Gaming Parallels

Gaming Parallels

This essay will explore the similarities and differences between computer games and traditional games, looking at the history and development of games through the years. You can state many differences at first glance. For example you can see that computer games are virtual, and do not follow the same specifications as traditional games. However they do have some similarities that are easy to spot.

Games have been around for many years before Computer games came into existence. There are many forms of games that have evolved from traditional into computer games. Good examples are Solitaire, which is a card game that has been implemented into many computerised version of the game. An incredible amount of other traditional games have also been implemented into computerised games.

The game Dungeons and dragons is a traditional game I will be focussing on that hasn’t necessarily been implemented into a computer game however draws many similarities to games that have been made specifically for the computer or consoles. Dungeons and dragons was designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Ameson and published for the first time in 1974. The game has spawned many versions and editions. Dungeons and dragons can be played between 12 people at anyone time, making the game more fun and exciting and longer.

The game does have similarities to the game Champions of Norrath, a game that came out on the PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game follows a fantasy world that spawned from the original game EverQuest which came out in 1999. This game is a narrative game, though is not on rails, though has many quests that’ll keep the character active throughout the game.

How these games draw similarities are the fact they are both set in fantasy worlds. The games also can hold multiple players, however unlike Dungeons and dragons that can support up to 12 players, the Champions of Norrath, can hold up to 4 players, these can play together on the same Console, or over the internet. They also have similar themes and genre, and character types. The games both follow the Elf, Orc, Human and other races. However the games have differences. These differences include the interaction. The game of Dungeons and dragons is based on chance, the rule of Dice, the game uses Dice to determine the outcome of the game. 

However the game Champions of Norrath is based on interaction, you interact with the character and play through as him or her fighting your way through goblins orcs and various other monsters to reach your goal.

The games themselves spawned many fandoms and have both been compared to each other on many occasions. Thse fandoms have been able to come together and form social groups for playing. Though Dungeons and Dragons isn’t a game that can be played on your own, The Champions of Norrath can support single player.

The games themselves share many similarities and I feel that the Champions of Norrath itself is one of the many spawned versions of the Game Dungeons and Dragons itself. I loved playing Champions of Norrath as a Child and would still play it now and though I have never played Dungeons and Dragons I can still say it is popular amongst our generation.