Blog #9 Custom

While reading through chapter 10 of Bogost's book, I found he had made some interesting statements regarding the change in camera technology and how video games tend to use a mostly specified skill set. As an example on page 72 Bogost states "Conversely, videogame creation exercises few common skills. It requires programming of some kind...". When I read this line, it reminded me of how most of my day I am coding a website or using an Adobe program to complete some school work. Personally, it is hard for me to distinguish what is a common daily skill and something specific to me, because since I am entrenched in these products and ways of thinking all the time, it was difficult for me to distinguish a main difference between video games as a medium and other media. I found another interesting point Bogost made in that he basically stated how video games serve a double function, both as a "snapshot" of the creator's life or interests, and an entertaining game. "Like a snapshot, the game has value because of the way it lets its creator preserve and share a sentiment about her family. Likewise, you and I can appreciate it not as the crappy causal game that it is but as the touching personl snapshot that it is as well." (Bogost, 74). Although not thought of as often as actual console video games or computer games, Facebook also serves a double function both as a social platform where many people today use to stay in contact with their family members and friends and also to play games like, Candy Crush Saga to stay entertained. I did some thinking about this, and I feel that although the games on Facebook provide entertainment and may keep users on the website for longer, I feel it also creates a rift between people. The rift I am speaking about is that people may be playing Farmville or Tetris Friends against their "friends", but they are only interacting through the game and barely know each other. Besides the games, Facebook itself tries to make your experience more personal by labeling other users you connect with as "friends" even though you may have only met that person once or only know them through class or work.