Hello everyone and welcome to day 9 of my 31/31! Today is the first day of Ramadan, which is a holy month in the Muslim calendar. It’s an exciting time of the year in my family, and it’s definitely one that has a festive air around it. Because of this, I was inspired to make today’s blog about celebrations in gaming. Throughout gaming’s history, many things have evolved. From gameplay, to graphics, to the story, there are countless improvements and leaps forward that have occurred. However, one aspect that seems to have progressed a bit less than others is our ability to convey a celebratory atmosphere. We can experience a whole range of emotions now in games, from sadness to happiness, from fear to excitement. However, I am a bit surprised at how rarely I feel as if a game is adequately conveying a celebration when I am playing.
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Before we can judge what makes a good celebration though, we need to first analyze our criteria for what makes a good celebration. In my opinion, a good celebration is something that is appropriate to the achievement. In this definition I am attempting to separate a “celebration” from the simpler emotions of euphoria, joy, and the like. Take for example the recent blockbuster hit The Last of Us. The game’s ending does an excellent job in evoking a pure, raw emotion from the gamer, and was one of my favorite endings that I have ever played through. My emotions ran the gambit from joy, to sadness, to just plain relief at the fact that the journey is coming to a close. However, despite featuring excellent voice acting and facial expressions, I still felt a bit hollow about the overall mood of the moment. I understand that the emptiness is what the game was going for, but it’s almost as if the moment was seen as anti-climactic. This makes me think, what else could have gone into this moment? In my opinion, the biggest culprit of the rift between my emotions as a gamer in that moment, and of the characters emotions is that both characters happened to have the same exact feelings at the time, despite both going through completely different situations. In addition, the whole dilemma that one of the characters goes through (I’m trying to tiptoe around spoilers), isn’t pondered any further than a simple question. The result is a ho-hum, “okay, so that’s how things are.” It leaves the gamer to assume what happens next, but in a game with so much uncertainty, that felt a bit off. I think that what would have made the ending even better would have been to have more questions be asked, to really show an uncertainty at the end there. This would have lined up with the tone of the overall game, and would be the perfect ending in my opinion. However, the ending was one of my all-time favorites, so I am just nitpicking there.
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Switching gears here, I am going to now take a look at celebrations in the Mario series. The first example in the series being the celebration in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This celebration occurs in the opening sequence of the game, when a cake is being delivered to Princess Peach’s castle. While yes, the story in Mario has never been a strongpoint by any means, I was disappointed at just how lackluster the presentation was in that moment. Sure, there were the characters jumping around, but besides that, there wasn’t much else to signify an actual celebration. It was so minimal that it almost had a comical effect. One would think that the princess would have at least a few more streamers or something.
On the flip side of that though is the celebration at the start of Mario Galaxy 2. Now this is a scene that correctly conveys a sense of celebration. You understand that the Star Festival is a big deal, and the multiple colors, the cheery soundtrack, the people in the street, and the star pieces falling from the sky all give a sense of wonder and celebration adequate for the event. This atmosphere pulls double duty in the game, by setting up the importance of what Bowser did next. This helps give an air of sadness to the event, and actually makes the gamer care about the story, even if it is a sidenote in the overall scheme of the game.
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The last example that I am going to take a look at is of the Madden series. The series does a great job making addicting gameplay, but always seems to fall just a bit short when it comes to the more minor details like the crowd, the commentary, and the Super Bowl Celebrations. The Madden game that I have spent the most time playing is Madden 08. I love the game, but I always am disappointed at just how lackluster the Super Bowl celebrations are. Some pixelated confetti falls, the coach is hosed with Gatorade, and the trophy is presented. However, the announcers don’t say anything on the matter, and all the players do is just jump one or two times. However, in Madden 13, the most recent entry in the series, the celebration has taken steps in the right direction. The announcer makes a statement calling the team the new Super Bowl Champs, and there are more animations besides just jumping. Players are now tackling one another, making gestures towards the sky, and looking around in awe. Gatorade is again poured over the coach, but now, the trophy is presented by a member of the NFL, and every player lines up to touch the trophy, with joy over their faces. To end the celebration, the team captain and the head coach then raise the trophy up high. As solid as this presentation is, it still feels like it use something else to bring it over the top. Going back to the statement that a celebration should be an event or emotion adequate to the accomplishment, I feel as if a celebration in this case should reflect how it is in real life. This being something that is over-the-top, and even a bit chaotic, considering the magnitude of both emotion and accomplishment in that situation. For example, none of the players are diving on their knees like a soccer player after a goal, and none of the players facial expressions seem too excited, despite the actions they are doing suggesting otherwise. Also, The announcer does announce that the team has won the Super Bowl, but does so in the most monotone and flat way possible. Finally, my biggest complaint about the celebrations is that there are not nearly enough people on the field. When you watch the Super Bowl celebration on T.V., the first thing anyone sees is people. And lots of them too. In the celebration in Madden 13, I routinely see only 2 cameramen, and the NFL official when it came to people that aren’t on the teams that just played. If the series could include security guards, more cameramen, interviewers, and the like, then the game would take another step forward. Despite this criticism, I am happy to see continual improvement in this area from the franchise, and in the gaming sector as a whole. I’m optimistic to see this focus on celebrations continue into the future, and hope that it does in fact happen.
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That’s all for today’s blog. Please join me again for other blogs on my 31/31. What do you think of celebrations in gaming? How do they compare to other aspects in a game? Any celebrations in particular stand out? Please feel free to leave a comment, and I will answer as soon as I can. I would just like to end this blog by saying Happy Ramadan everyone, and let this month give you blessings and well-being if you are Muslim or not. Peace out.![]()
Before we can judge what makes a good celebration though, we need to first analyze our criteria for what makes a good celebration. In my opinion, a good celebration is something that is appropriate to the achievement. In this definition I am attempting to separate a “celebration” from the simpler emotions of euphoria, joy, and the like. Take for example the recent blockbuster hit The Last of Us. The game’s ending does an excellent job in evoking a pure, raw emotion from the gamer, and was one of my favorite endings that I have ever played through. My emotions ran the gambit from joy, to sadness, to just plain relief at the fact that the journey is coming to a close. However, despite featuring excellent voice acting and facial expressions, I still felt a bit hollow about the overall mood of the moment. I understand that the emptiness is what the game was going for, but it’s almost as if the moment was seen as anti-climactic. This makes me think, what else could have gone into this moment? In my opinion, the biggest culprit of the rift between my emotions as a gamer in that moment, and of the characters emotions is that both characters happened to have the same exact feelings at the time, despite both going through completely different situations. In addition, the whole dilemma that one of the characters goes through (I’m trying to tiptoe around spoilers), isn’t pondered any further than a simple question. The result is a ho-hum, “okay, so that’s how things are.” It leaves the gamer to assume what happens next, but in a game with so much uncertainty, that felt a bit off. I think that what would have made the ending even better would have been to have more questions be asked, to really show an uncertainty at the end there. This would have lined up with the tone of the overall game, and would be the perfect ending in my opinion. However, the ending was one of my all-time favorites, so I am just nitpicking there.
Switching gears here, I am going to now take a look at celebrations in the Mario series. The first example in the series being the celebration in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. This celebration occurs in the opening sequence of the game, when a cake is being delivered to Princess Peach’s castle. While yes, the story in Mario has never been a strongpoint by any means, I was disappointed at just how lackluster the presentation was in that moment. Sure, there were the characters jumping around, but besides that, there wasn’t much else to signify an actual celebration. It was so minimal that it almost had a comical effect. One would think that the princess would have at least a few more streamers or something.
On the flip side of that though is the celebration at the start of Mario Galaxy 2. Now this is a scene that correctly conveys a sense of celebration. You understand that the Star Festival is a big deal, and the multiple colors, the cheery soundtrack, the people in the street, and the star pieces falling from the sky all give a sense of wonder and celebration adequate for the event. This atmosphere pulls double duty in the game, by setting up the importance of what Bowser did next. This helps give an air of sadness to the event, and actually makes the gamer care about the story, even if it is a sidenote in the overall scheme of the game.
The last example that I am going to take a look at is of the Madden series. The series does a great job making addicting gameplay, but always seems to fall just a bit short when it comes to the more minor details like the crowd, the commentary, and the Super Bowl Celebrations. The Madden game that I have spent the most time playing is Madden 08. I love the game, but I always am disappointed at just how lackluster the Super Bowl celebrations are. Some pixelated confetti falls, the coach is hosed with Gatorade, and the trophy is presented. However, the announcers don’t say anything on the matter, and all the players do is just jump one or two times. However, in Madden 13, the most recent entry in the series, the celebration has taken steps in the right direction. The announcer makes a statement calling the team the new Super Bowl Champs, and there are more animations besides just jumping. Players are now tackling one another, making gestures towards the sky, and looking around in awe. Gatorade is again poured over the coach, but now, the trophy is presented by a member of the NFL, and every player lines up to touch the trophy, with joy over their faces. To end the celebration, the team captain and the head coach then raise the trophy up high. As solid as this presentation is, it still feels like it use something else to bring it over the top. Going back to the statement that a celebration should be an event or emotion adequate to the accomplishment, I feel as if a celebration in this case should reflect how it is in real life. This being something that is over-the-top, and even a bit chaotic, considering the magnitude of both emotion and accomplishment in that situation. For example, none of the players are diving on their knees like a soccer player after a goal, and none of the players facial expressions seem too excited, despite the actions they are doing suggesting otherwise. Also, The announcer does announce that the team has won the Super Bowl, but does so in the most monotone and flat way possible. Finally, my biggest complaint about the celebrations is that there are not nearly enough people on the field. When you watch the Super Bowl celebration on T.V., the first thing anyone sees is people. And lots of them too. In the celebration in Madden 13, I routinely see only 2 cameramen, and the NFL official when it came to people that aren’t on the teams that just played. If the series could include security guards, more cameramen, interviewers, and the like, then the game would take another step forward. Despite this criticism, I am happy to see continual improvement in this area from the franchise, and in the gaming sector as a whole. I’m optimistic to see this focus on celebrations continue into the future, and hope that it does in fact happen.
That’s all for today’s blog. Please join me again for other blogs on my 31/31. What do you think of celebrations in gaming? How do they compare to other aspects in a game? Any celebrations in particular stand out? Please feel free to leave a comment, and I will answer as soon as I can. I would just like to end this blog by saying Happy Ramadan everyone, and let this month give you blessings and well-being if you are Muslim or not. Peace out.