Tale of Two Fathers: Authenticating Fatherhood in Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us

Abstract

The gaming industry is evolving rapidly, moving from superficial to more mature content that not only challenges gamers but also offers more critical reflection of the world in which they live. In many ways, video games share a kinship with audiences who are more than spectators of media forms such as film and television. Audiences actively participate with diverse media content in various and meaningful ways, moving beyond traditional isolated and observational experiences. The video game medium is, however, a player-engagement experience providing unique ways of seeing, understanding, and interacting. This distinctive interactive experience rests on the complex relationship of the gamer as agent in the game. In other words, the gamer’s role becomes as diverse as the players themselves: soldier (Call of Duty series), explorer (Tomb Raider series), adventurer (Uncharted series), athlete (basketball, football, soccer, etc.), wizard (World of Warcraft), hoodlum (Grand Theft Auto series), and most significantly here, father/detective (Heavy Rain) and father/protector (The Last of Us). There is a certain level of interactivity that can only be experienced in gaming where player choices have significant bearing on the narrative’s outcome.