The Power of The Score

As a gamer since 1985, I never consider score points to be the main point of a game. Some may see high scores of proven skill or how they have some kind of supernatural power to rank up combos with ease. Some have become legendary for pulling off this feat over time with arcade classics like Pac Man, Galaga, Robotron, and Donkey Kong. It was a moment in time to those who gain fame and recognition for it. Yet, now a days, only a certain amount of people are setting records with score and some games now a says don’t have it. Has the power of the score change or has it turned into something else?

I was watching the movie Chasing Ghost and as a historical documentary, it got me thinking. These men in this movie tell a fascinating tale of the rise and fall of themselves. It was amazing to hear them talk about their scores and what they endured but since it was more limited to certain games, they mainly focus on the games majority of gamers recognize and played. I would have loved to hear them moved on to other games like Ghost’n’Goblins or Kid Nikki. Yet since most the games out at that time were Frogger or Battlezone, that was what made their scores historical and beatable.

While watching the movie, it got me thinking about why these grown men are acting they way they are over scores? Is it because I was more concerned about conquering they game then having my three initials in a game? Well, yes it was. Scores to me doesn’t make you the be all and powerful gamer of that one game. It shows you have magnificent talent and how you can play a game for a long period of time but what would be more that a gamer can get out of it? Can you tell me about how rad it is you got a high score in Haunted House or is it more beneficial that you actually beat Haunted House with some context to discuss?

The Power of the score though does have it benefits and I will never knock anybody achieving that level of play. You are experiencing a play style many have not taken the time to invest and study. Setting a record with a hi score motivates others to beat it or work on their skills to reach that level. The mind can be blown when seeing someone actually play Pac Man with a flawless run. To see a Youtube clip of a gamer go through Ikaruga and scoring a high score is something that will blow many minds.

Now that games are evolving and gamers are more into what they do on screen, scores haven’t mattered to many.  Microsoft changed all that with Achievements. When this system came out, points mattered. Depending on how many games you have and what achievements you can get out of it, 360 players were battling it out to be the top on the leader boards. It proved what happens when points have meaning and are kept instead of being erased after a system is shut down.

In fact, points have been seen in many things, Like 1up's blog system, The Nintendo Club, and Twin Galaxies. Just some examples that in this day and age, some scores and points are still usable and record setting to any generation. Heck, a gamers Video Game library has a value point system.

So has it turned into something? Yes and it will always evolve. I just hope it doesn’t die out and become something of the past. Blog Finish: Achievement Unlock!!