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The Quest for the Holy Grail of Gaming

The Quest for the Holy Grail of Gaming

After Reddit user daymeeuhn purchased a leaked copy of No Man’s Sky for a galactic $1,200, VICE Editor- in-Chief Austin Walker criticized the lofty expectations placed upon the game, specifically that it would be “the last game you’ll ever need.” I agree with Walker, although I’m certain that some of those fans are saying this with a certain degree of facetiousness. Facetious or not, some are disappointed by the allegedly short 30 hour campaign and its 18 quintillion planets – if only there were 19 quintillion, then that would surely offset the nearly three dozen hours!

But never mind No Man’s Sky . Instead, let’s discuss the notion of the last game you’ll ever need, the exalted holy grail of gaming. Obviously, as with the real artifact, it doesn’t exist or already exists but you no longer care. Still, the idea is fun to think about.

On one hand, I can understand the desire for the never-ending game to end all games. Games are expensive, costing time and money. Most of them are not worth either, and some that are you may never hear about. While reviewers can point you in the right direction, your tastes can vary from theirs. Perhaps you hear this game has an amazing single player campaign but no multiplayer. Perhaps another game has the exact opposite problem. Maybe a game has both but no compelling gameplay or the required variety to help you maintain interest. The search for the perfect game is tiring.

However, to cease pursuit of the only game you’ll ever need goes against human nature – it’d be like as saying the smartphone is the last device you’ll ever need in your lifetime. The pursuit of the ultimate game inspires artists to push the boundaries, either by creating something new or – and I’m trying not to come across as cynical when I say this – improve on what currently exists.  The games that may or may not be worth your time and money are competing with one another to be worth your time and money, and possibly to be the next big thing. Now that I think about it, No Man’s Sky is a good metaphor for this pursuit.

Anyway, to illustrate my point that the concept of the last game you’ll ever need is impossible, I’ll spend the rest of this piece describing what I think would constitute that elusive final game. Notice how convoluted it gets.

The Quest for the Holy Grail of Gaming

The last game you’ll ever need is one that never ends. It will have a never-ending story thanks to constant expansions. The gameplay is online but allows you to explore by yourself if you want. It has tons of secrets that will take forever to uncover, but you can ignore all of that in favor of PvP matches. The game caters to all play styles, and you can even round up the community to play minigames outside of the main mechanics, such as racing to the top of the highest mountain. But the final game you’ll ever need also has a deep meta game experience. Eventually, your only friends are the ones you meet in your server. Your friends depend on you for your playstyle, and often don’t thank you for it. Your game becomes your job, and you have no time for other games because you have to be well rested for your raid tomorrow.

World of Warcraft . I’m saying World of Warcraft is the only game you’ll ever need.

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