![\"Monkey](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_monkey_island_logo-300x164.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOf course we have to start with Monkey Island<\/em>. The first part appeared in 1991, fit on a handful of floppy disks, and is still very well known. I\u2019m always surprised how many people played it back then and still remember it fondly. The original graphics are, naturally, no longer up to date, and because there are so many fans, the first two parts were remastered and redrawn. You can get the games for PC and also for iOS\u2014which makes for a very pleasant experience, lounging on the sofa with a tablet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Monkey Island<\/em> is a classic pirate story with everything that entails. You slip into the role of Guybrush Threepwood, who wants to become a pirate and must pass several trials to do so. Along the way he falls in love with Elaine and crosses swords with the ghost pirate LeChuck. The game never skimps on humor, and as an adventure there are puzzles to solve\u2014sometimes very quirky ones. Think \u201cinsult swordfighting,\u201d or a spitting contest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Ron Gilbert<\/a>, the game\u2019s creator, crafted a very entertaining and funny story with numerous running gags. You can\u2019t really take the whole thing too seriously. He was inspired by Tim Powers\u2019s novel On Stranger Tides<\/em> (German title: In fremderen Gezeiten<\/em>)\u2014a book that delivers everything a good pirate tale needs: buccaneering, beachside carousing in Nassau, voodoo, ghost pirates, and of course a light touch of romance. If you like pirate stories, I can only recommend the read. The developer commentary is fantastic, as is the option to switch at any time between the original 1991 graphics and the new drawings\u2014perfect for retro gamers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you keep an eye out, you can get the first two parts at a bargain price on gog.com<\/a>. They run good sales regularly. And in the Apple App Store the games are often discounted as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n BioShock Infinite<\/em> absolutely thrilled me with its story. Of course, it\u2019s also visually very appealing and firmly state-of-the-art. The combination of story, atmosphere, and cleverly used AI makes the game a genuine experience. You play Booker DeWitt, a private investigator tasked with rescuing the young woman Elizabeth from a city in the sky. This city was introduced at the 1893 World\u2019s Fair in Chicago and relies on a kind of quantum technology that keeps buildings suspended at altitude via balloons and massive airships. Columbia\u2014the name of the city\u2014is the stage for the entire story, and in appearance, mood, and social structures it\u2019s set at the beginning of the 20th century. I found the whole presentation captivating. The atmosphere, the music, the people you encounter as a player\u2014all have a powerful impact. The isolated city grapples with all the issues of its time: racism, the inequalities of industrialization and capitalism, the role of unions, propaganda, and religion. I found the propaganda particularly well executed, and the struggle of revolutionaries against a racist ruling class gains great depth through many small allusions and details.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s a first-person shooter\u2014not my primary genre. But here the story more than makes up for that. The second protagonist is Elizabeth, whose fate is closely intertwined with Booker\u2019s and with several antagonists; she\u2019s essentially the game\u2019s soul. Her fate and her own story, which gradually unfolds, are moving and compelling, and together with Booker she forms an oddly mismatched duo. You\u2019re practically pulled through the story, and I finished the game over a single weekend. It left me emotionally stirred\u2014and intellectually, too, because of the narrative. And I wasn\u2019t alone. The story, especially the ending, is profound, intricate, and philosophically rich; afterwards I went online and discovered countless players felt the need to discuss the ending and the larger narrative and to think it through. You\u2019ll find page after page of speculation, explanations, and reflections. I then played it a second time, carefully following every clue. Only then did all the connections click, and I doff my hat to lead developer Ken Levine. In every respect, the game is a work of art.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n All of it is underscored by the brilliant music of Garry Schyman, who chose not a large orchestra but a deliberately small string ensemble. The score is often wistful, constantly tense, and truly brings the characters to life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In the end I couldn\u2019t resist getting the art book. There\u2019s so much love of detail in every element\u2014whether it\u2019s the city itself and its locations, the uncanny enemies, or especially Elizabeth and Booker. The book shows beautifully how the characters evolved; the concept art documents how the designers gradually found their way to this expressive world. Rumor has it the production costs swallowed 200 million dollars. An impressive sum\u2014but plausible. Art, music, graphics, and story are simply perfect here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The game can now be had for a good price on Steam<\/a>, and if you look around you\u2019ll find real bargains. On eBay it goes for under six euros, and with a little patience you\u2019ll catch it for that price directly on Steam too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You don\u2019t need to have played the first two parts, BioShock<\/em> and BioShock 2<\/em>, to enjoy BioShock Infinite<\/em>. The story is completely independent, and although the first two entries are very good, they don\u2019t come close to Infinite<\/em>. It\u2019s been three years since I last played it\u2014so it\u2019s probably time again. I imagine it would be stunning in VR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n And here we have another full-on pirate tale. Black Flag<\/em> is the fourth part of the Assassin\u2019s Creed<\/em> series, and I must confess I haven\u2019t played any of the others. But since I love the pirate setting, I had to play this one. Set in the 18th century, it takes place in the Caribbean. All the locales you know from pirate stories are here. You control Edward Kenway, a pirate roaming the splendid South Seas, climbing up and leaping down from houses, walls, trees\u2014pretty much anything. You even get your own ship and can board British merchant vessels on the high seas. The gameplay is fast and action-packed, and I was truly terrible at it. I\u2019m just too clumsy for that kind of gameplay. Maybe it was because I played on PC rather than console, but in the end I want to play through smoothly, not seek a challenge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I can\u2019t really remember the story, so it\u2019s not a personal recommendation. What did absolutely delight me, though, was the wonderful graphics\u2014the perfect setting with its love of detail and a special feel for light and lighting moods. When Edward drinks rum on the beach with fellow pirates and watches the sunset, it\u2019s truly impressive. That alone was reason enough for me to buy the art book. The illustrators who created the concept art are, to me, true artists\u2014it\u2019s a joy to leaf through the book. The lovely beaches and islands, pirate hideouts, and big cities like Havana, Kingston, and Nassau are all staged in a very picturesque way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can find some of the gorgeous images online<\/a> as well. Whether in the jungle, on islands, or in the cities, I loved my time in this beautiful world. The art book once again shows the huge effort, expertise, and talent behind such a game. Reportedly, 900 people worked on it. According to the production manager, someone was working on the game around the clock\u2014studios are now international and tightly networked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The music is a clear recommendation, too. Brian Tyler composed truly splendid, large-orchestra pieces brimming with pirate flair. He\u2019s better known for film scores, and here you see that games can easily keep pace with cinema and have now caught up with Hollywood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This game, too, can now be had for little money on eBay, Amazon, and Steam. Not an expensive pleasure\u2014long playtime and a real wow effect when you first see this beautiful, open world you can roam freely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I\u2019ve loved fantasy for as long as I can remember, so of course at least one MMORPG had to be on my list. I care a great deal that the world be thoughtful and coherent, with a broad, rich background\u2014not something slapped together carelessly, as in many free-to-play titles. Guild Wars 2<\/em> is one of the big fish and kept me hooked for a long time. It offers the classic elements of an MMORPG, but packages them nicely so you don\u2019t slog through monotonous quest checklists; instead, you wander through a dynamic world where events pop up everywhere\u2014you can jump in or keep moving. The world is huge, lovingly crafted, visually appealing, and a joy to explore. You can also play against other players; World vs. World thrilled me. Over Teamspeak, groups of players team up, multiple servers compete, and everyone tries to conquer and hold keeps. It isn\u2019t one single element that sets Guild Wars 2<\/em> apart from its many competitors, but the balanced mix of everything on offer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here, too, I couldn\u2019t resist and had to have the art book. When the game launched, it wasn\u2019t easy to get\u2014I ordered it from China, which I almost never do. It arrived after two months and was absolutely worth the wait.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Many very talented artists were involved\u2014for example Kekai Kotaki<\/a>, who shows much of his work on his website<\/a>. You can even see in the game\u2019s UI that everything was carefully prepared by illustrators.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The art has a very distinctive style that strongly shapes the game\u2019s mood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The superbly composed music by Jeremy Soule also plays a major role\u2014he\u2019s the composer who was honored for his score to Skyrim<\/em> and whose music makes excellent background listening for reading as well. More on Jeremy Soule below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Guild Wars 2<\/em> is now free to play. The first expansion, however, costs money\u2014though it has often been discounted. Even as a free-to-play title, you don\u2019t need to spend euros to have a fair experience. Spending real money doesn\u2019t grant many advantages, and you can play comfortably without paying extra.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I stumbled upon Firewatch<\/em> rather by chance\u2014an indie title with a very distinctive style. It has a lovely, highly individual visual aesthetic but shines primarily through its story. The protagonist, whose perspective you inhabit while exploring a national park, is Henry, whose wife suffers from an early-onset form of Alzheimer\u2019s. You learn the backstory through text, and you can already make choices there. In my playthrough Henry was overwhelmed; his wife returned to her parents in Australia, while he fled and took a job as a fire lookout in a Wyoming national park. His task is to watch the park from a fire tower. He\u2019s completely alone and in contact only with another lookout, Delilah, over the radio. A conversation develops between Henry and Delilah, guided by the dialogue choices you select. The setting, the beautiful art, and the story that builds piece by piece create a dense atmosphere that quickly drew me in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I don\u2019t even know which genre to assign this game to. In a way it\u2019s an adventure\u2014but without puzzles. It has the feel of a survival game\u2014but you\u2019re not fighting to survive. The national park\u2014with its lighting and nature\u2014is lovely to behold, but it isn\u2019t a simulation either. As a player, you can feel the solitude, a certain melancholy, and the slightly dusty vibe of the \u201980s. When the fitting, atmospheric song played over the credits, I wasn\u2019t sure whether I\u2019d just watched a film or played a game. In any case, Henry\u2019s story moved me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Overall it\u2019s a fairly short experience\u2014about five hours\u2014so ideal for anyone with limited time. If you look around, you\u2019ll find it in sales for about ten euros, which the experience is definitely worth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Baldur\u2019s Gate<\/em> is another very old title. The first part appeared in 1998 and was overhauled in 2012 for iOS tablets as well. There\u2019s also a second part I loved at the time. The 2D graphics are lovingly drawn, though by today\u2019s standards decidedly dusty. That games of this kind are still popular has been proven by the two Kickstarter projects Pillars of Eternity<\/em> and Torment: Tides of Numenera<\/em>, which feature the same 2D look and gameplay and were funded in no time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Here, too, you can expect a truly extensive story. At points, both entries are quite challenging, and you lead a party of up to six characters through a world set in the AD&D universe\u2014almost as nerdy as pen & paper. I loved the game and also played Icewind Dale<\/em>, which uses the same principles. You do need time for Baldur\u2019s Gate<\/em> to really immerse yourself. If you\u2019re after a quick in-between experience, you\u2019ll lose interest here fast. But you\u2019ll be rewarded with classic, richly atmospheric fantasy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n I\u2019ve always thought of The Elder Scrolls<\/em> series as a graphics juggernaut. Oblivion<\/em> used to bring every PC to its knees, and Skyrim<\/em> is a real looker as well. You find yourself in a Nordic fantasy world and have to fight dragons. Story-wise that\u2019s pretty well-trodden, and to be honest I can\u2019t quite remember the plot anymore. What fascinated me was the gorgeous, enormous world that simply feels real. Just exploring it takes a lot of time. You\u2019re rewarded with great lighting moods, beautiful landscapes, and flora and fauna that feel authentic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The music is definitely another highlight. Like Guild Wars 2<\/em>, Skyrim<\/em> was scored by Jeremy Soule. Musically, it feels like a fusion and evolution of classical and film music. You\u2019ll hear many familiar elements, developed further with conviction. I often thought I heard echoes of Richard Wagner, then combined with the gentle strings you know from John Williams or John Barry. And then he adds something distinctly his own\u2014because, unlike films or operas, games are structured differently: scenes repeat and vary in length depending on the player. Ride north on horseback through blizzards, arrive at the sea, and see the northern lights shimmer overhead\u2014and with this music it hits hard. Incidentally, Jeremy Soule is the first composer to fund his First Symphony via Kickstarter; here\u2019s hoping it finally arrives soon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even though the game released in 2011, its popularity and its lush world have kept it alive. There have been countless mods (content and graphics), and this year it was remastered as a Special Edition for modern hardware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A wonderful game\u2014especially for winter evenings\u2014that you can set aside for longer periods and return to. Or you can simply wander aimlessly for hours and explore. There\u2019s so much here for eyes and ears. If you opt for the older Legendary Edition, you can get a Steam key on eBay for about 13 euros\u2014an absolute bargain for so many hours of play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The takeaway is that there are great games for little money that will, in all likelihood, greatly appeal to book lovers. Then again, I could be wrong\u2014I\u2019m extrapolating from myself to others. Most of the games are in the fantasy genre; you have to like that. Firewatch<\/em>, by contrast, could appeal to anyone who enjoys contemporary literature. Monkey Island<\/em> and Black Flag<\/em> are for those who love adventure novels and a pirate setting. BioShock Infinite<\/em> is hard to pigeonhole, but as a shooter it\u2019s probably not for the faint of heart. What all these games share is this: they transport you to their own worlds\u2014funny, frightening, realistic, or vast. In any case, they\u2019re rich in atmosphere and leave you with a wealth of new impressions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n How about you? Do you see a title here you\u2019ve loved as well? Is gaming out of the question? Is there a great game that absolutely belongs on this list? Do you find touchpoints between reading and gaming?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The range of media to consume these days is very broad. From what I\u2019ve seen among book people, books are in first place, of course\u2014but films, series, and games are often big topics too. As a software-developer nerd, it\u2019s only natural that I\u2019m not averse to a bit of refined gaming, and on many an … <\/p>\n![\"BioShock](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_bioshock_logo-300x153.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_bioshock\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_bioshock.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_bioshock_1\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_bioshock_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Assassins](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_assasins_logo-300x168.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_blackflag\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_blackflag.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_blackflag_1\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_blackflag_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Guild](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_guild_wars_logo-300x207.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_gw2\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_gw2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"games_gw2_1\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/games_gw2_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/firewatch-300x105.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/baldurs_gate-300x78.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lesestunden.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/skyrim-300x90.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConclusion<\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n