How important is comedy becoming for video games?
Comedy is difficult, but death is simple - or so the saying goes. Many recent video games still need to meet our expectations when making us laugh. Therefore designers can undoubtedly apply this vital lesson to the gaming industry.
Compared to the prevalence of humour in other forms of entertainment, games that try to be amusing tend to be ignored. Despite the success of Hollywood's comedic blockbusters (which typically star Will Ferrell) grossing hundreds of millions of dollars, and many critically acclaimed and internationally successful British TV sitcoms, comic video games regularly struggle to attain traction in the marketplace.
Many games try to imitate the success of those that get it right by slathering on a layer of cheesy, watered-down comedy over stale game mechanics, as if the two bad things would somehow complement each other, like a Pepsi from France. Luckily, you don't have to put up with such when you play cazino games.
Luckily some video games have begun to recognise the importance of humour: comedian, actor and writer Stephen Merchant was famously cast as an AI in the 2011-released Portal 2. One of the healthiest things you can do in life is to be humorous. A good sense of humour is the defence mechanism of the intellect.
Comedy as an emotional filter for depression
Depressive episodes are common among those predisposed to depression, and relapse becomes more likely after an initial episode.
However, recasting an unpleasant experience from a humorous perspective serves as an emotional filter, preventing it from causing a melancholy episode. And the laughter brought on by comedic entertainment serves as a mood booster in more ways than one. It enhances people's standard of living generally.
A healthy heart, blood pressure, and relaxed muscles can all be achieved through laughter
Because of its positive effects on the body, laughter is often recommended as a preventative health measure.
The potential humour in a video game can be sucked out of it due to the production atmosphere. At the very least, designers may glean three critical takeaways from the most fun games.
The first rule of humour is that it isn't an afterthought. Adding hilarious text or dialogue to game mechanics that aren't inherently funny isn't enough to create a funny game. The intention of humour should be central to developing a funny video game.
The best jokes are the result of an agreed-upon vision
Teams that put in a lot of time and effort in creating memorable characters and unique settings for their games are responsible for some of the most hilarious video game releases of all time. This is why 2005 classic Psychonauts is frequently referenced.
We should broaden our sense of humour
By comparison, video games can look very old-fashioned as audiences appreciate more sophisticated forms of comedy in other entertainment mediums. Experimental comedy in television, film and even in publishing has surpassed both the humorous content and boundaries of that in computer games.
A very interesting example is Douglas Adams's multi-medium phenomenon, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Originating as a BBC Radio 4 sitcom, it became a series of novels, a TV series, further radio sequels, a feature film - and, of course, a computer game based on the much-loved world, its characters and brilliant, unique sense of humour was produced, its first version released way back in 1984.
Last laughs
Comedy seems promising, but its incorporation into games presents obstacles. Gameplay should not only be considered but used as the basis for every comedic part; the player, not the story architects, determines the pacing; and the game designer's role is often limited to merely nudging the players in the right direction.