Author: Parker Pace

So soon it will be my birthday, and I know the title might just make it seem that I’m waiting for some big surprise or seeking attention, but genuinely I don’t want to celebrate it. If there is anything I hate more in the world than the government, it’s probably when I celebrate my birthday at school. It’s basically the equivalent of celebrating a birthday at work. It’s seen as this terrific thing to all the students and teachers, and yet I still have to show up. And here especially. At least at my old school I could fake sick and do whatever I wanted. Here if it was my birthday and i decided to sleep and extra ten minutes Mr. Moe will probably get in my room and drag me out of bed. Oh, and don’t get me started on singing happy birthday. Singing it with five to ten people at a party, fine. The whole school singing happy birthday to one person, yeah im out. Even when it happens to other people I still don’t sing. The embarrassment of already having 89 people singing your name is not going to change if the number is 90. And what is this thing about having to sing happy birthday. Sure I understand it acts as the acknowledgement of the person’s “special” day, but what if I don’t sing I go to hell. I think we, as a community, have to change the happy birthday song being mandatory BS and change it to a nod of acknowledgement. Yeah I nod, that’s fair and simple. Besides, men do it all the time to each other, so I’m sure that everyone else can figure it out just fine.

Now happy birthday in school is already pretty bad, but what’s worse is when your friends or family tell the waiter at the restaurant that it’s your birthday. And they think it’s cute. ITS NOT, ITS NOT CUTE ONE BIT. It’s bad enough when about 50 people you know sing you happy birthday. It’s ten times worse when fifty drunk men at the sports bar of a Texas roadhouse singing it. Even if it’s for a joke i dont want to do it. I was with friends back home and they tried to put me through that and I almost walked. Now looking back at this I can see that this kinda seems a little gloomy and down, but I feel that I’ve reached a point where my birthday is just another day. I no longer have that child-like mentality about it. For the past four years my birthday has gone by and I treated it as just another day. The only real time I actually celebrate my birthday is when I’m with my family, and I can’t even do that here. So in about three weeks from tomorrow I don’t want to hear any happy birthday songs or anything. I will accept a small gesture or a slight nod because by God if someone starts singing happy birthday to me at 7 in the morning I’m throwing hands.

So I have made a terrible mistake. One that, to an outside observer, seems miniscule. But trust me when I tell you that if I’m ever found dead in my room, it’ll be because my brain physically imploded. For those who don’t know, because everyone already knows that I can’t shut up, I have installed Blender. For those who super don’t know, blender is a digital modeling/ animating software that is basically used to create any game nowadays. If there is a character you like, chances are that it was created in Blender from scratch. Now I’ve messed around with basic 3d modeling for printing and other stuff, but I was woefully unprepared for what was to come with blender. To the point I questioned my entire existence and fell into a deep hole of existential depression which somehow led to me thinking about who would care if I died in that chair at that exact moment. But that’s not the important part. The important part is WHY IS THERE NO STARTER TUTORIAL IN THE SOFTWARE. Even something basic. And its bothersome because you have people who can make something like this:and here I am stuck for thirty minutes looking at a cube.Oh, and before you say “did you look up a tutorial” yes, yes i did. You want to know how long it apparently takes to teach someone how to make a doughnut? FOUR HOURS. Four hours of watching a video, and then probably another two just trying to figure out what he’s talking about. And look at how many buttons there are. I can’t remember what all these do. I can barely remember half the functions of my current laptop. So this is my position and my plea for someone to aid me in either finding a blender course that is not just a four hour video, or to make the school make one. Personally I think we’re only going to get the former here, but the latter is always an option. I mean seriously, is there no better way to learn this? Must I lock myself in a room for an entire day just to try to make a doughnut and a cup of coffee? What happened to all the easy 3d design stuff I was using before? If one such as yourself chooses to be tortured by this, go ahead and be my guest. Blender is free and I’m sure that you can find it from there. I downloaded it from steam, but I’m sure that there are plenty of other places where you can find it. And hey, maybe you can do better than me and actually start a project. Oh and if you want to spend four hours making a doughnut, I suggest you look up the tutorial for this year’s version.

Games’ stories can also be very vague or not even clear until you finish the game. Hollow Knight is a perfect example of this as most of the actual lore is deep within confusing lore tablets and NPC dialogue. But at the start of the game you literally throw yourself off a cliff and the story begins. I had to look up a video to fully understand the lore and even the people who spend hours deciphering video game writings like its hieroglyphics don’t know fully. The worst part about trying to understand it is that there is so much game that you can get lost about which specific group or what people it’s addressed to.

In summary the story is basically this. One god gets screwed over by a new god. The new god makes a new and prosperous kingdom. The old god seeks revenge so starts a plague in dreams, and the new god finds ancient dark magic he probably shouldn’t be messing with, and tries to come up with a solution to the problem. He and his wife create hundreds of thousands of children in order to create a vessel to contain the plague. All the others fail until he creates the Hollow Knight, a being with “No mind to think. No will to break. No voice to cry suffering. Born of God and Void.” which in fact is not who you play as in the game. The player character is a vessel who had escaped the kingdom and is the true thing that the king wanted. Anyway, the king seals his son in a chamber and fills him with the plague, but not before having an emotional moment with the vessel, which ruins the whole point of the thing. Low and behold, the seal breaks and the kingdom falls into complete disarray. Then there’s you. The vessel or “Little Ghost” as your half sister calls you. Your mission is to take the place of the failing vessel and become the true hollow knight.

Now that was a lot, and that’s the summarized version. But sometimes games can have a very heavy story and it isn’t readily apparent. And when we are talking about games we have to focus on two very important aspects: everything before the player and everything during the player. Like movies, games will often reference things that happened that you, the player, weren’t present for. Hollow Knight and a game called Iron Lung are good examples of this as most of the story happened before you even turned on the game. 

This leaves you to sift through old text and interpret what you think happened. Now, every game does have both of these time aspects; however, it depends on what the game makes more visible to the player that makes one more important than the other. Games like assassins creed have backstory and things that are prevalent throughout the games. However, the main story is following that character and his life, not figuring out how it all happened. Ok so now that im reading this, it’s hard to describe what I’m talking about. I just said all games have a past and present story but some games “dont”. It all basically comes down to the character. If you have a character who comes into a place after an event, like Hollow Knight or any Zelda game, then the main “story” is mostly in the past. If you have a character who comes in before or during an event, then the story is about that person’s life in the present and not whatever happened before it. Stuff that happened in the past might get references, but the main point is the present.

This is a lot and can be very confusing. As I’m writing this I’m asking myself if anything I’ve put on this paper sounds like I’m a sane person or not. But now that we’re done with story time we can now focus on one of my favorite aspects of any game. The music

Im taking a break from talking about stupid trivial stuff that i care about to tell the world it sucks. It’s a terrible place and sometimes I want no part of it. This country is probably the main reason that everything’s going down the drain. Every day we have tremendous problems like inflation, poverty, health issues and way more. And the best part is, we elect these rich people who said they’d fix all of these problems and all they do is sit in a chair and basically tuck all the problems under the rug. And they’re always old too. Old conservative senile men who have no business being in the government at all. And they’re all fighting for a team. I fight for the republicans, oh i fight for the democrats, what happened to fighting for the people. You know, George Washington was right. Political parties have torn this country apart, and frankly it’s sad. And look what’s become of it. We are now full of loonies and idiots with their stupid hats telling the world who they voted for. Listen Billy Bob Joe, no one cares who you voted for ok. No one cares because that’s the reason it’s anonymous. Seriously, it’s just sad. We got a guy. I know, what a surprise. But we got a guy who rides around in his junky, beat up, broken down truck from the 80s with a flag, about as big as the flag at a school, that said either “ICE is the law, deal with it” or “Trump 2028.” and I’ve seen this man, and I got to tell you that I have never seen a sadder looking 70 year old in my life. My grandpa is almost 70 and he is one of the most proactive and happy people I’ve met, and I don’t ever see him parking his truck, with a big stupid flag, in front of a bar, just to smoke a cigar. This is what it comes to people, this is the true face of America. Stupid hillbillies who have nothing better to do with their lives then to harass everyone by telling us who they support. NO ONE CARES!

The worst part about these stupid political parties is what it does to kids. You’re either going to have someone who doesn’t care at all or kids who care entirely too much about stuff that won’t affect them until they’re 18. I went to an all boys school, I had to deal with these nut cases. These wildly coerced children who support a lunatic in a chair just because mommy and daddy think he’s doing a good job. Well let me tell you something smooth brain, he’s not. In fact he’s probably led this country in an uncontrollable nose dive into an active volcano. And spoiler alert, the pilot is dead. The worst part about these kids is they put it all in your face. I was raised in a house where politics were not our identity. Every now and then we’d put on the news, but mostly it was saturday cartoons and sports. But going to the last school I was at, you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting some schmuck with some radical political opinion that daddy said was the right way to think. It sickens me because sooner or later, these cult members are going to be in charge. They’re going to be in charge, they’re going to have jobs, they’re going to be able to vote and there is just about nothing we can do to stop them from completely setting the world on fire. And it’s hilarious too because these self important political scholars of our generation, who support a racist, misogynist and egotistical man, are also the people you see in church. As someone who is atheist, deist at best, I’m pretty sure that Jesus said to love everyone equally, and I don’t think deporting people just because they have tattoos and have the last name Martinez is very loving. Matter of fact I’m pretty sure this is what the devil wants; he wants us to tear ourselves apart about trivial things like who should be here and who shouldn’t. I can just say that this utopian idea of sporting every illegal immigrant in this country is stupid and goes against everything this country stands for. This is the country of immigration. Every single person who fought in the American Revolution was or was related to an immigrant. Every single one of those founding fathers who wrote that declaration of independence, who wrote that constitution the government sometimes forgets exists. Every single one of those men were immigrants. And on top of this, I find it hilarious that they want to deport these people. But let’s amuse ourselves for a moment and let’s say that they’re all gone. At least all the illegal immigrants because we wouldn’t have a president if we got rid of all of them. There are no more illegal immigrants. So where’s our food? Where’s our housing? Where’s that guy at Lowes who found you those philips head screws for ten percent off? The second that they’re all gone, every food item in Walmart is going to go up about 50 to 100%. And because big business doesn’t feel like increasing pay with inflation, basically all of the lower and middle class are going to starve to death while the dragons sit on their piles of food and gold. But at least there will be no more illegals. No but in all honesty who’s going to take their place. Do you want to work ten hour shifts in the sun picking plants for less than minimum wage because I sure don’t. Hey, I’m already filling part of the hole by working in landscaping, but what about everyone else? The truth is, Americans are lazy and the second we deport those people there will be less people on the farm, less people building housing, and less helpful people at the hardware store.

If you think about it hard enough, a video game is basically a playable movie. True that this depends on the, but most games have a main plot that they follow and tell a story. Sometimes this story is very straightforward and understandible, and sometimes the story is either not the most important part of the game or is very obscure. The plot of a game must make sense throughout the entire game. Much like a movie where the plot gets lost in the dialogue to the point the movie doesn’t even make sense anymore. A game that is completely random in how they tell the story is not going to be a good cohesive story. This gets lost in translation a bit when creating sequels or off shoots of the first game. Much of the time in the new game the characters might reference someone or something from the previous game. This can be a little confusing if you didn’t play the first game but that’s just a skill issue. But now that we have a base lets dive into the meat of the matter.

The problem with talking about the story of a game rather than the art is that it will be completely different. Take Hollow Knight for example. Though both games have the exact same art design, the stories could not be more different. Where one you’re a tool only used to imprison a plague, in the other you are genuinely trying to do some sort of good instead of putting the world around you right back to the way it was with a new person in the chair. It’s a little hard to explain so I recommend that you go play both of them to get a better understanding. And don’t rage quit. Even if you really want to, don’t do it. But one thing is true. All games have some sort of story. Even if that’s not the main point of the game, they all have one. A good example of this is the Battlefield series. More specifically the newest installment, Battlefield 6.

The main purpose of this game is to have massive, and I mean genuinely giant, cinematic battles with other players. However below all the smoke and fire there is a genuine story of who is fighting. A brief explanation is that the world is in World War 3. NATO has all but collapsed under the involvement of a new made up group called Pax Armata. Created by the CIA, Pax grew to the point where they couldn’t control (or what’s left of it) and WW3 broke out.

While this is the background story to the main game, games like this often have something called a campaign mode. Essentially it acts as a story mode and gives either more of a background to what’s happening or follows a completely different story line that is adjacent to the current story. In the case of battlefield you follow the members of Dagger 1 squadron as they try to cripple Pax as well as learn about the truth of who created the group

This form of story is mostly used in heavy online shooters like Battlefield or Call of Duty. However, most games follow a simple cohesive story that only involves you as the player. Now in some games your role is harder to gauge than in others. Games like hollow knight make the player be in the current event but hide the past of the world you roam in cryptic text and confusing dialogue. But we’ll get to obscure storytelling in a bit. We’ll start off with one of the most popular game franchises in the world. Assassins Creed.

Now the interesting thing about the Assassins Creed series is that most of the games are historically accurate besides the main character. The most recent AC installment was a remake of an old game, and as someone who played and finished that remake I have to say the game was really good. You play as Edward Kenway, a pirate out looking for the next big score that will make him rich. Set during the time of exploration and the American revolution, you will participate in such historical events as the blockade of charles town as well as have conversation with blackbeard. And this is just one of the games. In Assassins Creed unity follows the events of the French revolution. In the game you will meet Napoleon as well as assist the revolutionaries with overthrowing the government. The games also use a lot of physical historical evidence like what structures like the parthenon and certain basilicas looked like. In fact their designs are so detailed that in 2019 when the Notre Dame cathedral burned down, the game creators lent the assets of the cathedral to the people trying to rebuild because the model was so detailed and correct. Even the normal housing is of the style of whatever era you’re in. but that’s not the story. The main interesting part about the AC series story is that you probably know its context before you play. And it’s cool to see people take their own spin on history like that.

So i think the rest of the info is way too much for one blog so this section will be two parts. Who knows what insane ramblings will be next.

Now, as I’m sure that you are aware, the words video games and art in the same sentence will most likely start some sort of fight between a group of people. And no, I’m not talking about those losers who couldn’t be bothered to create a decent world so they have AI make all of it. That’s just stupid. But we’ll get to the use of AI in gaming in a bit. Before that, let me ask all you people who say video games aren’t art. Isn’t story writing art? Isn’t music art? I mean I think so, it’s been around since cave men could think properly. Is the creation of characters and vast new worlds not art? If you said yes to all of this, then why isn’t combining all of them together to create one thing not art. Anyway, back to design. When it comes to making a game, nowadays, there are lots of different perspectives you can create. Sidescroll 2d (used in games like super mario), first person, third person follow, third person top down (effectively playing like a board game) and so many others. Games also will often switch between different perspectives to better tell the story. But I hear you ask. “ What does perspective change in a game?” well much like a painter’s perspective changes who their art will appear to another, the same is said for video games. For 2d games, much of the art will be hidden in the back but still contribute to the relevance of the world. One of my favorite games is Hollow Knight, both the first and the second one. In both of these games the written back story is not readily apparent, but is rather told through environmental storytelling and character design as seen in the images below.

Notice how the art tells a story of either what transpired before you got to this land, or how a character will act towards you. Environmental story telling is a really good way to show what happened without it needing to be told. It also allows the players to formulate their own idea of what happened. But where this is a game that relies on its background, limiting what can be seen in the corners behind the characters, other games do it with both scale and the use of 3d elements. In ARC Raider, a game about a robotic apocalypse, you can come across gigantic husks of bots that are from raiders before you.

Every time I load into a match and I see one of these monsters just laying there, I wonder how on earth they were able to take such a beast down. But not all game art is used as a set piece with deeper meaning. 

 

In hollow knight, the art is all around you. Its brush shocked textures of tiles beneath your feet. In the characters you interact with, and even in the abilities you use, all stay within that style of art. Some games though are only art. Take Slay the Princess for example, a visual novel game where every decision you make will change the outcome of the end. You play as… Well, you play as yourself. By your side are a multitude of voices spurred by your subconscious, each one having their own approach to how to deal with the princess. The princess herself also changes depending on which decision you make, whether it be her tone toward the player or her entire design and personality

The game follows a mainly monochrome theme, with most frames being in different shades of black and white, with the use of red for blood or roses as seen in the one image. Most of the style appears to be pencil drawn. The game also moves dynamically, shifting small frames back and forth to give areas where the game might be slow, the feeling that time is still passing. Bear in mind that this game focuses heavily on body horror, a trope that many other horror games follow. Many images depict gory scenes such as decapitation, dismemberment, convulsions, and others that I dare not say. However despite all the fears, all the blood shed, all the fighting, this is in fact a love story. I think. Look it says it is in the beginning so it must be true.

 

Finally one of the best uses of art in a game is when it is in an ironic manner. The game cult of the lamb perfectly captures this ironic nature of art. In the game you play as a lamb who has to control a cult in order to earn devotion from a chained god waiting to be set free by prophecy.

But for how evil you are and for how much demonic rituals and sacrifices you do, you and your followers are nothing but cute little animals. The irony of having a cult that is populated by fuzzy little animals is very funny to me. It really just shows that art can be anything. If you have an idea and you execute on it then it can be a great piece of art. Especially with this which has two ideas that wouldn’t seem to fit together. For the rest of the art style of the game, most of the characters, that are not you or your cult members, follow a design that is like they worship another being than your god. The enemies and bosses are amalgamations of animals and plants. Giant frogs covered in pustules followed up by giant spiders that drop from the sky to attack you are only some of the horrors you will come across on your crusade. And that’s just the normal enemies. The bosses consist of amalgamations with rows upon rows of jagged teeth. All of this while being nothing but a small little lamb

 

Ok, now I’m aware that was a lot. And for some people I’m aware that visual art is not your forte. I’m also aware that every single word I’m saying can, and probably is, complete and utter nonsense. But hey, it’s just my opinion, it’s just how I feel. Now we get into the middle of this sandwich. The thing that makes a game have purpose. The story and themes.

Video games, a modern equivalent to reading in the 17th century for kids and adults. The way you can get lost in the story to the point you feel as if you were the character. Like you are in the world. The feeling of being someone or something you’re not really gives the reader, and the players, the ability to imagine everything. The main difference is that when you read a book, you read about the characters. Whereas with a game, you are the characters. More or less. But that’s not the point of this,is it. The real meat of the matter is how the game is created. How it’s made to make you feel about the world around you. Where books can only describe your surroundings, video games actually show you what you should be seeing, and on top of this, the environment itself might tell its own story. So join my insane ramblings on what makes video games good and appealing.

To start this introduction off, I will just say this for all those people who are like “I only play video games that have good graphics.” or the people who i have suggested games to and they tell me, “this looks awful, and it’s so low polly.” Just because a game looks poor in resolution or graphics, doesn’t mean that the game is bad. It’s called game design. Anyone with half a brain knows what minecraft is and is aware that the entire game is made of pixels. And yet, it’s still one of the most popular games in the world, with 212 million people playing monthly. Personally, I don’t care if one blade of grass took twelve days to render, and you put the newest physics engine into it so it would have dynamic wind physics. If the game sucks, I’m not gonna play it. But that’s going a little off topic. There are three, count them out. Three main aspects to game design that, in my extensive yet still expanding knowledge of games, makes a good quality game. Art design, story, and music. These three will be the subject of future discussion. And you’ll probably ask about how the game functions, or the game play loop. I’ll get there eventually, but for right now, we’re going to focus on the more artistic aspects of game design. But don’t think I’m simply brushing off bad game play because that also makes a game terrible. I’m looking at you Marathon. But these parts will be featured in later discussion.