Core Values

What makes a Game Work?

What compels a Gamer?

When we talk about playing a game, the first question someone will ask is why? Why are you playing it? What makes it interesting? These are often hard to answer questions. But if you look closer there are reasons why we play certain games due to how we look for enjoyment in pastimes. Let me explain.

If you examine a game you look for the core values behind it. "Does it want you to have a sense of exploration?" or "Does it want to make you feel like you are unstoppable?" Different games are meant to appeal to different audiences. What is an example you ask? Well let's look at two separate games, "Skyrim" and "Overwatch." Both are extremely successful games in their own rights but for very different reasons.

Let's start with, "Skyrim." The base premise, if you have never played it before is this. You are placed in the world of Tamriel, more specifically, in the region of Skyrim. As the, "DragonBorn" a man who has the blood a dragons in you, it is your quest to slay the dragons and save the land. Little bit lost? Well it boils down to, you have great power, go into this Fantasy world and make an adventure for yourself. "Skyrim" was released in Nov, of 2011, and is still regarded as one of the best games ever made, why? It does one thing very, very right, a sense of adventure. When you look out on the world for the first time the only thing you want to do is deviate from the road and go exploring. It appeals to the innate human nature of exploring, finding things on your own, and being independent. This is what Western RPG's have at it's core, and it's the reason why people play them. It's an overwhelming feeling of wonder and accomplishment. Finding a cave that leads to an in-depth quest that you never knew about, or scaling that mountain for the first time. This is why, "Skyrim" succeeds, but does every game have to follow this formula to be successful as well?



In short no, no it doesn't. "Overwatch," was released in May, 2016, and took the world by storm. With it's colorful characters and team based game play people latched on to it and haven't looked back. Overwatch's premise is simple, two teams of six players fight over an objective. Being either a payload one team has to push while the other defends, or fighting over a spot on a map al-a king of the hill. But what NEED does it fill? Competitive drive, that innate nature to try to best someone. While both Skyrim and Overwatch are played from the first person perspective, Overwatch is classified as a first person shooter, as it is the core game play element of it. (We will go more in-depth of  classifications another time.) Overwatch gives a feeling of accomplishment through victory as you best the opposing team.


Both games are incredible for very different reasons, due to the fact they appeal to different human natures that we all have. While, "Skyrim" grabs your attention with a large open world full of possibilities. "Overwatch," draws in player looking to sharpen their skills and encourages them to become the best that they can be. Next time you sit down and pop in a game, then lose yourself to it's world, ask, "What is it that is drawing me in?" The answer might surprise you. You'll thank me later, (hopefully)

Thank you all so much for reading, and have a wonderful day.