What is Exploration?

<aside> 🌱 Exploration is the act of searching, exploring and inspecting an unfamiliar or unknown area.

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Why is Exploration important?

<aside> 🌱 The Age of Exploration also referred to as the Age of Discovery was a moment in history that span across the 14th to 17th centuries. This period is important as it was the period in which Europeans started to explore the world, in search of knowledge primarily. The Age of Exploration’s impact permanently altered the world we live in today. The impacts can be seen below:

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The impacts:

• Indigenous people were decimated by Europeans through overwork, disease and massacres.
• Led to the trade of enslaved people which lasted for over 300 years and had a huge impact on Africa.
• Knowledge about Africa and America was shared with Europe.
• An increase of wealth as European colonisers traded goods, spices and metals.
• Navigation changed from portolan charts to nautical maps.
• Food, plants, spices and animals were exchanged between Europeans and colonies.

The impact persists today. Many of the world’s first former colonies are considered ‘Third World’ or ‘Developing’ countries, whereas the colonisers are considered ‘First World’ countries who hold the majority of wealth.

The Birth of the Age of Exploration

How does it relate to Video Games?

<aside> 🌱 Nations were in search of gold and silver as well as other valuable resources, however, their primary goal was to find new trade routes for silk and spices. The first instances of journeys associated with the Age of Discovery were conducted by the Portuguese. Most sailors would stay within sight of land or travel between known routes, Prince Henry the Navigator changed that, and encouraged explorers to travel past the mapped routes to discover new routes to West Africa.

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<aside> 🌱 The core design features of Video Games are allowing the player to feel a sense of curiosity, exploration and discovery. These senses encourage a desire within the player to learn more about NPCs, characters, objects, events and the game world. Video game designers know this, and try to incorporate it anywhere they can within the game world. Many games today are open-world, allowing the player the freedom to explore. There is also a relationship between rewards in video games and exploration.

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<aside> 🌱 The core design features of Video Games are allowing the player to feel a sense of curiosity, exploration and discovery. These senses encourage a desire within the player to learn more about NPCs, characters, objects, events and the game world. Video game designers know this, and try to incorporate it anywhere they can within the game world. Many games today are open-world, allowing the player the freedom to explore. There is also a relationship between rewards in video games and exploration.

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Space Exploration