Video games are a pop culture phenomenon, and their uniqueness lies in the fact that they form a special place and community - for lots of people, gaming is more than just a pastime; it's an activity that empowers socializing, creativity, and even a chance to develop a career. The stigma against gamers is slowly but surely disappearing, so people are no longer embarrassed about their habits. As gaming evolves, we're starting to see more diversity (i.e., powerful female characters), countless locations that players can't resist but explore, and realistic play that teaches social values.
Image credits: Pixabay
Relating video games to culture involves understanding how both elements interact. Video games reflect entire cultures, often an excellent lens through which to look at society, while also influencing music, fashion, and the way we communicate, serving as shared interests. There are several titles on the market today, but very few of them have changed the face of pop culture. It's noteworthy to mention:
Pong
Pong was released back in 1972 by Atari, a pioneer in video arcade games, home video consoles, and home computers. The game is simple, which makes it more compelling than one with a much higher rep: you move the paddle up or down the left or the right side of the screen. Each player aims to score more points than the opponent - 11, that is. Reward points are earned when a player doesn't return the ball in play. Pong was the first commercially successful video game, helping launch the industry, which is now worth billions of dollars and will continue to be for many years.
Atari's Pong wasn't the first video game ever to be created, but its simplicity managed to attract a widespread audience. It signals to the player that genuine care and attention were paid to its development, though it has no complex code behind it. In today's hectic world, there's beauty in simplicity, so rediscover the joy of Pong. In the game, there are two phases of play, namely offensive and defensive. Offensive play occurs when the ball is moving towards the paddle, while defensive play happens when the ball is moving away from the paddle; it's up to you to get the opponent to make mistakes, that is, to not be able to return the stroke.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. was developed and published by Nintendo in 1985 as a successor to the 1983 arcade game, the first one that has ever used Mario in the title. Mario's adventures have inspired multi-generational merchandise - trading cards, toys, designer kimonos - and spin-off series, such as Mario Party, Yoshi's Island, Luigi's Mansion, Mario Tennis, etc. Mario and his brother Luigi have appeared in cartoons, comics, and even in Hollywood movies. There's even a theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood where visitors can enjoy interactive experiences that put them in the middle of the action.
Star Trek
Star Trek is one of America's, if not the world's, most important TV programs. The original series lasted from 1966 to 1969, and after a second campaign failed to save the show, fans had no choice but to rewatch and relive the 79 episodes. A video game was released in 1971, where the player commands the USS Enterprise on a mission to find and destroy the antagonistic species. At present, Star Trek has over 600 ships, spanning across favorite shows and movies. The futuristic tale touches on social themes and positive outlooks on hope and diversity, with political and personal relationships.
Star Trek teaches us that no matter how crazy the world may look, it'll get better: we don't achieve perfection in any way, but we learn to thrive despite the challenges. It didn't perform poorly when it first aired on NBC. It just didn't perform strongly enough to justify the cost. According to the Deadpool 3 director, an important scene in the film was inspired by Star Wars. Fans are in love with the miniaturized versions of their favorite heroes and villains, hunting down rare and exclusive figures from Funko's Deadpool collection. The fan communities have transcended the boundaries of time and age, developing into robust online spaces where they contribute to the creation of new ideas and interpretations.
Minecraft
The game was first launched in 2009 as a developmental release on the Independent Games Source, while the full version was released in 2011, becoming an instant success. Minecraft comprises blocks, creatures, and a community. You must survive the night or build a work of art, so it's impossible to play Minecraft without using your creativity. How you choose to tackle your adventure is up to you. Depending on the difficulty level, you must eat and defend yourself from hostile mobs during the night. Through various game modes (Survival Mode, Creative Mode, Hardcore Mode, Spectator Mode, and Adventure Mode) you can experience different types of escapades.
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed was published by Ubisoft, one of the largest video game companies by revenue, in 2007, and the series featured 13 main installments, the most recent being Assassin's Creed Mirage, which takes some bits from the entire series and combines them in a smaller, more focused, more furtive package. The games in the franchise have received positive reviews for their ambition in game design, visuals, and narratives. Assassin's Creed transports players back to 16th-century Japan, a time marked by political intrigue, social upheaval, and military conflict. Non-linear missions allow players to approach their objectives from various angles, therefore guaranteeing a personalized experience.
The Takeaway
From classic arcade games to 3D and VR titles, video games have come a long way as far as graphics, complexity, and interactivity are concerned. Countless people live, breathe, and play in virtual worlds to accumulate real-world accomplishments, so it's hard, if not impossible, to imagine a world without gaming. Life would be slower, more difficult, and less convenient in many ways. Video games have changed many forms of media, from film to music, not to mention their impact on education, helping professors and students communicate by ensuring purposeful interactions. Even if they're not considered art, the interactivity of video games is comparable to that of established forms of art.