| Video games are big business to the financial | | | | A sense of danger, or at least drama, is |
| world. It is important for video games | | | | important to a successful video game. To the |
| developers to constantly improve upon their | | | | extent that a player is drawn into the game |
| existing games and to develop new ones. | | | | and feels involved is proportional to the |
| Companies hire Hollywood calibre graphic | | | | success and popularity of a video game. |
| artists to provide Oscar winning quality | | | | Graphic presentation of the game is integral |
| graphics. Focus groups try to spot trends | | | | to this and most games require eye popping, |
| and preferences to target what features | | | | three-dimensional artwork. The graphics must |
| should be added to traditional games or | | | | present and create a virtual environment that |
| incorporated into new ones. Children are | | | | is alluring, navigable and ever changing in |
| often "hired" as consultants to test games | | | | response to the player's actions. Most video |
| and report on their appeal and flaws. They | | | | games rely nearly equally, ironically enough, |
| are paid with newly developed games and game | | | | both on repetition and the element of |
| related items, such as a Nintendo player or | | | | surprise to create a hypnotic world that |
| Game boy instruments. | | | | remains both challenging and interesting. |
| | | | Most video games must tell a story and the |
| But what features are crucial in the | | | | level of manual dexterity required to play |
| development of a popular Video game that will | | | | the game increases as the complexity of the |
| be successful financially? Of all the | | | | story line gets more involved. |
| elements that comprise a popular video game, | | | | |
| interactivity is the most important. This | | | | Finally, music plays a fundamental role in |
| feature enables the player to explore virtual | | | | popular video games. Music adds to the mood, |
| environments that range from realistic | | | | the element of surprise and the general tone |
| depictions of the normal world to highly | | | | of the video game. Video game players no |
| stylised, artistic virtual environments, and | | | | longer choose games on the basis of graphics |
| sometimes alternate between them. | | | | and character appeal alone. Now the type of |
| Interactivity allows the flow of the game to | | | | music that is incorporated into the game is |
| change with the player's movements and | | | | equally important in the selection process. |
| decisions, thereby creating an individual | | | | And the overwhelmingly most desired form of |
| scenario or experience for each player and | | | | music in video games is hip-hop. This form |
| every game. Interactivity has given rise to | | | | of music provides an intensity that draws the |
| the phenomenon of emergent narrative, which | | | | player in, and the rhythmic beat makes for a |
| occurs within the context of the game and | | | | hypnotic quality. Hip-hop is the type of |
| represents the player's reactions to elements | | | | music that the player can coordinate his |
| of the game and even his own reactions to | | | | movements to and achieve a movement flow |
| them. It is this emergent narrative concept | | | | with. Hip Hop gives energy of its own to |
| that makes playing the game and experience | | | | the game and is rapidly becoming a key |
| that is unique to the players and to each and | | | | element in the development of a popular video |
| every game played. | | | | game. |
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