Scenario's Effect on the Success of 2D Puzzle Platformers

Year 2022, , 236 - 258, 30.12.2022

Buse Ergül Kargı

https://doi.org/10.33464/mediaj.1091304

Abstract

The game industry, which started its development with simple children’s toys and continued with box games, became something more by the invention of computer graphics. With computerized graphics being prevalent, there comes the concept of video games. Even though it was not always welcomed, the video game industry became one of the most expansive and high budgeted entertainment tools nowadays. It is even accepted as a sports branch (e-sports), not just a children’s amusement. There are different factors behind every video games’ success. It can change according to the games’ genre as well as other elements. When an assessment was made specific to the 2D puzzle platform games, since all the other components are there to support the narration, it can be seen that one of the most important elements is scenario. In this study, while video game history and the components of visual storytelling are mentioned; the reasons behind people playing video games, puzzle platformers and the importance of the scenario will be appraised. Subsequently, Thomas Was Alone, Limbo and Braid will be evaluated thoroughly by analyzing their connection to different fields like literature, religion and fine arts while their scenarios’ impact on their success’ will be debated. In the end, even though there are lots of different factors that direct a player’s involvement, understanding whether the scenario’s effect is the most important one will be the main purpose. This study has been generated from the writer’s master’s thesis.

Keywords

video games, puzzle, scenario, visual storytelling, platformer

Senaryonun İki Boyutlu (2D) Bulmaca Platform Türü Oyunların Başarısına Etkisi

Abstract

Önce basit çocuk oyuncakları ile başlayıp, daha sonra kutu oyunları ile tarihsel gelişimini sürdüren oyun sektörü, bilgisayarların hayatımıza girmesi ile çok daha farklı bir boyuta ulaşmıştır. Bilgisayar destekli grafiklerin yaygınlaşması ile ortaya video oyun diye bir kavram çıkmıştır. Her zaman aynı yoğunlukta ilgi ile karşılanmamış olsa bile video oyun sektörü, günümüzde hem bütçe hem de yaygınlık olarak eğlence sektörünün birçok alanını geçmiş bulunmaktadır. Artık bir çocuk oyalama aktivitesi olarak görülmediği gibi bir spor dalı (e-spor) olarak bile kabul edilmektedir. Farklı öğelerden oluşan ve özelliklerine göre farklı şekillerde sınıflandırılabilen video oyunların başarıları arkasında birçok farklı etken bulunmaktadır. Bu etkenler oyun türleri arasında da değişiklik gösterebilmektedir. 2 boyutlu bulmaca platform türü oyunlar özelinde bir değerlendirme yapıldığında, diğer tüm elemanların anlatıyı (narration) destekleyici unsurlar olarak kullanıldıkları göz önünde bulundurulursa, bu etkenlerin en önemlilerinden birinin senaryo olduğu görülebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada öncelikle nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak literatür taraması yapılmış, video oyunların tarihsel gelişimi ve görsel hikâye anlatımının öğelerine değinilmiş; video oyunların oynanma sebepleri, bulmaca platform türü ve senaryonun önemi üzerinde durulmuştur. Ardından Thomas Was Alone, Limbo ve Braid oyunları derinlemesine incelenerek bu oyunların edebiyat, din ve resim gibi alanlarla olan etkileşimleri ortaya konulurken senaryonun bu oyunların başarısına etkisi tartışılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonunda, video oyunlarda oyuncunun ilgisini yönlendiren birçok farklı eleman olsa da, senaryonun asıl güdüleyici unsur olup olmadığının görülmesi amaçlanmıştır. Böylece bir sanat alanı olarak oyunlar ve senaryoları geniş bir literatüre sahip olsa da platform oyunlarının özelinde eksik kalmış senaryo konusuna yoğunlaşılması ve hem alanda çalışma yapan araştırmacılara hem de sektördeki oyun tasarımcılarına destek olması istenmektedir. Bu çalışma yazarın yüksek lisans tezinden türetilmiştir.

Keywords

video oyun, bulmaca, platform, senaryo, görsel hikaye anlatımı

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