamer will never see some of the wonderful sights I’ve seen through playing games, sights that will forever be etched in my mind.

Television and movies offer some insight into fantastical worlds and places however, neither offer the freedom to explore these places as games do.  Programmes such as Doctor Who, Stargate even Star Trek and films of a similar ilk offer a tantalising glimpse into far off worlds and civilisations, the like of which are embedded in pure fantasy.  Reading a well written book can often transport you to these far off places in your mind, but like TV and movies, it is but a fleeting glimpse.  It is here that games come into their own, you can move around these places at your leisure.  Some will allow you the freedom to explore, some will guide you closely down a regimented path, but the sights you see along the way are often sights to be treasured.  My first memory of being blown away by an in-game vista was in the first Tomb Raider game: quite early on you are standing at the top of a waterfall which you can then dive off, far down in to the pool at the bottom.  The graphics, by today’s standards were a bit iffy, but at the time I was awestruck by what I was seeing, I had to show as many people as possible, this great event I was witnessing.  I couldn’t possibly count the number of times I swan dived off the waterfall, but it never failed to affect me.  This was to be the start of me constantly seeking to be taken aback by scenes and settings in games.

Graphical tricks can also illicit feelings of elation when I’m playing a game, feelings that Joe Public will never get to experience.  Have you ever ridden a Moto GP bike down the home straight at Le Mans in the pouring rain as the rain runs down your visor and visibility is reduced to a minimum from the spray of water off the other bikes?  In reality, neither have I, but through the visual techniques of games, I have, it feels like I’m actually there, or how I think it must feel to be there.  Have you ever lined up a shot on the 13th green at Augusta as Tiger Woods is competing to beat your score?  Nope? Neither have I in real life, but once again through the medium of games I have.  I’ve seen it all with my own eyes, yes I know it isn’t real, but through games I can have a damn good shot at a piece of visual heavy escapism. The average non-gamer will never get this level of immersion in said events.  Of course through the wonders of 3D television, it may feel more realistic to people but ultimately, it’s still not them controlling the action.

It’s sad that non-gamers will never experience some of my favourite sights in games. I’ve been trying to narrow them down to a shortlist but I’ve found it quite hard to do.  I’ve seen so many wonderful things in games that to pick one particular vista over another may be doing unjust, so I’ve selected a few recent favourites that have made me stop playing and stare at what I was seeing.  Firstly, I was taken aback by the title screen of Halo Reach; I’m not too sure why.  It’s a static screen but the scene it depicts is worthy of an oil painting hanging in a gallery.  It shows a far away world that has echoes of Earth, hills, clouds and various other scenic artifacts. I would often just leave it on and sit studying the intricacies of it.  Adored by gamers, unknown by lesser people.

Another recent favourite was the vistas of an alternate New York in Enslaved.  Here we were treated to a post-apocalyptic city that had been taken over by the lush green fronds of nature.  As I was playing through the city, I would often stop in certain areas and try to take a photo of the screen to show people.  I was so impressed by what I was seeing I felt that I had to share it with any philistines that I may know. I’m not sure that any of them could actually see what I was harping on about. I talked about the cityscape with the same vigour that Father Dougal talked about being a milkman but sadly it was wasted on people more interested in Albert Square’s depressing shitness.  So remember, the next time your breath is taken away by something in a game, remember how privileged you are.  Yes, millions of us play games, but there are a greater number of those who don’t. They will never get to see a Mass Effect relay, they will never attempt to fight in Jacinto and I guarantee that none of them have seen air fuel burning on the waters above Rapture.  Open the windows of your gaming minds and look at all the cool stuff that no one else knows about.