Ethics

L3 Game Design

Unit 78: Digital Graphics For Computer Games

Ethics: Impact of computer games on society

Concerns such as excess playing time

Some people play games way too much which is known as excessive play time or a gaming addiction. Problems with gaming addictions include mental and physical issues such as putting on weight, social insecurities, eating irregularities, migraines and carpal tunnel sydrome.

Social Isolation

Some people immerse there selves so much into a game that they cant differ the real world and the digital world. In some cases people have lost all of their social skills and only know how to socialise in online games but when it comes to talking in real life they find it extremely difficult to come across normal and are very nervous. People can feel very lonely even though they are socialising through games they don't have any friends in real life.

Cost

Some games have in-game purchases which the player can buy to enhance their experience or make the game easier. These purchases can be taken to extremes where people could spend upwards of £1000 on games that are free to play. But then some games such CS:GO have crates that are only opened using keys, both using money to obtain these things people will open crates and try to get good skins for their guns. These skins can be sold on the steam market for money and people also gamble for skins which loses them money. The rush of getting a good skin brings them back to buy more and they spend more and more money on the game.

Separation from reality

Some people play a game way too much and become engrossed, so engrossed that they sometimes cant tell the difference between real life and the virtual world. In extreme cases people have tried to repeat what they have seen in a video game and actually ended up hurting/killing someone.

Artistic Styles

L3 Game Design

Unit 78: Digital Graphics For Computer Games

Artistic Styles

Photo-Realism

Photo-Realism is used to games to make them more immersive, if this is combined with stuff like a good story then a game can be very realistic and engaging. Photo-Realism has been used  in games such as  The last of us and Watch Dogs to create a more immersive atmosphere which makes the player feel more engaged. Photo-Realism can make a player see emotion in a character that has been made up which is amazing and creates another layer to the game. This style gives of a very real style and depending on the game it creates different moods.

Abstract

Abstract is the opposite of Photo-Realism and in most cases is very unrealistic, it uses very bright colours to stand out and make the game stand out in a way of colours mostly. Games such as Geometry wars and Tetris are abstract as they use different shapes and colours to stand out. Abstract styled games create a very fun mood and atmosphere as they are mostly not serious game and have a childish ring to it.

Cell Shading

Cell shading is the use of shading and bright colours to create a comic book effect, gamers love the style of cell shading because of the comic book resemblance it is especially useful when creating a game such a spider-man as it goes well with he theme. This theme creates a happy mood as it is cartoon like and gives a feel of nostalgia to the player as they play through he game. Famous series such as Megaman and The legend of Zelda use this art style.

Exaggeration

Exaggeration is an art style that is used it games that aren't supposed to be taken seriously such as Wii party games. The art style is widely used in anime and is very wacky with over dramatic proportions such as big eyes.In some cases they almost look like a cartoon, like pokemon. Some of the best know examples of exaggeration in art is Final Fantasy and Xenoblade. The style makes a fun mood and atmosphere as it is a playful style and is not serious.

Film Noir

Film noir is very over extenuated style which uses things ile lights and shadows to create an atmosphere. Little thing like someone in black is there to cause harm and white is good is ther kind of stuff that is used in Film Noir. Another thing that could be is if someone is looking into a mirror they are portrayed as two faced. Colours are used a lot to create a dark atmosphere when needed it is wuite a dark style. One of the most famous games that used this is L.A Noire which was a game that followed a detective that tryed to figure out a series of murders, giving it an even more of a dark mood.

Pixel

Pixel art in games is a style that is purposely bad graphics such as 8-bit games it gives the game a retro feel. Games such as Minecraft and Terraria are games with big pixels and are still very interesting. The focus is on the gameplay rather than the graphics as the graphics give the retro feel. Most pixel games are not realistic as they are not trying to be, and are not really serious games.

Terraria Review

L3 Game Design

Unit 78: Digital Graphics For Computer Games

Terraria Review

Terraria is a 2D sandbox game that has aspects of action-adventure to it. It has so many things to do it can keep you entertained for over a hundred hours.

Terraria has a lot of bosses that are all very challenging in different ways once you have been to hell and defeated the Wall of Flesh, you enter hard mode where all the bosses that you defeated to get to hell come back and are twice as hard to kill! this adds A LOT of more hours to the game as not only are there more bosses but there are also new ores to get better armour.

A negative note about Terraria is that it is not easy to get the grasp off... if you don't look at the wiki then you are helpless on what to do next in the game. All of the bosses have peculiar ways of spawning which is not common knowledge, so if you are one of those people who hates cheating then good luck finding out how to do certain things like spawn bosses and progress further into the game.

A very interesting aspect is the NPC's that are on the game, when building a house you can make rooms that have a table, chair, light source (torch) and a door which will attract NPC's to live in your house. These NPC's are al different and have different uses, most of then are vendors where you buy rare and costly items from that cant be found anywhere else in the game. To list a few Goblin Tinkerer: sells items such as miners helmet and rocket boots, Gun dealer: sells items such as the flintlock pistol and bullets, Nurse: can heal you for money.

Another cool in-game aspect is the random events, you can be just setting up and getting comfy with you new house and then a blood moon rises... this allows zombies to open your doors and also spawns a lot more of them than usual making you defend your house from a hoard of zombies. Another one is the Goblin invasion where your house is invaded by a series of goblins,skeletons and wizards. This adds a pressure to get god weapons early so that you can fend off these random event and survive the night.

Some people compare this game to Minecraft which is understandable, as they are kind of the 2D and 3D versions of each other but i believe that Terraria had more depth to it with its bosses and different mechanics.

There are positives and negatives to Terraria but i believe that the positive outweigh the negatives and that it is a well rounded game that can be very fun for the majority. I don't mind using the wiki so this isn't a bother for me but i know some people hate using things like that and want tto find out themselves. I would give Terraria an 8/10.

Other reviews such as IGN  gave it a 9/10.