Choices we all make

Do our choices matter? The idea that we can make choices that affect anything is really questionable. As Kirk Hamilton states, “[D]id my choices even matter? Was this all smoke and mirrors, or did I really have a say over the outcome? It's the same sort of thing raised as any lengthy, branching video game story reaches its conclusion”. If the main character, Lee, dies no matter what our choices, do our choices matter? I think that depends on your perspective.

Choice is all relative. As Kirk says, “the choices you make now affect have a profound impact the future”. However in games we find this not necessarily to be true. If Kenny dies saving Clem’s radio or, like in mine game, kills himself and Ben to spare them the pain of being bitten, seems to make only one thing clear. There is a story that must end in a particular way. Your only choices are, like in life, the way you experience the ride.

I don’t know how I feel about the second article by Galloway and the four moments. The idea of the actions are what make a game, has merit, obviously. But what confuses me is that without the action, by the gamer, and the reaction, by the machine, are all that is inherent to a video game. He also rambled on about how the exact setup required to make a game and how historically that came to pass. For me, it’s about impact. Did you input create an impact? How much impact you have on the out come, for me at least, differentiates a good game from a great game. The Walking Dead was good; I could make choices that affected the ride I was on and who went with me, somehow I managed to get all four to go, but not the endpoint. And as such, it wasn’t a great game.

1. Do are choices matter if they cannot affect the out come, only the journey?

2. Is avoiding pain the most important affect that our choices have?