A collection of stories in which video games become a means to accept death and commemorate their lost affections, through initiatives that manage to immortalize memories and people.
In video games you never die. Or almost, if the titles are included with the permadeath. Usually, however, when it happens, just recharge the game to find yourself in the same point as before as if nothing had happened. “Death, far from being a final moment, in the video game is a learning mechanism,” he writes Roberto always In “Videogame: a small introduction”. A concept that contains a all -cultural peculiarity, in this case referred to the game overbut which can be further extended. The world of video games is in fact rich in stories of deceased people who, however, in a certain sense continue to live in virtual worlds, leading to New expressions of mourning.
Virtual immortality
A 2021 clip on Reddit shows two users who challenge each other with their subaru Wrx Sti in one of the tracks of Come on Horizona racing game. The black car is controlled by Lildankthe white from Itslegit650which however disappeared two years earlier. In fact, it is his to play ghostthe “ghost” recreated from the game: the racing game as Forza Horizon memorize and reproduce avatar and performance of those who have passed the last record, so that they can challenge it. This explains why Lildank, near the finish line, let it win Itslegit650, so as to make him live again inside the game. “My friend passed away two years ago, and now I’m traveling to Mexico as we had planned. Thanks to the developers of the game ”, reports the post on Reddit of Lildank.
In recent weeks, on social media, a similar story has spread also with an attached video: the protagonist is a user who manages to play once again to Mario Kart with the ghost Of the younger brother lost in 2019. Also in this case, the user in question decides to maintain second place and keep the record in order to dart once again with his loved one.
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Video games as spaces of memory
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was one of the most played video games in the world. The possibility of interacting in the form of graceful characters with other people, in personalized islands Kawaiiturned out to be indispensable for a world forced to social isolation. The title of Nintendo Switch therefore became a space in which to share time with its affections when it was not possible, in all senses. Not only couples, friends and brothers gathered: numerous players and players have created virtual cemeteries, commemorative gardens and altars Dedicated to family members and friends who have disappeared, using the game customization tools. An alternative way to honor and remember their affections in a historical moment in which the funerals were also limited by health restrictions.
2020 was also the year of the disappearance of Byron “Reckful” Bernsteinone of the most popular streamers of Twitch and professional player of World of Warcraft. At the news of his death, thousands of users gathered in the virtual cities of the video game to pay him homage, giving rise to an unprecedented event, which testifies to the strength of a community. Later Blizzard, the study that develops World of Warcraft, has included an NPC in his honor, a non -playable character, as a tribute within the game.
Mourning in video games | Micheal’s character in Bordelands
Speaking of this kind of tributes, videogame history is full. It is appropriate to mention Michael John Mamariltwenty -one -year -old big fan of Bordelandsa comic book shooter. After his death, a friend decides to send a letter to the game development study, Gearbox Software, asking that a short funeral praise was read by Michael’s favorite character, CLAPTRAP, to honor his memory. Gearbox not only respects the request, but creates an NPC named Michael Mamaril who appears in Sanctuary to offer players and players weapons and other equipment. Equally touching is the case of Erik WestYouTuber of Salem and a great fan of Skyrimdeceased for cancer. The Bethesda studio decided to move it in the game with an NPC, Erik The Slayera young adventurer who dreams of becoming a great warrior.
All these stories demonstrate how video games go beyond immediate entertainment, become places of commemorations and memories. Many titles, through game mechanics, developers’ initiatives or spontaneous events of the community, welcomed mourning and memory as part of their gaming experience.
