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Computer Games or Computer Simulations?
As both computers and 3D software becomes more
powerful, a number of computer games today are really more serious
computer simulations. Flight simulator perhaps began it, followed by
many Sports video simulations. But now I would even include Fallout and
Prehistoric Kingdom in the simulation business. We each get one life.
Simulations give us the opportunity perhaps to see what another life
might be like.
Yes, Flight Simulator was written by Bruce
Arwick in 1979 who had spent time in Champaign/Urbana Illinois, as was
obvious by it featuring the airport there. His company first wrote the
software for Apple, but then sold it to Microsoft. It was hard to not
notice that there was something different with this "game" and that it
was trying for realism, even if in the early days of computer power and
3D software that was hard. But yes, it tried for realism and therefore
even on day one it was not a computer game, but a computer simulation
trying for realism.
Video sports games
were the next I noticed. It seemed that as power got better, some of the
better "games" stopped being fun and became more serious. NFL
quarterbacks had only about 3 seconds to pass the ball or get sacked.
And worse, their favorite receiver could get tied up at the line and not
get out far. Realism. Baseball made similar changes for the better
games. In one I play, a pitcher had to change the location, speed, and
type of pitch every ptich they threw or be greeted by a hit or worse, a
home run. I recall thinking this was becomig more like work than a game.
But at the same time, I suspected a real pitcher faced something like
this. A simulation, more than a game.
Over time, with more
computer speed and continually improved 3D, some other computer games
chose not to be games at all, but simulations. I would put Fallout and
Prehistoric Kingdom into the simulation category for their realism and
freedom. Yes, Fallout Vegas for example has a starting story, and also
can offer you quests. But if you wish, you could just get rifles, ammo,
and medical supplies, with or without cheat codes, and just walk down a
bombed out road to see what is ahead. After all, Fallout is a simulation
of a large area of land, complete with hazards, varmints, and people
with guns. And note that using cheat codes does not make it easy, but
just gives you a chance. The varmints always have the element of
surprise. Likely also realistic.
As for Prehistoric
Kingdom, it is in beta release with the full game expected out in 2026.
But it goes for realism, at least as much as it seems it can learn about
life 65 million years ago. The dinosaurs try for realism, and walk
around seeking water to drink, food to eat, and more. Their appearances
are amazing. The park may have customers, and if you click on one of
them, it will give you a name and tell you a bit about them. Yes, it is
about realism. At this stage, the dinosaurs do not have combat or eat
the park owners, like me. But that might come in a later software
update.
And if these are out, so likely are many more.
And of course some people will endlessly argue what is the fine line
between a computer game and a computer simulation? Well, a computer
simulation at least tries for realism. As I said, it was quite clear
even from the start that something was different with Flight Simulator.
It seemed too real to be a game.Back To Articles
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