[talanimal]

As part of my MA studies in geography, I'm doing an assignment on landscapes in computer games. I chose this subject because I love adventure games. Would you please help me gather some information?

For me, landscapes and sceneries are a major part of a game, and I love it when places in a game (cities, forests etc.) make me FEEL something.

What do you think is a good landscape in a game?
When you consider games you've played, which places in the game made you FEEL the most, and how?
Which aspects of the landscape made you feel that way?
(For example, parts of the D'ni city on "URU- Ages Beyond Myst" made me feel the emptiness: The large open spaces, the dim lights and also signs of reconstruction in progress such as the road cones and blockages).

I think this can develop into an interesting discussion, because I didn't see this topic in forums anywhere.

Please elaborate as much as you like, or be brief if you prefer. Anything goes. If you can supply a link for that game, or even better, a picture of the landscape you talk about, I'd be very grateful indeed.

Thanks a lot, in advance, for cooperating
Tally

[Fantasysci5]

Interesting idea.

I really loved the landscape in "Riven". I know the graphics are hailed as gorgeous by most, but it's the way you look out and can see all of the interconnected islands that really shows how disconnected they are, which helped along the story.

[mrLOL]

Rubacava in Grim Fandango gave me a very relaxing feel, like even tho I as a human-player need to go to bed to wake up for school the next morning I could instead escape into the characters situation of a never-ending night where it's just late enough for the crowd to have dissapeared yet still early enough into the night that you can go around to all the jazz-clubs, casinos, tattoo-parlors etc as they are still open even tho it's pretty empty and relaxing.
Also because my character owed one of the casinos made me really feel like this is my home-town I feel right at home walking back and forth these streets at night.
And a tiny yet amazing detail is that if you exited the big casino from it's backdoor you could go a alternative way home (i.e. the locations weren't just linked linearly, it was like if they were linked circularly) which made me feel even more "at home".

Asherons Call II (cancelled MMO) had a really relaxing nature-walk feel to me, when I would walk through the mountains and swim across rivers etc it was really relaxing,

Baldurs Gate II (RPG) has a really hugely detailed city which changed everything when it came to how you played a game, it was like the dangers weren't as apparent as you are used to (no village attacked by goblins, no dungeons full of orcs) but you knew they were there but behind closed doors,
you've seen the vampires vs theif fights at night which made you understand there's some kind of war going on behind the scenes, you know that if you go into a sewers you'll find dangerous stuff. a tavern might look cosy where you are but you have a feeling that behind that guarded door is a VIP-place with prostitution-rooms and slave fighting.

[Origami]

Uncharted 2 has the most reastically rich detailed environments ever.

I also recommend playing JRPG's. They have gorgeous worlds through which you'll traverse. Might want to check out Eternal Sonata.

I myself am big on environment/surroundings/landscapes too. I am most fond of tropical environments. And I like my games linear so that the environments will be detailed and non-repetitive.

[drunk]

I love the landscapes of Syberia 1 and 2 (most wonderful winter scenery ever).
Beautiful landscapes are one reason for me why I prefer playing 2D-games (3D can never look so great (yes, I know... there are always exceptions... ).

[kate me]

Sceneries/landscapes are a major part of games(how they look, work with the plot, characters, etc) because the player is made "part of the game" .
The scenery usually drags you into the game.

When I don't know anything about a game I first look at screenshots, I look at the environment, the places...

Games (especially adventure genre) give that emotions and feelings. With many wonderful games you can sense the landscapes as you are there, you can sense the joy, emptiness, darkness, fun, fear, depending on the scenery.

I (and I think many gamers) for example when they see a beautiful drawn island sit and stare for while, admire it , look at the details that makes you want to explore it, and gives you a sense of relaxation and makes you want to unwind/disconnect form other things.
In other games you can find screens were you can feel the sorrow, emptiness, left behind after a war or other devastation.
In other you can sense the greatness of the landscapes and wish the games where longer.

Most adventure games environments "tell us something" and everyone has their favorite landscapes, (along with graphics, the animations, filters used) depending on what that person likes, the mood that is in, or sometimes the place in which you would like to be at that moment. ( the last works for me)

[sierramindy]

I like winding paths through forests, meadows, mountains, wherever. I agree with Syberia 1 and 2 having great landscapes. On the other hand, I played Myst Online-Uru Live during the few months it was around and found those scenes with the road cones, blockages, and empty spaces boring, but maybe that was more because of the story such as it was.

[Stonez]

Saxton from The Lost Crown is a brilliant use of a real environment. One of the best ever. Part of the joy of the game was the sense of discovery when gaining access to a new part of the town.

[Origami]

I also recommend Gabriel Knight. Very lively environments and it really feels as if you're exploring the french quarter of New Orleans.

But I think this is a bit offtopic.

[cbman]

The Tomahna age in Myst IV made me want to live there. That would be the greatest house ever.

I am one of those people whose raison d'etre for Adventure gaming is exploration of wonderful locales.

[cbman]

Originally Posted by Origami

I also recommend Gabriel Knight. Very lively environments and it really feels as if you're exploring the french quarter of New Orleans.

But I think this is a bit offtopic.

Some people will recommend Gabriel Knight for any reasona at all! That game is graphically ugly, even for the time it was made. How can its landscapes be evocative?

[Origami]

^
That's why I said it got offtopic like some other posts. People started recommending games with great environments whether indoor or outdoor. But TC is probably looking for natural landscapes only.

[Fantasysci5]

Oooh, I agree with Stonez. I really loved the use of real photographs of a real place to help make the town. I really loved that scenery, too. For me, it's the small details you can see in the background that make scenery come to life, like a sign on an otherwise deserted road, etc. The small things really make it for me.

[diego]

The Autumn Forest in The Whispered World is something special when it comes to artistic impression, combining traditional 2D cartoon look and detailed and stylish drawing, with great use of colors. The sceneries with the trees in autumn, clearing, lake... are all breathtaking.




Timelapse has some interesting and mysterious sceneries also in a typical Myst style




Also, i thought Hand of Fate had great sceneries with plenty of colorful and original locations

[Origami]

Is timelapse a good game?
And does it involve time traveling?

[inm8#2]

Machinarium did a very good job conveying a "machine wasteland." That environment was so rich yet kind of depressing at the same time.

[mrLOL]

Originally Posted by cbman

Some people will recommend Gabriel Knight for any reasona at all! That game is graphically ugly, even for the time it was made. How can its landscapes be evocative?

Actually I was going to recommend GK1 as well, so far it's video-games greatest achievement of portraying a real city and making you feel like you are there.

I remember playing it when I was like 7 and then I was watching Jeopordy (the "what is.."-game-show) with my parents later and the topic of New Orleans game up and I got every single answer right sure suprised the hell out of my parents. (altho it must have been a HUGE coincidense that all the questions was stuff that you had seen in the game and locations you had been to).

Altho I was not aware that the TC was asking for nature, are you?

[Origami]

^
Owh wait....it's just not about nature. >.>

But I associate landscapes with huge open places. And most of the time nature.
I still say Uncharted 2. It is very diverse in its locations.

[Jelena]

Originally Posted by talanimal

For me, landscapes and sceneries are a major part of a game, and I love it when places in a game (cities, forests etc.) make me FEEL something.

Originally Posted by mrLOL

Altho I was not aware that the TC was asking for nature, are you?

Originally Posted by Origami

^
Owh wait....it's just not about nature. >.>

Hrm, not really sure either, but from his original post he does mention cities.

A lot of great landscapes have already been mentioned. I love the different areas in the URU-games and of course Riven has imo the most beautiful landscapes among the adventure games.
I also like gritty, worn down sci-fi/cyber punk cities like Stark and Terra. I often immerse myself more in games with such sceneries than I do in 'picturesque' (not sure about expression) places. They trigger my imagination about how people are living and what's going on with the characters one see and meet.

[talanimal]

Keep them coming, guys! You're terrific and I'm really grateful!
To answer your questions about what I'm interested in:
As far as I'm concerned anything is fine, but my main interest is the outside: natural landscapes or cityscapes or anything you people think is landscape. If there's an inside of a building (or spaceship or whatnot) that make you feel something unique, I'd love to hear it, too. Anything that consists the background. So, cities too, of course.
Thanks again
Tally