Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Ghosts in Video Games

In our English 420/SAC [Speaking with Ghosts: Media & New Mediums] class, Lindsey and I had to lead discussion when we visited the Computer and Video Game Archive.  We found some pretty interesting things when comparing the two, so here are some of our notes [that includes questions we asked] & maybe you can respond to some of the questions! Also, this is being posted as if anybody else besides Sheila reads them!

  • You would think that since there are plenty of ghost-catching shows out there, that there would be an equal amount of video games out there
    • Does not hold true
    • Why?
  • How do elements of space and time affect video games that incorporate ghosts?
    • In most video games, you are playing “against” a ghost, while your avatar is human
      • Luigi’s Mansion (see below)
    • For example: in Pac-Man, you are limited to one screen
        • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_OjztdQ8iw
    • Can you think of any other examples of video games with ghosts?
    • What constitutes a ghost?
      • They’re see through or projections but leave visible or tangible signs of their presence
        • orbs, ectoplasm, stuff moved around, Ouija boards
      • Are the “ghosts” in Pac-Man really ghosts? Why, if you can eat them & see them?
  • Are ghosts good or bad?
    • Culturally they can be both (white ladies vs Day of the Dead) but in games they’re usually the enemy. Even in “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” the “friendly ghost” is initially seen as a bad guy even though, duh, he’s friendly.
    • Distinction between “ghost” and “spirit”? Wikipedia (take with salt flat) says that in Islam, ghosts don’t exist, but supernatural entities called “jinn”s do. Apparently they are genies or otherwise “smokeless fire” with the physical property of weight and can be good, bad or neutral (like people).
    • Buddhism, Hindu, Sikhism have “hungry ghosts” - usually reincarnations of jealous or greedy people who now possess insatiable hunger or thirst for humiliating things or are incapable of eating.
  • Luigi’s Mansion
    • Show video clip of gameplay, if possible
      • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22zeKOzKkE
    • How does space show up here? Time?
    • As we saw in the first few classes, ghosts appear as glowing orbs
      • We see this here when a ghost initially appears in a room
  • Talk about arcade games vs. console games vs. android/iOS games
    • Space is typically one-screened
      • Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, etc.
      • Plants vs zombies, world of goo
        • pvz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQLsVTXb5RA
    • Lives vs. health bar
    • Power-ups
    • Save files
    • Time investment vs difficulty
      • Arcade games are coin-operated and the experience (if not the gameplay) IS different than console games.
        • Pac-Man on atari vs arcade - same idea but ugly colors, and also “free” to play (once the machine and game are bought)
        • Unless you own a cabinet game, you cannot play these games for extended periods of time (arcades are not open 24/7)
        • iOS/Android: Zombies, Run! has ulterior motive of making you fit (by using your iPhone/Android to convince you that there are zombies chasing you during your workout)
  • Types of interactivity
    • First person shooter, third person shooter, role playing game, real time strategy, etc.
  • Operator acts vs. Machine acts
    • Machine acts: performed by the software and hardware of the game
    • Operator actions: acts performed by the players
    • Show how this is somewhat different with the Metal Gear Solid
  • Operator actions vs machine actions - some things you do with the controller, other things the game does because it’s coded to.
  • Diegesis vs nondiegesis: what’s actually part of the story right now?
    • Metal Gear Solid boss fight: cut scene tells you to put down your controller, and character “moves it with his mind” (code tells game to make controller vibrate)
  • Zombies, ghosts, and other paranormal fun stuff
    • Does the class consider zombies to be ghosts?
      • After-life debate - both are considered “undead”
      • Ghosts are typically “spirits” without physical bodies - taking over a body constitutes possession
        • Demons also possess people
      • What of werewolves, vampires (NOT FROM TWILIGHT)
      • Ghosts have a purpose but not a body & zombies have a body but not a purpose
    • The Organ Trail
    • Left for Dead
      • First person cooperative shooters
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops & World at War
      • First person shooters zombie modes
    • House of Dead - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN6MJlo4_pY
      • Rail shooter; you are on a track, but all you do is shoot things
      • Still first person, though
      • Must kill all objects until you are allowed to move on
        • zombies, gargoyles, maggots, space frogs


In my opinion, we led discussion quite well, although the professor spoke up a lot and directed it into other discussions as he went on tangents.

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