The Nature of Gaming

As each year goes by, there’s an ever-growing dependency and expectation put on technology and its function in our everyday lives. Attributed to these expectations comes a natural proclivity to want to venture into the next big technological achievement, and this sentiment is no different when it comes to the video games industry. But for all of our ambitions, and the insane spec bumps throughout the years, one thing seems to be an inescapable truth, its that we will inevitably encounter video game bugs, crashes, and glitches at least once in some of our favorite games. It is the known, yet unexpected, truth when playing games. So how is this the standard?

It is without question that when it comes to the topic of entertainment, whether it be with books, television, music, or film, the aspirations of creating a perfect product is always looming in the air. Film/television staff and crew sometimes work tirelessly up to 15hrs plus days to keep up with hectic schedules on set. Meanwhile in the music industry, well…rappers constantly brag about their insomnia filled lifestyle. This sentiment is a way of expressing that every ounce of passion was given into making a product for the consumer that will be worth their while. Obviously, this is not to say that video game developers do not work as hard as other entertainment mediums, as the news from CD Project Red can attest to. But when it comes to the final product surrounding the thousands of video games that are created each year, it is hard to claim that, from a technical standpoint, the end product is exactly what the creators intended. The reason for this is because out of all entertainment mediums, video games rely the most on computer programming to make it what it is. And as every programmer knows, one error in a line of coding can cause disastrous results.

From the very beginning of its perceived invention, video games were created and optimized to run on computer programming. And like with most other technological breakthroughs, the growth for better video game technology goes through a process of constant trial and error, even in 2020. Basically, it’s really hard to make a video game. It’s also hard to write an entire novel and make films, but the difference between video games and every other entertainment medium is, video games are allowed to be flawed. Can you imagine if a best-selling novel had multiple grammatical and spelling errors? Or if in a Christopher Nolan film, they let some of the worst CGI that you have ever seen make it into the final cut (Christopher Nolan would NEVER let that happen, but can you imagine)? Meanwhile in GTA V, if I switch back and forth between characters while driving too fast, there is a possibility to just fall right through the entire map. But how have gamers responded to this reality? Well, it all depends.

Gamers come in all different shapes and sizes. For some people, gaming is broken down into a few sessions where they are allowed to indulge and become immersed in some of their favorite fantasies; this moment represents something special. It is a little anchor in time that cascades a wave of joy and alleviation to remind some people of the sense of adventure that is still embedded within them. For those gamers, game bugs and glitches are not a minor inconvenience like it is for the rest of us. Fortunately, the majority of the gaming community find bugs and glitches to be hilarious! The popularity of videos and channels on Youtube, which has accumulated well over billions of views and likes, are composed of video game fail compilations, gaming glitches, game hacks, and even just funny moments from the most random things happening to players in their play sessions. This really speaks to the kind of consumers that enjoy video games. The culture around video games is unique and extraordinary in itself.

Okay, now I do not mean to paint some fictitious depiction of gamers as being a group of saints or anything. The gaming community definitely still has a long way to go when it comes to getting rid of the immature self-entitlement that sometimes breeds repugnant levels of elitism that no game developer should ever have to deal with. In the context of consumerism, there is a way for people who buy a certain product to respectfully give constructive criticism on the things that they did and did not like about that product. This is how the games industry gets better for everyone involved. I believe that most gamers have seen and recognized how far the industry has come and are willing to deal with the patches and software updates. Minor game bugs do not even warrant complaints anymore, much less a needlessly long Reddit thread. This has been the attitude of most gamers for years. You just blow into your cartridge, eject your game disc, or even just restart from your last saved checkpoint and move on.

From the 1950s to the year 2020, it is almost unfathomable to see how far the medium of gaming has come. From the pixelated levels of Mega Man 2 to the most complex and intricate-looking lush worlds of Horizon: Zero Dawn-The Frozen Wilds, video games have made their mark as a reputable entertainment field. But this still begs the question, how are video games allowed to be flawed and have it normalized in the culture around gaming? Is it because gamers know the struggle of what game developers and video game studios go through personally, not likely? Is it because gamers are already so addicted to gaming that they are just much more forgiving by nature, honestly, maybe? My answer is, the answer is unknown. Gamers have adjusted their minds to what video games can be and accept the medium for what it is. Once a video game project exudes a specific love and care for the subject matter its material covers, players will most likely connect with the heart of the game and play it despite its flaws. Recognition and honesty are at the heart of what makes the relationship between gamers and those who create video games. It is a crucial understanding that I believe will continue to create some of the most aspirational works for years to come.