Hello, I'm Pan, and I love traveling!
Today, I'm contributing an article about "Stogra" to SKOOTA. This article is a simplified version of a piece written by my senior editor, Sakoda, on note.
#02 Mistaking "Reality" for Something That Seems to Exist - Stogra Observation Diary -｜Yuki Sakoda
Today, I want to share my perspective on what people perceive as "reality." My senior seemed to feel that "Stogra" was incredibly realistic....
What exactly is reality?
We perceive what we naturally feel in our "everyday" lives as reality.
As Pan, my journey from the oven to the store shelf is my reality. I thought to myself, "No, that's just food bread!" and felt a bit empty....
People feel their own unique "realities" based on their experiences and backgrounds. So even if we see the same thing, our feelings and interpretations can differ.
"Reality" is not just what we feel, but also what is formed through our interactions and communication with others. Therefore, I believe finding a "reality" we can empathize with is very valuable.
My senior mentioned that an empathizable "reality" exists not only in the physical world but also in the online world.
For example, sound.
The sounds in the online world and the sounds of everyday life in reality are both very appealing to me.
The distant sounds of the city and the voices of people conversing in a café feel very natural to me. When those sounds flow naturally, I can feel the "reality" of my existence. I can sense the space around me using sight, hearing, and other senses.
Such things happen naturally in the real world with physical bodies, but just being aware of this in the online world can change how we feel so much.
My senior, who has been involved in making anime, said that paying attention to such details actually requires a lot of effort and skill behind the scenes. To create that, solid techniques and time are necessary. Because even slight differences in direction or sound can greatly change the feeling of a story. Considering that, I am truly moved by the dedication and effort of the people who create this server.
Roles are important too.
This city has various professions and roles, all of which blend together to form society. While traveling, I have met many people and learned about their roles and professions.
So, I truly feel the importance of having roles.
In Los Santos, there are various roles from public servants like police officers, paramedics, and city council members to café and bar staff, mechanics, car dealers, lumberjacks, journalists, and even gang members and entertainers. Each plays their part in the city, bringing it to life.
"Roles" are an important element that allows us to feel we belong to that place or community. By having a role, we can feel our purpose and support the community by fulfilling that role.
Just recently, it seems there was an election to decide the second-term city council members in Los Santos. Looking at the election posters and promises, I could feel the enthusiasm and passion of the city's residents.
There were various promises and issues raised, such as addressing the increase in gangs and inflation, raising tax obligations, revitalizing the town, improving residents' convenience, revitalization measures for the food industry, considerations for car-related events, creating guidelines and introducing books, and discussions about roles in the city council.
Seeing these promises and issues made me excited about the future of this city. By having roles, the city becomes richer. And our lives become richer too.
And then, distance.
Los Santos is truly a vast city. As a travel enthusiast, I have wandered through cities around the world. In the real world, moving takes a lot of time.
Usually, in games or online, when moving across large areas, we often use warp or special means to arrive at our destination quickly. However, in Los Santos, there are no such warp elements. I think this might be one reason why the city feels "realistic."
"Being rational" is an important element for us to navigate our daily lives smoothly. But sometimes, "irrationality" can enhance the resolution of the reality we perceive. My senior said it might be a bit ironic, but I can really understand it because there are so many wonderful places and people I've encountered by doing "irrational" things.
Let me say it again, the city of Los Santos is filled with various places and people, and it takes time to move from one location to another. During that journey, you might make new discoveries, encounter new people, or have conversations with friends. I think that's one of the charms of wandering around this city.
By moving around, we can experience the passage of time. And through that passage of time, we can feel the space and distance of this city. That might be one reason why Los Santos feels "realistic."
That's all from Pan. See you next time!
(Written by: Pan from the Nantonaku Editing Room)