Gabe Nevell, the head of Steam, explained in an interview what he thinks about realism in games.
Many games try to provide players with realistic content. A number of simulators depict a world that comes very close to reality. In an interview on the 25th anniversary of Half-Life, Gabe Newell, the boss behind Valve and Steam, explained that he doesn’t think much of realism.
Realism is reminiscent of shopping in the supermarket
What does Newell say? In a conversation he explained that he didn’t enjoy realism. Because that would remind him that in the real world he has to write a shopping list for the supermarket (via PCGamer.com):
You were sitting in a design review and someone said, ‘That’s not realistic.’ And you think, ‘Okay?’ What does that mean? Explain to me why this is interesting. Because in the real world I have to write lists of things I need to buy at the supermarket. And I never thought that realism was fun. I play to have fun.
For him, games are entertaining and fun that have nothing to do with reality.
Many games sell because they rely on realism
However, not all players will share Newell’s opinions. Many developers also consciously sell their games by relying on realism. An indie shooter on Steam attracts thousands of gamers because it relies on uncompromising realism. Realistic shooters are particularly popular, and they deliver the opposite of an arcade Call of Duty. Other games such as Escape from Tarkov want to deliver realistic locations and therefore use photos of real locations during development.
Gabe Newell is well known for controversial statements. In the heyday of cryptocurrencies and digital collectibles (NFTs), he explained that many people don’t understand the metaverse. Because people have never played an MMO before:
Steam boss Newell says: Many people who rave about the Metaverse have probably never played an MMO