Video Games: Are They Cinematic?

Video games have come a long way since their pixelated predecessors. They've driven to emulate cinematic camerawork and acting through cut scenes and voice acting. In ways, they are very similar to films in looks, and are basically animated films, yet we experience them in completely different ways than film. The biggest physical difference between the two is the added sensation of touch to that of the video game. Films lack this tactile detail and therefore, films lack a physically engaging aspect.  People involved in video games are challenged and this touch creates an ability to control what is going in the game through kinetic movements of the hands. Video games are all about a degree of control whereas films do not include this. They are under the control of the filmmaker and there is nothing given to the spectator. Film goers are only along for the ride, whereas gamers are very much participating in the direction of the protagonist in games. The greatest example of this would be the interactive drama Heavy Rain. The entire game is emblematic of cinema in the shots that compose the video game, yet the consequences of the game are totally under the influence of the gamer, and one person's experience may differ completely form another. Films are able to show exactly what narrative path to take and exactly what to look at and pay attention to through close-ups, camera movement, and characters. Video games can do this or hand over control to the gamer.

Video games are challenging and give physical and mental challenge to the players. Games can immerse a gamer in the reality of the protagonist in ways that films can't and also produce eclectic reactions that are caused by the tension in the game. The can cause mental stress that films can not. Frustration and denial of closure is another aspect included in video games. Since games can be paused and come back to later, closure can be delayed. Closure is also denied completely if certain aspects of the game are not completed. In Mass Effect 2, closure surrounding certain characters is denied completely if concern for their individual dilemmas are lacking. The spectator has control over whether these events may play out or not. This causes the video game to have a certain dialog between the makers of the game and the player, a dialog concerning what parts need to be shown and how each person's individual experience may differ. This variety of experiences give video games numerous outcomes and interpretations, so much so that two individuals may not even be experiencing the same game. Films allow for the view of another dimension, that of reality, objectified in all its wonder, whereas video games allow for an objectified view of challenge and experience, therefore posing certain decisions to be made by the spectator. It allows for reflection during the game rather than reflection afterward as in movies where there is no pausing, only experiencing.