Memes are the lifeblood of the Internet. Coincidentally, those who are immersed in Internet culture are often also big fans of video games, which means games are intertwined with memes by default. Here, we're going to be taking a gander at how this works in practice by referencing Farming Simulator 19. Virtually everyone knows about this game by now, but why is that the case? How is it that something as mundane as farming attracts such attention? The obvious answer: Farming Simulator 19 memes. That requires further context, however.

We believe we've got a solid answer to these burning questions, but you'll have to bear with us for it to make sense. In the meantime, you might be interested in getting Farming Simulator 2019! If that's the case, head on over to its game page and nab an awesome 27% discount on the base price.

The Appeal of Farming Simulator 19

Farming Simulator 19 is all about niche appeal. Here we've got a game that doesn't put you in the shoes of a hero saving the world. It doesn't ask you to shoot down monsters or blow things up. Instead, Farming Simulator 19 takes you over to a parcel of land and asks you to do farm work.

It's a common trope by now that your garden-variety Simulator game is a low-effort, low-polish Eurojank title that will only appeal to hardcore fans of whatever said Simulator is about. Thing is, Farming Simulator games have been quite phenomenal for a while now. The obvious caveat is, of course, that you need to be interested in farming and/or heavy machinery. Farming Simulator 19, in particular, offers an incredible array of vehicles and farm appliances to toy around with. Even as a tool-checking and modding sandbox, the game is impressive enough to stand on its own.

It's obvious that this is a competent product all around, with all of this in mind. It's also obvious that Farming Simulator games are quite mundane and neutral by default. They're about farming animals and land, after all. You can hardly preload an additional meaning into that sort of stuff. This neutrality is something that plays into its popularity, we think!

Where do Farming Simulator 19 Memes come into the Equation?

Nothing is sacred on the virtual Wild West that is the Internet. This isn't necessarily bad, however. As ideas, beliefs, and definitions go through the infinite twists and turns of the Internet, they mutate and become alive in a way. This is precisely how memes come to be. As per the official definition of the word, a meme is an "idea, behavior, or style that spreads from one person to another with the aim of conveying something."

Memes owe their core definitions to Richard Dawkins, an English ethologist and evolutionary biologist, who proposed them as "units of cultural transmission." It goes without saying that Internet culture proliferates primarily via memes, and this necessarily includes video games, too. If a certain game can be used as a tool for the introduction of other, non-gamey ideas into the mix, you can bet it will be. Turns out, Farming Simulator 19 is perfect for this sort of stuff.

In Farming Simulator, we get an impressive sandbox of items and tools to play with. We also get a mundane subject matter that has no loaded meaning or message of its own. This makes it perfect as a meme-making tool! In fact, one could even suggest that Farming Simulator is as popular as it is due to its memes. In this day and age, that's the best kind of popularity, because it's organic and self-sustaining.

A smart developer/publisher will make good use of their game's meme potential to increase its popularity without spending excessive amounts of money on marketing. It's the sensible thing to do, and it sure seems like Focus Home Interactive hit the motherlode with Farming Simulator.

Conclusion

Farming Simulator 19 is awesome for a variety of reasons. A certain demographic will enjoy it at face value, because it simulates farming. Another will have great fun by using it to create and share memes, much as they do with anything else. Both of these viewpoints are valid and worth a mention, and we do believe that this is where the future of marketing may lead.

Time will tell!