Objective: Deconstruct the role that game graphics and aesthetics play in a game’s success.
Use Material from Chapter 8: Creating Immersive Worlds
QUEST: Choose two different games: one with 2D visuals, one with 3D visuals. Define what quadrant of the Spectrum of Gaming Graphics each game would occupy and then explore online forums and tools to see how the community perceived these elements.
For each game you’ve selected, complete the following tasks:
Plot the game’s visuals into one of the four quadrants of the spectrum of gaming graphics (below).
Evaluate the game’s alignment to reality and the complexity of the visuals. Are this game’s graphics most accurately described as realistic, artistic, classic, or impressionistic?
Research the reaction to this game’s visuals online. How did players respond?
Look at sources like Metacritic, Reddit, game reviews, player reviews on store sites, and social media. Were you surprised by the reaction? Did it seem proportional to the investment of effort or value?
Bonus Level: Immersive Elemental Tetrad
The four categories in the Elemental Tetrad, covered in Chapter 4, are a useful tool, but as with any tool we can adapt and extend it. For each game you choose, complete a Tetrad focused on the immersive qualities of your game using the following guide prompts:
| Element | Prompts |
|---|---|
| Aesthetics | – Is the game 2D or 3D? – What perspective does the game use? – Does the art feel distinctive, memorable, or unique in any way? – How is audio used? Are sound effects, music, and/or voiceover present? |
| Story | – How are characters represented in the game? – What emotions are evoked by the visual choices? – Are colors, shapes, lines, and spaces being used intentionally? |
| Mechanics | – How are the 3 Cs: Camera, Control, and Character – manifested aesthetically? – Does the player have any control over the game’s visuals? – Does the player have any control over self-expression? – Is the game physically safe to play for extended periods of time? |
| Technology | – Do the visuals or audio require any special hardware or software, like a graphics card? – Does the game require specific visual calibration steps, like screen sizing or contrast? – How well are volume levels balanced? – How much control do players have over motion sensitivity, audio levels, and other accessibility concerns? |
