By: Danielle Merrithew
Source:[http://www.dashjump.com/meditative-games/]
Games are created for many purposes. They are created for challenges, education, socialization, for entertainment; to stimulate our brain. What if a game was created for the opposite definition of what a game's purpose is; to relax and meditate. A game that allows us to meditate seems incredibly ironic and hard to justify. Since gaming is such a huge part of our world today, using the industry for something else rather than entertainment would be an revolutionary idea. The question this idea would pose would be, how would this change the way people view games?
Games always have a purpose, or at least some sort of objective. We have puzzle games which are created for challenges. We have Educational games to teach us. We have MMORPGS ( Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) for socialization and for entertainment. We even have games that are a combination of all 4 concepts. Games aren't just limited to these four ideals, but all games do contain some sort of goal. It cannot be defined as a game if it doesn't have a objective, it's an idea at best.
Taking a game and completely changing the whole reason to play it; to meditate is an absurd thought. A game, is meant to do the opposite of what meditation does, it stimulates our brain, it makes us think and it raises our adrenaline. Although games can be used to relieve stress, just as meditation can, can a game give us the feeling that meditation does? A few companies feel that yes, we can create games that emote the feeling of meditation.
The company Tale of Tales have created the game, Bientôt l'été. "This is not a game to be won. Play for experience. Walk and look. There is no goal. There is no story. Simply allow the atmosphere to embrace you. Do not think. Do not want. Just be." Stated Tale of Tales. This game and similar games are referred to as, the Nothing Games: BYO Meditation. This game attempts to mirror how an individual would feel if they were actually in meditation. It does this by forcibly provoking deep introspection through the game mechanics and world. This game sends the player into a sparse world with no objectives, just to explore and quiet your mind. My question is, how would people feel calm and collected and in a meditative state if they are constantly looking around and exploring? I'd be so distracted by everything, I may feel calm, but i'd feel more intrigued by my surroundings more than feeling meditated.
Another meditative genre so to speak, is the Focused relaxed genre of meditative games. This class of games is one that has a bit more structive, but maintains a relaxed pace designed to evoke reflection. These games place the player in relaxing environments with soothing music and a very subtle approach to the objectives in the game that vary in open endedness An example of a game in this genre would be the game The Endless Forest created by Tale Of Tales." The Endless Forest is a multiplayer online game and social screensaver, a virtual place where you can play with your friends. When your computer goes to sleep you appear as a deer in this magical place. There are no goals to achieve or rules to follow. Just run through the forest and see what happens." States Tale Of Tales. You are a deer. So are the other players. You meet each other in an endless forest on the internet. The setting is idyllic, the atmosphere peaceful. You communicate with one another through sounds and body language. Compared to the first genre of meditative games this genre establishes a sense of flow. The slowed pace of the game keeps the player's physical sense in line with their mental processes, creating more of a sense of serenity and relaxation.
In my opinion, I think these games are an incredible idea. When I first read about meditative games, I was like "Pfft, that isn't possible". It just didn't register in my brain that people could play games for a different reason rather than entertainment. Yes, it is possible. It's amazing what games have done to our world and the new, innovative ideas people conjure to take them to the next level. I am going to attempt these meditative games to see if I can actually feel the relaxation the creators intended people to receive. I personally feel that meditative games may change the way people view games. Of course we will have the people who find them uninteresting and boring, but we will also have people who respect them for what they are, a form of art.
Source:[http://www.dashjump.com/meditative-games/]
Games are created for many purposes. They are created for challenges, education, socialization, for entertainment; to stimulate our brain. What if a game was created for the opposite definition of what a game's purpose is; to relax and meditate. A game that allows us to meditate seems incredibly ironic and hard to justify. Since gaming is such a huge part of our world today, using the industry for something else rather than entertainment would be an revolutionary idea. The question this idea would pose would be, how would this change the way people view games?
Games always have a purpose, or at least some sort of objective. We have puzzle games which are created for challenges. We have Educational games to teach us. We have MMORPGS ( Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) for socialization and for entertainment. We even have games that are a combination of all 4 concepts. Games aren't just limited to these four ideals, but all games do contain some sort of goal. It cannot be defined as a game if it doesn't have a objective, it's an idea at best.
Taking a game and completely changing the whole reason to play it; to meditate is an absurd thought. A game, is meant to do the opposite of what meditation does, it stimulates our brain, it makes us think and it raises our adrenaline. Although games can be used to relieve stress, just as meditation can, can a game give us the feeling that meditation does? A few companies feel that yes, we can create games that emote the feeling of meditation.
The company Tale of Tales have created the game, Bientôt l'été. "This is not a game to be won. Play for experience. Walk and look. There is no goal. There is no story. Simply allow the atmosphere to embrace you. Do not think. Do not want. Just be." Stated Tale of Tales. This game and similar games are referred to as, the Nothing Games: BYO Meditation. This game attempts to mirror how an individual would feel if they were actually in meditation. It does this by forcibly provoking deep introspection through the game mechanics and world. This game sends the player into a sparse world with no objectives, just to explore and quiet your mind. My question is, how would people feel calm and collected and in a meditative state if they are constantly looking around and exploring? I'd be so distracted by everything, I may feel calm, but i'd feel more intrigued by my surroundings more than feeling meditated.
Another meditative genre so to speak, is the Focused relaxed genre of meditative games. This class of games is one that has a bit more structive, but maintains a relaxed pace designed to evoke reflection. These games place the player in relaxing environments with soothing music and a very subtle approach to the objectives in the game that vary in open endedness An example of a game in this genre would be the game The Endless Forest created by Tale Of Tales." The Endless Forest is a multiplayer online game and social screensaver, a virtual place where you can play with your friends. When your computer goes to sleep you appear as a deer in this magical place. There are no goals to achieve or rules to follow. Just run through the forest and see what happens." States Tale Of Tales. You are a deer. So are the other players. You meet each other in an endless forest on the internet. The setting is idyllic, the atmosphere peaceful. You communicate with one another through sounds and body language. Compared to the first genre of meditative games this genre establishes a sense of flow. The slowed pace of the game keeps the player's physical sense in line with their mental processes, creating more of a sense of serenity and relaxation.
In my opinion, I think these games are an incredible idea. When I first read about meditative games, I was like "Pfft, that isn't possible". It just didn't register in my brain that people could play games for a different reason rather than entertainment. Yes, it is possible. It's amazing what games have done to our world and the new, innovative ideas people conjure to take them to the next level. I am going to attempt these meditative games to see if I can actually feel the relaxation the creators intended people to receive. I personally feel that meditative games may change the way people view games. Of course we will have the people who find them uninteresting and boring, but we will also have people who respect them for what they are, a form of art.
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