Structured Play

I enjoyed playing Bubble Bobble in the arcades and then later on a home system. The repetition of each level offered a simple structure to learn the patterns and power-ups available at each stage.

Although it seemed random to the untrained eye, I learned the system of "tubes" that determined which power-up would be provided next and what each of them did. It was like playing inside an intricate machine that I could understand and control.

Knowledge

Systematic Challenges

TRANSFORMATION

Andy learned how retro games build up layers of challenges that can be tackled in different ways. Repeated attempts at the simple levels enable players to process a bit more of what is happening in each attempt.

Activities: Andy found that the following related activities worked alongside playing Bubble Bobble:

Visit Arcades

TRIP

Although they are out of fashion it can be a great day out to visit a pier or local arcade with a pocket full of change.
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Can't Get You Into My Head

Playing The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Gamecube should have been the ideal escape when I had a spare evening. It had reviewed well and I knew other people who were playing through it and loving it.

However, I really struggled. The battles were simple enough. But tracking the dialogue-heavy story and remembering what to fetch and carry from where and to whom overloaded my brain. I persevered hoping it would click, but had to admit that I simply couldn't enjoy it.

I felt like a bit of a failure as I knew this was a good game; and just the sort of game I would enjoy. But there was something about it that was a block in my brain. Like trying to read a Russian novel where the characters seem to endlessly have new names.

As you can read below, I later realised that the issue here was processing information, navigating a world and remembering details about battling. For my busy overloaded dad-brain, there was too much to process. It was possible, but the effort involved was tiring and made it not enjoyable.

Disposition

Can I Play Video Games?

TRANSFORMATION

Andy found himself questioning whether modern video games were something he could enjoy or were just too confusing and hard work.

A Way Into Big Budget Gaming

Coming back to gaming for myself, Uncharted was exciting. It was the sort of experience I knew my peers were enjoying and raving about but that seemed beyond me.

Over the course of a few weeks, I chipped away at the game in the easiest mode. This let me recreate some repetition that I had enjoyed with the simpler arcade games. Over repeated sessions, I got to grips not only with the shooting but the story, characters and general geography of each location.

After about a month I managed to finish the game. It felt really good. Not only seeing the story through to the end but being properly part of this rising generation of people who loved playing these kinds of video games.

Disposition

Discovering The Right Game

TRANSFORMATION

Andy reconnected with his childhood enjoyment of playing games, by finding a game that wasn't too complicated to navigate. He reclaimed the sense of being someone who understood and enjoyed video games.

Activities: Andy found that the following related activities worked alongside playing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune:

Uncharted Timeline

YOUTUBE

Watching through this timeline of the Uncharted games can either help tie things together when you have finished, or get you enthused about an epic story before you start.
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Scaffolded Processing For Easier Play

Playing Alba on the Switch was a bit like going back to make peace with adventure games like Wind Waker. Here was a game with a (reasonably) open world, a long list of things to do and people to meet.

Knowing how my head worked better, I could check a few things before playing. Firstly, there was a map from the start. Secondly, there was a list of people you had met. Finally, you could use the gyro on the controls to fine-tune your aim.

This meant that playing Alba was a dream. I could process information as and when I wanted. If I forgot who someone was or what I needed to do next I could look it up. This created an experience that I continue to go back to. I think it's the only game I've played that I wish was longer.

Disposition

Stories For Everyone

TRANSFORMATION

Andy's continued return to video games in older years was helped by playing Alba, which reiterated that even complex challenges and open spaces could be inviting and processable by a wide audience.

Creating A Calming Play Context

Playing Kena: Bridge of Spirits was something I approached with caution. It was a big open-world game with really hard battles. Having enjoyed Knack and other story-driven action games I was hopeful there would be enough to pull me along here.

At first, I struggled to find a rhythm. There was a map and pretty good guidance on where to go next for your missions. But there was also quite a lot of running back and forth between locations to check you hadn't missed anything.

I got to the point where it was too much at about the same time my daughter joined me to play. She was able to give me some guidance on where to go and had a fresh set of eyes on the interesting story. This changed my perspective on the game enough to find the energy to continue.

I made sure I set aside a good chunk of time to play regularly each evening. This, along with my daughter's help, was enough to let me start to progress. A few days of doing this and I was away. The systems clicked and the load on my brain was reduced. I did hit a difficulty spike a few days later, but switching to an easier setting was a good way for me to resolve this.

Identity

Owning Video Game Stories

TRANSFORMATION

Although he initially found them difficult to process, Andy found a series of video games he could enjoy and finish. This contributed to his sense of identity as someone who understands the potential of this new media.

The Relief Of Character Lookups

I've known that video games take an effort for me to process for some time. Increasingly, I've understood how it's the combination of information, the requirement for quick decisions and fine control and navigation that compete for brain power.

Playing Triangle Strategy was a breath of fresh air for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there's the detailed democratic process where you gather information and then work to convince your party of a particular decision. This structure let me not only take the dialogue at my own pace but understand which aspects were most important.

Secondly, I could press a button whenever someone was talking to get a picture of them, their allegiances and a short account of who they were. This made a huge difference when I inevitably forgot who was who, or what was important to them.

Disposition

Feeling Seen By Accessibility

TRANSFORMATION

Andy felt understood by the game designers who offered the exact information in a form he could process when he needed it.