Title: Gaming’s Most Thrilling Feats: From Beating Tetris AI to Epic Speedruns
13-year-old Willis Gibson achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first human to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris. This victory held a special meaning for Gibson as he dedicated it to his late father who passed away in December 2023. Defeating level after level, Gibson ultimately reached the kill screen of Tetris where the game’s artificial intelligence ceases to progress due to limitations in its code. His achievement serves as a reminder that gamers, contrary to stereotypes, are not lazy or mindless.
One of the popular subcultures in gaming is speedrunning, where players meticulously optimize routes and exploit glitches to complete games in a fraction of the time they would normally take. These speedrunners aim to match the time of a theoretically perfect playthrough known as a tool-assisted speed run or TAS. Achieving success in speedrunning requires precision, flawless execution, and years of training.
Niftski, a Twitch streamer, came closest to perfection in a speedrun of Super Mario Bros., falling just 0.35 seconds short of a flawless TAS. As he maneuvered 8-bit Mario through the game, Niftski’s anxiety rose, evident in his elevated heart rate of 188 beats per minute. When he finally completed the run, he erupted in shock, exclaiming, Oh my God! and eventually breaking down into tears of exhaustion and joy. The dedication and emotions displayed by these speedrunners highlight their pursuit of perfection and the desire to surpass even the capabilities of robots.
Minecraft, the revolutionary sandbox game, has captivated players of all ages and become the second best-selling title in history after Tetris. The game provides players with limitless creative freedom to build and explore their own virtual worlds. Gamers have achieved incredible feats within Minecraft, such as riding a pig for a record distance of 414 miles or collecting 89 sunflowers in a single minute. Collaborative efforts have also resulted in the recreation of the world on a 1:1 scale using Minecraft blocks, showcasing the power of collective imagination and play.
In the Halo 3 gaming community, players mobilized themselves as imaginary participants in a global cause to save humanity. They organized round-the-clock shifts and shared strategies to fight against the Covenant, an alien alliance in the game. Bungie, the developer of Halo 3, tracked the total number of alien deaths by players, with the milestone of 10 billion reached in April 2009. This collective effort served as a testament to the human desire to work together and be part of something greater than oneself.
The dedication and passion displayed by gamers like Gibson, Niftski, and the Halo 3 community have fascinated researchers in various fields. This led to the emergence of an industry centered on the gamification of work, life, and learning, using extrinsic motivators like badges and achievements. However, some game designers have argued that this approach misses the true essence of gaming. They advocate for gameful design, which prioritizes intrinsic motivation, social connection, creativity, a sense of autonomy, and the pure joy of mastering a game.
As we witness the thrilling feats accomplished in the gaming world, it is important to recognize the value and fulfillment that gaming can bring to individuals. The moments of ecstatic accomplishment experienced by gamers like Niftski and Gibson serve as reminders of the potential for joy and pride in a world that sometimes lacks these elements.
In conclusion, the world of gaming is filled with incredible achievements, ranging from beating AI in Tetris to epic speedruns and collaborative endeavors in games like Minecraft and Halo 3. Gamers defy stereotypes by showcasing dedication, passion, and the pursuit of perfection. As the gaming industry evolves, the focus is shifting towards gameful design, emphasizing intrinsic motivation and the joy of gaming. These thrilling feats stand as a testament to the immense potential and value of gaming in our lives.
[Original Article: https://theconversation.com/from-besting-tetris-ai-to-epic-speedruns-inside-gamings-most-thrilling-feats-220620]
