Why Realism

"This is awesome, it's so realistic"

"That's so stupid, why would anyone actually do that in real life?"

I'll start this off with a simple declaration: I believe the pursuit of realism in video games is as stupid as it is constant. I play games to get away from the rules of reality, to live by a clear, well defined rule set. I also enjoy the fantastic. Conversely, many seem to seek realism endlessly. They judge games almost exclusively on how realistic they are. It's as if they don't know they are playing video games. Reducing the nuance of performing a navy seal operation, driving an Italian sports car, or playing a professional sport down to a level controllable with a controller is ludicrous, even with the complex controllers we have today. Most gamers focus on specific "realistic" mechanics rather than the experience as a whole. It's a fairly idiotic mind set.

Despite my views, realism is a cherished quality. I've long wondered why. I first pegged a gamer's desire to do what he cannot in real life as the culprit. For gamers like myself, that means exploring the impossible. For gamers who enjoy realism, that usually means exploring what is unsafe, unpractical, or unfeasible for them in the real world. Being a navy seal is a full career (and a dangerous one), driving an Italian sports car would put you back more than a few pieces of quiche, and you need to be born with talent before you can train for years before you can become a pro athlete.

I believe this desire is part of it. But tonight I got to thinking that there's another, much better reason that people strive for realism: Consistency.

I don't believe gamers are after realism because it's particularly impressive. I believe they pursue a set of rules consistent with their model of the world. Consistency is something humans seek constantly. The search for consistency has birthed religion, social norms, government, just about everything. I'm arguing that it also factors into game appreciation. Logically, most games are not accurate representations of anything, at least not directly. For example, most games involving Samurai (except Busido Blade) give players life bars allowing them plenty of cuts from katanas before they finally die. In Way of the Samurai, this is a gameplay precaution to protect fun, but it makes no sense with the rules of the "Real World". Despite this, the game delivers an experience consistent with real samurai. The player must always be conscious of when and where they draw their weapons and speak politely and respectfully in company, much like actual samurai did in "real life".

Similarly, updated stats keep sports games in sync with the real world. Each update factors in how players have performed over the year to create a sense that players are in control of real players. Gran Turismo spends almost too much time seeking that real world consistency that players love. Polyphony Digital meticulously tunes their games, delays them constantly, and frequently making trips to race tracks to double check their numbers.

Why do I think consistency is the real culprit? Super Mario Bros. The Super Mario universe is far from realistic, but one thing commented again and again by game journalists is that the Super Mario universe holds a mysteriously cohesive consistency in its world. In Super Mario Bros 3, for example, if Mario eats the "Super Leaf" he grows a racoon tail and ears. These new appendages mean Mario can fly. It's a ridiculous chain of logic, but in a context of flying turtles, fire flowers, and mushroom people, the Super Leaf feels like a crucial part a complete system. Somehow, Miyamoto was able to create a world that is instantly sensical and consistent to everyone who plays it. Maybe that's why it's the best selling game series of all time. Consistency.

I suppose the lesson is to always aim for consistent worlds. Make mechanics that are reflective of what the characters will be doing in the storyline, and what they'd be doing otherwise. Make sure the logic of the world and your game blend. Things can be random in the context of our world, but make sure they aren't random in yours. People notice, though maybe they don't think they do.