Task 20. Creativity

Creativity is the thinking behind an idea that is either completely or partially original in content. As a programmer I believe the creativity comes in when creating how certain features work within a game and the programming behind this can also be creative in the way that it is written to be more efficient while running. Therefore creative ideas like bullet time and generally adding a new concept the games mechanics would be the area that my creativity would be concerned with.

Creativity in games I feel would be judged by: the story, game mechanics, characters, sound and the immersion of the game for the player. I think a prime example for creativity in terms of story and characters would be the final fantasy series as the characters and story are so in depth and totally original each story feels fresh and drives you to continue playing. I think the creativity of the Warioware series in which it created a game that was made purely of second long mini games which I haven’t ever encountered before is an important creation as this brought a brand new range of games to the gaming community.

I strongly agree with Robert E. Franken who said:

The three reasons for why people are motivated to be creative are:

1. need for novel, varied, and complex stimulation
2. need to communicate ideas and values
3. need to solve problems

Creativity allows us to create a new world/idea unlike any on this planet and can also act as an escape from reality. I think creativity put to good use can be used to solve problems while the 1^st motivation is used more for keeping a persons mind active and trying to escape monotony.

I think creative stimulation can come from any source. The beauty in creativity is that its very different between every human being. Therefore while one mans creativity may be based outside this planet another’s may be based within this planet, allowing millions of different forms of creativity to be developed. However there must be some link between a person’s creativity that is good for things like inventions e.g. their creativity was sparked by a question that they wished to be answered in opposed to just day dreaming. Yet I think creativity for computer games can take any form whatsoever as computer games break the limitations that we have within life itself and allows us to be or do anything we wish.

Creativity is best shown in both inventions and computer games. The entire computer games industry is based on creativity as computer games are an art form and art without creativity is just repetition of a previous picture/design and no one will be willing to pay for the same game there must be some new form of content, whether it be a new character or game mechanic, for it to sell. Inventions also are very dependant on creativity as an invention must be original which directly requires creativity to take place.