Time to Score, Ready for War!!

Ask an 8 year-old what he is good at, he’ll say: “I can fly a plane, drive an F1 car, fight a combat war and score around three goals per game in international football. Stumped, you ask how on earth is that possible, to which he would stare at you, eyes wide with surprise and ask, “Do you not have the latest game of FIFA or Call of Duty?”

Video Games cover all aspects of life and beyond.Source

What is more astonishing isn’t that he plays these games but how he actually considers playing them as a skill set applicable in real life. The clear line dividing reality and virtual reality is slowly merging with each other and the biggest example of this are the new age video games that are emerging. With their fantastic animations and the fast paced plots, these new age games have crafted another version of reality and create the urgency in the minds of the players to navigate the difficulties and obstacles of the game.

However, if we were to see the recent crop of games that have come out, it isn’t just a recreational activity for the kids. The content of these games is explicit, violent and evoke strong, powerful emotions in the players. Children and adults alike are hooked and experience a trance like state where they are for a few moments not in this world but have been transported into this alternate world where the onus of everything rests on them. To paraphrase Karl Marx, such video games have “become the opium for the masses”. The psychological ramifications of this addiction are far reaching and are not just negative.

On the launch of three such video games which enjoy worldwide popularity and are played extensively, we at One World News, present to you the mass appeal that they hold in the minds of people and why do we play these games with such fervor.

To understand the mindsets of the gamers, we interviewed several video game enthusiasts who expressed their excitement for the launch of the newest editions of their favorite games. We also asked them their favorites amongst the multitude of games there are. Their responses were varied and interesting.

For instance, graphic designer, Aseem Gill, is very excited about the upcoming game of FIFA 15, since he has played the demo version of it. He says, “I really like the excellent graphics which add the real feel to the whole game. It’s like actually being on the field. Especially the way they show the celebration style of players after they score a goal. It makes it very, very real.” On being asked what about the game of FIFA is so appealing for him, he says, “It’s because I’m like a football junkie! I love playing football in real life as well. However, the sense of achievement that it gives is very satisfying. I can flaunt in front of friends the different tricks I use. The speed and the option of playing with your favorite players are awesome.”

FIFA 15 is an association football simulation video game developed by EA Canada, and was released this September. With new features like, Emotional Intelligence (there are 600 new emotional reactions), the players can now respond to crucial moments on the pitch like bad tackles, epic goals, penalties etc. Dynamic Match Presentation system adds to the experience with loud cheers from the audience. Advanced technology has enabled features like living pitch, agility and control, man-to-man battles, and next gen goalkeepers.

FIFA 15 (September 23, 2014)

An epic game like FIFA also derives its popularity from the fast paced ‘real’ sport of football. However, apart from the real sport, it is astonishing how there are regular tournaments that are held around for FIFA the video game. It is because not only is it a sophisticated game in terms of the highly complicated motor abilities required for it but it also offers to the players who are low on stamina and lack the strength to play on the field, an opportunity to showcase their skills on a virtual field. It creates an alternate portal where your skill set isn’t restricted to your physical capabilities. It creates an illusion of strength.

Abhishek Pathak, an engineer, however feels that FIFA has lost its appeal for him since it has become “monotonous”. He is excited mostly about the new ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’ as it is a first person shooter game. He feels these games spike up your adrenaline levels. According to him, “Call of Duty is more interesting since it’s more chaotic unlike Assassin’s Creed in which you need to wait to attack. However, my favorite game is Splinter Cell – Black List since it is a stealth game, where we can have the feel of being a secret agent.”

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Release Date – November 3, 2014)

Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games is presenting their 11th installment – “Advanced Warfare” this November. In this well researched and intelligently crafted game technological advancements coupled with military practices create monumental consequences and thus arises the need for lethal combatants to restore balance to the world.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity, (Release Date – November 11, 2014)

While Ubisoft is all set to launch the 7th major installment of the famous RPG gameAssassin’s Creed: Unity. Unity features the inhabitants of Paris taking up arms to attain freedom and equality.

The charm of FPS & RPG games is phenomenal. They are a rage amongst the gamers. An avid gamer and our team member, Nitish Rampal expresses mixed feelings on the arrival of these new games, he says, “I’m very upset because up until now, I used to await the release of these games and used to allocate a huge chunk of my time to finish them. Now that I’m working, it is difficult to play them as frequently. But in any case I will do whatever it takes to take out time for them.”

Amongst his favorite games is Call of Duty and he says, “Having played all the COD editions, it feels like it is my duty to go back into action. I have to avenge Soap Mactavish.”

It is apparent from these statements how these games catch on and become a mission in themselves. The intriguing back stories spun around these games add a sense of purpose to them and makes the player feel a part of a larger universe. They also let you explore and fashion many other personalities as Kunal Singh, a student says, “All the three games are exciting, but his favorites are COD and Assassin’s Creed, as they both are role playing games. In them, you can be someone other than yourself.”

Such a departure from reality can be an intoxicating one, as it affords one a parallel reality where the existential realities of life are exaggerated. Hence the sense of purpose, the strife for justice and to be able to create an alternate existence is all condensed into the experience of gaming.

“Strategizing and making quick decisions is another attraction that pulls gamers”, says Neel, a photo Journalist. He said that his favorite game is Uncharted.

Though previous research proved that war games like these fuel aggression, contrary research of 2011 on video games and aggression,indicates that it isn’t actually the game which increases aggression but the act of ruminating about the violence of the game which triggers the aggression-stimulating effects.

Whatever may be the case, the central theme aligning the concepts of all these games is to create an illusion of strength, power and omnipotence. The increasing levels of difficulty help maintain the illusion, since if they were easy the sense of accomplishment that washes over the players once the game is over would not be the same.

So all the gamers out there, wear your studs, pack your grenades, wear your hood and prepare for battle. Prepare for glory. Prepare to fight.

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