LONG BLOG
What Is Gameplay?
What is gameplay? Debates about this very word have caused controversy in the last couple of years in the gaming community. More often than not the attacks have been aimed at games that proclaim themselves as being “artistic.” These art games made by indie developers are the pioneers of minimalistic gameplay. Most recently Dear Esther has spark up the conversation about what makes a game a game, and whether the game in question has any gameplay at all. The deep philosophical meaning (if any) of Dear Esther is not what I’m interested in. What I am interested is the definition of gameplay. A word that is universally known to gamers, but to the outside world needs dire annotations to be understood. An elementary definition of the word doesn’t do justice to the actual act of the word. What I’m trying to achieve is an understanding of what constitutes a videogame as a videogame.
In Skyrim all I did for the majority of my playthrough was walk around, go into abandoned houses, look at all the details and find the many notes or books scattered around. This in fact was my favorite part of Skyrim, not the fighting or quests -- the exploration and subsequent notes and books I found because of the exploration was key to my enjoyment. This all relates back to Shattered Memories, exploration and finding a letter or anything that is interactive in the world is just as good as actually having a gun in your hand and shooting the head of a zombie right off. Dear Esther is a lost opportunity in which all you do is walk. This could have been something deeper if the developers gave the player the simple interaction of reading some of the books or dozens of scattered notes you see around; instead it’s all eye candy and results to nothing interesting.
VenusInFurs 
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In Skyrim all I did for the majority of my playthrough was walk around, go into abandoned houses, look at all the details and find the many notes or books scattered around. This in fact was my favorite part of Skyrim, not the fighting or quests -- the exploration and subsequent notes and books I found because of the exploration was key to my enjoyment. This all relates back to Shattered Memories, exploration and finding a letter or anything that is interactive in the world is just as good as actually having a gun in your hand and shooting the head of a zombie right off. Dear Esther is a lost opportunity in which all you do is walk. This could have been something deeper if the developers gave the player the simple interaction of reading some of the books or dozens of scattered notes you see around; instead it’s all eye candy and results to nothing interesting.
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About VenusInFursone of us since 4:39 PM on 02.11.2011
Wow, I have a twitter now. Hmmm, would you like to follow me? Here, take this link. If you follow me; I will make all your dreams come true: Twitter
Here's my Tumblr; it's where I write all my miscellaneous stuff: Tumblr
Do you like films? Do you like my writing? If so, then have a look at my movie blog: Flixist
I'm a student. I'm currently working on my second degree. My past jobs were working at a gym and Urban Outfitters. I love to play guitar, read, listen to music, and watch films. I'm funny and enjoy the arts. I sometimes can ramble on about literature and films. I'm born and breed in New York. I'm easy going and I love fashion. My favorite system is the DS. I constantly shop at Urban Outfitters and Topshop. I really don't know what else to say. Oh yeah, I'm a cool guy!
Movies:
I Stand Alone, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Fight Club, Antichrist, Enter The Void, Dogtooth
Music:
Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Lhasa De Sela, MC5, Neil Young, Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Manu Chao, The Smiths, Nine Inch Nails
Books:
The Trial, Notes From Underground, Paris Spleen, Crime And Punishment, Junky, Hunger, Nausea, The Stranger
Games:
Super Mario Bros., Lost in Shadow, Braid
Favorite Articles I've written:
Demon's Souls: An Allegory for Life
Fuite
Diary of a Breton: Journey to Solitude
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Explain Yourself!
Venus, Put on some Fur and let's Talk
Front Page Articles
The Emasculation of a Father
A Small Thank You
I started a blog at this very site to let some of my feelings out. In some way Destructoid was therapy for me. I write about everything from my mother, past relationships, financial situations, friends, hipsters, school, etc. This is done not for sympathy, but as a way to expresses myself. My financial situation is a mess and I have no idea how I’m going to make a living, but writing and reading some of the response from great users have bought a wealth of positiveness to my life; It really doesn’t have to be anything big, but a simple comment of appreciation is enough to fill my heart with joy. It’s strange writing this, but joining this community has been the best thing I've ever done, well, second best thing; getting laid is pretty cool. What I’m trying to say here is thank you. Thank you for this awesome community. Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for being awesome.
A big thanks goes to falsenipple for the header!
Venus In Furs - Don't know what it is? Well, my freind, click on the link and listen to the song.
The Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs (Original)
DeVotchKa - Venus In Furs (Cover)
Here's my Tumblr; it's where I write all my miscellaneous stuff: Tumblr
Do you like films? Do you like my writing? If so, then have a look at my movie blog: Flixist
I'm a student. I'm currently working on my second degree. My past jobs were working at a gym and Urban Outfitters. I love to play guitar, read, listen to music, and watch films. I'm funny and enjoy the arts. I sometimes can ramble on about literature and films. I'm born and breed in New York. I'm easy going and I love fashion. My favorite system is the DS. I constantly shop at Urban Outfitters and Topshop. I really don't know what else to say. Oh yeah, I'm a cool guy!
Movies:
I Stand Alone, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Fight Club, Antichrist, Enter The Void, Dogtooth
Music:
Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Lhasa De Sela, MC5, Neil Young, Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Manu Chao, The Smiths, Nine Inch Nails
Books:
The Trial, Notes From Underground, Paris Spleen, Crime And Punishment, Junky, Hunger, Nausea, The Stranger
Games:
Super Mario Bros., Lost in Shadow, Braid
Favorite Articles I've written:
Demon's Souls: An Allegory for Life
Fuite
Diary of a Breton: Journey to Solitude
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Explain Yourself!
Venus, Put on some Fur and let's Talk
Front Page Articles
The Emasculation of a Father
A Small Thank You
I started a blog at this very site to let some of my feelings out. In some way Destructoid was therapy for me. I write about everything from my mother, past relationships, financial situations, friends, hipsters, school, etc. This is done not for sympathy, but as a way to expresses myself. My financial situation is a mess and I have no idea how I’m going to make a living, but writing and reading some of the response from great users have bought a wealth of positiveness to my life; It really doesn’t have to be anything big, but a simple comment of appreciation is enough to fill my heart with joy. It’s strange writing this, but joining this community has been the best thing I've ever done, well, second best thing; getting laid is pretty cool. What I’m trying to say here is thank you. Thank you for this awesome community. Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for being awesome.
A big thanks goes to falsenipple for the header!
Venus In Furs - Don't know what it is? Well, my freind, click on the link and listen to the song.
The Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs (Original)
DeVotchKa - Venus In Furs (Cover)