In our discussion on thursday about the use of plot and stories within video games, and the thought occurred to me, of whether they were even necessary. Some of the most classic video games have nothing resembling plot. Games like pong and Pac-Man, have nothing resembling a plot, all you do is move a little round something or other in such a way that the game tells you that you are succeeding. Most people who play these games are happy with this, as the games are interesting to play without an explanation for why Pac-Man is eating his fruit, or why you don't want the ball to cross your side of the screen.
On the other hand anyone who has ever played Mario knows the story of how Bowser keeps kidnapping Peach, and Mario has to cross the magic kingdom to save her. The basic story line gives the player a basic understanding of why they are eating mushrooms, and running from one end of the map to the other. It is not hard to imagine the game without the plot, however the plot is in fact part of what makes the game a classic, just as much as the mushrooms and Koopa's.

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