by: Jonathan White
Why do we all play these games? What is the formula for the simple yet wildly addictive gameplay of these little Flash programs? Why is it that we find the time passing so quickly? We know they are simple, we know that we probably have better designs floating around on our hard drives, yet for some reason, we all come back to the tried and tested Flash game. What could that reason be?
Convenience? One of the main upsides to flash games is that you can pick up and play whenever you want, there is no preparation needed, no decisions to be made. You play when you want, for how long you want, you can pause the game if needed and quickly alt-tab when your teacher or boss comes over.
Simplicity? The easy controls and simple graphics mean that even people unaccustomed to the Internet or gaming can enjoy a little play on Flash games. Old or young, the designs are made to deliver gameplay without fluff, so it's easy to get something out of it.
Arcade-Style Competition? You are always playing against a score, you can always better yourself and rank higher than before. Everyone wants his or her name on the leader board. This is like the feel of an arcade, where the ultimate prize is your name being on top for all to see. In some countries, arcades are very competitive, and Flash games to a point bring this competition to everybody.
Infinite? Because of the nature of Flash games, you can never 'complete' most of them. In a normal game, when you slay the dragon, or finish the last level, you win. In a Flash game, your goals are only set by yourself, and once you achieve them, you can always set a higher one.
Calming? Lots of games can actually be very stressful. Games cause people to throw controllers, roar at screens and generally make a fool of themselves. Most Flash games feel a lot more 'fun' and 'casual' due to the nature of knowing you can get back to where you were fairly easily.
Cross-Platform? It doesn't matter if you use Windows, MacOS, Linux or any other web-ready operating system. Flash games are easily accessible to everybody, no matter where you are. You can even play them on some modern cellphones and handhelds. This allows users on different platforms to directly compete in a field, something rare in modern OS-specific gaming.
Why do we all play these games? What is the formula for the simple yet wildly addictive gameplay of these little Flash programs? Why is it that we find the time passing so quickly? We know they are simple, we know that we probably have better designs floating around on our hard drives, yet for some reason, we all come back to the tried and tested Flash game. What could that reason be?
Convenience? One of the main upsides to flash games is that you can pick up and play whenever you want, there is no preparation needed, no decisions to be made. You play when you want, for how long you want, you can pause the game if needed and quickly alt-tab when your teacher or boss comes over.
Simplicity? The easy controls and simple graphics mean that even people unaccustomed to the Internet or gaming can enjoy a little play on Flash games. Old or young, the designs are made to deliver gameplay without fluff, so it's easy to get something out of it.
Arcade-Style Competition? You are always playing against a score, you can always better yourself and rank higher than before. Everyone wants his or her name on the leader board. This is like the feel of an arcade, where the ultimate prize is your name being on top for all to see. In some countries, arcades are very competitive, and Flash games to a point bring this competition to everybody.
Infinite? Because of the nature of Flash games, you can never 'complete' most of them. In a normal game, when you slay the dragon, or finish the last level, you win. In a Flash game, your goals are only set by yourself, and once you achieve them, you can always set a higher one.
Calming? Lots of games can actually be very stressful. Games cause people to throw controllers, roar at screens and generally make a fool of themselves. Most Flash games feel a lot more 'fun' and 'casual' due to the nature of knowing you can get back to where you were fairly easily.
Cross-Platform? It doesn't matter if you use Windows, MacOS, Linux or any other web-ready operating system. Flash games are easily accessible to everybody, no matter where you are. You can even play them on some modern cellphones and handhelds. This allows users on different platforms to directly compete in a field, something rare in modern OS-specific gaming.
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