Extra Credits

Well, the companies in charge are also charging people out the nose because they can, not just because there's a reason.

This was probably last's week's video but Hard Boiled. I do like the point made there, though I don't encounter this much being mainly an Nintendo fan. But I do know that excessive darkness =/= a good story from other media.

Hard Boiled was last weeks'. Today's is on a bit of a delay.

EDIT: New episode, now with 100% more congressmen.

edited 14th Jun '12 12:30:31 AM by JackAlsworth

Games you might not have tried PT 4

Artemis sounds like the coolest idea ever.

Agreed. Once my family's new media room thing is done I totally want to get a bunch of friends together and play a game. Most of the other games on this list didn't interest me much.

So what do you think about this show's take on Hero's Journey? I'm kind of conflicted since I happened to have read article against whole thing before this show so...*shrugs*

Aesthetics of Play.

I find this topic very interesting because it leads me to look at games I like from a different angle. It also contextualizes why there are certain reactions to famous games.

For example the Metroid Series. The games were universally well regarded with the exception of Metroid Other M a game that fundementally changed the core aesthetics of the series and ended up being heavily polarizing. The latter is notable because mechanically it more closely resembles the original series than the 2D Metroid games in some respects, but the aesthetic core is radically different.

The original 2D games were built on Exploration, Fantasy, and Challenge. You were stranded in the middle of nowhere in a wide open alien planet and your goal was to survive long enough to escape. There were hints of other interesting elements but they didn't really detract from those core three. This is where the Metroid Prime series really shined is taking those core elements and transferring them into an entirely different set of mechanics.

Metroid Other M on the other hand, though Mechanically similar to both the original series and the Prime series in places gave a HUGE focus on Beauty and Narrative with exploration almost entirely de-emphasized. I think it IS possible to have a game that includes both a strong narrative and a freely explorable world but it takes a less cinematic style of story telling without the flashy cutscenes.

That game also shows how different mechanics can clash if there isn't a solid plan. Team Ninja is a big fan of Nintendo Hard games meaning that there would inevitably be a huge increase in the Challenge which in some ways was a detriment to the Narrative ambitions of the game. Who's willing to bet that the "Adam forgets to authorize Samus's Varia Suit" thing was a result of Team Ninja saying "We want a lava level where Samus doesn't have her Varia Suit for a good chunk of it" and Ishimoto said "Sure." without thinking of how that weakens that narrative. On the other hand Ishimoto's narrative focus meant that he wasn't willing to let the player skip the cutscenes which when combined with the Challenge of the boss fights meant that difficult bosses were an exercise in frustration.

On a lighter note does anyone else want to group their favorite games by these aesthetics?

I doubt Team Ninja had much effect on the pacing but I'm no designer.

I'm a Challenge Gamer myself so that aesthetic obviously appeals to me. I'm so glad they made it clear Challenge and Difficulty are two different things. I REALLY hope they do that episode.

Hmmm... My best guesses for Devil May Cry games would be: Challenge thanks to the deep mechanics, Sensation thanks to the detailed character/architecture design. There's also elements of Fantasy and Narrative thanks to Dante being a great Escapist Character. Higher tier players also thrive off of Competition thanks to leaderboards and combo videos.

When did I say anything about the pacing?

As for me.

Pokemon: Fantasy, Abdegnation, Competition, possibly Fellowship (if the concept can be applied to element of the game, because I don't see what other category Video Game Caring Potential goes under)

Legend Of Zelda: Discovery, Fantasy, Challenge, Narrative (for later entries in the game)

The World Ends With You: Narrative, Fantasy, Challenge, Sensation.

Ace Attorney: Narrative, Challenge, Abdegnation, Fantasy (Doesn't it feel great to act as a hero for justice)

edited 17th Oct '12 8:11:18 PM by RhymeBeat

I said the wrong word, and now I can't edit it because you pointed it out. THANKS A LOT.

Abnegananegation is a silly word. I prefer Submission because I can pronounce it.

Street Fighter: Challenge, Competition

Castlevania: Exploration, Fantasy, Sensation, Challenge

Persona: Challenge, Narrative, Expression, Submission

Langrisser: Fantasy, Narrative, Submission, Lust

edited 17th Oct '12 7:52:59 PM by ShirowShirow

Which word did you mean?

"Progression" I suppose. It was made part of the Narrative.

Elite Beat Agents: Challenge, Narrative

Dragon Quest IX: Fantasy, Submission, Challenge, Narrative, Fellowship, Sensation, Expression, Discovery, wow that's why it's popular.

edited 17th Oct '12 8:07:20 PM by ShirowShirow

Gmm... Honestly the issue with the Varia suit thing was that the narrative didn't adress the Authorization thing at all so I suppose it was just poor communication.

Other M is a broken game from the inside out. We'll be here all night if we start to dissect it even more than it already has been. Honestly, it should be held up as the Most Triumphant Example of how not to make a sequel.

edited 17th Oct '12 8:12:21 PM by ShirowShirow

I wonder, does "Immersion" fall under "Fantasy" or would it count as its' own thing?

How not to make a sequel: Trust Team Ninja with one of your oldest IPs and don't expect lots of Jell-O.

I'd think it'd fit under "fantasy" pretty well. After all, immersion is the point that you forget you're playing a game, and are actively "Making Believe".

edited 19th Oct '12 12:03:27 PM by VmKid

I suppose you're right... But the way they describe "Fantasy" is seem more like "Be someone you can't be" while Immersion has always been more "Be somewhere you can't be" to me.

edited 19th Oct '12 12:42:59 PM by ShirowShirow

Characters are as much a part of setting as the locations and time periods are.

When you play through a game of Left 4 Dead 2, you get the feeling like the characters belong where they are. They've been living out the apocalypse for the last four weeks, and their voice lines and models are made to match. The world around them is broken, overrun, and hostile, and you can tell they're victims of it by looking at them. If one of them suddenly became Master Chief, you're no longer immersed, because Master Chief doesn't belong there.

For characters to break immersion, they need to stick out in a way that makes it obvious they don't belong where they are, even given the work's ridiculousness.

edited 19th Oct '12 6:34:28 PM by VmKid

Excuse me, I'm gonna go over here and use my face as a wrecking ball.

Be right back.

Mission accomplished!

New EC's on Demos... Argg, I lurve demos. I have been convinced to buy a game via Demo before, Enslaved more specifically. It wasn't nearly as good as the demo made it out to be. Kingdoms Of Amalur similarly, although I flip-flopped on that one for a long time because I still don't know if I like the game or not.

Similarly Dragons Dogma and Binary Domain are on my to-buy list because of their awesome demos, but both are still like fifty bucks so screw that.

edited 27th Oct '12 11:48:18 AM by ShirowShirow

Asuras Wrath's Demo is what made me love the game so much, just because of the sheer craziness of the situations your in.

This is a lie and you know it. You where freaking out about the game looooooong before the demo was near.

It just made it even more so.

And it's legitamate, too.