Gameplay Journal Entry #9
The game I decided to discuss about in this week’s journal entry is called BioShock. This game is first-person shooter where you play as Jack and you’re trying to escape the underwater city of Rapture as you overcome enemies and use tactics to help better your chances of survival. The reason I chose this game was because it showed, in its unique way, of how their city became to be and what events transpired into making their city the way it is. According to Mary Flanagan, “Critical Play outlines how play has influenced the history of creative exploration of the social and the political.” I believe the Assassins Creed franchise is a great example for this quote because they portray their games based upon both social and political fronts and also show how historical buildings/landscapes were during the specific era and time depending on which Assassins Creed game you play.
The reason I think BioShock also shows ‘critical play’ is because while I played this game, I collected audio files based on individuals who were involved with Rapture and they discussed their philosophies and ideologies in a way that I believe our politicians do in our present time, which scares me the most. According to Mary Flanagan in the concept of ‘play’, “Anthropologist Brian Sutton- Smith, a leader in twentieth- century research in play, and one of the core play theorists used in this book, has defined play consistently through the years as an activity that is fun, voluntary, intrinsically motivated, incorporates free choices/ free will, offers escape, and is fundamentally exciting. He has argued that play activities can be grouped in four
categories: play as learning, play as power, play as fantasy, and play as self.” Furthermore, “Sutton- Smith also notes that play can be defined as a variety of activities: as exchanges of power, or “power plays” that prioritize competition and traditionally aggressive play styles; as the act of bonding and belonging; as a practice of real- life functions; and as “fun,” being with friends, and choosing freely. Play is recognized as one of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition. While play spaces are generally fantasy spaces, players often experience real stakes when inside them. One might easily find examples of the “serious” aspects of play in
sport and gambling. Play is an integral and vital part of mental development and learning, and playful activities are essential aspects of learning and creative acts.” Therefore, we, as gamers, have our own way of playing games along with our own how we look at games. However, it is important to note that despite the games that are being made and sold to the public, we must be careful of how we play it and how we portray the message of the game as it could affect the future gaming industry entirely.
BioShock™ on Steam (steampowered.com)
Flanagan, Mary. “Critical Play Radical Game Design.” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts 2009. pg. 2 & 4
