Architects Choose Top Ten Videogame (Architectural) Worlds

[John Funk]

Architects Choose Top Ten Videogame (Architectural) Worlds

Architectural publication (for architects, natch) The Architects' Journal has chosen what it deems the ten best architectural worlds in videogames [http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/the-critics/top-10-the-architecture-of-computer-games-part-i/5203763.article], and... not all of them are what you'd expect.

Now, it stands to reason that people who are in a certain field for a living tend to look at their respective interests in a rather different manner than those not "in the biz," so to speak. I know that personally, I've started viewing these games we all love in a different light than I did before I made them my job.

Nevertheless, I can't help but feel that some of the choices in The Architects' Journal's "Top 10: The Architecture of Videogames" list are ... slightly perplexing. All right, so. #10 is the world of the Mario Bros. Odd, perhaps, but we'll give it to them based on how it "takes the layering of patterned facades in bright colours (sp) to another level." Fine, okay. I can go with that.

#9? Castle Wolfenstein. Okay, sure, they give credit where credit is due - to design a castle with a constant swastika motif probably earns some respect points in their architectural books. #8, on the other hand, is the world of Tetris.

Wait, what? Tetris?

[blockquote]Tetris can teach us all a lesson in dimensional co-ordination and rotational symetry. Featuring just seven standard building components as the basis for construction, it takes a radical approach to reducing waste material. Tetris has an aesthetic charm too: its combinations of solid and void have proved inspirational for a range of architects including Slovenian architecture studio, OFIS [http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/ilhamsaibi/architecture/TetrisApartmentsOFISarhitekti2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://architecture.gapuak.net/tag/ana-kosi/&usg=__OKTm0m6hkz1MlmR_xTx38isBtDA=&h=1027&w=1100&sz=305&hl=en&start=19&um=1&tbnid=bVTysUxmUv2AfM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtetris%2Bfacade%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GBfficial%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1].[/blockquote]

Like I said, they're looking at it from a different perspective. It's an interesting list, and there are some more oddities, though I certainly can't disagree with their #1.

It seems that where the schools of architecture and gaming overlap lies puzzlement indeed.

Permalink

 

[Erana]

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

No link Mr. Funk?

I'm really curious as to some of the other entries.

 

[Cousin_IT]

to tell us about a top10 list, then dont give us a link? Thats mean

 

[xHipaboo420x]

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/the-critics/top-10-the-architecture-of-computer-games-part-i/5203763.article

That's it I think. It's going a bit slow, but that might just be for me

 

[Christemo]

i knew it! WoW won. Epic wins FTW.

 

[Rhayn]

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

Halo 1 and 2 are on there, place 4.

So anyway, I just bet a beer on WoW being place 1, and I was right. How tiresomely predictable.

 

[John Funk]

D'oh. HTML fixed, the link should be there now.

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

Halo 1 and 2 are on there, place 4.

So anyway, I just bet a beer on WoW being place 1, and I was right. How tiresomely predictable.

And yet not undeserved.

 

[TheDoomThing]

This is what happens when people that aren't gamers or have any experience playing current-gen games try to make a Top Ten of video games. It just doesn't work that well. It seems these guys only know older games.
Also...Tetris? What the heck?

Red Faction: Guerilla should be on there, if only because most any building you see can be deconstructed in just a few minutes. With a sledge-hammer.

EDIT: Oops, too late. But now that I read it, I find it to be incredibly small-ranged. It's pretty much only games that are pretty mainstream. No indie games to speak of, or anything that off the beaten trail.

 

[JRCB]

This is what happens when people that aren't gamers or have any experience playing current-gen games try to make a Top Ten of video games. It just doesn't work that well. It seems these guys only know older games.
Also...Tetris? What the heck?

Red Faction: Guerilla should be on there, if only because most any building you see can be deconstructed in just a few minutes. With a sledge-hammer.

EDIT: Oops, too late.

Yeah, but the world in that game is rather blandish.

I thought many of those deserved to be on the list. Didn't even think that the number one spot would be on there.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I can understand Halo 2, but where my Tes boys or fallout!

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

They seemed more impressed by the Mombasan architecture than the Covenant's flavor of Cosmic Naval Architecture.

I'm actually rather surprised it wasn't the exaggerated angular designs favored by the Forerunners that got Halo on the list, but I'm no architect (engineer actually, guess that explains things).

 

[bodyklok]

Well I would probably add a few buildings like 'The Citadel' from HL2, and maybe one of the temples form any of the God Of War games.

 

[NeutralDrow]

D'oh. HTML fixed, the link should be there now.

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

Halo 1 and 2 are on there, place 4.

So anyway, I just bet a beer on WoW being place 1, and I was right. How tiresomely predictable.

And yet not undeserved.

Definitely. I had to smack myself for not guessing ahead of time, considering how much I like hanging around Ironforge and Orgrimmar just for the sights.

Kinda surprised Oni isn't on that list...or would a game with buildings directly designed by architects not count?

 

[MasterSqueak]

Well I would probably add a few buildings like 'The Citadel' from HL2, and maybe one of the temples form any of the God Of War games.

The Citadel is a giant tower.

Awesome.

I would have added the Death Star as well.

 

[Tales of Golden Sun]

It's a good list.
It's not just based on how impressive, or how huge a design is, but on.. architect thingies.

 

[sheic99]

D'oh. HTML fixed, the link should be there now.

If Halo's not on the list, I'm leaving.
I mean, when else are you going to see a hulking deathmachine space ship in lovely shades of lavendar?

Halo 1 and 2 are on there, place 4.

So anyway, I just bet a beer on WoW being place 1, and I was right. How tiresomely predictable.

And yet not undeserved.

Definitely. I had to smack myself for not guessing ahead of time, considering how much I like hanging around Ironforge and Orgrimmar just for the sights.

Kinda surprised Oni isn't on that list...or would a game with buildings directly designed by architects not count?

Well Sim City is there, so it must count.

 

[Mackinator]

So anyway, I just bet a beer on WoW being place 1, and I was right. How tiresomely predictable.

Well, it was going to be No. 1 anyway.