Enjoy the Little Things - Immersion in Open World Games

Home on the Digital Range

The Uncanny Valley

The concept of the "Uncanny Valley", the human eversion to things that approximate human looks and actions, is a concern of game developers when designing characters in games but there is a similar discrepancy when it comes to designing the environments in which games take place.

In open world games the environment is almost a character itself. It conveys the feeling, the mood and the tone of the game play. Therefore it is important to design worlds that are convincing and immersive to the gamer. 

More Than Just Looks

In the theory of the Uncanny Valley we find that still images of things that are "uncanny" are less repulsive than moving ones. Something that may look convincingly human when still, may be immediately jarring when it begins to move. Looks aren't everything. Similarly an open world may be beautifully rendered but seem distant and unimpressive. It will be an increased attention to the little things that will bring open world games to the next level.  

There are many ways game developers can make a virtual world feel real. Games such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Saints Row 2  push the boundaries of what the player can do in the game with everything from flying planes to gambling. This interactivity and non linear gameplay can help to bring a more immersive experience.  

Another important aspect of creating a real feeling world is sound. The sounds and sound effects of the world should create a realistic sense of the environment and of the action. 

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption is in my opinion a good example, in recent games, of a very immersive open world. Although Rockstar included many gameplay elements that have made their previous titles feel immersive with Redemption they went further. The sound and the lighting give this game a realist feel.

The sounds in Red Dead Redemption's world are very well planned and intuitive, from the weather, to sounds of the wind, to sounds of birds or animals. Since hunting is a major gameplay element, there are dozens of different species of animals that randomly spawn throughout the game. Rockstar took this element a step further. In game anytime you hear a bird fly over or a snake in the brush, you can track the sound and find that animal, but if you hear wolves barking or a cougar Watch Out! This adds a sense of realism to the world, that the ambient sounds are relevant to the gameplay. The sounds of the changing weather in game are also some of the best I've seen to date. The sounds of rain react to objects and surfaces make different sounds when walked over wet or dry. Also the thunder and lightning look and sound realistic. The lighting in the game also enhances the feel of the game and sets the mood. In Redemption the use of shadows and reflections also makes the world seem more realistic. In this game these elements came together to make a world that was nice to look at as well as immersive and fun to play.