The Quintessential Art of Borrowing: Video Games, Books, and Everything in Between
Ever wondered how video games find their spark? It turns out that looking only within the confines of other video games is much like trying to find your car keys in the fridge. A recent revelation from a certain author (who just happens to have a trio of books that laid the groundwork for a beloved gaming series) suggests that this whole “inspired by games” thing might be going a bit off the rails.
The Overly Familiar Inspirations
Aya Nishitani, the mastermind behind the trilogy known as Digital Devil Story, authored a little gem in the mid-1980s called Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei. Fast forward, and voilà! This literary endeavor eventually birthed the mega-popular Shin Megami Tensei series, plus its charming offshoot, the Persona series. Talk about a Japanese literary success story that transcended into the pixelated world of gaming!
Recently, Nishitani took to social media to engage with a user—imagine that! In this riveting exchange, the user pointed out that many modern games feel about as fresh as last week’s pizza, primarily because they borrow concepts from other games instead of looking at influences from, say, the enchanting world of movies or the soulful tunes of music.
Fighting the Cycle of Inspiration
Nishitani appeared to pay heed to this observation, nodding in agreement as if struck by a sudden wave of intellectual clarity. “Developers of the past took inspiration from movies and music,” he quipped, “but these days, you might as well say they’re inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Mario Kart in an endless loop.” There’s a widespread belief that this game-on-game inspiration cataclysm isn’t exactly paving the way for groundbreaking creations. And frankly, who can blame them?
Here’s the kicker: if developers rely solely on legendary games for inspiration, the creations that emerge often resemble a mash-up of the same tired mechanics. Nishitani added, “If you draw ideas from a different medium, it’s like opening a treasure chest of new systems. But if it’s just a remix of a beloved classic, players might find themselves trapped in déjà vu.”
Reflections on Innovation
In a follow-up clarion call, Nishitani explained, “Take the original Megami Tensei, for instance. It borrowed concepts from novels. And those early polygonal masterpieces? They were trying—bless their pixelated hearts—to mimic movie camera angles. The point here isn’t the visual surface but rather the intricate systems at play.”
Long-time fans will undoubtedly recognize that a fair number of video games have taken their cue from literature. Titles like The Witcher and Metro 2033 flaunt their literary roots, while the likes of Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy franchise offer a thrilling nod to the world of espionage novels. And let’s not forget BioShock, practically wearing its inspiration of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged like a badge of honor, though it’s more of a conversation starter than a fabulous accessory.
Spice It Up, Creators!
So, in the grand narrative of video game history, why not take a page from every possible book, movie, and symphony? After all, there are only so many treasure chests filled with similar loot that players can sift through. What’s needed is a fresh breeze in the gaming world—one that carries the scent of all forms of creativity. Let’s step away from the echo chamber of game references, shoving that particular trend back in the hat where it came from.
As the illustrious Aya Nishitani suggests, let creativity roam wild. Who knows what delightful concoctions might come from combining the elegance of Shakespeare with the pixelated madness of gaming? Time to let the games of inspiration fly far and wide.
