Level up by Exploring your World!

Level up by Exploring your World!

Before the pandemic, I went on a trip to Niagara Falls.For those of you who aren’t aware, Niagara Falls is a small, tourist town in Ontario, Canada. For the record, it shares the name with it’s American counterpart. I would argue that Canada, however, has a better view of the falls. Anyway, during this trip we went to IHOP (International House of Pancakes) - which I might add is also opening up another location in my hometown! Very exciting. We don’t get many IHOP’s in Canada, let alone, Ontario. Prior to this, I had never been to an IHOP before. Yes, yes, I know. In my defence, I rarely travel to the US, especially now that the pandemic has limited most travel across the border. I've been to the Falls numerous times but each time I travel to the falls I find that there is always something new to experience. I’ve done a lot of travelling in my life. Mostly around Ontario. There’s lots to see and do here. If you’ve never had an opportunity to go on adventures by yourself or with friends I definitely urge you to explore. 

Exploring the physical “open” world can be rewarding and our only limitation is that set by technology... and of course now the pandemic. Yet even though technology advances at an alarming rate, there remains a limit on what we can accomplish as humans. Sorry folks, you may have already come to the realization that we humans don’t have access to ‘fast travel’ or ‘teleport’ abilities. One of my favorite abilities in a game like Final Fantasy XIV or Elder Scrolls games is the ability to get to places quickly. Imagine having to travel to each individual location without fast travel. I’m looking at you Final Fantasy XI. 

Sure, life can be a grind sometimes but you can certainly make the most of it. Some people hustle more than others, reaching the success they desire and despite Bret Hart’s quote - ‘The best chance you have if you wanna rise to the top, is to give yourself up to loneliness. Fear nothing, and work hard’ - I’ve found that taking life too seriously can be difficult. Gotta take some time, you know, to just have a beer with friends now and then. I, for one, am guilty of working too hard at times. Naomi is always telling me to slow down. I’m sure you will agree that finding the time to do everything in the span of a day, whether it’s in a video game or life in general, is exhausting. Seriously guys! if we never had to sleep -- man, the number of things that could get done in a day would be killer!

I’ve recently found out, however, that I need to make an effort to focus some of my time to create balance between work and play. Making time to balance out life is not an easy task. If you are anything like me, you enjoy a good few hours of video games nightly. Yet, I find myself constantly comparing the tasks I do in a game to aspects of my life. I don’t know about you but I play video games to escape from reality.

Let’s break this down. Exploring new things comes naturally to me and is probably why I’m drawn to playing video games but more specifically role-playing games. I’m certain that many who enjoy video games as much as I do feel this way as well. Recently, I watched a pretty funny video from Casually Explained that highlights the similarities of our lives to that of a role playing game *rifles through his bookmarks of cool stuff* Voila! 

Just as with video games, our lives are full of adventures that take place in our own narrative. People to see, places to go and getting things done in general are all part of our daily list of activities. If any of you have ever played an mmorpg (FFXIV, WoW, etc) then you’ll know for sure what I’m talking about and you’ll know how increasingly difficult it becomes to travel from place to place, quest to quest, as the virtual worlds of these games get larger and more open. It’s almost overwhelming. Luckily, quality of life adjustments have been made to video games that help with general game play. Again, imagine if these were available to us in our physical world! Yet, I find that these adjustments take away from the open worldness of the game itself. If exploration is not a focal point for a game in an open world game, then it strikes me as odd why gamers continue to push for games that have an increasingly larger open world or a sandbox to play in. 

Before we go any further, I need to make mention of the fact that I do support the open world and sandbox concept in video games. I understand that having a virtual life in a world that is not bound by the main quest is both exhilarating and free. But if the world is meant to be open and free then why do gamers continue to punish developers for not having anything to do in a game where exploration is the focus? Why have an open world in the first place if people just want to speed through the main quest and not take their time to explore the universe and experience the wonders of living in a virtual reality? With a game that promotes itself being open world or sandbox you should expect to be thrown into a world where you can be anything, or anyone. Yes, there are restrictions to what you can do in the game but those restrictions are input to keep you on the path that the developers designed so that you follow the narrative of the story so that one day you can in fact complete the game. Open world and sandbox style games place a large emphasis on exploration and that is what developers hoped you would do. Of course, if your main goal is to speedrun a game then all the power to you but don’t complain that the game was too short or that you had nothing to do!  

I know, I’m not the only one that has lived countless virtual lives in the land of Skyrim, Morrowind and Cyrodiil; have raced across Hyrule, Eorzea and Azeroth in search of fame and fortune; and have laid waste to wizards, knights and monsters out of spite or revenge! I’m not the only one who has accomplished all these tasks because of an appreciation for living in a world of my own. Yet I consistently find myself drawn to complaints on forums or on the internet where gamers unite under a banner of two opposing factions. The open world is either too open or not open enough. Come on people, make up your damn minds. 

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies.” said Jojen. “The man who never reads lives only one.” - George R.R. Martin, 2011, A Dance with Dragons

 

For more from the 2PProject please feel free to check out our latest blog or find us on social media and other platforms:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/2pproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2pproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2PProject/

Website: https://www.2pproject.ca/

The Storytelling is in the Music

I don't know about you guys, but I can't drive anywhere without having the tunes cranked. I enjoy music and, for the most part, listening to music can improve my overall outlook on the day. If I wake up cranky, sometimes all it takes is a bit of music and things turn around. My love for music in general goes deep. I’m not one of those ‘ask me anything about the music’ type of guys but I enjoy listening to all different kinds. My passion is so strong that I will often be found trying to push that passion on others. I’m always trying to get Naomi to listen to music. She’s not a big fan of just sitting and listening like me but she does sometimes go out of her way to buy music she enjoys. I guess we all do. She claims that the music disrupts her focus and puts her to sleep. I suppose that's a legitimate response, haha! I, on the other hand, have music on the go while I'm cooking, while I'm working out, while I'm driving, and while I play video games. Even as I write this article, I have some of the best video game music playing. Right now I’m listening to a few tracks from The ETHEReal String Project, which cover a variety of video game hits, and before that I was listening to a tune from the old school TMNT Arcade video game! Yeah, I’m all over the board when it comes to music. What can I say, music keeps me motivated and adds flair to my day!

Oh, the Nostalgia...

Wanna know the real kicker? As you might have already guessed, the music I listen to is not pop culture, not hard rock or metal (though I do indulge in rock from time to time - lookin’ at you Aerosmith!), and definitely not country, screaming, or easy rock. Nope. I am a genuine fan of video game music. Whether the piece is from the original soundtrack, or a remix of a classic favorite, like the album I am listening to now, as long as the music is video game related, I’ll listen. Not sure why I was drawn to video game music in the first place. I guess you could loosely attribute my love for the music to nostalgia. I have dabbled in creating my own music from time to time, but nothing like those who can lay down any sort of complexity to a track. I've been long interested in the ability of those who are able to compose track after track. For me, listening to music is an opportunity to relive a particular point in a video game. Video game music also helps me to focus, which is why I tend to listen to music while I am working or studying. I see music as an opportunity for musicians and composers alike to play a crucial role in shaping a memorable experience. Through the use of different sounds, the composer and musicians are able to string together a set of chords that can change the mood of the piece. The ability to change the pace of a musical composition from happy to sad, or calming to horrifying, is a skill that only few people have. 

Take a look at the Super Mario series for example. On the surface, the games are colorful, bright and cheery, and yet, the Princess is kidnapped time and again. Thus, the kidnapping sets the stage for Mario to leap from platform to platform without fear of his demise. I mean, one wrong step and it’s game over...literally. There’s something in the music that dissolves the stress of imminent doom. Though, when you grab that start and you are trouncing baddies as fast you can and that familiar tune starts to dwindle it does tend to get a little more hectic as you push for those last few kills! 

Source: Super Mario World

You ask just about anyone to hum that Super Mario tune (..or even that star power one), and I’m sure you’d get a positive response. That’s because the music in Mario is pleasing and memorable. The looping of the music as you play through the games doesn’t get annoying either. I’ll be honest, there are some games out there with some pretty annoying music that is looped that shouldn’t be but hey, we can’t win 'em all! As the gamer, you also feel at ease and have fun playing so that you continue playing. However, you make a subtle change in the music of any of the Super Mario games to a more dark sounding tone, and our perception of the game and how we play is altered. I believe that video games rely on music to tell many different stories. The tale of the love, or loss, of a favorite character, or the painting of a colorful universe, can all be told through music.

The Music of Final Fantasy

One story that has no end and evolved in gameplay alongside the music, is Final Fantasy. Let’s take a minute to chat briefly about one of my all-time favorite composers, Nobuo Uematsu. I know I’m not alone in saying that Uematsu-san is one of the greats. He is the embodiment of Final Fantasy and it’s sequels, spin-offs and inspirations. From his humble beginnings, to his most recent successes, Nobuo Uematsu has accounted for well over 100 albums and just as many, if not more, individual compositions. While his most notable works are from the Final Fantasy series, he does have other successes ranging from Chrono Trigger, Lost Odyssey, Fantasian, among countless others, to big band and concert worthy acts like Distant Worlds, The Black Mages and Earthbound Papas. To be honest, my experience with his work is largely attributed to the albums and soundtracks that have been released in North America. I’ve always found it frustrating that anything related to video game music that has been produced, manufactured and performed in Japan rarely sees the shores of North America. Would it be too much to ask for companies like Square Enix to realize that they also have fans in different regions of the world?. I feel like I should move to Japan. Regardless, for the most part, I usually pick up anything that finds its way here and if I can get my hands on it. 

Source: JAGMO (YT)

Uematsu’s creations and music have influenced my own creativity from time to time. Whenever I’m writing articles, making videos or building something, I draw on his inspiration. Did you know that Uematsu taught himself to play piano at a young age and was never formally instructed to play or compose music? That’s crazy considering the amount of accolades he has collected over the years. I am a self taught guitarist and flute player, though I think I have a long way to go if I ever wanted to follow in his footsteps!

I’ve seen several interviews of him and am always in awe at how humble he is. I personally would have loved an opportunity to be able to sit down and speak with him about his inspirations or even his work in general. Hell, I would settle for a simple handshake! I’m probably not the only one. I’ve enjoyed Uematsu’s work for a long time and was close to giving up my dream of ever being able to see, or hear, one of his compositions live, when I heard that Uematsu was teaming up with Grammy award winning conductor, composer and record producer Arnie Roth. The Final Fantasy Distant Worlds concert series, which showcased full orchestra live music arrangements from the Final Fantasy series, is a must-see. Though I couldn’t secure a ticket to go backstage, I did get some pretty great seats, awesome pictures and Nobuo Uematsu himself was present! I’ll never forget the moment he got up on stage and sang along to fan favorite, ‘One Winged Angel’, from Final Fantasy VII. Sure, you could say I’m devoted to his musical genius, but, in the same breath, I have respect for all video game music. 

Source: Final Fantasy Wiki

Influential Music

I grew up in the 90’s, an age where video games really started coming into their own, so to speak. The music of this era was, for the most part, built on a foundation of 8-bit sounds. Don't get me wrong, video games on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, at the time, really showed what music artists could do. With capacity on 8 and 16 bit cartridges limited to MIDI alternatives of live compositions, video game music carved out a niche market for artists familiar with video games. I believe, however, that it wasn't until the release of the Sony Playstation, and its accompanying disc based games, that we really began to hear arrangements made for a full orchestra. Compositions may not have been recorded live, but you could definitely hear the subtle differences as far as instruments were concerned. The music in video games has always been in a state of evolution, and I think we take for granted the hard work and dedication of many video game composers, like Nobuo Uematsu. The true storytellers, so to speak.

Source: Polygon (YT)

For more from the 2PProject please feel free to check out our latest blog or find us on social media and other platforms:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/2pproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2pproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2PProject/

Website: https://www.2pproject.ca/

What follows is a blog post that I wrote a couple years ago on an older site I had which ended up getting hacked and hijacked. When that happened I became really disheartened because it ultimately meant I had to shut down the site. The website is still something I want to do but for now this blog will serve a purpose. I managed to salvage some of the articles which I uploaded to that site and will eventually be re-uploaded here in the hopes of keeping things flowing. I have several longer articles like the one that follows so I’m hoping it’ll be a mix of long and short form writing. In the end, I just needed a place to write and call home. My hope is that some of my writing will connect with all of you. I won’t add these blurbs to every article, haha! Now, on with the show!

To keep this relevant I have made some edits and updates but have kept most of the article intact. Thanks for reading!!

The Last of Us: A Violent Tale

With the recent pandemic, everything has been migrated online and so it is difficult to keep track of all the micro events and announcements that drop weekly. Therefore, I am unable to make it to all these online events, thus I rely on video game news blogs like Polygon, Gamespot, IGN, etc, like most of you to get my news. However, this article was originally written when I heard a report that Sony would be announcing a number of new games along with updates on some of the more anticipated titles at Paris Games Week in 2017. Naturally, I would scour the net to find out what announcements and updates had been made. During my search I came across an interesting article from Polygon. More on that in a minute. Before that, and to establish context for the Polygon article, I wanted to discuss The Last of Us Part 2 trailer that was released during Paris Games Week. I understand that this is largely outdated now but still worth highlighting a few things as that trailer was amazing and the hype it generated was unlike anything I had seen… other than the FFVII Remake announcement of course!

At the time of this article, I had noticed a trend by Naughty Dog, and other video game developers, working towards creating strong women in leading roles. I am a huge advocate of playing as female characters in video games. Some have argued that this can cause gender confusion in younger people but I’ve often wondered if this really is a bad thing. I mean, exploring your sexuality is an important part of development, isn’t it? Anyway, back on topic. 

One of the reasons I might l go to a movie, or even play a video game, might be due to the presence of a female character as the protagonist. Obviously, it’s important that she fits the story (ie: Ellie/Abby) and that her inclusion is not just to appease the people advocating for social justice. Let me be clear, I am onboard with equity, diversity and inclusion but the character needs to fit the role. In this case, and many others (Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Parasite Eve, etc), it works. Often, however, the depiction of said character is completely opposite of the typical ‘Maiden’ archetype. I think we’ve come a long way since the days of typical archetypes and the trailer for ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ is certainly no slouch when it comes to re-defining the role of women in video games!

The trailer for The Last of Us Part 2 is absolutely fantastic. In addition, it captures the desperation faced by Joel and Ellie in the first game. Unfortunately, the fashion in which we meet and engage with the few characters in the trailer has led to some controversy. As you are also aware, even now, this controversy is still ongoing not only related to violence but a certain character's sexuality preferences along with a choice in narrative for the game. The controversy has even led to death threats towards the developers and even the voice actors. The voice actors are acting, they deserve none of that. Moving on. The other aspect of discussion highlights the graphic violence within the trailer. As gamers, we have a certain expectation when it comes to the brands we love. Looking at The Last of Us, we expect violence and lots of it. I mean, we are talking about the breakdown of society and the emergence of survival. You can’t make Part 2 sunshines and rainbows if the first one was a nightmare come to life. Therefore, I’m not really surprised given the amount of violence in that trailer, yet, some people voiced their concern about the degree of violence depicted in The Last of Us Part 2 along with video games in general.

The Extreme Violence in the Trailer

Enter Polygon. I recently read an article discussing extreme violence in video games and during my reading I soon realized this wasn’t a discussion solely about violence in video games but violence towards women depicted in video games and pop culture (https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/30/16571230/last-of-us-part-...). I take no issue with the author’s stance on how women are objectified or placed in roles that might, MIGHT, promote violence towards women in the real world but more to why her argument was masked by the title. I initially started to read the article because I thought I was going to be reading solely about violence in video games. An interesting discussion topic no less! The author, however, argues how violence in pop culture and video games dehumanizes the consumer to the point that they associate the images of violence towards women with pleasure.

I feel that there are many instances where companies will use and feature violence towards women to capture an audience. While I also do not agree with using violence towards women as a selling feature, a part of me knows that the violent acts towards the women in this scene is not intended to sell the game but rather to introduce a new character and the struggles she faces in the world of ‘The Last of Us’. If they had placed Joel in this scene would the author at Polygon write her article in the same tone? Hmm, that’s a good question I think. The article in question discussed extreme violence but she gradually became more focused on the violence towards women as I read through the article. There are several women in the scene.

Regardless, growing up, many of us have been taught that women are frail, that women can’t fend for themselves. This emotion creates and harbors a feeling that women need to be protected. Yet, as we grow as a society we begin to understand that women are fighters and women are survivors! When a video game developer or movie director decides to put their lead protagonist in a violent situation and we have emotionally invested ourselves in that character, male or female, the survival of that character becomes more personal. Companies then use this personal attachment to sell their products instead of the actual violence that many people think we are attracted to.

Is Violence Necessary?

While I completely agree that violence is an often overused sales tactic, violence can’t be avoided. The very foundation of video games are built around action and violence and the moment you take it away, video games become less of a thrill. I don’t know about you guys but I enjoy the danger found in a video game. The fact that my demise means the end of the game. The very idea that I can die in a video game, however, and restart the level or the game makes it all the more appealing. I am mature enough to understand that any game I play, even as they become more realistic, are not real. 

Many youth in the world are very impressionable and thus our duty as parents and guardians of those youth is to ensure they also understand the difference between what is right, what is wrong, and what is real. I’m not saying shelter our youth to the point they become resentful, after all, kids need some freedom to explore and interact with their environments. My daughter is 3 years old now and we are starting to teach her the difference between what’s on TV and reality. She is now starting to recognize violence on TV and it is is even becoming scary for her. She will tell us that she doesn’t want to watch a show because the character stubbed her toe. I’m lookin’ at you Peppa Pig.

Additionally, I grew up in a household where I was offered many of the same freedoms that I offer Aerith and I turned out alright.The more youth are sheltered, the less prepared they will be when they are out on their own (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/surviving-your-childs-a...). If they are not exposed to certain things while growing up and those experiences pop up later in life, how will they cope if they haven’t confronted a situation such as this before? Do they turn and run? Do they stand up for what’s right? Guidance and supervision from parents and guardians should be reinforced but should also be explained and not completely shut off. I mean, youth are going to consume this content whether you’re there or not. Kids are going to play The Last of Us and it is up to us as parents to make sure they understand this is just a video game.

There will always be content out there that pushes the boundaries of what is accepted and what isn’t. The difference of using violence in a game like ‘The Last of Us’ is that ‘The Last of Us’ offers a cinematic experience. A delicate story of survival and family is told through the desperation faced by the characters in the game. ‘The Last of Us’ would not be the same without the level violence depicted. Simlarly, Super Mario, a game that despite what you may think, is also ripe with death and violence. The game sells because that violence is delicately masked by bright colorful worlds and cute characters. Go figure. Violence sells.

 

Why not use violence as a means to sell your game so long as it has a place in that universe. I’m not a big fan of games that are violent without context. The author of the article must have known that ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ trailer was going to feature violence and knew that it would likely feature a strong willed protagonist. Even better was that the protagonist was a woman, and certainly not the typical ‘maiden’ as featured in a game like Super Mario. Surely the author understood that the violent events the character faced within the game and trailer stays true to the world that Naughty Dog has built. In addition, I believe that the actual selling feature aside from the violence is the anticipation of a good story, who is this woman? What is her story and relationship to Joel or Ellie? I’ll not go into further detail in case none of you have played the game but the trailer was an accurate display of the events in ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ and the consequences faced by both Abby and Ellie. At the time, the trailer left me with many questions and I could not wait to see what role the woman (Abby) played in the coming game! 2P OUT!!

For more from the 2PProject please feel free to check out our latest blog or find us on social media and other platforms:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/2pproject

Twitter: https://twitter.com/2pproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2PProject/

Website: https://www.2pproject.ca/