The digital game that I chose was The Sims. It was my favorite game growing up because you had complete control over the characters. To me, it was like directing a movie, which is now something I plan on doing for a living.
The six qualitative elements of structure explained in Laurel’s article are seen in The Sims. Action is represented because the user is in complete control of choosing the actions that are taking place. The user interacts with the game and picks what activities and actions the characters are going to do.
Character is represented in The Sims and is a key element. One of the main ideas in The Sims is creating and controlling a character of your choice. You are in complete control of your Sims physical characteristics as well as their personality.
From there you pick what they wear, where they work, what the do, how they live, etc. Thought process is represented through the system and the user. The user can control their Sims but each Sim has their own ideas of what they do and sometimes fight the user. For example; if the Sims are too tired they will not do the actions that you want them to. But when the user allows the Sim to sleep then they will cooperate. This creates a joint ownership of the Sim between the computer system and the user. Language is represented in The Sims very creatively. The Sims have their own language that is not English or any other real language. However, if you listen carefully you are able to remember certain things that they say and then you find yourself understanding their needs. Their movements are also a type of language and you can understand what they are feeling through their arms movements, the way they walk, etc. This creates a certain melody or pattern that they user becomes accustomed to. The final product is a enactment between Sim, system, and user that allows for an excellent game.
In some ways The Sims is a learning experience involving money, relationships, and living. Children and young adults are learning things subconsciously and having fun at the same time. What else could you ask for in a digital game?
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