The streaming service Netflix has released a new in-house documentary: High Score. In the mini-series, the developers of the most famous video games talk about how the industry became so successful and provide insights into its creation.
What kind of series is it? High Score is a mini-series consisting of six episodes, each about 45 minutes long. It tells the story of how video games slowly took over households and encouraged players to play themselves instead of just staring at their TV.
It includes a cross-section of the most successful video games at the beginning of the gaming era, the “golden age,” as Netflix itself calls it.
In the first episode, for example, the Japanese Tomohiro Nishikado talks about the success of the iconic game Space Invaders, which he invented and which became a huge success, especially in Japanese arcade halls. You can find the trailer for the documentary here:
The transition to modern gaming is exemplified by DOOM. As seen in the trailer, here the co-founder of id Software, Alfonso John Romero, explains why we love multiplayer games so much:
For the first time, you can play in a high-speed 3D world where you blow your friends up. It’s a lot of fun to play against each other in deathmatch mode, and that has influenced everyone who wanted to make games.
The shooter DOOM is the originator of the deathmatch mode, where players fight until one reaches a certain score. It is now indispensable in shooters. id Software released DOOM Eternal, the first major AAA shooter in 2020.
Where can I watch it? High Score is now available on Netflix. Here you can find the link to the first episode of High Score.
Also, a Diablo series is set to appear on Netflix, currently without a specific date.
Play yourself instead of watching – or?
The documentary interestingly runs counter to the current trend of Twitch and streaming. Many people enjoy watching other gamers play instead of playing themselves. One of the latest hits is Fall Guys, which has taken Twitch by storm.
There has been a long debate among gamers about the fascination with Twitch. Many do not see why they should watch others play when they can just play themselves. Others argue that they simply want to be entertained, and the best way to do that is with what they love: video games. Especially if a friendly streamer talks to them.
However, there is also criticism. The biggest streamer in the world, Pokimane, has been accused of exploiting lonely men.
The cover image is from the YouTube trailer.
