A discussion about immersion.

[Bocaj2000]

I recently downloaded Red Faction 1, 2, and Guerilla off of Steam during its sale. I started the first game and was blown away by how much I liked it. I then went back to playing the first Half-Life and found the two to be similar. But I asked myself, "Why do I like Red Faction better than the critically acclaimed Half-Life?" After a few days of thinking about it, I came to a conclusion: I was more immersed in Red Faction.

I was fighting oppression. I was fighting those with hatred towards my people. I was fighting for people just like me. And most of all, I was not a lone soldier fighting against the world, like most shooters are these days; I was part of a rebellion and I helped my equals in firefights (some survived, some did not). This kind of stuff happens all the time all over the world, not just in video games. I felt like I was part of something that mattered, even if it did not affect the world that I live in physically. The only thing sci-fi about it is the setting (which I enjoy).

The only other games that have immersed me this much are Mass Effect 1, Bioshock 1, and Deadspace 1 because I am seeing connections beyond fantasy; I am seeing possibility. Half-Life did not do that. I was fully aware that I was just playing a game for no reason other than to proceed to the next point of interest. The same goes with Halo, CoD, and GoW. I can play them and enjoy them; I by no means claim that any game is superior to another. I just realized what immerses me in a game that very few of them have done.

So this brings up a question: What immerses you in games?

 

[Camaranth]

Atmosphere was the first thing that sprang to mind. Most games nail this on the head, appropriate music, suitable art-style etc.

Really though I think it's more to do with how much I care about and connect with the characters. I like Twilight Princess more than Orcania of Time because I felt that Link had something to lose, I liked the vault of Fallout 3 because I can protect a friend and shoot roaches with Dad (even if it does kinda force the pain in the ass teenager thing) there is a tangible connection there.

Spoiler

I actually lost a lot of interest in FO3 after Dad died... I'm sure I'll finish it someday

Pacing is also very important, if a game is well paced and I'm caught up by the narrative unfolding I will forgive a lot of dodgy game-play. But if I'm sat there waiting for something to happen or don't have a goal to achieve then I become very aware that there are many other things I need to get done.

 

[viranimus]

Im not going to elaborate on my perspective as much as I will remind that there is a difference between being Immersed and being engrossed. Please do keep that in mind. Thank you and good night.

 

[The Apothecarry]

Usually the first-person perspective helps me become immersed. I completely change when I play Reach because I think that I get "in character" as my Spartan.

Fallout 3 is incredibly immersive because of how it's designed to mess with your morals. It's the only game I've ever played where I've done something evil and felt bad about it.

Didn't get that from Mass Effect. Not even a twinge of regret for Kaidan.

 

[I forgot]

Games that are actually fun. I don't forgive crappy gameplay because "ooh I feel like I'm there". To me, immersion is the same as getting engaged in a game. I just want to keep playing and playing no matter how much I lose or I get that feeling of "just one more level" before turning it off and giving my eyes a rest. Many times I find a game of chess more immersive than games like Half-life or Fallout.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Immersion is all about what mood you're in, what kind of games you like, what aspects of particular genres get you hooked... so many variables.

I mean, I can stand for ages just looking around at Vistas in atmospheric open world games, but in a linear shooter I'm usually more immersed in the actual gameplay/progresion side of things, or in a game like Alan Wake I'm immersed in the atmosphere and story.

 

[ultrachicken]

I find that stupid, yet fun action games that are relatively challenging but can still be progressed through quickly and smoothly immerse me greatly. The hack and slashers that have such intuitive controls that I find myself not giving a single thought to the game's mechanics for hours on end.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

First person games, I feel, really add to the overall immuuursion.
But only if they are done right.
Games like Farcry 2, Bioshock and Halo fit into this catagory.

 

[Kahunaburger]

For me it's atmosphere, and thinking in terms of the game world instead of in terms of the game mechanics. Minecraft is a very immersive game for me because (for instance) you aren't thinking in terms of where the level designer would put a creeper - you're thinking about keeping an eye on dark areas. I'm currently playing Witcher 2 and finding that very immersive (despite the clunky interface) because the mechanics - potions, signs, enemy tactics - encourage thinking in terms of the game world.

But immersion isn't synonymous with quality for me. Super Smash Bros, Tales of Symphonia, and Bad Company 2 aren't very immersive, but they're some of my favorite games.

 

[Bocaj2000]

But immersion isn't synonymous with quality for me. Super Smash Bros, Tales of Symphonia, and Bad Company 2 aren't very immersive, but they're some of my favorite games.

That I agree with. I love the arcady feel of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Castle Crashers. Hell, the reason that I am such a big fan of the Dead to Rights series is partially because it reminded me of the arcady games from the '90s (I haven't played to new one (I assume the feel is similar.). On the other hand, Deus Ex is a far superior game to Red Faction and is one of my favorites. Mass Effect 2 is superior to its prequel in terms of gameplay and fun.

Even though immersion doesn't equal quality, it makes a game special to me, even if it is not the best. I cannot judge on gameplay alone every single time, I have to believe in and love the universe that the game presents.

 

[electric method]

For me to be immersed in a game it must suspend my disbelief. Meaning, it has to make me think and, to some extent feel, the events, characters, game world and events could plausibly exsist. Some games do this very well. Bioshock, Mass Effect (ME2 not so much), and Halo CE just to name a few.

Personally, I believe, that if a game does immersion well the player won't notice because they'll be "in" the game. Focusing on the goals or objectives, making choices and advancing the story. Mainly because, immersion done right, makes the player care about the game world. When immersion is broken it's usually due to poor game mechanics, poor plot and poor characterization.

An example of this is Gears of War 2. You'll go through some set piece battles hit a cut scene and then Dom starts crying his head off about his wife. The first Gears game handled Dom's subplot well. It didn't beat the player over the head with it. GOW2, it's shoved down the players throat every 5-10 minutes. By the time you get to the point in the game where that subplot is resolved, that event has almost no meaning because it's been crammed down the players throat repeatedly. Secondly, Dom's worry for his wife doesn't track with the character they established in the first game.

Unfortunately, the list of games that break immersion is much longer than games that don't and bring the player coming back for more.

 

[deathninja]

Dungeons, I f*cking love dungeons.

Creeping through the gloom in Oblivion was about as immersive as I ever found a game.