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Help Me Understand the Appeal of Survival Sims
I’d like to ask a favor of you. H1Z1 released last week on Steam Early Access, making it the latest of a growing number of attempts to cash in on the gargantuan success seen by “survival sims” like DayZ and Rust. I haven’t played the game, so take what I’m about to say about the genre it belongs to — you know, the one that millions of gamers flock to every year — because I just don’t get it.
More specifically, I don’t get the appeal, and I’m hoping you can help me remedy that.
I’ve dabbled in this genre a few times now, mostly with Rust. The interactions I’ve had with other players tells me roughly 4 out of 5 DayZ players are horrible human beings online, while essentially everyone in Rust is the worst. Granted, that’s based on my experience, but I have it on good authority that I’m not the only one who’s had this problem.
I get the appeal of survival sims, it’s why I’ve spent about 30 hours in Rust before I couldn’t continue to put up with the bandit mentality problem that plagues this genre. It’s reached a point where your chances of survival are basically nonexistent without a platoon of friends covering you, and even that won’t help when — not if, when — you run into one of the myriad hackers who fly around killing players and ruining unprotected bases.
The hacker problem isn’t news, and neither is people being dicks to each other. Abusing the anonymity that comes with playing games online is nothing new, I see it every time I join a match in [INSERT MODERN SHOOTER TITLE HERE] and while it’s certainly annoying, ignoring all those homophobic tweens is super effective and doesn’t require much effort on my part.
Unfortunately, this tactic doesn’t work in lawless worlds like Chernarus, where there’s no easy escape from terrible people who can now have a real impact on your experience. The fact that countless hours of progress can be undone by an asshole with a gun might sound appealing to fans of Dark Souls and roguelikes. It would to me too, if there was something I could learn from it.
Death in roguelikes is a learning experience. Every death teaches me something, making me better at the game. It’s tough, but that makes each victory all the more rewarding. So what do we learn from dying over and over and over again in these games, other than some people are awful?
This genre sounds more like a metaphor for life than a game. That might even be the appeal. Maybe there are millions of people out there who have been waiting for a game to come along that’s as unforgiving as life often is, with far less rules and the reality that no matter how hard you work, it can be undone in an instant. If that’s the answer, I still don’t get it.
That leads me to my question. If you enjoy playing these games, tell me why you do in the comments. It doesn’t need to be a good reason, just your reason.
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‘Hellraiser: Resurrections’ – BOOM! Studios Event Unleashes Five Brand New One-Shot Comics [Exclusive]
BOOM! Studios recently announced that three classic Clive Barker Hellraiser comic books are coming back to shelves, and we’ve got another exciting exclusive for you today.
Bloody Disgusting can exclusively report that BOOM! Studios will return to the labyrinthine horrors of Clive Barker’s legendary Hellraiser universe with five all-new one-shots this Fall!
A brand new generation of creators will explore the untold corners of Clive Barker’s infernal mythology, revisiting iconic Cenobites while introducing terrifying new stories that expand the boundaries of the Hellscape itself with Hellraiser: Resurrections.
Each week through the month of September, a new chapter of damnation arrives, revealing the forces gathering in the shadows. The descent begins with HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – NEW WOUNDS #1 from writer Mike Costa and artist Paco Camallonga as they draw readers into the hedonistic world of Hellraiser.
When an investigation into the mysterious Puzzle Box goes sideways, the gateways to Hell open anew.
Then, hear the unmistakable chattering of death itself in HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – THE ONANISTIC RITUAL #1 from writer Zac Thompson and artist Gavin Mitchell.
The Chatterer bares his teeth for a brand-new mission. His goal? To reclaim his rightful place as the right hand of the Hell Priest himself!
Next, venture deeper into the hierarchy of Hell with HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – THE DEEP GOSPEL #1 from writer Tini Howard and artist Jenna Cha.
The Female Cenobite was dead. Or close to it…until the Engineer found her. But when she rejects the Engineer’s plans for her remaking, she’s cast down into the harrowing Nidus: the place where the larval stage of Cenobites fight to survive. She’s been here before and made it out alive—and she’ll do it again.
The horrors continue in HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – HELL’S COUNCIL #1 from writer Nero Villagallos O’Reilly and artist Francesca Ciregia.
We saw the fall of Butterball at the end of Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Now we’ll witness his rise as the wounded Cenobite is taken in by a mysterious do-gooder who slowly nurses him back to health, all while worming her way into his brain…and maybe even his heart?
Finally, the event culminates with HELLRAISER: RESURRECTIONS – THE RETURN OF THE PRIEST #1 from writer Sarah Gailey and artist Alessio Avallone.
Caught in the sensory deprivation of Middle Hell, Elliot Spencer suffers the worst fate: no feeling at all. When the glory of Leviathan’s light finally sears through him, granting him the gift of pain—it’s revelatory. The Hell Priest must journey to remake himself and gather his Gash once more to bring the cherished blessing of pain to all that deserve it.
From fresh visions of beloved Cenobites to horrifying new revelations hidden within the depths of Hell, Hellraiser: Resurrections serves as both a celebration of Clive Barker’s enduring mythology and the first chapter of an exciting new era for the franchise. The series kicks off a new publishing initiative that will bring a new Hellraiser ongoing series and miniseries to life through 2027.
Hellraiser: Resurrections begins this September with five weekly one-shots from BOOM! and distributed by Penguin Random House. You can preorder the series at your local comic shops and digitally through major content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.
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