. . . I hope it doesn't suck. (Shouldn't have read the reviews before playing.)
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gaming. Show all posts
Mar 25, 2017
Jan 11, 2017
5 World-building Issues That Ruined Final Fantasy XV For Me
I've been a fan of the Final Fantasy series for years and played most of the games (I gave up on the abysmally boring FFXIII though), my favourites multiple times. FFXV is deeply flawed; I could talk about the nonsensical bachelors-on-a-roadtrip plot or the flat main characters, but the thing that ruins the game for me is the sloppy world-building. Ten years, and this is what they came up with? Really? REALLY?
So here's my list. This, dear writer pals, is an example of what NOT to do.
1) Good world-building gives your fantasy world a sense of believability, of cohesion. If you decide to set your game in a '50s Americana environment, you have to go all the way. You just can't have the gas stations selling potions, phoenix downs, and elixirs and the people wearing armour and using swords and other medieval weapons. In my opinion, the real world doesn't belong in Final Fantasy. It's a fantasy world, that's part of the charm. This kind of thing seriously strains the player's suspension of disbelief.
2) Product placement. You can't convince me that a Vivienne Westwood wedding dress belongs in a Final Fantasy game environment where people are hunting monsters and riding chocobos. You just can't.
3) The stereotypical and unfunny dialogue. The minor characters speak in an exaggerated southern accent and in 90 percent clichés. It's bordering on offensive. If writing a setting which comes with a specific dialect, do your research and find a beta reader who can help you with the dialect/slang.
4) Know your target audience. Fans of Final Fantasy have been pretty happy with the steampunk/medieval aesthetic. Sometimes a departure from the familiar is needed, but if the result is something so different that it's no longer recognisable as part of the franchise, you should probably rethink what you're doing.
5) Welcome to 2017. I know the game has been in the works for ten years, but the world has changed since then. The previous FF games certainly don't lack pretty girls in skimpy clothing, but usually the female characters have had some kind of agency and interesting backstories. You really cared about them. Now, for some reason, the developers decided to have four male main characters who are almost indistinguishable from each other ("likes to cook" isn't a defining character trait, guys, but more of a quirk.). The only women we are introduced to in the first hours of the game are Noctis' fiancé, who seems pretty passive, and Cindy the sexy mechanic, whose only real reason for existing seems to be flashing her cleavage at the boys while she gasses up the car and wipes the windshield. You need to do better.
So that's my list. What did you think of the game?
So here's my list. This, dear writer pals, is an example of what NOT to do.
1) Good world-building gives your fantasy world a sense of believability, of cohesion. If you decide to set your game in a '50s Americana environment, you have to go all the way. You just can't have the gas stations selling potions, phoenix downs, and elixirs and the people wearing armour and using swords and other medieval weapons. In my opinion, the real world doesn't belong in Final Fantasy. It's a fantasy world, that's part of the charm. This kind of thing seriously strains the player's suspension of disbelief.
2) Product placement. You can't convince me that a Vivienne Westwood wedding dress belongs in a Final Fantasy game environment where people are hunting monsters and riding chocobos. You just can't.
3) The stereotypical and unfunny dialogue. The minor characters speak in an exaggerated southern accent and in 90 percent clichés. It's bordering on offensive. If writing a setting which comes with a specific dialect, do your research and find a beta reader who can help you with the dialect/slang.
4) Know your target audience. Fans of Final Fantasy have been pretty happy with the steampunk/medieval aesthetic. Sometimes a departure from the familiar is needed, but if the result is something so different that it's no longer recognisable as part of the franchise, you should probably rethink what you're doing.
5) Welcome to 2017. I know the game has been in the works for ten years, but the world has changed since then. The previous FF games certainly don't lack pretty girls in skimpy clothing, but usually the female characters have had some kind of agency and interesting backstories. You really cared about them. Now, for some reason, the developers decided to have four male main characters who are almost indistinguishable from each other ("likes to cook" isn't a defining character trait, guys, but more of a quirk.). The only women we are introduced to in the first hours of the game are Noctis' fiancé, who seems pretty passive, and Cindy the sexy mechanic, whose only real reason for existing seems to be flashing her cleavage at the boys while she gasses up the car and wipes the windshield. You need to do better.
So that's my list. What did you think of the game?
Jan 22, 2016
The Need for Mead
Big plans this weekend: The Witcher III: Wild Hunt. I've only played a few hours, but I'm loving it so far. The world is beautifully done, and it feels like the books. The first quest I did I got the bad guy hanged for a relatively minor offence, but that's how the Nilfgaardians roll: there's no being a goody-good guy here. Oh, and the snark, I love the snark. The controls are a bit fiddly, but that's life.
But witchering is thirsty work. After some googling I found the perfect drink: mead!
These are proper mead, like the stuff the vikings used to drink. I got two kinds because I couldn't decide. The Inkeeper's Daughter is a sweeter one with less alcohol, and the Wandering Minstrel is stronger. Here's a few close-ups:
The Innkeeper's Daughter one tastes fresh and sweet, like honey wine, and the minstrel one is more like slightly sweet beer. I preferred the first one, but I don't like beer, so...
Okay, here we go. Hey, this is fun. After two glasses, I start missing a few counters, but that's no problem. Suck it, swamp demons!
Three glasses in, I'm feeling fine. The map is confusing, though. Where's that damn griffin? I need another glass.
Found the griffin.
*gets ass handed to self by griffin*
Okay, maybe I need some more experience? That well devil quest looks easy enough.
*slays devil in the well, but gets ripped apart by wolves on the way back to town*
Minor setback. You know what will fix that? More mead!
Hey, how about a monster nest? Cause those are easy.
*Gets nibbled to death by ghouls*
No fair!
MEEEEAAAD!
*walks into a campfire*
*hubby gently suggests that maybe don't walk into campfires*
Heh, heh, heh. I'm on fire!
*whistles for Roach*
Hey, I'm riding and I'm on fire!!!!
*hubby rotfl*
Maybe it's time to quit for today?
Sep 4, 2015
Alice: Madness Returns
| Alice: Madness Returns | |
|---|---|
 |
Do you love dark fairy tales? Victoriana? What about video games?
If you like all of the above, I've got just the game for you. Check out Alice: Madness Returns. The sequel to American McGees Alice, it's beautiful and terrifying, and challenging enough to keep up your interest. You could pretty much take a screenshot of any bit of the game and hang it on your wall, that's how gorgeous it is, and it's got a great story.
(Image http://www.ea.com/alice/images)
See what I mean?
What more could you ask for?
(Image http://www.ea.com/alice/images)
Happy gaming!
May 29, 2015
For Ages 13 Years and Up
I love Mass Effect. Probably too much, according to my friends, who are too polite to tell me to shut up when I go on and on about it. But come on, what's not to love? Great storyline, fantastic, likeable characters, one of the greatest sci-fi universes ever created! The whole game is like a masterclass in world-building, and you could learn a thing or too about character arcs as well from playing it. Okay, so the ending of ME3 sucked, but that doesn't negate the rest of the awesomeness in any way. It's like saying that The Matrix is a bad movie because the two cringe-worthy sequels ruined it. That's not how it works for me, anyway.
So, I'm enjoying another playthrough and I kind of got carried away.
Without further ado... a couple of new acquisitions:
The Thane action figure is from Big Fish, and not nearly as detailed as the Garrus one, but pretty cool nonetheless.
Okay. And here's Garrus. Oh Garrus, the best imaginary space boyfriend a girl could have. You followed me to hell and back, and all we got was that lousy ending. Yup, still bitter.
What? You don't believe Garrus is the coolest? Remember this?
"I’m Garrus Vakarian. Codename: Archangel. All-around turian bad boy and dispenser of justice in an unjust galaxy. Also, I kill Reapers on the side. "
'Nuff said.
There's just one thing I'm still wondering about. What's with all the calibrations?
Okay, I'll try really hard not to swallow his sniper rifle, tempting as that is.
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