Dear Future Gamer
I've just read Gary Darbyshire's letter (FG34). He can't have played Final Fantasy VII then, can he? Anyone who wasn't moved by the climactic events at the end of disc 1 (I won't go into detail as people are still buying it on Platinum) and didn't cry out in outrage has no soul. The total shock and drama of it really brought home to me just how absorbed I was into the whole game. When you're nearly overcome by emotion at a videogame, you know it has happened and that you've been truly entertained.
True, a lot of games aren't exactly life-altering experiences, but neither are most other forms of media. Let's face it, most films aren't exactly involving, and as for the music industry... When you delve a little deeper though, you start to discover the great music, films and games that do it for you.
Some people doubtless think that Billie is the most profound songstress of her age, Space Jam is the deepest film and Minesweeper has the best gameplay ever. That's their view and they're entitled to it. We gamers demand weightier stuff, I'm sure.
I would recommend only a few games that really get a person involved to the extent that Gary mentions. I sympathise with him in a way, as when you've been playing games for this long (I have) there is a tendency to have very high expectations. And finally, I don't think you are a prat at all, Gary. You have a well argued point of view that I just happen to not entirely agree with, that's all. You clearly know your stuff and I just hope you can finally find a game that will do it for you. I suggest Driver because it certainly got me shouting and pad throwing for all the right reasons, and it's fairly original to boot.
Michael Foster
FG:
Thanks for that Michael. Again. It is harder to become emotionally involved in a game than it is through film or music for all kinds of reasons, but some games do manage it and some do it better than films. I've been more scared playing Silent Hill and Alien vs Predator than I ever have watching a film or listening to some music.
