Whether I’m flying around the galaxy in the Normandy or exploring Narnia pocketed with heather, the world itself is what makes me care. Fictional or virtual worlds matter to us because they offer imaginative freedom, time for reflection, and a temporary release from the daily norm.
Worlds
In books, short of being transported in the pages, the settings provided allow us to see ourselves there, ,from the smell of the food, to the chaotic beauty of the environment. The culture gives us the idea behind the people that are there and provides us with a window of imagining how we could fit in the world, or better understand those who do. These are all black ink on white paper (respectively), but they bring the world alive once the mind is lost within the pages.
In games, it doesn’t take long after playing before one begins to no longer see the world outside the screen. It’s like the screen is all one sees. This begins the immersion. We start to see and feel that we are there in the environment we see. After a while, we don’t even notice what buttons we are pressing; we’re just interacting with the world. The more we explore, the more we see and interact with the people of the world, and we are giving a greater sense of immersion when they interact with each other, the environment, or ourselves.
Why Worlds Matter Emotionally
Growing up, I used games and, eventually, books as a form of escapism. Whether it was from school or my grandfather, I was trying to escape from games that were available for my imagination at home, and a book was always with me when I went to school. Even now, I try to play for an hour a day, and I almost always carry a book with me when I leave the house.
To me, one of the only cons of being lost in either of these worlds, is the feeling of watching the credits roll or turning that last page. It’s like we are leaving our favorite characters and friends for a time, whether it’s playing poker with the gang in Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games) or wandering the vast halls of Hogwarts, the feeling is always the same: we wish it wasn’t over. If only there were a little more.
As a teenager, playing online with friends or finding new ones in random lobbies gave me a sense of belonging when I couldn’t find it in school. I’d come home, and there was always someone waiting to play something. As an adult, years after loved ones have passed, I often pick up a book that I know they have read and it gives me the feeling that I’m mentally treading with they have tread.
Why Worlds Matter Creatively
Worldbuilding done properly can have a lasting impression from start to finish or even after that. I still remember the first time I saw the citadel in Mass Effect (Electronic Arts (EA)). Each book of Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling added more and more to the world in a digestible way; it didn’t feel unbelievable, but rather like I was there.
Before God of War: Ragnarök (Sony) came out, I replayed the God of War (Sony) game before it, this time with the intent of uncovering as much of the lore as possible to give me a glimpse into the next game, and I felt as if more of the world was expanding with every piece of lore I uncovered.
The Star Wars Legends (The Walt Disney Company) books were written by different authors, and they were each given the ability to further the whole story. They were given an outline to follow to ensure the stories did not conflict, but to do this was still an amazing feat.
Why Worlds Matter Culturally and Socially
The book 1984 by George Orwell comes to mind when thinking about a what-if scenario. What if a government entity were in complete and total control, and our own thoughts could condemn us? Books and games allow us to explore these what-if questions safely.
We can explore real-world ideas, conflicts, and cultures by playing and reading. This can be in the form of wars, discoveries, inventions, countries we want to visit, and so on. For instance, I would love to travel to Russia, but as of right now, I have done so through books and games, like Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky; granted, Moscow’s had better days than in Metro 2033 (4A Games).
These worlds have created communities in our own world. Halo (Microsoft), from the very start, formed its own community, Star Wars (The Walt Disney Company) and Star Trek (Paramount Global) are also among these space farers, and don’t even get me started on The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, which has inspired fans to create their own content.
Wrapping up
I used to have one favorite world, Halo, but then it expanded to Star Wars, Mass Effect, and so on. Now I have favorite worlds, in both games and books.
I invite everyone to comment and tell us what their favorite worlds are and why. Perhaps you can give us further insight.
Digital Archiver, signing off.
Stay tuned for this upcoming Sunday, Sir Dan and the Art of Second Chances: Revisiting MediEvil.
Leave a Reply