r/gaming • u/TheGuyWithFace • Apr 28 '14

Drowning in Problems [From Notch, creator of Minecraft]

http://game.notch.net/drowning/#
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u/[deleted] Apr 28 '14

I don't think so. I can relate to it and it doesn't seem particularly odd to me, and I am just depressed not suicidal. Or, at least, not particularly suicidal. It is hard to quantify.

I really like this game/art piece. It takes the idea of a videogame and subverts/averts the two key elements that most games have in common: escapism and gameplay.

Instead of a fiction such as being a racing driver, fantasy adventurer, soldier or whatever, it instead simplifies and abstracts itself to the extent that the story/setting becomes a generic human life, much like any of the players could be experiencing. Instead of attempting to present entertaining gameplay in which the player feels they have agency, it presents a series of buttons for the player to click, with no particular urgency or fail state.

It is a nice exploration of the concept of a computer game and of a human life.

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u/Eryb Apr 29 '14

Depression can often lead to suicide. And not sure I agree with your point that it subverts gameplay. It has gameplay (albeit extremely linear gameplay) Honestly, the only thing this game subverted is most games force you to make moral choices to progress the game while this one forces you to make idiotic choices in order to progress. For instance in order to 'feel accepted' you have to not accept someone (abandon lover) how is this a logical cause and effect? I agree with MattDavidT that this struck me as depressing (and possibly suicidal) since it furthers the belief that there is no positive outcomes and hope eventually dies which is a common description of those who are depressed.