We have to go deeper! Let’s think about games

Video games as a medium haven't been around very long. Art, books, music and film have all been around for longer. People have had time to study them and find meaning beneath the surface. Books are taught as metaphor in school as well as some films. My question is: why haven't we tried this with games? Some games' meanings are left open. LIMBO is a good example of this, it explains nothing and lets you give reasons. That's easy mode though, there's little insight. No analyses of this game have brought that blown mind feeling when you see the meaning behind a movie that you never saw before or the obscure abstract metaphor movie suddenly making sense.                 But recently I found out that thought beyond what's in front of you does exist. From Resident Evil following 19th German philosophy, most of Final Fantasy being the protagonists' death throes, to the recent Spec Ops: The Line subtly guiding you to its meaning as soon as you start playing it. Every single one of those links made me go "Oooooooooh". Seeing people find meaning in games is amazing.                 But how do we find meaning? Don't be afraid to get into the game. Get into it; think about the world around you instead of the game. Instead of mastering the mechanics get close to a character, look for backstory. Pay attention.  Spare at least a little thought to what you're doing. Don't see an option you want in a choice situation? Try it anyways. You probably won't come away with something like the links above (seriously it takes some serious thought and analysis), but chances are you'll have a more meaningful experience which really is the best about our entertainment mediums.   By Baxter Cranch