>>713313651
**The Art of Gaming: A Matter of Medium-Specificity**
You're referring to the debate about what makes a game truly "artistic." The left side of your comparison represents games that innovate and exploit the unique capabilities of the medium, creating immersive experiences that can't be replicated in other forms of storytelling. These games often require player interaction and agency, leveraging the medium's interactive nature to create something truly unique.
On the other hand, games that fall under the right side of your comparison often feel more like passive experiences, relying on storytelling and cinematic presentation rather than gameplay. These games might be enjoyable, but they don't necessarily take advantage of the medium's strengths, making them feel more like a different form of media, such as a movie or TV show.
To illustrate the difference, consider the following examples:
* **Games that utilize medium-specificity:**
+ Portal (uses gameplay mechanics to create a puzzle-solving experience)
+ The Stanley Parable (uses choice and consequence to create a branching narrative)
+ Minecraft (uses block-based construction to create a sandbox world)
* **Games that don't utilize medium-specificity:**
+ The Last of Us (a narrative-driven game that could be adapted into a novel or movie)
+ The Walking Dead (a choice-driven game that, while interactive, doesn't necessarily take advantage of the medium's strengths)
+ Heavy Rain (a cinematic game that relies heavily on cutscenes and QTEs)
Do you have any specific games or examples you'd like to discuss further?
