As mentioned in my previous I discussed how I looked up answers to pass the advancements quiz in Civilization, and protect my newly formed civilization from being usurped. This to me did not feel like cheating because I felt that if I had access to a manual this information would be provided to me. Therefore, looking it up online does not feel like it gave me any advantages that the manual would not.
That being said, at what point does looking up ways to play a video game, how to pass a level, defeat a boss, solve a puzzle or quiz, become cheating? Is it always cheating because it is not diegetic to the game itself? If you learn ways to pass a level in a video game through a medium given to you by the game developers that can’t be cheating right? You are using this information as it was intended.
After reading Galloway’s chapter on gamic action, we discussed diegesis in video games, and it was discussed that it may not be cheating if you are performing player actions that are diegetic to the game. This then might imply that gaining an advantage in a game via nondiegetic actions constitutes cheating.
I do not think that is the case, at least with Zork. With Zork, the experience is all my own. If looking up a walkthrough better helps my understanding of how to play and how to navigate Zork that to me does not feel like cheating. I am not gaining an unfair advantage, I am simply understanding what to do next.
The ironic part to me here is if I can bring myself to spoil the story of Zork. This begs the question, which is more important? Solving Zork’s puzzles on my own, extremely slowly that is. Or experience more of the game for the purpose of this blog?
So far I have decided to stay strong and attempt to navigate Zork all on my own. We shall see if this continues.