The text uses the word "x-rays" as a synonym for radiation. In fact, x-ray is x-rays, not radiation. Don’t repeat my mistakes and listen to teachers and commentators.
In 2017, we can confidently say that radiation has become a part of our lives, even if it is not always used for good. Nuclear power plants generate energy, schoolchildren are taught about the magnetosphere and the solar wind, radiotherapy is used to treat cancer, and nuclear weapons and radiation sickness are no longer a novelty, although they still frighten. But on April 26, 1986, the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant proved that man had not yet subjugated the forces of nature. On the anniversary of this disaster, let’s remember how radiation is depicted in culture, or more precisely, in video games.
Before moving directly to the works, two clarifications. First: not all creations where radiation is present in one way or another are mentioned in this text. Part was discarded because the author wanted to show examples of different ways to put X-rays into the plot and setting, and not list all the strategies with nuclear missiles. Some games were not included here due to ignorance or short memory. If so, I invite you to share them in the comments.
Second: for convenience, we will distinguish between “man-made” and “natural” radiation. The first type includes that which is used in man-made mechanisms; the second type includes radiation not associated with the activities of intelligent beings.
Let’s start our analysis with man-made radiation. Since we’re talking about the Chernobyl disaster, let’s immediately mention the series "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.». In the games of this trilogy, radiation – a consequence of two explosions at a power plant – gradually accumulates in the protagonist’s body, which is why he runs the risk of contracting radiation sickness. Having consumed a large dose, the player gradually loses health. To remove excess sieverts, medications and branded vodka are used "Cossacks".
Well, so that the genomes do not change
In general, radiation as an aggressive factor in the external environment is a fairly frequent visitor to video games. The most popular reason for increased background levels is nuclear war. Without straying far from Ukrainian companies, let us recall the series "Metro", where radiation was mainly encountered on the surface – in dead Moscow. According to the lore, it is because of him that people live underground and do not leave their shelters. Mutants roaming the city are also a consequence of atomic explosions.
A more classic example https://fswincasino.co.uk/ is the series "Fallout", in which ionizing radiation plays one of the main roles, creating the universe of the game. Firstly, nuclear fission, the main source of energy before the war, is an integral part of the retrofuturistic setting. Secondly, the point Fallout, like his ancestor Wasteland, – these are adventures in the wasteland that the United States turned into after the atomic bombings. And thirdly, radiation creates new inhabitants of this world – friends and enemies of the main characters. For example, people turn into ghouls due to strong radiation. Besides this, radiation sickness is here, except Fallout 4, built into the system SPECIAL. The game avatar, accumulating a dose, gradually loses stat points, as it feels worse and worse.
And with this little one you can really light up and glow
But the above games describe the world after the use of nuclear weapons. You can deal directly with Armageddon using uncontrolled chain reactions in DEFCON, strategy that simulates a global military conflict using all available firecrackers. Six morally unencumbered players control aircraft, navies and silos. The level of combat readiness, that same DEFCON, is gradually increasing from the fifth to the first level, at which intercontinental missiles are launched.
Let’s bang, we’ll definitely bang. But on DEFCON-1
From an economic point of view, nuclear war is shown in the series Civilization. Already in the first part appears Manhattan Project, successful completion of which allows the construction of “Fat Men” and “Little Boys”. After using them, the cells must be cleared of radiation contamination in order to again receive bonuses and resources.
But the series does not live by warheads alone Sid Meier. It also presents a peaceful atom – in the form of a nuclear power plant, which increases production in the city. Starting from Civilization III to create half-life benefits, uranium is used, which still needs to be found on our own or foreign lands.
The reader is waiting for a picture of Gandhi; Here, take it quickly!
Let’s return to atomic weapons, a more popular topic in the gaming sphere. In single player campaign Battlefield 3 The main characters, a US Marine and a GRU special forces soldier, are trying to stop terrorists with nuclear bombs in New York and Paris, respectively. But it is not possible to prevent an explosion in the French capital, because of which 80 thousand people die, and the surviving Russian operative suffers from radiation sickness.
The trilogy shows the non-peaceful atom from a slightly different angle Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. X-rays – more precisely, nuclear weapons – play an important role in the plot of the subseries and are represented by three “varieties”. The first is radioactive materials for bombs, exported by evil Russians from the Chernobyl exclusion zone to CoD 4. The second is directly mushroom charges, for example, a box from a ship in the Barents Sea from the first part or intercontinental missiles of ultranationalists, which the main characters explode in the atmosphere several times during the series, destroying the ISS in MW2. The third option is the radiation itself and radiation contamination, from which one of the player’s avatars dies in Modern Warfare —Marine Paul Jackson.
You can even admire the destruction, although not for long
Closing the topic of man-made radiation, let us also remember the phrase "Nuclear launch detected" from the duology Starcraft and about Tuchanka from Mass Effect 2 – the home planet of the krogan, turned into a radioactive wasteland during an atomic war. These works are also notable for their depiction of natural radiation.
On a mission "Supernova" single player campaign Wings of Liberty radiation from an enlarged star causes fires on the planet. Because of them, the player has to move buildings closer to the dark hemisphere, escaping from the wall of fire.
Similar inconveniences are caused to Commander Shepard by the Dolen star in the mission to Hestrom. The planet’s magnetic field is not strong enough to deflect solar radiation. Therefore, energy shields almost do not work in the open air, and the player’s squad is forced to stay in the shadows.
Planet Hestrom. No minerals. No water. No vegetation. Populated by robots
The effects of ionizing radiation on organic matter are shown in a Polish shooter Bulletstorm. Its events take place on the planet Stygia – a former resort. It was staffed by prisoners, who eventually rebelled and destroyed the anti-radiation filters. Because of this, the background on the surface increased and living creatures – plants, animals and people – turned into aggressive mutants with which the player had to fight.