NEVER TOO OLD TO START PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

I started playing video games a few years back. Previously I had been a watcher. I would sit on the couch and egg my brother on until he beat the game, In some weird way, I felt a sense of winning myself. Many times he wanted to give up, but I told him he could win. I just didn't have the coordination to play any games, even Mario brothers. I would die so fast. When Super Mario World and the Super Nintendo game out back in 91' my mother bought for my brother and me. He played it more than I did, I mainly watched. Even when it was a game that was specifically purchased via my request he played it. I wanted so badly to be able to play and beat a whole game.

It wasn't until years later, and I mean years when I picked up another controller. This time, I had the coordination. The first game that I played from beginning to end was The Walking Dead Game Season one. I was drawn by it's cinematic and story driven play. It was a good change form the recent Destiny game. Which I picked up the mechanics perfectly, I was proud of myself, but it was anxiety inducing. Always having to be alert. I was also missing the walking dead series, as it was still good, so I thought why not.

I get to experience The Walking Dead from another POV, other than the characters I've been used to. Playing as Lee, A recently convicted murderer from Macon, Georgia. The Zombie Outbreak happens as he's in the back of a police cruiser heading to serve his time. After being freed through a freak accident his soul purpose becomes to protect a young girl named Clementine who was hiding in a tree house of a home he stumbled upon after running from ravenous zombies. The little girl was left at home with a babysitter, who was now a zombie, and her parents were said to be on vacation in Savannah, Georgia. Clementine's goal is to return to her parents. Although, Lee understands that may be impossible. On their journey to Savannah, they encounter a few friends and some deadly enemies. Enough to keep any player on the edge of their seats.

This almost strictly cinematic, story driven episodic narrative gives the player a sense of choice control. With the idea that the player controls the thoughts and how the character responds to what's happening around them. But no matter what is chosen it always bring the characters to the same outcome. No matter who you end with in Season one, they all died. You end up alone, with a child. And Lee dies no matter what you do, or don't do. The game is somewhat of a social commentary based on what you choose. At the end of each episode, your choices are compared with others. Forcing the player to think once again, what would have happened if I had made X choice, instead of Y?

TellTale Games titles are psychologically immersive when played mindfully. The player will find themselves questioning, "What would I do If..?" As If to say they themselves are being presented with these choices. As they play to keep a character in a story alive and moving forward, developing a sense of empathy for those that you encounter, not much of the story can be controlled. You cannot control the camera, it's shot is in a frame. Almost Resident Evil Camera cut style. With an occasional QTE (Quick Time Event), which usually kills me the first time. Which, other than great story, is the highlight of playing the game. It's a rush. When they released Batman The Telltale series I was impressed with the QTE updates they had made to their game engine. The graphics were great, they can only go up from here.