One of the things that intrigues me is how there are certain games that are pushing the form of traditional video gaming. What interests me is the shift from a linear structure to a more free-form nonlinear structure. This structure, though, is not always seen, because, at least currently, the idea of the HIDDEN is extremely significant in gaming. There are always easter eggs (little surprises) inserted into games now, and these easter eggs have developed from mere novelties to entire subplots or backstories, portals into different modes of completing the game, complex allusions to ideas, plots, stories, or websites not in the game, etc. In short, the possibilities and actual uses for this mode of gaming are limitless. In order to fully explore these, one must remember that in gaming there is usually at least one linear progression (often through the plot of the campaign),
A quest through the woods hunting ring-wraiths is a linear experience.
but also a non-linear way to experience the game. This non-linear exploration is much more than just a new marketing tool. It is the evidence of the way that new non-linear forms of media are changing the way we think.
Linear along with non-linear.
B and not-B contradicting. But not contradicting.
Complex and abstract thought being explored creatively through the culturally agreed-upon lowest of all media forms–video gaming.
This is the moment when 2 waves collide and become a completely new wave, different from the others, containing the inertia from both,
complex linear thought--this isn
but the restrictions from neither.
A steel mill created these pellets, but now they are being used in conjunction with a video gaming blog discussion. Disparate elements forming new cohesions and relationships.
The Alternate Reality Game is a significant new medium.
If we could visually represent non-linear gaming relationships, they might look like this.
Borland, John, and Brad King. “Bees, ARGs, and the Birth of the Collective Detective.” Phi Kappa Phi Forum85.2 (2005): 21-24.ProQuest Research Library. ProQuest. Crafton Hills College Library, Yucaipa, CA. 7 Dec. 2007 <http://proquest. umi.com/>.
