Balancing Gameplay And Story Elements [VIDEO]

I still need to update this logo.

Video games recently have tried to give a cinematic experience, to tell a story in which the player get to be the hero through a long adventure. Then again, that’s kind of what video games have done since the beginning, even if the story was just “aliens are coming, protect the Earth”. It is possible to have your story go so deep as to lose the fun of the game while some kind of narrative gives meaning to the actions you’re taking. Finding the balance is one of the missions of a game designer. Does your game need a strong narrative, something simple to give the player a goal, or is it just a puzzle or card game whose narrative comes from your victory, like playing Blackjack or Tripeaks? The team at Extra Credits examines when the narrative should be simple or advanced.

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> Robotech: Covert Ops #1

Is it just me or does the Zentraedi look jealous of Rick right now?

Robotech: Covert Ops #1

Antarctic Press (August, 1998)

“Covert Operations”

WRITER/ARTIST: Gregory Lane

COVER COLORIST: Nathan Lumm

EDITOR/TYPESETTING/PROOFREADING: Doug Dlin

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BW’s Morning Article Links: Former Marvelites Form New Publisher

I usually open these articles with an image or video but I have a reason for doing it backwards today. There are a number of new indie and small publishers coming out even as comics seem to be bleeding readers, or at least comic stores. There’s a new one coming with one of the blandest publishing names I’ve ever heard–Artists, Writers, and Artisans.The company is gaining some serious backers, and have announced their first batch of titles. What’s notable is that former Marvel Editors-In-Chief are involved. Bill Jemas will be the CEO and Axel Alonzo will be the Chief Creative Officer. Given their track record and the company title lacking in any kind of wow factor, things are not looking good. Remember in 2011 when we had to have this conversation?

Sometimes you need a defense against disappointment.

Which led to this conversation in 2017?

I don’t celebrate until I see the changes.

I don’t see this ending well.

Film Theory: Who Should Win The Game Of Thrones?

I’m not really interested in Game Of Thrones or the book series it comes from, A Song Of Ice And Fire, beyond the mild curiosity of its legion of fans. I’m not into shows where I can’t root for anyone because they’re all basically horrible people who only seem to be happy when they’re killing each other. I’m also not into darker tales, and the franchise is a dark but mild fantasy series where death is the only thing assured. Hope you don’t like character X because he or she will be dead soon enough. I understand that’s one of the appeals, not knowing who is going to die next, but it just feels a bit morose to me. Why should I follow the life of someone I know isn’t going to make it unless it’s a prequel or flashback?

However, I know some of you out there are fans of the series. Some of the people following me thorough WordPress come from fans of fantasy or reading, so I’m harboring a guess that you guys might be interested in this series and if I can do something nice for my readers that still holds a bit of mild interest for me and continues the “examining the art of storytelling to make me a better storyteller” that is the mission statement of this site why not? In this episode of Film Theory MatPat looks at the characters of the tales of Westeros to answer not who WILL win the coveted Iron Throne but who SHOULD win the game of thrones based only on the themes of the story. I’m rather curious what fans think of this theory.

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> Star Trek: Early Voyages #13

Star Trek: Early Voyages #13

Marvel/Paramount Comics (February, 1998)

“Future Tense” part 2

WRITERS: Ian Edginton & Dan Abnett

PENCILER: Patrick Zircher

INKER: Steve Moncuse

COLORIST: Marie Jarvis

LETTERER: Janice Chiang

EDITOR: Bobbie Chase

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BW Morning Video: Avengers Cats

Catch more from Kaipotainment on YouTube.

Mecha: The Rise & Fall Of Giant Robots [VIDEO]

 

I swear there’s a Chinese knockoff in this design.

I grew up with giant robot shows. Not as many as I would have wanted to as a kid, mind you. Around here we only had three “super robot” shows–the two Voltrons were one show, Tranzor Z, and of course Mighty Orbots–and the war story Robotech. Occasionally you might come across something, and in high school, when the “Japanimation” boom began I picked up shows like Super Beastial Machine God Dancougar, Magic Knights Rayearth (although that was more of a “magical girls” show that eventually got robot-like things added), GaoGaiGar, and a few fandubs of things that aren’t nearly the amount of giant robot shows that existed. I’ve also seen The Big O and a handful of others. America did try their own works, like the aforementioned Orbots, The Iron Giant, a few comics, the anime love letter of fun that is Megas XLR, and the Gundam-inspired Exo-Squad. You can even count the Transformers and GoBots, both having combiner teams ala Voltron. However there is this whole world of super robot mecha shows I have not been properly exposed to, and when you want to create a superhero show with Godzilla-sized piloted robots you bet your giant metal butt I want to at least give it a look.

However, the days of the super robot are pretty much gone, while the war stories have mixed with other genres like it was the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “It’s a coming of age story, but with mecha.” “It’s a slice of life comedy…in the middle of a giant robot battle.” That sort of thing. What happened to the genre? YouTuber Gigguk explores the rise and fall of the mecha genre, as well as its future. Note that there is some occasional cursing.

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