Where games are played

These days games can be played all over the place, wether it be at home on the go or wherever you have access to a gaming system.

The first places that i should mention is the arcades, this is where video games originated, before gaming systems where available to have in the home. You had to go out to play them to a communal area where lots of other people would also be playing games. You could say that games were a social thing and encouraged people to get together to play and compete against each other.

It was then that games moved into our homes and their reputation went down even more than they already were. People complained that kids weren't getting out of the house and weren't socialising with others, all they were doing was locking themselves away all day playing video games. These days thats just not true, most games have a multiplayer option available, and even more recently with consols, like the Nintendo Wii,  even encourage families to play together with games of all ages. Now with online gaming, that has become amazingly popular people can play with people all over the world.

Hand held gaming systems have also flourished, from way back with the original gameboy, to the new 3DS, you can take your games wherever you go. I have personally been playing much more of my hand held systems for the simple reason that i am always out somewhere doing somethings therefore it is easier for me to just be able to whip out my DS and play something while i'm out.  

Architecture references

I remember researching some of the artwork for one of the Final fantasy games, the sequel to Final fantasy 10 and finding a picture of a building/ environment design. I found that the design had a mixture of architectural influences from different cultures. The intricate details of the buildings features including many archways and towers appear to have references to Greek and roman architecture as well as the archways and elaborate windows of the gothic period. 

The Gagazet ruins displays a beautiful mixture of ruined buildings, that look like they have just jumped of the pages of a fairy tale book. I think that a large part of our culture these days is that of the glamoured up versions of fairy tales, usually consisting of lots of sparkly pink and fluffy creatures, when in reality their stories and original appearances are much more sinister. i think this image shows a little bit of both. while looking magical it also at the same time has an air of mystery about, possibly some underlying evil.

Okami

Okami is one of the most culture-influenced games that I can think of.  You play as the sun goddess Amaterasu who has come down to earth to in the form of a white wolf to save the world of Nippon.

The original goddess in Japanese mythology she is said to be the ruler of the heavens and the top deity in the Shinto religion. It was said that she brought light to the world and in doing so made fertile fields of rice and flowers. This is expressed in the game as well, when you run around a trail of flowers bloom behind you and you can also rejuvenate dead trees and areas that have been destroyed.

The game itself is set in a feudal Japan and brilliantly depicts it in a traditional Japanese brush style. The whole game is full of the old Japanese culture and is very informative even teaching you things about the culture and the different Shinto Gods and Goddesses. In the game Amatarasu comes to earth in the form of a white wolf with strange red markings on her body. The weapon you carry is a large flaming disk this is a representation of the sun in which the Goddess is depicted with in all Japanese paintings and illustrations.