Video games have made their mark on entertainment with the ability to draw a player in the world they create.  We have all been witness to many worlds and visions of society by the vast number or titles that come out on a yearly basis.  I wish to take a a closer look to the end is near/hear societies that games have created.  With increasing technology to push the visuals and superb sound created by the surround systems in our living rooms  these worlds seem and sound more real than ever.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The question I am asking is, out of the past apocalyptic visions of society...which one do you think you could survive in?  Could you survive in a society that is recovering from Nuclear Holocaust?  What about a zombie epidemic?  Or a what about living underneath the rule of an alien dictatorship?   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's start with Fallout 3 Capital Wasteland.  The year in the game is around 2277 and you play a character that has emerged from a shelter looking for your father.  The game places you in the role of a character trying to survive an area near Washington, D.C.  The catch is it is 200 years after a nuclear war devastated the world.  Simply navigating this world will make you fight for survival as you face soldiers, mutants, and other survivors.  Then there is the President to worry about who has taken a firm grip of the shattered wasteland.  The land you travel is filled with evil residents and creatures waiting to take you out.  The level of desperation is high from start to finish as you play this game.  Gamers...do you think you could survive? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Just another day at the Capital

 

 

 

 

 

   The neighborhood is REALLY getting out of hand! 

 

 

 

 

Not enough for you?  Cake?  Well how about the Zombie Apocalyptic setting from Left 4 Dead.  While the title was light on story compared to most games...players get the gist of what is happening through viewing the opening movie and playing the first level.  You are 1 of 4 survivors trying to live...simple as that.  There are no humans left in plain sight.  Just you and your 3 fellow gun toting pals.  And let's not forget the endless horde of zombies that follow you and hunt you down as you traverse the city.  Besides the zombies there are Hunters, Smokers, Tanks, and Witches that stalk and will brutalize you at your every turn.  Not the funnest place to live for sure..but with enough ammo I guess people could make a go a living there.  Gamers...honestly do you think you could survive? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging with the wrong crowd will kill you! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one of your companions here in this town looking for a good time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Stock up...Load up...Roll Out. 

 

 

 

 

Still not enough? What...you eat nails for breakfest? Well Welcome to City 17...From the world of Half-Life 2.  In City 17 you will find fellow humans.  That is plus.  The catch is you are all under the rule of the Combine.  And who are The Combine?  Well they are only an Unholy union alien, synthetic and human elements that dominate the planet.  They are the harshest most brutal rulers that use technology to transform fellow humans to either slaves or soldiers.  The Combine is everywhere and their might is felt wherever you travel in the game.  Another place to travel to (or not travel to!) in this world is Ravenholm.  Ravenholm was a hidden town used by refugees from City 17.   When The Combine discovered it, they attacked it using shells filled with headcrabs.  Headcrabs are parasitic aliens that transforms victoms to zombies.  (yes more zombies!)  Sound like fun right?   Gamers...could you..would you want to live in this world?  Could you Survive?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Combine:  Treating everyone equally horrible.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly let's finish with the lovely world of Rapture.  The level of creating a world that feels alive is a hard thing to do.  Bioshock has created this with Rapture.  From the music softly playing in the backgorund to all the video-recordings left behind by its citizens...Rapture is eerie place to live.  With all of the genetic splicing that took place it's survivors are actually fighting you and everything they see for survival.  Built by Andrew Ryan as an escpae from the opression of the church, United States, and the Soviet Union, Rapture became something worse than anyone could believe.  So as you travel the underwater marvel of a broken society...fleeing from or fighting its suvivors who have special unique ablities (throwing fire, hooks on thier hands, etc.) you think that would be enough...then we are introduced to the Big Daddy.  Protectors of the Little Sisters who guard Adam (the precious commodity in Rapture-cells from dead bodies) these Big Daddies Rosies or Bouncers are fierce creatures that have rocked the video game world since their arrival.  They are not an enemy to be take lightly that is for sure.  In this world miles underneath the surface, where death and self mutilation is all around you...and you have the Rapture Police presence of the Big daddies facing you as well...Gamers could you Survive? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the Sea...How bad could it really be.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You sir are not the Daddy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Out of those four worlds do you think you could muster up the strength and fortitude to become a citizen.  Could you take up the fight and exist in any of these societies?  If you could...you are better than me...I have children to think about!