Inspiration You Can Find Behind Video Games

Video games are the new order, especially among millennials and Gen-Z, who grew up on technology, social media, and the Internet.

They are a fun pastime and, very clearly, quite popular. There are currently over 3 billion active video game players in the world. But do fans of these franchises know the origins that helped to bring these games to life?

Given that the world has a rich history, there are thousands of years worth of inspiration for video game creators to pick from, especially from arts, music, and culture.

Video games’ colorful, combative worlds are often loosely based on classics, poetry, and even historical events.

This article explores four video games inspired by arts, culture, and sometimes unusual stuff.

Among Us

The first video game to be considered is Among Us, whose core concept was borrowed from the party card game Mafia, which has the inner workings of a poker round.

Since its debut in 2018, Among Us has grown to become a viral action-adventure multiplayer series.

To win this game, one must bluff, just like in poker. Well, the famous game, as you may know, has a complex and interesting logic.

Since many people currently prefer playing on online platforms, many of them are aware of the online poker strategy that includes all the important tips to be a smart player, including the art of bluffing and other skills that you can find on this website.

And everyone knows that the first rule in bluffing is to never talk more than you need to. 

The fact that the game is online and one is not exactly looking other players in the eye to determine if they’re lying makes bluffing somewhat easy. You still need to play smart, though, to survive.

Imposters, for instance, have to pretend to be a part of the crew and do a good job of pretending to repair tasks until they can sabotage the ship and kill the crew mates.

There are several strategies imposters can use to bluff and cosplay as crew mates while discreetly carrying out imposter duties.

A big way to avoid suspicion after killing off a crewmate is to jump into a vent, use the venting system to get into a different room and start the charade all over again. If you never bluff, a poker game becomes boring and unbeatable.

In the same way, you must bluff in the Among Us game by staying active and joining others to accuse other crew mates of being imposters in meetings.

Being silent to avoid attention is a very big rookie move. The goal is to stay active without drawing attention.

Another way to bluff at this game is to call emergency meetings. There is no reason for an imposter to hit the emergency button to report bodies or accuse other crew mates, so doing so casts away suspicions.

Essentially, imposters must not be afraid to bluff, as that is the most profitable way to play the game. 

Pikmin

Next up is Pikmin. Launched in 2001, Pikmin is best known for being family-friendly, goofy, and full of fun characters. Surprisingly, ants are the biggest influence behind Shigeru Miyamoto’s Pikmin. Yes, the insects!

Shigeru observed how ants moved in a trail and were inspired to create a video game where plant-like creatures (Pikmin) must move in a herd towards the same goal.

The video series published by Nintendo currently consists of six games: Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4, Hey! Pikmin and Pikmin Bloom.

Regarding style, Pikmin takes cues from cinema, including the work of Tim Burton. Even so, Shigeru Miyamoto – lead developer on the series – cited a marching line of ants as his first inspiration.

Shadow Complex

Shadow Complex is an action-adventure Metroidvania video game designed in a 2.5D style. In the 2016 remastered version, you play Jason Flemming, whose girlfriend Claire is captured as a spy.

Of course, James Flemming makes it his mission to find Claire. In so doing, he discovers the sinister agenda of her kidnappers. The series is heavily influenced by Orson Scott Card’s 2006 dystopian novel Empire.

Shadow Complex uses the same weapons and devices used in The Restoration in the Empire Book. While the main character, Jason, does not seem to feature in the book, some events, organizations, and scheming elements tally with the novel.

The video game released in 2009 is often praised for its clean visuals, rapid pace, and Metroidvania platform.

Payday: The Heist

In Payday, a team of tough crooks executes a series of heists. It has the conventional concept of video games — plenty of shooting, robbery, and bad guys to keep you engaged.

During an interview session with Digital Spy, Simon Vilkund (sound designer of Payday: The Heist) cited the 1995 drama Heat and the 1998 American Action movie Die Hard as big influences on the game. 

Heat is the story of McCauley, who wants to retire after pulling off one last heist but is constantly thwarted by Detective Hanna.

On the other hand, Die Hard is an R-rated movie starring Bruce Willis as John McClane, a man who attempts to save his wife and others from a terrorist attack at a Christmas party.

Final Thoughts

It is common for movies to have a video game adaptation. But they are not the only sources video games are inspired from.

Everything, including cultural events and space travel, inspires game developers. Seasoned game developers often incorporate these inspirations into creating those immersive and engaging alternative worlds gamers enjoy.

Besides, different occasions and events may inspire them to create themed games, which are amazing entertainment options for the holiday season.

You might have seen such examples before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other celebrations. Themed games appear not only on video gaming platforms but even on websites for online gambling.

So, the next time you sit down to enjoy a video game, remember to find out what inspired the game’s developers.