Firstly, apologies to my dear blog for neglecting it! My head has been all over the place for the last few weeks with being ill and frothing over LARP (or LRP?), but I’m refocusing now!
I was thinking today about types of games, both computer games and other types, and how everyone has preferences or types/genres that appeal to them. In particular a conversation I had about role play games either computer games or LARP (not so much D&D as I have no experience there) and that they don’t appeal to my girlfriend. This developed in to a conversation about what we used to play as a child. Eliminating predefined games such as board games, sports etc, what did we play? I played lots of what would probably be characterised as role play games such as Cowboys & Indians (Indians ftw!) and war games, and racing games and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Robin Hood’ (yes, I was a massive tomboy) and hundreds of variations of this where I/we took on the role of a character in those games other than ourselves. My girlfriend never played like this as a child. Though my instant reaction was ‘weirdo’, I started comparing our tastes in computer games now. I love WoW and 3'rd person action/adventure such as Tomb Raider and Resi Evil and fighting games (i.e. Tekken), RTS such as Warcraft, Civilisation and Dungeon Keeper and Madden NFL. She goes for puzzle games such as Professor Layton and games like Sonic and Mario. Oh and, of course, I love LARP! Considering how I used to play as a child it’s a natural progression – what more does a girl want than to dress up and kick monster’s butts in hand to hand combat? Pfft! (Don’t judge it before you try it!)
So in my entirely ‘scientific’ study of 2 people it appears maybe how and what we play as a child influences what we’re drawn to playing now. So how did you play and what do you play now?
I'm Stef! I'm a 3D Artist and all round good egg :) This is my blog - originally from when I was at uni doing my Masters in Games Design and now for my general ramblings and thoughts. My portfolio can be found at www.stefbow.com - it's all kinds of tasty!
Interesting how many larpers started so young with what later became role playing games. I would propose that we all do this to some extent as kids as we learn the world, show me any kid that hasn't mimicked a grown up world by playing house or a make believe vehicle out of household things. Better educators than I have a lot to say about the value of role-play as a developmental tool. Personally I always enjoy people who simply do not play games at all, ever, in any form, no, no no.... Once you get them to think about it they usually do and don't realise. This can range from simple puzzles, to sports to amateur dramatics. My second comment to people who say they don't play games is that they simply have not found their game yet, that is they haven't really looked. In the rare instances that people I have talked to think about this and do look for a game there is sometimes a link with childhood pastimes and the fun they were.
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