Gaming is Changing

Gaming has changed. This is the thought crossing my mind as I pop in my physical disc copy of GTA V. As the game begins to load, I already see the changes coming. One tip I see on the various loading screens tells me that the denizens of Los Santos will treat me differently if my car is clean or dirty. This concept alone opens up my mind to all of the possibilities AI can achieve in our lifetime. When the game begins, I am blown away by the vastness and detailed landscape that is Los Santos. The people, the buildings, the cars, the trees, the blades of grass...all encapsulating an experience like none other. After hours of cruising the lovely cityscape, I pull out my cell phone (complete with camera and access to the Internet). I decide to take my adventures into the online world, where my fellow gamers and I can parlay with guns and cars. Concepts like multi-player change every once in a while. However, this is no ordinary change. GTA Online breeds feelings of careless fun and careful management. On one hand, I can fool around and cause unbelievable chaos wherever I see fit. Did that citizen just make a snide remark to me? I'd better shut them up with a bullet to the head. Am I in the racing mood? Shall I blow right past the conspicuously placed cop car or ram him and engage a hot pursuit? On the other hand, I might not want to obliterate everyone in my path. Losing my life takes away my most important asset in the Online world: money. Sure, I could just pop a fellow gamer and take his guns. But, I don't think they'll take too kindly to my actions. I'd better lay low, mind my own business, and complete some Jobs before I end up broke. This is the type of game play making the Online mode extremely unique and fun. Game play designs including the ability to choose from a wide variety of Jobs after completing one Job is a welcome sight. Why? Our society is what I like to call a "binge society". With the advent of services such as Netflix and Hulu, viewing an entire season of a television show is possible and easy to do. Watching just one episode or movie rarely occurs anymore. This specific game design plays on this principle. The options are handed to you and, subconsciously, we like this. Sure, let's play mission after mission and job after job. We're having fun, so why not? Designs such as this are a dream for us as gamers. Let's revel in it and enjoy the beautiful work of art that is known as GTA V.