How does the fantasy genre relate to modern media such as video games?
Modern media such as video games, Playstation, PSP, Xbox, Wii, computer games etc. are all based on fantasy genre. Most games are based on the unreal world with all unreal and impossible ideas. As Burn (2005), compares Harry Potter games in his article and writes that though Harry’s actions are different to book and films but still greatly involve the fantasy genre. Perhaps at a greater level, for example, “Harry has to fight the spider, cut the masses of web that hold Aragog aloft and then fight Aragog herself as she descends. He cuts the web and attacks the spider by casting spell (left mouse button) and then evades the attacks of Aragog and her children by running (arrow keys) and jumping (control key) (Burn, 2005, n.p).
The game relies on the player to gain victory or lose. The player has all the freedom to control the game according to their own will. Casting of spell, fighting the giant spider, attacking and jumping at an abnormal height or distance are all form of fantasy. Having control over Harry’s actions allows us to play the game according to our wish. Playing such fantasy genre games gives one the feeling of being practically present in the game. For instance, as Burn (2005, n.p), states “In my case as a player, I arrived at this sequence with insufficient health, since I had not collected enough magic potions along the way”. Here, Burn is stating his experience of the game the sort of language he uses as if he practically and actually had not been able to collect the potions.
Similarly, while playing the game you can find cheats which can provide you ideal power and strength and full health in order to complete the level successfully. Having extra powers, strength and bonus qualities are a common idea used in almost all games. Some games require you to collect money by killing other players in the game such as fighting games while other games may require you to get extra power by killing the enemy etc. or you would be given limited time to collect weapons or other objects in order to receive a higher score. Burn (2005. n.p) also states this in his article that while playing the game you actually become the character, as he states “since he alone is constructed as the players avatar we are addressed by the game as if we are Harry” (Burn, 2005, n.p). Burn (2005), also relates people’s experiences of the game by saying that one of the children playing the Harry Potter game mentions about her experience of the game by saying that “she finds the game authentic because it allows her to be Harry Potter in certain specific, existing ways: ability to spell, to jump, to play Quidditch, to fly on broomstick.” (Burn, 2005, n.p). All these metaphorical terms show the use of fantasy in the different type of games.
Furthermore, the Castle Fiction.com (n.d) also states some characteristics of the modern media or games which show the fiction or the fantasy world present in the games. For example “Do you want to be a muscle-bound warrior? A wizard? Or maybe some type of non-human character like a dwarf or elf?” (Castle Fiction.com, n.d)
Another example of fantasy game is star wars which is a multiplayer online game set in the same universe. In which the genre of science fiction fantasy is presented.
Moreover, if we look at the Wikipedia definition alone, clearly relates to modern media. Wikipedia states fantasy as the genre of magic supernatural phenomena, and setting based on unreal world, Imaginary world and unreal characteristics given to the characters. (Wikipedia, 2011).
This can clearly be related to all games genre. All modern media completely relies on the fantasy genre and can be deeply related to it.
Reference:
Wikipedia. (2011). Fantasy. Retrieved August 13, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy
Castle Fictions.com: Epic and Heroic fantasy video games. (n.d). Retrieved August 12th, 2011 from http://www.castlefiction.com/epic_fantasy_main/epic_fantasy_games.htm
Burn, A (2005). Potter-Literacy- from book to game and back again; literature, film, game and cross-media literacy’, in papers: Explorations into children’s Literature Vol 14, No 3
I believe the reason fantasy translates so well in the gaming world is because of the very essence of fantasy - its escapism. As the above post mentions, the one playing the game IS the character - I AM Harry Potter when I play and its MY decisions/actions that shapes the flow of the story. This is why Role Playing Games (RPG's) are so popular, and the most famous, Final Fantasy, creates elaborate worlds and extensive character profiles. Regarding Harry, - the most famous fantasy on the planet - people are allowed further exploration of the magical world, after the books and films are over.
ReplyDeleteThis is the same reason as to why no other genre holds a candle to fantasy in the fanfiction stakes. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been written and re-written countless times, as has Harry Potter and numerous others. These are all portals of entry for dedicated fans.
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Additionally, we have seen fantasy re-released with pictures, into mini-series' and anime (Earthsea), into radio serials (War of the Worlds), stage shows (Lord of the Rings), into films, into fan re-enactments (Youtube) and into songs (Wierd Al Yancovic).
I agree that your opinion about most games are based on the unreal world with all unreal and impossible ideas, because video games ‘ attraction is the player can do something like transform or use magic even killing others which would not happen in the reality by controlling the characters. Therefore, in the game, the play has more imagination space to discover truths about themselves and about their connection to humanity.
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