Editor's note: Jazz has an interesting theory, but I'm not sure if I can give up my number-crunching, hyper-analytical ways. The problem I have is that even if I don't see the numbers right away, I know underlying systems are at work, and that makes me want to uncover and understand them as much as possible. Maybe I'm just too much of a math geek. What do you think about his idea? -Jay
A key factor of most video games is immersion. The act of dropping in to a virtual world full of magic, wonder, or danger is made richer and more seducing when we believe that the world is real. I can't help but notice that the majority of games these days incorporate a characteristic that is 100% counterproductive to immersing a player: point systems.
No matter how realistic a game manages to be in terms of graphics and sound, or how compelling of a plot it has, the sense of immersion is shattered when numeric systems come into play. If I crush a spider in the kitchen, a life bar isn't drained away, and I don't receive experience points for such actions. Why should my MMO character? Trust me, I know games aren't supposed to be a carbon copy of real life. Yes, I enjoy dreaming that I can shoot fire from my eye balls, but I'm afraid numbers telling me the strength of aforementioned eye-fire aren't part of that dream.
Doctor Benjamin Donner describes the appeal of point systems in the latest print edition of EGM magazine. They oftentimes "elicit a stronger emotional response" as an "immediate and tangible… marker of growth." First, points give you a sense of purpose when they determine what you need to work towards. Then, you gain a sense of success when you complete these tasks. A "plus five" to your strength and hit points is a way of saying, "You did good, kid. Now you're stronger." Most games seem to be designed as though there were no other way to make a character's progression realized.
The way to make growth evident, while promoting immersion, is to provide a visual representation of your character's progress. Instead of reading "plus five strength," a character model grows and becomes more toned. A piece of armor won't grant "plus 3 defense" but it will be noticeably thicker or obviously made of harder or more advanced materials. An item's effect or character's affect would be deduced based on visual cues. This method would not only apply to physical stats: magical and mental abilities could simply grow more useful and powerful (In real life we don't notice minute changes to things such as skills, anyways.)
These methods aren't completely unheard of thanks to series that visually display moral change. Sure, the majority of these games do this in accompaniment to numerical notifications, but it is a step in the right direction. Fable 3 will supposedly sidestep moral notifications all together by presenting such change on your character's constantly evolving weapons. Maybe, if that feature of the game proves popular enough, it will become commonplace in games of the genre. From there, game design would hopefully lean towards a stat-less school of thought.
While I would be more than overjoyed seeing such a standard in video games ASAP, I doubt such a thing will happen in the immediate future. This is because our society is heavily reliant upon, and laden with, stats. Sports teams, the stock market, and class rankings are all number based systems. Once every 365 days each one of us "levels up," and money could easily be seen as experience points. Hmm. I think this might be less of a problem with video games and more of a problem with society.
I welcome the day that such design is implemented in games, what about you?
Please post your opinions of my game design theory in the comments.
You can find more of my writing at:
Kombo.com– My review of Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess that just went up. Read it here.
1UP.com– Created a new profile page. I'm in need of friend request so shoot me one. Just include a message and mention Bitmob.
Happy gaming!