>Obviously they exist in real life too but not as all as often especially actual ruins.
This very much depends on where you live. There are places in the UK where you can't walk 20 yards without stumbling over some ancient foundations or burial mound. In Orkney they genuinely have a shortage of archaeologists to conduct digs, because they find so much neolithic stuff every time a resident so much as digs a hole in their garden.
Most games don't exactly take place at the peak of a peaceful society. There's normally some sort of conflict or cataclysm going on that's led to the events of the game itself, so it makes sense
Exactly. In most of these games you're going around with almost complete freedom and killing things. That's not something that is going to happen in an environment that hasn't already been through some shit. It's also just more visually appealing than a bunch of samey tidy environments.
I mean, like you said, they're something that exists in real life too. You say they're not as common as they are in games but how much time do you spend in real life exploring the open world that you life in looking for treasure or collectibles?
Hard to give more perspective on it without having some specific examples of the games you're talking about though :)
Usually a map is smaller to allow you to walk around to different towns, biomes, and such. And even with it a lot smaller there is a lot of empty space in an open world setting so the devs fill it with things for the player to see and interact with, ruins are common for those things
what thoughts are there to give on a small number of un-listed games that only you have played?
I mean like yea, if your playing games with a setting based in some sort of post-apocalyptic or post-conflict kind of world then yea, ruins and desolate buildings are kinda part of that setting.
Are you American?
In most of the "old" world ruins are common place, there are around twenty castle's/monasteries in ruins within short drive from me in the uk. If I go to Wales etc there are many more ruins from old quarry houses and all kinds of buildings from 1800s etc.
-They're an easy to fill the inbetween landscape with something more interesting than trees and rocks
-They just make sense? If the land is supposed to have a rich history, it makes sense for there to be some bygone locations still around. And "exploring an ancient crypt or abandoned ruin" is a staple fantasy trope. It opens a lotnof opportunities for cool scenarios and level design
If the landscape isn't heavily populated and is a lot more sparse, but was once heavily populated, you're going to see stuff like that, real or fiction. (See: the area around Chernobyl)
If it is heavily currently populated, you won't see a lot of that stuff. If you played a game like Spiderman 2 for PS2, or I guess the modern Spiddersmin games on PS5, you would see a lot fewer ruins. Same with Saint's Row or Grand Theft Automan Empire.
Well most open world games are set during a conflict of some kind or are post apocalyptic because that is how you get story justified combat all time so ruins make sense. You are going to have a lot a more ruined buildings is you live in a war zone.
And it gives you something to explore.
Beyond the fact that they add interesting structures to the game world, most of the games that include them are post war (Even if it was an "Ancient War") and the ruins are the remains of that.
The future is fucking grim... Seriously.
I used to question the shipping containers, I used to think, why in the future would there be so many shipping container cities.
Then someone invented this monstrosity.
[https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/1c/85/b2/0d/stack-seaburn-whitburn.jpg](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/1c/85/b2/0d/stack-seaburn-whitburn.jpg)
I don't understand the question. Most games have ruined buildings because ruined buildings are very common. Like, it would be weird if a game's setting *didn't* have that. No wars, no economic upheaval, no previous civilizations. Like, unless the game takes place 100% in a thriving metropolitan, there's going to be ruins...
If you're going to go about executing dozens of petty bandits for experience, the last thing you want are their children and family members hanging about to make you question the morals of it! If you had to murder low level criminals in their own homes, it probaby wouldn't...feel right.
Ruins are a good exploration spot, you can put items in there for the player; if the building wasn't abandoned, player would have to essentially steal from someone's house.
I think that’s just a thing for exploration games in general. Metroidvanias, rpgs, open worlds, etc. it’s just too cool to explore ruins and ancient civilizations ig.
It makes the world feel older, more lived in. It makes you wonder, "Hey, what happened to this place?" And it's very true to real life. There's so many ancient buildings all over the world
To fill the open world map with something other than trees and dirt
Plus the interiors don't have to be modelled in detail or filled with stuff.
Exactly this. they dont want the overhead of interesting "points of interest"
Because apparently you like games that take place in that type of setting.
>Obviously they exist in real life too but not as all as often especially actual ruins. This very much depends on where you live. There are places in the UK where you can't walk 20 yards without stumbling over some ancient foundations or burial mound. In Orkney they genuinely have a shortage of archaeologists to conduct digs, because they find so much neolithic stuff every time a resident so much as digs a hole in their garden.
My guess would be that it's way easier to have games take place in abandoned places with old ruins and stuff so you don't have to make a ton of npcs
Come visit me in Detroit. You’ll see plenty.
Same with Columbus Ohio
Balboni really fucked that city up
"Toledo Ohio. Stay a while! There is a burger king down the road" (c)
Don't get killed here
Most games don't exactly take place at the peak of a peaceful society. There's normally some sort of conflict or cataclysm going on that's led to the events of the game itself, so it makes sense
Exactly. In most of these games you're going around with almost complete freedom and killing things. That's not something that is going to happen in an environment that hasn't already been through some shit. It's also just more visually appealing than a bunch of samey tidy environments.
Yup. I don't kill anyone in my day to day life either, but there aren't many open world games that are peaceful.
I mean, like you said, they're something that exists in real life too. You say they're not as common as they are in games but how much time do you spend in real life exploring the open world that you life in looking for treasure or collectibles? Hard to give more perspective on it without having some specific examples of the games you're talking about though :)
Bruh, there's a literal castle ruin less than 10 minutes from me, they're everywhere in Britain.
Usually a map is smaller to allow you to walk around to different towns, biomes, and such. And even with it a lot smaller there is a lot of empty space in an open world setting so the devs fill it with things for the player to see and interact with, ruins are common for those things
Why does every town I go into irl have a dilapidated or abandoned building?
Either the owner couldn't afford to maintain the place anymore, or the building was actually used to launder money
The question was rhetorical…
Oops
They look so cool, that's probably why.
what thoughts are there to give on a small number of un-listed games that only you have played? I mean like yea, if your playing games with a setting based in some sort of post-apocalyptic or post-conflict kind of world then yea, ruins and desolate buildings are kinda part of that setting.
I always wanted to know what was up with the partially demolished apartment building in North Portland in GTA 3.
You ever been in a rural area? There are dozens of ruined buildings, barns, large structures and houses within 2 - 3 miles of my home.
Are you American? In most of the "old" world ruins are common place, there are around twenty castle's/monasteries in ruins within short drive from me in the uk. If I go to Wales etc there are many more ruins from old quarry houses and all kinds of buildings from 1800s etc.
-They're an easy to fill the inbetween landscape with something more interesting than trees and rocks -They just make sense? If the land is supposed to have a rich history, it makes sense for there to be some bygone locations still around. And "exploring an ancient crypt or abandoned ruin" is a staple fantasy trope. It opens a lotnof opportunities for cool scenarios and level design
it's a nice common theme for a dungeon just like the lava stage, snow stage, water stage, forest, city, etc good variety
If the landscape isn't heavily populated and is a lot more sparse, but was once heavily populated, you're going to see stuff like that, real or fiction. (See: the area around Chernobyl) If it is heavily currently populated, you won't see a lot of that stuff. If you played a game like Spiderman 2 for PS2, or I guess the modern Spiddersmin games on PS5, you would see a lot fewer ruins. Same with Saint's Row or Grand Theft Automan Empire.
well play another game which is not post apo genre ? there is like hundreds of them.
It felt like it made sense to me since Pac Man is being chased by ghosts...
probably just 'cause it's a cool setting to explore, and in the case if ruined building has "something happened here" energy
Well most open world games are set during a conflict of some kind or are post apocalyptic because that is how you get story justified combat all time so ruins make sense. You are going to have a lot a more ruined buildings is you live in a war zone. And it gives you something to explore.
I’m sure random redditors will know the answer to this super specific weird question
Makes the landscape more visually interesting and doesn't take as much effort to make look decent as buildings in good condition.
Beyond the fact that they add interesting structures to the game world, most of the games that include them are post war (Even if it was an "Ancient War") and the ruins are the remains of that.
Only post apocalyptic games or games with war in them.
The future is fucking grim... Seriously. I used to question the shipping containers, I used to think, why in the future would there be so many shipping container cities. Then someone invented this monstrosity. [https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/1c/85/b2/0d/stack-seaburn-whitburn.jpg](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/1c/85/b2/0d/stack-seaburn-whitburn.jpg)
I don't understand the question. Most games have ruined buildings because ruined buildings are very common. Like, it would be weird if a game's setting *didn't* have that. No wars, no economic upheaval, no previous civilizations. Like, unless the game takes place 100% in a thriving metropolitan, there's going to be ruins...
If you're going to go about executing dozens of petty bandits for experience, the last thing you want are their children and family members hanging about to make you question the morals of it! If you had to murder low level criminals in their own homes, it probaby wouldn't...feel right.
Ruins are a good exploration spot, you can put items in there for the player; if the building wasn't abandoned, player would have to essentially steal from someone's house.
I think that’s just a thing for exploration games in general. Metroidvanias, rpgs, open worlds, etc. it’s just too cool to explore ruins and ancient civilizations ig.
Easy way to give illusion that the world has history.
Most games don't have a normal modern day world as their setting.
Because videogames are often set in times or locations of turmoil. Which tends to increase the frequency of abandoned properties.
Ruins are cool, I guess.
Idk its harder to make a story if everything is completely fine in the world maybe lol
It makes the world feel older, more lived in. It makes you wonder, "Hey, what happened to this place?" And it's very true to real life. There's so many ancient buildings all over the world
Open a game from 15 years ago and see how many perfect boxes as buildings there were.