Gaming Goals

Over the years games have changed an extraordinary amount. One that I have come across while writing this essay (which is proving more difficult than first anticipated) is the changing goals of gameplay over time. Games can vary from having fixed rules to having open-ended simulations, or from player attachment to outcome to chance-based gambling.

Traditionally games have had enforced goals on them. There is a set of rules to abide by within the game and the player will aim to achieve certain tasks within these goals. There is then a final point that is reached in the game. An outcome and often the game will end at this point; it has been "clocked." Examples of these kind of games could be something such as "Raptor" or more recently one of the EA Sports games.

Much more recent games, such as The Sims 2 and Grand Theft auto: San Andreas. GTA is effectively goal-orientated, but only on the surface, as you can play the game on a number of levels and are effectively free to do as you wish in the game. The missions in GTA are obviously goal orientated, but the player doesn't have to do these missions. They don't even have to perform any of the violent or criminal actions that the game requires of you. I wonder how many people out there actually play the games NOT for these goal-orientated purposes.

Sims 2 on the other hand is completely without a goal. You could argue that the goal is to build successful life, but where is this outlined in the mission of the game? It is not. It can be argued though that there are goals, you have to choose a town to live in, the kind of house you want etc. When playing the Sims, the character will not always obey you and if you leave the character alone or don't buy them anything they become miserable. But maybe this is what you intended for the game, to make the character as miserable or unhealthy as possible?

While there are still goals in these games, the degree of freedom is greater and the individual playing the game will feel more personally involved in the game, as they can make choices that will change the entire game. Sims 2 and GTA: San Andreas have started to give players more freedom. I think the most interesting games of all to look at would be ones such as the Nintendo Wii, Buzz and Guitar Hero, where the personal experience can be completely different from in the physical place you are playing the game. The games are used for many different purposes from the actual living room or bedroom. Players can use the game as a social event or as a serious event they are attempting to master. Is the future of gameplay freedom found within games that require physical interaction from the home, such as the Wii or Buzz?

Luke