For starters, this will probably be my one and only post about a video game. On that note, if you ask a teenager today whether they would rather watch TV or play their Wii the most likely answer would be the Wii. No one can deny the power of gaming in today’s high impact, fast-paced world. I am no exception. I know, I know. I don’t call myself a gamer, but there is one game that has me addicted. Halo3? No. Super Mario? No. Grand Theft Auto? No. Honestly, I have never even really touched these games. Again, I am not really a gamer. I just have a passion for one gaming masterpiece.
That one game that has my attention is Gears of War. It is the only game I play and it is the only reason I would ever turn on my XBox 360. Frankly, I am addicted to it… at least my wife thinks I am. =)
So why is a 29 year-old male addicted to a video game? Good question. It’s epic storytelling, and coincidentally Gears of War was produced and developed by Epic Games. No joke.
Gears of War has it all… tension, a-ha moments, fast paced action, protagonists, antagonists, a love story, etc. It contains every nugget of great storytelling. The good news is that it will allow audiences to continue in the journey with the release of it’s sequel this November with Gears of War 2. In a nutshell, it is gaming at it’s finest, in play and in story. This is Wikipedia’s description of the game:
“The game centers on the soldiers of Delta Squad as they fight to save the human inhabitants of the fictional planet Sera from a relentless subterranean enemy known as the Locust Horde. The player assumes the role of Marcus Fenix, a former prisoner and war-hardened soldier. The game is based on the use of cover and strategic fire for the player to advance through the scenarios; a second player can play co-operatively through the main campaign to assist. The game also features several online game modes for up to eight players.”
The plot sounds simple… right? Well, it is. The world is falling apart and only Delta Squad can save it. Who said a story needs to be elaborate and full of tricks and hidden clues. It’s simplicity at it’s finest. It’s a “they die or I die” mentality illustrated through groundbreaking special effects.
Here are 2 trailers for their November sequel. Please note that both videos contain mature content so you can consider yourself warned.
As you can see from these pieces, the game is obviously very dark and violent, but it is that “on the edge” experience that keeps gamers coming back. It strikes at a core because it strikes at the heart. It has all the elements of great storytelling – love, danger, heroes, villains, etc. Plus, it is ridiculously fun to play.
So what can you take from this game for your next presentation? Everything! Be epic. Be brave. And, be a bit dangerous.
