Gaming has come a long way since its primitive origins when terrible graphics and gameplay were the norm. Since the days of Pong and Space Invaders, console and PC gaming have both grown enormously, with offerings from the largest brands like Sony and Xbox continuously pushing the boundaries of technology to provide better and more realistic experiences for gamers. The breadth of choice out there now is also staggering. With so much on offer, the sheer choice alone means it’s not always easy to gauge what makes a good game anymore. However, as rapidly as gaming technology has progressed, there are still some classical elements of a good game that remain timeless. Let’s explore these.
Payment Innovations
Innovative payment solutions have become a major player in enhancing the player experience this year. The industry is increasingly moving towards more secure and user-friendly transaction methods, particularly with integrating cryptocurrencies. These decentralized currencies offer an unprecedented level of security and anonymity, making them an ideal choice for transactions in games that involve financial exchanges, such as massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and betting games.
Adopting digital currencies like Bitcoin streamlines transactions and allows players to immerse themselves in their virtual worlds with peace of mind, knowing their transactions are safe and simple. According to Kane Pepi, Bitcoin has given the gambling industry a fresh breath of life, beating geo-restrictions to create a censorship-resistant player’s paradise. Many new Bitcoin-supporting online casinos have launched, some allowing players to gamble in units of BTC, others just accepting cryptocurrency as a way to deposit and withdraw (source: https://insidebitcoins.com/bitcoin-casinos).
Video Game Design
Gaming has burgeoned into a massive industry with something for everyone. The wide variety of game design and themed games has branched out and influenced other gaming arenas, like mobile games and iGaming, where high-stakes realism is championed.
Such ingenuity in game design is now commonplace, as the best developers have become renowned for their ability to create inventive solutions that continuously improve game design. Fighting games were proof of this. Early fighting games like Heavyweight Champ gradually gave way to Capcom’s legendary Street Fighter II. At the same time, Ed Boon and John Tobias’ first Mortal Kombat represented another leap forward by integrating motion shots of real actors to create its characters.
By adding realistic violence, better gameplay, beautifully rendered backgrounds, and creative sound, video game design became an essential part of what made those games so iconic. It was soon apparent that realistic and visually pleasing game design plays a large part in what makes a great game.
Gameplay Integration
Of course, even the most beautifully designed games meant nothing if their gameplay didn’t match. In that regard, the best games were often hailed for their fluid gameplay. Far from the buggy games of the ‘70s, by the ‘90s and beyond, video games had begun integrating far more complex and smoother gameplay into their repertoire.
Consoles like Sony’s PlayStation replaced cartridge games. With it, Role-Playing Games (RPG) and First-Person Shooter (FPS) games evolved into designs that featured massive arenas and multi-layered stages for players to traverse. From Tomb Raider to Medal of Honor and Grand Theft Auto, the greatest games utilize mesmerizing gameplay integrated into vast worlds for players to explore.
Sporting games, too, have become renowned for their ever-evolving gameplay that constantly seeks to become more realistic. Whether it was the FIFA games or the best racing simulators like Gran Turismo, the more realistic and fluid the gameplay was, the more popular the franchise became. To this day, avid gamers constantly analyze and discuss gameplay, with the most famous games generally hailed or criticized based on how well they improve their gameplay with each rendition.
Game Play
Of course, even the most beautifully designed games meant nothing if their gameplay didn’t match. In that regard, the best games were often hailed for their fluid gameplay. Far from the buggy games of the ‘70s, by the ‘90s and beyond, video games had begun integrating far more complex and smoother gameplay into their repertoire.
Consoles like Sony’s PlayStation replaced cartridge games, and with them, Role-Playing Games (RPG) and First-Person Shooter (FPS) games evolved into designs that featured massive arenas and multi-layered stages for players to traverse. From Tomb Raider to Medal of Honor and Grand Theft Auto, the greatest games utilize mesmerizing gameplay integrated into vast worlds for players to explore.
Sporting games, too, have become renowned for their ever-evolving gameplay that constantly seeks to become more realistic. Whether it was the FIFA games or the best racing simulators like Gran Turismo, the more realistic and fluid the gameplay was, the more popular the franchise became. To this day, avid gamers constantly analyze and discuss gameplay, with the most famous games generally hailed or criticized based on how well they improve their gameplay with each rendition.
Story
A good story has become vital to a good video game as an offshoot of another important element. One of the most significant aspects of popular games has become how immersive they are. As such, a good story has become one of the most important parts of what makes a game immersive or not.
An immersive game usually features a storyline that draws players in and engenders them to become wrapped up in the game world. Whether it’s the backstories of the character’s, or the plot that the player has to follow to work toward a designated goal, having a good story helps reel players in. Being able to get a player interested in and seemingly tied to a character’s fate generally makes players more invested in the game’s outcome and a more enjoyable game overall.
Art Work
Not all games feature realistic graphics, nor do all need to. A video game’s artwork matters more because it resonates with the players. In that regard, games like Gran Turismo and Need 4 Speed generally require realism, as their ability to act as simulators draws players in.
On the other hand, games like Crash Bandicoot and Super Mario subsist on more whimsical themes and ones that play on cartoonish elements that augment their appeal. They may have completely different artwork styles, but they have nonetheless all been successful as their artwork fits the purpose and is beautifully rendered in terms of their themes.
Everything from colors to design, lighting, environments, and scale matters here. Whether it’s an RPG game with a vast world to explore or the more primitive settings of great games with bad graphics like Minecraft, artwork has no set ideals, so long as it works in the context of the game itself. What is certain is that artwork can either augment a game’s standing or damage its reputation, so what is certain is that artwork is a vital component of a good video game.
Conclusion
While there isn’t a set formula for what makes a great video game, a couple of things must generally be done right for a game to be successful. Among those is the overall video game design. Famous fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat were iconic for how they changed video game design, making them more realistic and improving gameplay. Things like realistic graphics and solid gameplay are significant for games like simulators, but they usually make for better games, too, since they make them more immersive.
Storylines and artwork also play a part in what makes a good game. While artwork helps make a game more visually appealing, a good story goes a long way in assisting players to immerse themselves in a game and build a vested interest in it. The current gaming market is massively competitive and wide-ranging, so several factors must be considered. However, chances are, so long as a game has a great overall design, good gameplay, a good story, and good artwork, there’s a good chance it will be successful.
