Games That Can't Be Won Or Lost
I Lose, Therefore I Think
In this interesting article, Lee discusses a some examples of games which the user cannot win. The inevitable loss defies the gamer's expectations and forces them to think about the situation. Why is this situation unwinnable? These games force the gamer to shift focus from mindless victory to thought provoking understanding of the game situation.
I feel that Lee's article is a little bit short-sighted. His basic premise is that these unwinnable games use the gamers' expectations as a foil to encourage deep thought. However, as more and more games defy gamers' expectations, the gamers' expectations will change and such a technique will no longer work.
However, even in the absence of the "gamers' expectations" foil, these types of unwinnable games will still be effective. Just think of them as tragedies, in which, no matter what the protagonist does tragic events befall her. The protagonist cannot win, much as the gamer cannot win. The point of the game is no longer to win, but to understand tragedy and desparation.
But an "unwinnable game" does not necessarily have to mean that the gamer must lose in order to be effective. Rather, in an unwinnable game, the gamer need only not obviously win or lose. This is a proper reflection of life, in which we make many tough decisions, none of which are immediately rewarded with a "You Win!" or "You Lose!" screen.
In this interesting article, Lee discusses a some examples of games which the user cannot win. The inevitable loss defies the gamer's expectations and forces them to think about the situation. Why is this situation unwinnable? These games force the gamer to shift focus from mindless victory to thought provoking understanding of the game situation.
I feel that Lee's article is a little bit short-sighted. His basic premise is that these unwinnable games use the gamers' expectations as a foil to encourage deep thought. However, as more and more games defy gamers' expectations, the gamers' expectations will change and such a technique will no longer work.
However, even in the absence of the "gamers' expectations" foil, these types of unwinnable games will still be effective. Just think of them as tragedies, in which, no matter what the protagonist does tragic events befall her. The protagonist cannot win, much as the gamer cannot win. The point of the game is no longer to win, but to understand tragedy and desparation.
But an "unwinnable game" does not necessarily have to mean that the gamer must lose in order to be effective. Rather, in an unwinnable game, the gamer need only not obviously win or lose. This is a proper reflection of life, in which we make many tough decisions, none of which are immediately rewarded with a "You Win!" or "You Lose!" screen.
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