Surrealism vs Realism vs Fantasy.

[runlvlzero]

EQ is a mix of realism and fantasy, making it surreal IMO. I may be butchering the definition of the word, but it's a realistic simulation at it's core and beginnings, by level 60 it's full on surreal. It's probably one of the reasons I love this game so much.

It seems to be a lost art in game making. Studios are trying to go for the next best exaggeration on reality, and further departing realism. There are some games that still respect realism. Minecraft, some of the zombie survival games. Yet alone this does not make a good game.

But games like WoW alienate me mainly because they are so comic and unrealistic. Characters are out of proportion. Your power vs the rest of the "verse" is disproportionate. Magic doesn't follow any rules etc...

Of course everything has a level of realism even the most abstract artistic expression still has at it's core bleed over through the 4th wall of reality into this "verse".

I post this here because I want to share with you all this thought on realism.

I wish there was more. I support realism in my games/simulations. I don't need an extreme simulation. But an Everquest level of realism or a bit more is ideal.

I notice most games on steam are completely out of touch with this aesthetic.

Yet there are artsy surreal games that have much realism, such as "The Void", which are not based in reality, yet some how pay a deep homage to it. They respect realism in their architecture and design.

Games that are flamboyant and flaunt in the face of realism aren't as pleasing or interesting to me, they lack immersion.

I guess in some ways I play games more to explore reality than to escape it.

How do you feel, perceive realism in games?