A game demonstration from last year’s event (main pic). Margaret Robertson (bottom) presents one of this year’s sessions.
Can videogames make you cry?
As the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival returns for 2006, Henry Northmore talks to Margaret Robertson, the Editor of Edge, about emotion in video games
he lidinburgh Interactive
Entertainment Festival is a
forum for the industry to look at the issues involved in gaming. There are (iame Screenings for the public to get a sneak peak at some of the biggest up coming games on the horizon. Reflecting the ever increasing scope of gaming the conference will cover everything form machinima to how games are being used to help hospital patients. But perhaps one of the most interesting strands is the question of whether games can covey true emotions. It has been described as the holy grail of gaming and Margaret Robertson. editor of Edge. the leading magazine for serious discussion on gaming culture. is presenting a session on 'Games that make me cry'.
Clearly. videogames have become increasingly popular over the years. the technology growing ever more complex to keep up with the demand. but can gaming be a truly emotional experience?
‘What most people don't understand is that most gamers already have very strong emotional responses to the games
they are playing.‘ explains Robertson. ‘otherwise they
wouldn't still be doing it. Why else would human beings pay money to sit still and fail at something over and over again'.’ And the reason is that you have an extremely strong involvement and
attachment to even the simplest of
games. It‘s much more complex than people realise.‘
Even on the tnost basic level all gamers have their favourite 'Ii'kken character and it's amazing how much you can anthropomorphise such a basic avatar such as Mario. Sonic or even Pac-Man. With the next generation of consoles. the Xbox 360. PS3 and Nintendo Wii. there‘s even more room for expansion. 'There is no question that the overall quality of the experience you get in games does improve year.‘ says
every
‘And one of the reasons why people enjoy it so much is that sense of progression that nothing else can offer. Though I must stress that is only at the top
Robertson.
end as there is an awful lot of
rubbish that comes out every year.
‘The idea of coming into work and saying to your colleagues “last night I had a good weep at l-i'nul l'imtusy'"
jttst doesn‘t happen. No one‘s going
to take you very seriously. So the industry has to take the lead and say "this has to mean something to people otherwise they wouldn‘t spend so much money on it." It‘s self evident.~
It is. however. socially acceptable
to admit to crying at the likes of
Titanic or Iz'T. So perhaps it‘s a public shift in perceptions that is necessary: gamers already know that games can resonate with them on a deeper level. Just look at titles
‘WHY WOULD HUMAN BEINGS PAY MONEY TO SIT STILL AND FAIL AT SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AGAIN?’
lll'vt‘ Shin/UH (if Illt' (ti/«lulu. /('/i/i1 or l‘illil/ I'imruvv; all of them create rich. fully realised vvorlds as involving as any movie. and with added interaction taking the pathos to another level of involvement. 'lt‘s very easy to be shouted dovvn became the very idea that you are playing something seems inherently pointless and sell! indulgent and not very respectable and to get tip and say: "games can be something more. games can airu to be something more substantial. games can be something that can enrich your lives games cart be something that allovv for the expression of emotions." is a bit nerve wrackingf
'l'he lillil‘ presents a great forum to discuss these issues. for gamers and non-t—‘amers alike. ‘.-\ biii Pi”t of what lidinburgh is about is getting the attention of people who perhaps have already made tip their mind that gaming isn't for thentf says Robertson. "l'he great thing about lidinburgh during the liestival is that the tovvn is just crammed with curios people with time to spend and [he idea was to sit gaming in the middle of that to attract people vs ho normally wouldn‘t think they were interested but vv ere in the mood for something new.‘
(iaming is becoming more and more integrated into every aspect of our lives. from pressing the red button on your digital TV to solitaire on your l’(’ to Snake on your mobile through to learning software being implemented everywhere from schools to hospitals. "l'he boundaries between what is and what isn‘t a videogame are getting harder and harder to identify'.‘ says Robertson. ‘As technology becomes such a crucial part of our lives this idea that something playful happens in the course of what you‘re doing will almost become
indistinguishable from the rest of
everyday life; we‘ll just come to expect these interactions to be satisfying and entertaining.‘ ('learly the lillil; is proving the perfect environment for further insights into the future. modern technology and gaming.
The Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival conferences take place at the Royal College of Physicians
(21 8. 22 Aug) and the Game Screenings take place at the Odeon, Lothian Road (21 Aug) check www.eief.co.uk for more info.
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