Meaning and Play: PS5 Becoming a tool for social interaction

Gaming technology has become an integral part of the modern life. And it is expanding constantly and offering us new and exciting entertainment. PS5 has recently rolled out new features that include audio, accessibility, and social features. Additionally, PS5 has rolled out PS Remote Play for Android devices that offers greater convenience and flexibility to gamers. Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning had noted earlier that the company was working on the social features since 2020 so that they can “open the experience for gamers”.  Currently, these features are available. In fact, early in 2020, a new patent was filed was by Sony for Direct Gameplay. This feature allows players to jump into specific parts of the games directly from their home menu, This means players can now connect with each other conveniently and engage with their gaming experience more conveniently than ever before.

New and exciting social features of PS5

Let’s see find out how PS5 has evolved to generate social interaction, in its own unique way to improve social lives:

1. Party UI Update

Without creating a new group, this feature allows players to invite new platers to a party. Closed and open invitations can be sent to existing groups. Previously, this invitation could only be sent to individual players. So this new feature allows the players to connect with their wider social circle.

2. Previewing share screen

Players can join when someone is sharing their screens at a party. The preview image of the share screen can now be seen, even before the player enters the party. This adds to be convenience,

3. Joining friends on game sessions

Players can now easily see which friends of there is participating in an activity. This information is visible under the friends tab. Next to friends, the joinable icon will be displayed and payers can join games in which their friends are participating. These games can be directly joined by selecting the ‘join game’ option. The join button appears on their profile card.

4. Game Hub tournaments tile

Players can now see how many tournaments they have entered, along with the highest scores that they have achieved, in the game hub. The start time for the next tournament can also be seen in the game hub. The tile can be selected to view the full tournament list.

5. Reacting on messages with emojis

With the new updates, the players can also add new emojis as reaction to messages, This makes communicating with friends more convenient and easier.

The social features introduced by PS5 have enabled the players to connect with each other. These features help the players to conveniently interact with each other and engage with the gaming experience in an entertaining and socially connected manner. PS5 is indeed adding to enhancing the social lives of the players.

 

Red Dead Redemption and the Historicity of Its American Dream

Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 forms a part of the Red Dead Series. Set in the United States, it captures a story majorly spanning between 1889 and 1899. The open world of the game covers a 29 square-meter map. Interestingly, this map elaborately details the West, Midwest, and South of the country. This includes various cabins and frontier homesteads, cattle towns, the Rockies, ranches, the Great Plains, the Southwestern Deserts, Mississippi Valley’s coal miles, Southern bayous, and New Orleans (recreated in the game).

The American Map in Red Dead Redemption 2

This historic geographical setting is already a great starting point for history gamers who are already interested in the type of games that have at least something to do with history: historical settings and characters. This is given, such gamers can apply their understanding of history to the game and navigate the gameplay better. But does a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 offer historical knowledge to gamers who don’t have much prior idea to navigate this world? Let’s find out.

Firstly, the game barely pretends to be an ahistorical or fictional depiction of history. Replete with various characters, the game even invokes contemporary historical issues prominent in America including Chinese immigration and women’s suffrage. Even the in-game newspapers talk about contemporary events such as the Mexican Revolution, Philippine-American War, Spanish-American War etc.

International affairs aside, the national phase of historical development is captured by the game as it touches upon complex subjects of the transformation of American life from rural to urban, the Wild West’s decline, the chequered development of modernisation, and the growing focus on individualism.

The game heavily draws on the idea of mundane reality that ultimately adds to the immersive experience of the game. For example, side activities characterising life in the game involve playing poker, and hunting. Participating in these activities offers an opportunity to experience a bygone era, thanks to amazing graphics.

Playing poker in Red Dead Redemption 2

Hunting in Red Dead Redemption 2

Drawing on the myth of the American Dream to the triumph of Red Dead Redemption 2 lies in shaping the current ideas and attitudes about it. While the historical accuracy is subject to a broader debate, the engagement and entertainment value of the media text indeed needs more than judgements of accuracy. However, at the same time, this cowboy game is indeed to a good way to gain an imaginative idea on the historical setting of the American West during the 1890s. At the same time, the game is also capable of invoking a sense of nostalgia for average Americans who gain a chance of experience history in the form of enjoyment and entertainment. So although its difficult to simply answer whether the historicity of the game is enough to offer a succinct historical idea, it cannot be undermined that the Red Dead Redemption 2 is indeed capable of invoking a historical sensibility, enamoured with the nostalgia of a bygone era.

 

 

Complex Storytelling in the Witcher 3: What to Learn?

Witcher 3 is perhaps the most engaging, fun and massive game in all of the Witcher Video Game Series. This series only borrows the characters and settings from the novel series of the same name, authored by Andrzej Sapkowski. The video game series expands and separates the worlds from each other. I believe, it can be an interesting to study to compare the world of Witcher video games to the novel series.

When I first got introduced to the game, I didn’t appreciate that gamers can’t customise the protagonist character, Geralt of Rivera. Besides, the game only allows you to play solo, adding to my disappointment.

This was before I played Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. One of the main reasons why I formed an attachment with Witcher 3 as a gamer is about how its storytelling shines through. Having said that, I need to point out here that the sheer beauty of world of Witcher and the flow in its gameplay have received much praise, while the narrative development of the plot of game (the unfolds a complex and dynamic story) couldn’t access much attention.

Gameplay of Witcher 3

The grand narrative of the video game is essentially managed with two devices. A three act structure characterises the narrative development based on majorly simple linear threads or story quests. Together, they build the phases in the story. In this case, Witcher 3’s phase revolves around Geralt’s quest to find Ciri, his daughter.

Reaching the end of the game takes no less than 70-80 hours, with the ending depending on the choices made by the player in this open-world role-playing game. This idea echoes Amy Green’s conceptualisation on the way digital narrative of the video game breaks the linearity in storytelling, evident in other media texts like movies or TV series.

However, Witcher’s negotiated space of storytelling is anything but chaotic. This is given the grand arc of the narrative is efficiently addressed collectively by smaller narrative segments. In this manner, one of the key lessons to learn from Witcher 3 is about the importance of lore in telling such a big story. The complex flavour of side quests and side characters further add dynamism to the storytelling. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to claim that Witcher 3 nailed side quests. Their essentiality and organic placement to weave the narrative form a key reason why Witcher 3 stands out to me. However, the role of intricate character development of the protagonist and the worlds he navigates to slay monsters cannot be dismantled when it comes to appraising the complexity and richness in Witcher’s storytelling, something I only understood after actually engaging with the character and his journey at a deeper level.

 

4 Reasons Why Genshin Impact Will Keep You Hooked

Genshin Impact’s success has skyrocketed since at least 2021, making it one of the most well-received and popular games across the world. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why the game sells so well is about the massive world you get to explore as a solo traveller through the immersive experience of game play.

A still from Genshin Impact

Published by China’s miHoYo, this action role-playing game spans eight regions cladded in scenic beauty of the nature, and includes various unexpected twists and turns, keeping the players occupied with treasure chests guarded by enemies, hidden objectives, and time trials. Here are 4 reasons why you should check out Genshin Impact. But a fair warning first: If you have time, it’s likely that the game would take it.

1. The lure of the Genshin’s open-world

The major selling point of Genshin Impact has much to do with the lure of an open-world it promises. Currently there are eight regions included in this world including Monstadt, Sumeru, Liyue, Inazume, Fontaine, Natlan, Snezhnaya, and Khaenri’ah. The scenic diversity of the regions are prominent and they include forests, mountains, deserts and so on.

2. Plenty of features and frequent updates

Since its launch in 2020, the game has received many updates that keep expanding the world even further. Similarly, the features are routinely expanded as well. These include housing and building mechanics, co-op capabilities, newer instruments to play with, fishing opportunities and much more.

3. Immerse yourself in the lores

The complex but engaging storytelling adds to the immersive experience of Genshin. In gaming, truly immersive experiences are characterised by visual, auditory and tactile information that enable gameplay. You get a right balance of these factors with Genshin when slowly unravelling Genshin’s lore that expands further with each update. The overall immersion of the experience guarantees engagement and its longevity.

4. Meet some amazing characters

Finally, the gameplay is made more fun as you keep meeting new characters. You should note that Genshin is a gacha game, meaning the features and characters can be available with game currency. Moreover, while this can be seen as a disadvantage for some, spending game currency allows engaging with so many incredible characters, almost all of whom invariably have social media followings and fan art dedicated to them.

Bottom Line

Genshin Impact has taken the gaming world by storm due to its unique approach to gameplay. It’s a bonus that the makers of the game have still expanding the Genshin world, introducing new features, and updating the characters that make the game special and ever-popular. Though you do need to spend game currency in your travels, it’s a promise that it’s worth it.

The Saga of Candy Crush: A Cultural Touchstone in the Gaming World?

In its 12 years of history, King’s Candy Crush Saga has become a global phenomenon, attaining the level of success and cultural significance that can only be claimed by a handful other free-to-play casual games. This match-three puzzle game has 14.5K levels, culminating in the apparently endless journey. The puzzles on each level need require strategising. The players can also use special candies and different powers to solve the puzzle.

Candy Crush Saga map showing different levels

When cultural impact and global popularity join hands

The global popularity and cultural impact of the casual game is largely influenced by the chance of social connectivity Candy offers, specifically through Facebook. The players may choose to connect with friends and competing with each other on the leaderboard. In this way, Candy Crush shifts the focus of gaming from a solo experience to an adventure that encourages friendly competition.

The simplicity and accessibility of the game, coupled with its colourful aesthetics further attracts players from different backgrounds and age-groups. Besides, the increasing challenges across each level also contribute to make the game addictive, urging you to come back for more.

How does Candy Crush impact the stereotypical image of a ‘gamer’?

The game indeed furthers the ‘casual revolution’ in videogames, discussed at length by New York University Game Center Professor Jesper Juul. Addressing the revolution in social gaming is only possible through a spot-on evaluation of what makes a game fun for different groups of players and not just those who consider themselves ‘hardcore gamers’.

Moreover, the casual revolution quickly pointed out how the related casual players comprise a much larger demographic. At the same time, it is also true to that the compelling impact of games like Candy Crush that manage to hold players’ focused attention for long are similar to many hardcore games.

A saga of cultural legacy

Candy Crush is not the first match-three game to ever exist. Quite earlier than its launch, in 2001, Popcap Games launched Bejeweled, laying down the groundwork for match three games. But it’s not an exaggeration to claim that the current popularity and numerosity of these games have much to do with the mounting success of Candy Crush. Indeed, it has become a cultural touchstone in the gaming world as an evidence of the way mobile gaming (the most profitable gaming niche) is now a global entertainment phenomenon.

Interactive Fiction Games and Depression Quest: Was it a Good Game?

Zoe Quinn’s Depression Quest released a decade ago and since then, it has been played millions of times. The game allows you to go on your quest of understanding what it looks like to be depressed.

Depression Quest

The idea behind this new wave interactive (non)fiction game is simple. You play the game as a twenty-something man who has depression. Your life is bad per se. You got a girlfriend who cares for you, a social circle and family and even a passion to work on when you get the time. Though you hate your job, it pays the rent. However, the game doesn’t let you forget that it’s not a light-hearted fun game from the very beginning.

Your character starts navigating his daily life based on multiple options given to you- some good options, some not-so-good options and some options you can’t choose depending on your levels of depression and prior action. The options you choose shape the fate of the protagonist based on multiple endings. The good ones include him seeking professional help, taking pills, and moving in with his girlfriend Alex. The bad ones lead further down towards the numbing exhaustion and the emptiness his depression is made of.

A still from Depression Quest

Now is Depression Quest a good game? Well, some critics don’t even want to label it as a game but more of “an interactive text adventure”. However, in the theoretical sense, it does include some aspects of the four dimensions of games French scholar Roger Caillois deals with, in his Man, Play, and Games (2001). These four dimensions are:

• Competition (Agon)
• Simulation (Mimicry)
• Chance (Alea)
• Vertigo (Ilinx)

These four dimensions further range along the axis from Paida (something closer to purely frolic) and Ludens (more controlled and calculated). So while competition is more inclined towards Ludens, vertigo is towards Paida. Depression quest is a single player game so you don’t get to compete with anyone. Vertigo also doesn’t play a role in the slow and grounded journey of the protagonist.

Two of the dimensions that Depression Quest builds upon the most are simulation and chance. However, maybe a bigger role is played by simulation. The game weaponises the power of simulation to let you walk in the shoes of the protagonist and understand the effects of depression, as you try to find solutions at the same time. The options include lying and calling in sick, isolating from social events, being unavailable for relationships- some direct impacts of depression faced by many. On the other hand, the reliance on the multiple-choices questions makes it a game of chance. The options and outcomes are not always under the control of the player, adding to the spontaneity of the game.

The free-flowing experience is indeed more concerned with expanding the subject matter of medium, making room for darker aspects of human life. Some similar games have also dealt with Cancer (That Dragon, Cancer) and suicide (The Cat Lady) etc. Depression Quest is indeed a good experiment that shifts the focus from the fun side of gaming and brings the discussion to more serious aspects of life that impact the quality of life for millions of people.

My name is Yilin Wang. I work as a journalist at Vox media site, Polygon. I love my job as it combines two of my absolute favourite things in the world: writing and video games. My interests include fandom, pop culture and nerd culture, social media and live streaming platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitch etc. and most importantly, video games and gaming. As a games writer for the culture desk, I try to look at games and understand how games are more than simply play. Here, I talk about six popular games. I am hoping to offer a fresh take on the medium and its increasing dynamism that games in the Twenty-First Century exemplify.