A gamers view of architecture

[DrunkenMonkey]

Hi

 

Do computer game players have a natural understanding of space and architecture through their involvement in games?

 

Games like the sims and sim city allow gamers to develop from a simple home to neighbourhood to mass urban planning. Games like Half life 2 and Republic emerse the player in a complex real world with physics, people, governments, religious and social aspects. The Getaway and Project Gotham Racing placethe players into a photorealistic world with easily recognisable buildings and monuments that give a sence of place and orientation from major cities around the world.

 

How long will it be before game developers use architects as consultants to help them develope their worlds in an attempt to make them more realistic and will this be subliminally taken in by the player or will it just be another cool tool like havoc and real world physics.

 

How good would a game designer be on an architectural degree course or even a game player. How good a game would an architect design?

 

bit of a rant but i thought people might find it interesting and have an opinion. sort of carries on from my other rants but hey its a forum lol

 

have fun

[Bugga_Guy]

It has already begun.. I had a job interview with rockstar games 4 years ago.. Before I did architecture, I did 3d games/cartoons. I remember during my interview came this one guy, claimed he just had to meet me since a part of my portfolio was architecture visualization - This guy was an architect, but worked there whos job was setting the plans and provide the look and feel. I remember him telling me that they sent him to places like New York to take photos of architecture and details etc. He would basically set the scope of the level of the game then the artist would work from there.. Must have been a dream job.

[DrunkenMonkey]

yeah sounds like the job i'd love lol

 

doing my dissertation on architecture in computer games, but cant find a single book on the subject, can u beleive it!

 

so just trying to get some opinions on the subject, been playing games since about 1980 and doing architecture since 93 so thought id combine the two.

 

got loads of books on game art and design and loads on virtual space but nothing that combines the two. how annoying lol

 

so how long then before architects use games as a reference for their designs and architectural language. maybe use halos organic alien architecture or even use pong as a reference point?

[TheAllusionisst]

Or how about looking at it from the opposite angle. Look at how mesmerizing the worlds that game companies create are, look at the architectural designs created just based on aesthetics. I think architecture could perhaps borrow from the game world for some abstraction and playfullness. I also look at what detroit is doing with its abstracted retro movement, bringing back the essence of classics into contemporary form and technology. Yes I know there was something called the Postmodern movement! LOL Personally I like the picturesque qualities of the game worlds and remember being awed at the scenes in Diablo II just for the abstraction of historic/classical architecture.

 

I know that some game companies use employee's with architectural backgrounds and I think you have something in your discussion, I just thought I would throw in a different perspective

[DrunkenMonkey]

yeah i remember the lead artitist on the legacy of kain series being trained as an architect there was a section on it in Edge magazine; going through my archieves of them from over the last 10 years!!

 

was funny seeing doom and doom 2 reviewed, doom 2 was 50 pounds sterling and came on 5 discs!!! lol

 

Odd how games have developed like a project would text driven, plan views, sections, perspective and then full 3d render

 

for example, just the first things that jumped into my head

 

the hobbit, wizards of wor, jet set willy, wolfenstein, halo

[IC]

I had 'floppy disk' Doom. Sounds a bit like a double entendre. You could read all the code!

 

There was a programme on the BBC recently about how children's behaviour was affected by playing computer games.

Apart from some violent reactions when they were told to stop playing, the only effects were good! They were more logical than non-players and their spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination were well beyond normal.

[Chris_Mac]

Hi there,

 

a friend of mine did his dissertation on Architecture in computer games when I was at university (about 5 years ago now). I seem to remember he got a very high mark.

 

If you'd like I can put you in contact with him.

[DrunkenMonkey]

cheers that would be cool

[vizwhiz]

TheAllusionist

Or how about looking at it from the opposite angle. Look at how mesmerizing the worlds that game companies create are,

 

 

here is a cool quote for you

 

 

Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as

kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching pills and

listening to repetitive music.

-- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989

 

 

LOL, hope This helps

 

Randy

[TheAllusionisst]

Hmmmm, How did you know I run around in dark rooms, munching pills and listen to techno rave?