Overcoming Death: Power and Invincibility
What is it that we really enjoy about videogames? Great story? Sure. Immersive world? Definitely. A chance to become somebody totally new? Yes, but more than that – they are a chance for us to experience the impossible. Videogames give us a sense of empowerment and that is where the real enjoyment comes from. Good games give us a chance to break the rules – rules that we would never dare test in real life. Take any of the Grand Theft Auto titles for instance, of course the story is great and the characters are developed but funnily enough, I had the most fun messing about. When I had invincibility, when I had the best weapons and unlimited ammo, when I had the power to do whatever I wanted – that was when I was having the most fun. Now, I’m not simply trying to praise cheating here as any gamer worth their salt knows that using cheats generally makes a game boring and actually detracts from the experience. I am trying to emphasise the joy of experimentation in a game space and the feelings of empowerment that come from pushing an experience beyond its normal limits. …