Options in Gaming

An option is a choice. Choices are what help everyone dictate the paths we take in our lives, alongside the small tasks that are placed before us. For many people, choices help not only allow the opportunity to weigh in on important decisions, but also help give a sense of freedom amongst what people do. While few options can at times allow for an easy and quick decision, having more options available give a sense of freedom and total control. So naturally, the more choices a person has, the better that person feels due to this illusion of control over the consequences of their decision. It is a fact that people want to always feel in control over their lives and have the ability to influence the events around them, even though they may be tied down to a predetermined environment.

In the realm of video games, options are something more than just the ability to manipulate sound and difficulty settings. Options in gaming are actually the choices before, during, and after the game that allow the player to experience the game the way they choose to. While a video game is still a work of art that has a predetermined series of events made by a developer, the level of control still falls upon the player in how they experience any particular work of art. Going beyond just “input and feedback”, giving more options and allowing for a better illusion of freedom and control in a video game can help better the experience offered to the player. This opportunity is something that many releases within the past few generations of games that has gradually diminished as time moves towards the next generation of gaming.