Deep Play

September 23, 2007

Starcraft is a game that has been around for nearly a decade now. It is a Real Time Strategy Game (RTS). Players can choose one of three races Terrans, Protoss, or Zerg. Each race has different abilities but, they still allow for a level playing field. A single person can play through a campaign mode for each race. A player is given a slightly angled 3rd person view of the battle field. With this view (and a control panel at the bottom of the screen) the player must create buildings and units to destroy his/her opponent. Users of Starcraft can be enveloped by various sound cues, music, effects, as well as a [still] stunning visual display. Not only that but the main game mode calls for cunning strategy to win.

Another main draw is the Battle.net feature. This is what has allowed the game to stay viable all this time. Battle.net allows players from around the world to play one another over the Internet for free. In this arena one can play friends or complete strangers.

Contrast Starcraft with Cockfight Arena. Cockfight Arena has the same goal of immersing its players in the game. It goes about this in a different manner however. Players of Cockfight Arena must dress up like the chickens that represent them on the screen. This brings the sense of touch and kinesthesis to game play. Cockfight Arena demands a much more immediate and intimate relationship with the game than Starcraft does. In fact Starcraft requires that the player be somewhat detached from the game. Rather than assuming the role of Terran, Protoss, or Zerg a player still recognizes their humanity and that they are in control. This sense is undoubtedly lost when caught up in a game of Cockfight Arena.

Language in Starcraft comes in two forms. The first is from responses and alerts in the game. Individual units give responses when clicked. These can be meaningful, or they can serve to flesh out a units persona. Another voice interrupts when resources are low or when an attack is underway. The other form that language takes in Starcraft is messages that users can type to one another in game. This can be used for strategy or, to just trash talk another player.

Language in Cockfight Arena may only come out as bashing another player or just random sounds of exertion. This kind of language is more personal and “live”. The level of mediation is low as opposed to Starcraft.