Empowered Learning - Terraria (Customization)

Terraria is the video game I chose for analysis in this class. Terraria is a game in which you create a character and then are thrown into a 2D environment in which you must explore the game to figure out the game mechanics. There is very little frontloading at the beginning of the game, which is different from games I am used to, as a result I struggled with immensely upon first starting the game, not quite sure what to do. At first I just started running across the top landscape hitting gel blobs as they came with one of my starting equipment (copper shortsword, pickaxe, and wooden axe). Soon after I began to get bombarded with various zombies and I didn't realize what I was really supposed to do at this time so I just died a lot (probably like 20-25 times before I decided...maybe I should take a break and look up some "Getting Started" videos on YouTube). After this, I realized that my main starting objective should be to cut down some trees and make a shelter to survive the night. From there I started digging into the ground and finding some necessary materials. At some point I also realized the NPC who was with me was meant to act as a guide for people starting out. Once I realized this, I was able to pick up a lot of different helpful things to get me started!

The empowered learners principle I was assigned is customization, which boils down to the belief that well-made games are games that include a multitude of different ways for players to play through a game, leading different players down completely different paths. I think within the Terraria world, this principle will be embedded frequently since the very nature of the game is to allow players to explore the world, collecting their own resources, building their own civilization, and meeting various achievements. In so far as I have currently played of the game, I will say that I have definitely encountered aspects of this principle throughout the mechanics and design of it. Having spoken with both my boyfriend and his brother, who have been spent countless hours playing the game, they both approached the game in a different way then I would. They are both more exploratory in nature and have both played other similar games so they just threw themselves into the game, trying everything they could think of based on their past experiences with Minecraft. With not having had that experience, and with not being familiar with similar games to Terraria, my style of getting into a game is having some of the simple information explained. Luckily Terraria has both of these types of players covered thanks to the Multiplayer option. Once my boyfriend realized I was struggling, he had me pause the game so he could join and show me some of the ropes. His helpful explanations revealed how open the world of Terraria really is: he told me I could continue to dig down as far as I want to, eventually getting to hell if I chose (finding various rare materials on my own), build a castle and then other homes for my villagers, take on some of the bosses, etc. This realization helped me understand how much the game of Terraria depends on this principle of customization, there are so many different options that are available for a player! 

I'm looking forward to playing the game more now that I have a better understanding of what it really is all about. My current plan of action for my next game play is: to make my home bigger in the game, crafting more furniture and creating more rooms, build a couple other homes around my own home to attract some villagers, then I am going to focus on hitting some more of the achievements in the game (like crafting and eating a Mana Star, or finding a Golden Chest underground).