In the kingdom of video games, there is a very strange category, that of “non-games”. But what are these funny titles? Explanations and examples…
On July 15, 2005, the Game Developers Conference takes place in San Francisco. Satoru Iwata is invited to speak. Who is this? The president of Nintendo… no less. He is here to present the new Zelda, the DS and the company’s next console. And he also talks about Nintendo’s philosophy and the concepts behind some flagship titles. Then he utters these sentences: “’Non-games’ are a form of entertainment in which there is no real winner, nor even a real end. And because it is a place without constraints of rhythm, we avoid the latency problems of wireless. And yes, technical considerations also enter into the conceptualization of “non-games”.
But these titles allowing greater freedom of expression on the part of the players did not wait for Satoru Iwata to exist. Since the beginnings of video games, manufacturers have wanted to offer games that all customers could enjoy. Thus, in 1977, when the Atari company released its Surroundamateurs discover a quirk there called Graffiti video. The user manual also explains that it is a title “just for fun, without any competitive element. Graffiti video allows you to draw on your screen. There you have it: simple fun, no pressure, no records, nothing to beat.
A few years later, in 1982, Alien Garden comes to market. One of the first games to claim loud and clear as artistic, the title gives no instructions to “gamers”, propelled into an environment where they maneuver an entity in the middle of flowers made of crystals. A year later, the programmer of Alien Garden will come out his Distortion, musical game in which you have to cover the center of the screen, all with spaceships and moon dust. Yes, it’s skipped.
A toy?
Will Wright, the man behind Sim City prefers to speak of “software toy”, that is to say, a toy program. And his successful title – which is now available in The Sims – is the application of this principle. Again, nothing to beat, no speed or death toll records. The goal is simple: develop your city and bring characters to life. The time spent does not matter, each player is free to do what he wants – within the limits of the programming of the title, of course – and that is what pleases. Because, if Will Wright’s simulations are quickly imposed, it is because they reach an audience which, traditionally, does not “game” not. The success of SimCity inspires game creators from all walks of life and this is how Nintendo launched its “Nintendogs” for the DS, a title that quickly caught on. And the company of which Mario is the mascot is not a novice in this field since, in his famous speech on “non-games”, Satoru Iwata also referred Animal Crossing.
The advent of cellular telephones contributes to the democratization of “non-games” and confirms the public’s enthusiasm. Today, puzzle, cooking or relaxation games abound. The best example? Candy Crush which turns out to be a real drug as soon as you dive into it. The colorful Pikmin 3 Deluxe explore a mysterious planet while solving puzzles.
Overcooked and the preparation of meals in a restaurant – between two trucks in particular – perfectly fills the minutes in a subway car at rush hour. Puzzle lovers will immerse themselves in Unravel Two in which the characters navigate from one level to another with wool. Journey, he allows you to stay zen while surfing on sand dunes to the sound of enchanting music. And of course, the essential Mario Partywhich is played by several people, is more like a board game… with fun mini games.