Journal Entry 2
As explained in our earlier entry, Timeless Charm, we believe that there are certain qualities that can make a gaming experience timeless. One of the greatest of these qualities is the charm of the unknown. The unknown captivates us, because we must fill it with our imagination, and there is no limit to imagination. When we were children, technological limitations could not restrain our imagination – in our imagination, there is no telling what worlds lay beyond the edge of the screen, or beyond the impenetrable wall. That is the beauty of limitation – this boundary forces us to use our imagination to fill in the gaps. Even as an adult, we may return to that one mysterious place we explored over and over as a child and say, “I still really want to know what’s over there.”
Game development is not only knowing what to say, but what to leave unsaid, because the mystery of the unknown is often more powerful than the known. Perhaps we will never know, and all our questions will never be answered; but it is actually better that way. It was the unknown that created this joyful longing in the first place. We would not sacrifice this joy for anything, and we want others to get that same feeling of wonder.
When given all the answers, there is no reason to return – there is nothing to gain from reliving the experience to see if there was anything we missed. By nature, we seek answers, and rightly so; but sometimes it is the pursuit of the answer that truly delights us, not the answer itself. Too many developers make the mistake of giving out information and abilities without restraint, altogether spoiling the hunt.
Obviously, not all answers should be withheld. There must be moments of revelation to reward the pursuit, but that revelation, as awesome as it is, should never completely eradicate the mystery. Rather, it should provide reinforcing strength to the mystery. In order for the unknown to retain its charm, it must always end with a question mark. It may be a small curiosity or a baffling paradox, but the unknown must remain alive in some form.
Biovoltix puts emphasis on the unknown, not only because it is a powerful driving influence for the user, but also because it is very dear to my master. His passion revolves around the search for the unknown and the desire to unlock secrets that will improve us intellectually and physically. This passion is reflected in our works. Let knowledge remain knowledge, and mystery remain mystery. After all, once a secret is revealed, the charming pull of the secret is lost.