Game evaluation from class 2-19-10

GAME 100 EXPLORING GAME WORLDS – VIDEOGAME IN-CLASS APPRAISAL TEMPLATE

Student Name__________________Russell Miller___

Today’s Date___________________2-19-10____

Game Title Examined________________Left4Dead________

Year of Publication______________________2008___

Game Publisher______________Electronic Arts and Steam________

Game Developer _____________________Valve______

Game Genre (e.g. shoot-em-up, racing, sports, puzzle, MMORPG, ‘sandbox’, music sequence following game (e.g. DDR, guitar hero)

shoot-em-up first person horror survival

Type of game ‘world’ or environment (e.g. flat environment, puzzle/maze space, 3D world?)

3D world

Perspective taken by player (e.g first person, third person perspective, top down, isometric) in relation to main player controlled character.

first person

Gameplay – what does the player have to do?

as part of a team, you shoot up the zombies and other enemies, while avoiding getting killed

Is the gameplay intuitive? (i.e. is it easy to understand what to do without instructions?) describe.

yes it is intuitive

Is the gameplay patterned (game does the same thing over & over) or is it random (happens differently every time?)

random

What does the type of graphic approach used as well as the audio tell you about the limits of the technology at the time the game was published?

This is a recent game which takes full advantage of the graphic capabilities which allow for exploring a 3D environment. It includes a well developed AI for the zombies and other assorted monsters. It incorporates many helpful features, lighting up items that can be picked up, identifying other members of your team when they are out of sight, and warning signs for approaching zombies, which utilizes today's ability to multitask many different features without affecting the gameplay.

Describe your views about the game from the point of view of

1. ease of play after you get used to the controls which is difficult for a beginner, it plays fairly easily.

1. enjoyability

fun after you get the hang of the controls

c) level of engagement/immersion

high level of immersion

Had you played this game prior to this time? If so, when?

No

Describe other games it reminds you of. How does it do this?

Castle Wolfenstein, in that you pick up weapons and are battling monster and the mood of the game is similar in some respects