Video Games During Quarantine: Reimagining community
by Nancy Duong and Jonah Rand, Reporters
Entertainment and Culture
It was March 13th when schools closed throughout Washington, and no matter how much some teens dislike school, most can agree that it is a primary way for them to socialize. In the midst of a global pandemic, maintaining relationships with friends and loved ones has become increasingly difficult. Despite this, the popularity of many new video games such as Fall Guys, Among Us, Animal Crossing, and VALORANT, along with older games such as Jackbox Games, Fortnite, PUBG, and Minecraft, has made it possible to spend time with friends in a safe way.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is a notable game that blew up over the summer. It is similar to battle royale games where players fight to be the last one standing; a player needs to reach the finish line or outlast all the other players to win. The player, a jelly bean, tries to maneuver through a variety of obstacles in a candy world.
The game was launched on the PS gaming system rather than on multiple platforms, according to CNBC. PS Plus has over 41 million subscriptions, and through that, Fall Guys became the most downloaded game through the service. The game swiftly flooded, taking over Fortnite’s popularity on Twitch and YouTube, which have large gaming communities. The fame through social media and usage with Discord boosted the game’s appeal to teens.
The game does not provide local multiplayer mode. However, their online multiplayer mode allows friends to play on separate screens while also interacting with teens throughout the U.S. During the lockdown, teens could turn to this game to battle each other on a multiplayer game that requires little to no previous knowledge of using a game controller. In the end, the game has lost its popularity over time, but hopefully it will pick up again. No matter what, it will always be recognized as a videogame that shaped quarantine.
In June of 2018, Among Us, the now popular online multiplayer game, was released, similar to the common playground game “Mafia.” However, the popularity of the game did not pick up until the latter half of quarantine. According to CNET, Among Us has more than 86 million downloads. Social media content about the game popped up on Twitch and YouTube, then Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram. The game was meant to be a multiplayer game; therefore, it has made an excellent game for a time where we need to hunker down at home. It is compatible with Discord, so both pro and amateur gamers could play with friends or with people online throughout the globe.
Among Us has a sci-fi theme, where “crewmates” need to figure out who is the “imposter,” who they can vote out during meetings. This game brought teens together to collaborate to defeat a common enemy. The “imposter’s” goal is to kill all of the “crewmates” until there is one left. Each game is different via the variety of tasks each “crewmate” needs to complete, and the sabotages performed by the “imposters.” Overall, this set up makes each round unique and captures players’ attention when they need to fill time.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released for the Nintendo Switch on March 20th of 2020 and is the fifth installment of the Animal Crossing series. The game was announced in September 2018 with a trailer releasing in 2019 at Nintendo E3. A special limited-edition Animal Crossing themed Nintendo Switch console was also released. Needless to say, Nintendo definitely built a reasonable amount of hype over the past two years, and it did not disappoint.
As the town representative on a deserted island, the player slowly builds and improves the island infrastructure as they invite animal villagers to live on their island. Unlike previous versions of the game, there is much more flexibility and creative power, allowing for the creation of beautiful and expansive themed islands. Many players racked up nearly a hundred hours of playtime already within the first week of release.
While not advertised as a multiplayer game, players can invite their friends over to their island or vice versa via local multiplayer or with Nintendo’s online service subscription. It is a fun way to show off one’s progress or exchange resources and help each other out. There are many opportunities to spend time with friends, such as during the Fishing and Bug tourneys. With monthly updates, there is always something new and exciting to return to.
Many fans of the multiplayer battle game, League of Legends, anticipated the release of Riot Game’s new tactical first-person shooter game, VALORANT. "Our goal has always been to bring VALORANT to as much of the world as soon as possible,” says Anna Donlon, executive producer of the game at Riot Games. With top-notch servers, the ability to run on even lower-spec computers, and the ability to play with no cost, VALORANT excels in being accessible for many players. The game was in closed beta testing from April 7 to May 28, with an official release date of June 2. Rather than focusing on stories and visuals, VALORANT takes a unique approach and instead focuses on the technicality and specifications of the game. Each “Agent,” the character chosen at the start of the match, has a unique set of abilities. While there is a strategic element to the game, all of the character abilities work well in tandem, making it an excellent candidate for multiplayer games. While still relatively new, the game shows lots of promise.
Jackbox Games’ party packs have been a great way to spend time with friends during the quarantine. Only one player needs to have a pack or game in order to play. By visiting their website, players can use any device, whether it be a computer or phone, as a remote to play. With seven packs to date with five mini-games each, there is always something fun and humorous to do. Most of the games involve player-made responses, so players can incorporate inside jokes and make it truly personal. With minigames involving things such as trivia, drawings, or funny quips, it truly is a great way to spend time with friends and Jackbox Games’ success has only risen since quarantine.
Although Minecraft first came out in 2009, it is still the most popular video game of all time, topping 200 million sales according to The Verge. Minecraft has built a massive community, not only on YouTube, but also on Reddit and Twitter. This game allows endless fun by yourself but most of all with friends. There are a plethora of adventures for a common goal that a team can partake in, from exploring the Woodland Mansion and Nether Fortress, to building a village and automatic farms. The game has caused the creation of servers such as Hermitcraft where multiple players for a community online in the Minecraft world. The content that Mojang has created through Minecraft and the community it has built is the reason why some teens have turned to the game to fill the seemingly endless void we called quarantine.
There has been a big market place for battle royale games with major competition, especially the likes of Fortnite and PUBG. While Fortnite’s fame seemed to have peaked in 2018, its popularity globally has risen to an all-time high over the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the game faces PUBG to claim the title as the most played battle royale game. Both bring players together to a map where they fight it out via weapons collected until there is one player left. This style of game has brought people together by finding new friends online, while also providing a way for friends to connect over the pandemic. A battle between the two major battle royale games, PUBG and Fortnite provide two great games that create unrepeatable gameplay every time.
Throughout all of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing has made it harder for teens to connect with their friends. However, the development of video games has bridged the distance via an online community. Communication is essential for teens’ mental health and interactive games not only serve as a way to pass time, but an outlet to create and connect. Whether it is PUBG, Fortnite, and Minecraft or Jackbox Games, VALORANT, and Among Us, these games have kept and built bonds between teens.
Sources
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Statt, Nich “Fortnite is now one of the biggest games ever with 350 million players” The Verge 6 May 2020 https://www.cnet.com/how-to/among-us-everything-to-know-about-the-game-everyone-is-obsessing-over/
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