The Aesthetics of Play | Why We Play Games, and the Search for Truth and Beauty In Game Design

[@michaelkindt3288]

“It started with tennis, and then we went to space.” -This video @0:00.

[@thesephiam]

I am writing a paper on the concept of the “rule of cool” and was running into a brick wall about why games exist and why we play and this video has given me so much to work with. This is so excellently broken down and concise. Thank you so much!

[@naenoart]

Absolutely fantastic video! I'm almost shocked how underrated your channel is, this is some insanely high quality content with very solid philosophical argumentation behind everything...

[@018FLP]

I was searching about the different styles of games in a visual way, like low poly, high poly, etc as a study to define how the game i'm making would be artistically speaking. I'm fully into intentionality in game design, and i already have the core mechanics of my game, but i'm trully understanding why it exists now. Thanks for the insight, i'm gonna pursue a simple thing in my gamedev quest: touch the heart of those who play.

[@magnuscritikaleak5045]

First! I love this analysis of Videogames design aethestic history.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words Pondering Critic!

[@dantevahezleicaf2038]

This is amazing keep it up, and thank you very much. You've earned a citation on my Thesis... 👍

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you Dante, I appreciate the kind words. Glad to be in your thesis!

[@criticalcherry]

@@thegameoveranalyser4835 Second thesis you've earned a citation in. Absolutely beautifully done.

[@ThousandairesClub]

*I prefer the word Immerse over Play 🕵 all the games I enjoy today literally take me to another place and immerse me in the experience. most times, I'm just walking around soaking up the environment* 👌

[@janisberzins2703]

A lot of ideas that I have been struggling with, have been answered in this video. Thank you for making these, because the amount of research done for this video is just... wow! Thank you!

[@a85492592]

Your videos are really fuckingly amazing. Never give up, keep producing videos. I would keep appreciatting them all.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you for the kind words Ting! It means a lot to have people who support me.

[@Visigoth_]

DAMN! this is quickly becoming one my new favourite YT channels... I'm enjoying these videos so much. 🤘😄

[@ruanmontelo]

This is an excellent video. Making me think a lot in a perspective of art and meaning instead of this technical view of a programmer I have always had about software in general and games weren't different, even though I always make sure to play games whenever I can. Liked and subscribed, really like the content!

[@Statience]

I adore this channel!

[@Chocolatepain]

You have a really soothing voice. Also great content.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks a lot chocolatepain !

[@dosboot1]

Very stimulating, there are many branches off this topic that I now want to explore further. Tell me, how are you using the word "instrumentalization"? I feel like I couldn't understand 10% of the video without a clearer explanation.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks Dosboot! Instrumentalization refers to doing something for an extrinsic purpose, or outside goal, in that the actions are instrumental, are instruments towards something else. In games, we are often given goals we have to achieve, and so the mechanics and tools at our disposal are instrumental towards that. Similarly, we view play instrumentally when we seek the need to justify it, by saying it has a purpose outside of just play itself. When we view our own ability to instrumentalize, we are both more aware of it and can transcend it. The word is being used in the philosophical sense of instrumentalism, a pragmatic philosophical approach which regards an activity (such as science, law, or education) chiefly as an instrument or tool for some practical purpose, rather than in more absolute or ideal terms. Hope that helps!

[@dosboot1]

Thanks that helped. :)

[@WAND3R101]

Another great video

[@MacMan2152]

High quality stuff.

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thank you !

[@YourWarriorPoetCOM]

Aloha and mahalo for the info!

[@Visigoth_]

😆 Oh this is so good!!!

[@SonofDale]

Awesome

[@BlackJar72]

I still, and probably always will, reject the assertion that narrative is an important or inherent aspect of games in general. It can be important to some games and defining of some genera, but not all games and for many it isn't even relevant -- thus it makes sense to say it is one of the aethetic that some games appeal to, but not to talk about it in relation to all games or games in general. The idea that games are somehow fundamentally about story, the telling a story is just something games are supposed to do, is a very new idea in the grand scheme of things -- chess, poker, basketball, pinball, pac-man, centipede, mancala, and the royal game of Ur do not tell stories and even in the early 90s Doom resisted focusing on story giving enough to justify the premise. Games and stories are fundamentally two different thing even if they are now often packaged into a single product.

[@dunnygoop6317]

dang, you're popping these vids out like they're teenage pimples. nice work!

[@thegameoveranalyser4835]

Thanks Sonny, glad you enjoyed it !