Are you an avid video game player?
Have you ever marveled or, the opposite, resented the quality of the architecture in the video game of your choice?
If that is the case, you must realize how crucial good architecture is in enhancing the quality and experience of any video game.
Amateurs might not pay as much attention, but experienced video game payers can asses how complex architecture adds to the overall thrill and enjoyment derived from the game itself. The vibrancy and intricacy of the surroundings keep the player hooked till the end; therefore, if you are a game developer or an interested player, keep reading this article to get into the details of the significance of architectural designs and composition in video games.
What is Architecture in Video Games?
If you haven’t yet immersed yourself fully in a virtual game environment, this concept might be new to you. While most people relate the word architecture to buildings as in the real world, simply put, architecture in video games refers not only to just buildings, houses, and hideouts but encompasses its broad spectrum of interior, design, layout, and cues.
You might be surprised to discover that even the virtual avatar’s clothing, backdrop, sound effects, and lighting are part of the video game’s architecture. Hence, architecture defines the setting, atmosphere, and tone of a virtual gaming setup.
Keeping in consideration the game’s difficulty level and target age group, the goal of architecture in video games is almost always the same. The game develop strives to design and implement the architecture in a manner that excites and engages the player by ensuring hyperrealistic settings.
The architecture must regulate players’ experience in relation to feelings, thoughts, and ideas, thereby eliminating the need for overt signals and cues, which can, at times, be annoying and discouraging.
Evolution of Architecture in Video Games
1. Early Video Games
When video games became a popular pastime activity for young adults, technology had not yet made its mark. Therefore, the visual quality of the game was poor if assessed through today’s standards.
Earlier games incorporated simplistic landscape structures and pixelated images. Games with 8 or 16 bits often had bocks piled up to represent landmarks and structures. Surface-level geometric details and sound quality were provided.
However, despite these obvious restraints, these simplistic structures formed the basis of more complex architecture in video games. Further details and advancements were added to and imposed on these geometric shapes to resemble the real world. Developers, therefore, owe the extent of design freedom to such pixelated visuals.
2. Technological Advancement
With the advent of technology and innovation in almost every other sphere of the digital world, video games made a dramatic shift from 2D to 3D graphics.
This shift immediately improved the element of realism and aesthetic appeal of video games. The environment becomes increasingly interactive and immersive with every step of the way. For the first time, game developers could experiment with fully realized building on an enormous scale, a luxury entirely unheard of before.
Games such as “Tomb-Raider” and “Super Mario 64” came out as visual product representations of 3D graphics and the potential they held within themselves for the future. The new gameplay also showcased various subelements that can be manipulated for players’ interest. These included virtual navigation and interaction that enhanced the game’s appeal by tenfold.
3. Current trends
As you are aware, the contemporary world has made significant improve,ent in digital and virtual faculties. Archtecture in video games is no exception.
Not only has the style and design diversified, but gaming enthusiasts have expanded their interests over several genres, thereby pushing the boundaries of architectural resourcefulness. Some popular gaming genres include science fiction, fantasy, suspense and mystery, and world-building (futuristic and ancient).
The primary aim of modern day game designers is to create a hyperrealistic setting that aptly captures the essence of real world navigation and design. This not only makes use of their artistic capabilities but also challenge the intellectual boundires of game players who immerse themseleves in a chalenging enviornment.
Importance of Architecture in Video Games
By now, you must have constructed a rough idea of how architecture influences the player’s perception and the game’s overall reception by the audience. However, there are multiple facets to the important role architecture plays in video games. The following points will further elucidate the part architecture plays in enhancing the visible appeal of the activity.
1. Realistic Virtual Environment
The primary aim of architecture in video games should be to turn the seemingly “unreal” simulation into a real one. Architecture can be tweaked and adjusted to achieve this effect.
Games that appear as morbidly unreal and a discouraging copy of reality suffer from decreased user interaction in contrast to games with immersive environments. Mediocre games are often defined by the poor quality of their backdrop. Most often than not, they are left on mute and never accessed again.
Now, consider games where you can sense your opposition’s presence by faint footsteps or the realistic sensory illusion of a fire. Which setting will elevate your overall rating and experience?
The daunting task of creating a simulation that is more real than the actual task must be entrusted to experienced game developers. However, considering the difficulty of the aforementioned task, the result is nevertheless gratifying.
2. Emotional Engagement
Consider for a second: Would you prefer to partake in an activity that ignites a strong emotional response, or would you rather invest your time and energy in a task that elicits a weak emotional response?
Most people would affirm in the positive. Architecture in video games must be designed in order to ensure players’ emotional engagement and investment in the virtual simulation. A zombie apocalypse for example, must be situated in a dark, gloomy street that inspires fear and triggers a strong emotional response.
The architectural elements most crucial to achieving the desired effect are sound, lighting, characters, backdrop, and utilization/access to space. An excellent game design almost swallows its players until they lose track of time. Consider, for example, popular games like Minecraft, with an overall immersive and consistent environment.
3. Design Creativity
Video game developers and designers are often up for a tough challenge, especially one that challenges their artistic and design capabilities. If you are one such enthusiastic game designer or are planning to develop one soon, architecture in video games is ought to become your favorite design element.
If you may wonder why, this is because it allows greater design flexibility with many tiny elements that can be manipulated to achieve the desired result.
A game developer, as opposed to a real-world architect, has unlimited resources and the freedom to be immersed in world-building. Lavish and extraordinary gaming environments and settings can thus be generated to the developers’ credit, devoid of real-world restrictions that might curtail a developer’s artistic imagination and visualization.
4. Navigation
Architecture in video games can either facilitate or complicate navigation within the game. Yet again, it depends on the game’s difficulty level and the age requirement of target players.
Depending on the game’s concept, several obstacles and puzzles can be added in the virtual setting to make the game more rewarding and gratifying for the final user. Video games that are carefully designed and curated often lead players through branching routes and incorporate elements, such as ladders and platforms, to enhance visual realism.
Additionally players are often provided with the opportunity to engage in a virtual world-building by providing them with various options with costs attached. The player may choose between characters, storylines, land and space, weapons of choice, etc.
Most players prefer their intellectual abilities to be challenged in the game. Therefore, games that involve puzzles and cases that can be solved through cues interest such users. Architecture can help bring out the visual focus of such features to keep the player’s interest intact.
5. Aesthetic Quality and Story-Telling
Narratives and stories matter, even in video games. These not only challenge the players’ emotional intelligence but also add an element of suspense and mystery that is essential to the overall effect of the video game.
Storytelling is not only constituted of and influenced by words and verbal cues but also depends on several inanimate objects’ position, placement, quality, and vibrancy. To give an example, what do abandoned ruins imply in a game that follows building empires? If you say the remains of a ruined civilization, the purpose of architecture in the game is achieved. Similarly, a dystopian futuristic world must be marked by dystopian elements such as technology and megastructures.
The aesthetic quality of the architecture is equally important. If a game developer chooses to employ colors that are not easy on the eyes and contrast sharply with the rest of the environment, the player will not be inclined to play the video game. Similarly, if a street that is supposed to be historic and gloomy has too bright a lighting, the designer will inadvertently sabotage the tonal implications of the virtual gaming enviornment.
Limitations of Architecture in Video Games
While Architecture in video games is a critical factor, developers, therefore, face several challenges while designing architecture for games. The apparent complexity of the task depends on users, budget, skills, etc.
Below, we have selected and outlined some of the many limitations that are somewhat overlooked by game designers when beginning a new project. Designing a game is a lengthy and tedious process. To make sure that the design aligns with your vision and asks for fewer revisions, make a note of the following trends and restraints that might hamper your progress.
1. Technical Restraints
As a game developer/designer, have you ever come across the stress of signing your reactive ambitions with the scale and overall limitations of the project, technical and otherwise?
If so, this assumption is relevant for your future projects. While architecture in video games allows for flexible and intricate detailing, the extent to which features can be added and removed depends on several differential factors.
For example, such factors include storage, memory, processing speed, capacity, etc. If video games take higher than expected load times, the result is often consistently fewer downloads and users.
To overcome such constraints, first of all, tailor your creative imagination according to the resources available on hand. Secondly, you have the liberty to employ several optimization tactics, such as LOD systems, asset streaming, and procedural generation, to maximize the visual power of the video game.
Additionally, developers can choose to invest in the latest technology as an alternative measure to maximize storage and processing power alongside the scale and visual aesthetic of the video game and its characters/objects.
2. Art vs. Reality
As we discussed before, the primary aim of video game developers in today’s age is to construct and achieve a hyperrealistic setting that echoes the voices and sensory cues of the real world.
However, players still expect a certain balance between the realism a game developer strives to achieve and artistic expression. It is, after all, a game. Overtly rigid adherence to portraying a realistic portrait of the world and characters can sometimes sabotage the entire purpose and concept of the video game.
Therefore, developers are advised to make use of their creative license to achieve a sense of harmony in the virtual setting. Certain stylization effects should be left as it is to elicit a sense of escape, that most users strive to find in a video game.
Additionally, if too much emphasis is placed on mimicking the real world, players might feel as if they are less in control of their surroundings, which is one of the key motivations behind immersing oneself in a virtual environment. This might compel them to stop playing.
3. User Generated Content
Most architects find it difficult to design games that provide the players with a greater sense of control. However, most successful games, like Minecraft and Roblox, make the users feel as if they are the architects of the game itself.
Therefore, generating user-generated content is no easy feat. Research well beforehand to ensure that the game produces maximum results. Players should feel in control of the virtual game environment they are navigating.
Additionally, user-generated content can also, to a large extent, guarantee the replayability and longevity of the game’s concepts, even with multiple revisions and versions. Focus on coming up with a unique and engaging concept that doesn’t age too fast with time.
Conclusion
If you have read this far, you must have developed a thorough understanding of video game architecture and its role in increasing the game’s longevity and visual appeal.
By captivating players with visually grappling aesthetics, video game architecture epitomizes how far technology has advanced. This visually interactive world is available to gamers across all gaming platforms and device, improving accessibility.
The potential of this cornerstone is being explored further through assets such as NFTs in the metaverse. While the concept has been around for a while, there is still enough room for further exploration and innovation.
Overall, architecture in video games is used to create an alluring visual reality that acts both as an escape and a place to test the player’s intellectual and emotional capabilities. designers, on the opposite end, have increased creative freedom and liberty, which they can manipulate to come up with new user experiences.
FAQs
Q. To what extent can players contribute to architecture in video games?
While the primary role of creating architecture in video games rests with the developer, nevertheless, players can still exercise some control over the virtual setting through navigation controls, world-building, and user-generated content.
Q. What is the role of environmental storytelling in video games?
Environmental storytelling refers to strategically positioning objects, landscape features, and avatars/characters in the virtual gameplay. If these elements are missing or in opposition to the concept of the video game, the player will notice the inconsistency as his interest will be greatly reduced.
Q. What is the future of architecture in video games?
The future holds unlimited possibilities for architecture in video games. Technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) promise to offer new prospects and additions to the world of video games.
Q. How do developers ensure architectural design accessibility in video games?
Accessibility is a key feature that is common to all types of games. A developer must make sure to install clear and precise navigation cues, ensure accessibility to users who might be differently abled, along with providing customizable options for interface and control.
