Biome, Place, Character

When it comes to the richness of the gaming experience, the interface, character and pace will all be highly valued; but the first element often advertised, and the initial hook is the surroundings.

Atmosphere is a large word pivotal to the experience; but honestly in games and film the heart of this is the visual space. A virtual space, literally when we consider both mediums. You are perceiving an elegant projection from a device

From the Halo so definitive it’s the title of the games, to Knights of the Old Republic’s oceanic Manaan and barren Korriban. In the confines of The Penguin’s Gotham sewers and Deus Ex’s subcity slums, the immense feeling or claustrophobic place is the press which moulds and defines character, plot and activity.

The beauty of vistas, planets, whole galaxies and universes stems from the natural beauty of the world paired with the intellect to render it and the creativity to expand these ideas. There are many cases of games such as Northern Journey created by an indie developer to simulate the experience of his European homeland, and many of the most alien environments have a thread to places people have seen, or a turn upon the real world for all its bizarre and expansive wonder.

We love character because each audience member is an observer. Power fantasy, immersive sim, there are debates about the appeal of story mediums, but by virtue of using the senses we become a part of them through empathy and evolved senses. We are taken to a place that clever, patient and pressured minds and bodies came together to put about a lasting piece to watch, rotate, replay.

So today, I would ask you to consider your own atmosphere. What is it like in your world, where you ‘play’ many games at once in the experience of your life. How are your most re-visited or most appealing environments affecting and affected by you?