I spend the night wandering around Megaton, talking to the natives and exploring the buildings. I meet interesting characters such as Mother Maya, the spiritual leader of the bomb-worshipping Children of Atom, and Jenny Stahl, who runs the local restaurant, with a menu filled with dirty water and squirrel stew. The local old woman, Manya, tells me about he dangers that lurk outside the walls, Raiders, Supermutants, etc. which I am sure to encounter later in the game. First, I want to stock up on weapons, before I leave the relative safety of Megaton and wander in the Wastes.
Playing this game, I continue to be astonished by how every little object and character in this game is important. The possibilities of where I can go from here are mind-boggling, and a little confusing. There are so many options that I don't know what exactly I want to do. It's great to have this much freedom in a video game, as it allows for much interactivity and helps me learn.
Dan,
ReplyDeleteHow does this freedom in your gameplay relate to our course readings & topics? By allowing you, the player, to have so much freedom, is there any tradeoff? For example, is the game less motivating or potentially frustrating for an inexperienced player who needs more guidance from the game? As a designer, how would you balance freedom vs. scaffolding the learning within an educational game?