Hello there

[pekoe]

Hello, nice to meet you.  My name is Heather. I'm a design student whose interests (including illustration, media art, graphic design, and architecture) have collided into a fascination with creating video games. I'm most interested in the idea of using the medium of video games to create worlds that people can explore. I'm currently working on a thesis project that has to do with architectural phenomenology and how that translates into a virtual environment where space and light can dynamically change.

I've only just begun my journey into designing games (or not.. The language around this medium is still a bit hard for me to explain. Is the term interactive art appropriate?) I joined this forum because I love the discussion surrounding the community about what constitutes a "game" or what doesn't? (I try my best to keep up with the debate!)

You can check out some of my work here ( just drawings and interactive work at the moment)
http://heather.pithytwigs.com/
http://mobilepants.deviantart.com/

[Kjell]

Welcome, Healther Cute art style! I particularly like the subtle shading in "3D Sweater Girl", it adds a lot of volume. And good to see someone using Processing, which is a excellent platform for interactive sketching ( and learning to code ).

[ghostwheel]

Hello and welcome! Lovely art!

There isn't much of a debate over what is and isn't a game here. That's something that other's worry about. It certainly isn't important to me. In fact, though we don't all agree on everything, we don't really "debate' much of anything because we aren't necessarily concerned with games at all! There is no question that the technology can be used for art; things besides platformers and shooters.

[pekoe]

I should have clarified that I meant the debate in the larger community (like the discussion surrounding Dear Esther). Not this particular community because everyone seems much more open the definition of a game.
But in general I think that as more works are created with this looser set of structures or rules, these constructs will naturally break down. I feel like this is already happening which is exciting.

[ghostwheel]

It's not that we are open to a more broad definition, it's that not many here care what the definition of a game is. It's not important. Some here are making games. Others are not.

A game implies rules, score, competition. For example, I would have a difficult time calling Amnesia: The Dark Descent a game. I guess it has a goal? There aren't any rules beyond those that define the world. You don't get points. There is no score. How is it a game? How is The Endless Forest a game? I can say that the project I'm working is not a game, at all. It's a toy (I agree with Wil Wright's differentiation between a toy and a game). Some here are making interactive art, stuff that only shares with games some of the technology.

Again, I'd hazard a guess that most of us don't care about this debate going on in other internet communities. It is irrelevant.

[axcho]

Ha, so you're the one who did that Sword & Sworcery fan art I saw on deviantART! Nice! And welcome to the notgames forum.

[Pehr]

Welcome Heather,
your thesis project sounds interesting! I did some studies on how lighting influences the perception of space; once, when I was associated with the School of Architecture in Stockholm.
Pehr

[Pehr]

I love the discussion surrounding the community about what constitutes a "game" or what doesn't?

I think we newbies can find it rewarding to discuss this issue. So let me tentatively open up such a thread!
Pehr

[God at play]

Welcome Heather