Your Very own Hollywood Life!

For this week I choose to play the horrendous game by Glu Games, Kim Kardashian Hollywood and to focus on the if it can really be considered a “Game”. Despite my hate for the Kardashians and how we can’t go a day in the media without hearing about them I put our differences aside to evaluate this so called game. This game was available for IOS which made it easy for me to access it wherever and whenever. This game seemed interesting because I remember when it first came out all the “hype” about it. Everyone was playing so why not see what its about for this assignment. This game was quite different compared to my last week’s choice but all in all I would still have to consider it a game. To begin the game you are required to create an account in order to save progress. Upon creating a account you are also given the option to create an avatar, which can be personalize to look like you or simple just random. This avatar is a representation of yourself as you maneuver throughout the came. The controls are quite simple; I was only required to swipe or tap my screen which made it all easier.

The concept of the game is quite simple. You are trying to level up your character by doing certain tasks. In certain situations, you are given choices on what you can respond to other characters or what your own character will do in order to progress in the game. This is why I believe the Kardashian game can really be considered a “Game.” This can better be explained from the words of Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman,” A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome.” (Salen and Zimmerman 2003) One choice can affect you either in a good or bad way or one might have simply been the better option to increase you rate of progression. In the words of Alexander Galloway, we can further explain why it should be considered a game with the quote,” A game is an activity defined by rules in which players try to reach some sort of goal.” (Galloway 2006, p.1) We see as you progress throughout the game based on the choices you make on how to live your character’s life affect your further outcome in the game. For example, I was first given the choice to either let someone into the store I worked at, tell them we’re closed, or just walk away. Choosing to let them in gave me more money and points to level up vs the other choices.
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is a “game” as ties into what we learned about the Hegemony of play production aspect, which is,” The production process and environment for the creation of digital games.” (Lucida 2007, p. 1, my emphasis) The game is based off of Kim Kardashian’s life and is influenced by how her life in Hollywood is like. Overall even though there were times when I was bored at the beginning, in the end I found myself pulled into the game. I wouldn’t say something has to be “fun” exactly to be a game but when there is a ranking system involved which in this case is your level it brings out the competitiveness in people that makes them want to continue to play. I found myself interested in how far I would be able to make it and if there would ever be an ending and this so of curiosity for the game I believe can be considered fun, Making it a game.