As I wrote in my introduction, one of my favourite games is The Sims 4. For me, the kind of “fun,” or “aesthetic” as mentioned in the readings/video, that it creates is mainly narrative and expression. I originally started playing because I loved Percy Jackson and wanted to find a way to make it more animated in my real-life setting. Thinking back and after reflecting on this assignment, I recognized that there were definitely various mechanics and dynamics at play that let me turn imagination into something interactive.
The first mechanic is character creation. The game gives you a huge amount of control over how your Sims look, act, and fit into the world you want to build. That allows for a lot of personal expression, because the characters are not pre-made. I can make them as unique to my interests as I want. I could create someone who looks like me, or in my case, create Percy and Annabeth.
Another important mechanic is the ability to build homes, shape environments, and choose your Sims’ actions and relationships. Because I can decide what they do, where they live, and how they interact, these mechanics create the dynamic of an unfolding story that I am constantly guiding. Hence, narration!
Because of these mechanics, there are multiple dynamics that arise: repeated interactions and the repeated ability to change your clothes/style, which allow for creative expression and narration to come about. I am not just completing tasks; I am creating a world and directing a unique storyline that drives my own curiosity and excitement.
