Push. Play: An Examination of the Gameplay Button

Abstract

At the center of the video game experience is the interface. Before a player grabs the first power- up or meets the first obstacle, the would-be-adventurer must accept the limitations of the encounter. Only the controller can lead to action in the game space. A life in motion must be reduced to input. Modern games have developed a great deal since their early days as quarter- seeking cabinets. However, despite their graphical, dramatical, and technical development, one of the defining features of the video game basically remains unchanged. This essay reveals the importance of the ever-present button while examining the limitations of its current embodiment.