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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Live Reactions & Discussion)

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A thread to discuss My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and the tie-in media.

All of the usual forum rules apply. In addition, please remember that the thread is discussing a kids' show, and it's primarily focused on the work itself, not the fanfic — in particular, we don't want to see lewdness creeping in.

     Original OP text 
I don't know WHAT the Hell happened (I blame shenanigans) but we're going to start from scratch. Post your feels for this awesome show again! Naow!

Edited by Mrph1 on Aug 26th 2024 at 10:24:26 AM

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61376: Mar 28th 2014 at 12:44:58 PM

You know, cryptography could be cool, but it seems like one of those things with a barrier to entry large enough to completely turn away any thought of looking into it.

Well the problems cover a range of difficulties. The first one is just a simple substitution cipher.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
darkabomination Since: Mar, 2012
#61377: Mar 28th 2014 at 12:51:58 PM

Yay, my favorite shipping story Green was accepted to EQD!

It's cute, fluffy, and melodramatic, but it's pulled off very well. A little contrived in the first few chapters, but it's lampshaded and subverted before it goes too far and then gets great as it settles into slice of life.

Starscream759 Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: In denial
#61378: Mar 28th 2014 at 12:53:59 PM

@Dark The fanfic I'm reading right now is Aurora. And I'm already up to chapter 5 of that fic already.

"Transform and Roll out!" Optimus Prime
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61379: Mar 28th 2014 at 12:58:24 PM

2. I already had experience writing. I have zero experience with game design.

The funny thing is that I have experience with creating games but not with writing. I just don't have the time or inclination to make any more.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
PrincessGwenevere Ooh, sparkly! from Coat Mountain Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Ooh, sparkly!
#61380: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:00:11 PM

I have no fanfic to read. But I do want to do more writing.

"I feel like I'm on a raft and surrounding me is an ocean of dumb."- Mr. Sark
KuroiTsubasaTenshi Streamer from Twitch Since: May, 2011
Streamer
#61381: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:03:53 PM

I have experience with both game design and writing and if nothing else, I can say there's a very good reason why large projects separate the roles. Art assets are usually a huge stumbling block too.

FE: New Mystery Only Feet 7PM PT Sun, Mon, Fri; Umamusume Haru Arima 7PM PT Wed, Thurs: http://www.twitch.tv/kuroitsubasatenshi
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61382: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:14:48 PM

I've actually wanted to get in on a game project for a long time now because I think it'd be really fun. The problem is, my skills lie with writing and editing, and by the time any game project gets to the point of "Yeah, let's make this!" They've already got those jobs pinned down. It also doesn't help that since writing is less technical, there's always the attitude of "Our programmers can write, our artists can write, our project lead can write. What can you do that's actually useful?"

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61383: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:23:49 PM

Our programmers can write, our artists can write, our project lead can write. What can you do that's actually useful?

The problem is that in many cases, this is true. Writing is very rarely the selling point of the game and a relatively small share of the workload. Of course, it also depends on whether you're making Pokemon or Heavy Rain.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61384: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:36:52 PM

Yeah, I know. And that's pretty much the reason why I don't try to start up my own projects, because I'd be shunting all the real work off onto the others. But at the same time, it's really frustrating to see these ongoing projects that don't realize that the less dialogue and text you have in a game, the more you need a really good writer and editor. The gameplay might be what brings people in, but the writing is what makes it stand out from the crowd. Take Thomas Was Alone and Papers Please for example.

Shadow Of The Colossus is another great example. It's so sparse on the writing side that a single misstep would have completely ruined everything. Instead of falling though, it's held up as The One True Example of Games as Art.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61385: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:38:01 PM

I guess that depends on how 'arty' you're trying to make your game.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61386: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:41:20 PM

Not really. Somebody had to create all the dialogue, names, script, and so on and so forth for Pokemon. Or what about games where you mouseover a unit and a little box pops up with some flavor text? The little things like that need a good writer otherwise they go from juicy little tidbits that expand your experience to meaningless filler that nobody cares about. Details like that are absolutely key to maintaining Willing Suspension of Disbelief.

And God help you if you let a typo creep into those tidbits.

edited 28th Mar '14 1:42:49 PM by CDRW

darkabomination Since: Mar, 2012
#61387: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:50:31 PM

Yeah guess you really need a balance. Like Mortal Kombat, only the hardcore fans much care for the detailed and eelaborate plots you can skip and go straight to the fighting.

And the Shadow Pokemon games do have plot, even though it's only a little more detailed than typical Pokemon fair. A better example might be megaman x, which kept a detailed and interesting story throughout.

edited 28th Mar '14 1:55:13 PM by darkabomination

kegisak Element of Class Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
Element of Class
#61388: Mar 28th 2014 at 1:59:54 PM

Very little of a game's story is told through dialogue, even in games with a lot of story, but that story still needs to be written. It doesn't just magically appear in the game.

Also, technical writing, ie. documentation, is still very important for designers, especially junior designers, so it's not terrible to have writing chops in general.

Birthright: an original web novel about Dragons, the Burdens of Leadership, and Mangoes.
storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61389: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:00:17 PM

Somebody had to create all the dialogue, names, script, and so on and so forth for Pokemon.

Sure it contains text, but there's relatively little of it and it's all very generic. I could have cranked that out myself.

Of course it may be different in the later games. I've heard that N's plot had an actual character and motivation and so on. But still, I don't think writing is important to the success of Pokemon.

As for good games with bad writing, I'd like to point out Braid and Achron. Possibly VVVVVV, I haven't played that one.

Anyway, there are cases of the reverse. For example, To The Moon had decent writing but absolutely crap programming. It just depends on the kind of game you want to make. To The Moon is basically a Visual Novel anyway.

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MetaFour AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN from A Place (Old Master)
AXTE INCAL AXTUCE MUN
#61390: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:02:03 PM

Very little of a game's story is told through dialogue, even in games with a lot of story, but that story still needs to be written. It doesn't just magically appear in the game.
Oh... That's what I've been doing wrong!

CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61391: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:03:49 PM

@ Kegisak: That's a very good point, and one that I really should have brought up with the SOTC example.

But yeah, I feel like I have a lot I could contribute to a game project, but it's so hard to convince people that they even need what I can do that there's no chance in hell I'll ever manage to get onboard with one.

edited 28th Mar '14 2:04:10 PM by CDRW

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61392: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:05:09 PM

In a small project, it makes sense to be more concerned wiht getting the hard parts done. Also, what is SOTC?

Edit: Oh, you mean Shadow Of The Colossus.

edited 28th Mar '14 2:05:36 PM by storyyeller

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
CDRW Since: May, 2016
KuroiTsubasaTenshi Streamer from Twitch Since: May, 2011
Streamer
#61394: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:06:27 PM

A writer is still really useful for designing a coherent world and uniform vision. That is where those little details come from. Yes, maybe only a small portion of what they come up will make it into the actual content (same as any story in any medium, really), but it's as important as everything is. Otherwise, everyone goes off and runs with their own interpretation of whatever they're working on. Trust me when I say I've seen the results of letting things go like that and the collisions are ugly.

FE: New Mystery Only Feet 7PM PT Sun, Mon, Fri; Umamusume Haru Arima 7PM PT Wed, Thurs: http://www.twitch.tv/kuroitsubasatenshi
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61395: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:08:15 PM

[up] *shudders* Oh man, I can only imagine.

I guess this is also a good point to mention that writing and editing are two completely different skillsets which overlap a whole lot less than most people think.

edited 28th Mar '14 2:08:21 PM by CDRW

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61396: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:14:15 PM

But yeah, I feel like I have a lot I could contribute to a game project, but it's so hard to convince people that they even need what I can do that there's no chance in hell I'll ever manage to get onboard with one.

Well if you learn to program or draw or make music, then you could get involved and help with the writing too.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61397: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:22:38 PM

Those aren't exactly skills that you can just pick up on the side. Not well enough to be useful in a large project anyway. And I really don't like the attitude that writing is. The barrier to entry is lower with writing, but it takes every bit as much dedication and practice to get good at as any of the more technical skills. I've spent most of my life picking apart why I like the things I do in stories, which details are the important ones, what makes things come off corny or generic and what hits people in the stomach, and it shows in both my writing and my editing. I do still have my weaknesses of course—especially in the area of letting a story grow out of control—but I've also analyzed those weaknesses, know where they are, and am able to address them. I know what I know, I know what I don't know, and all of that knowledge was hard won.

As it happens, I am learning to draw, but it's going to be several years at least before I'm good enough to be an asset instead of a liability. I can also create music, but it has the same problem.

Edit: Holy crap, Applebloom is freaking cool!

edited 28th Mar '14 2:31:21 PM by CDRW

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#61398: Mar 28th 2014 at 2:57:43 PM

My point is that it's easier to do passably than the others.

What project did you want to help with, anyway?

edited 28th Mar '14 2:58:00 PM by storyyeller

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CDRW Since: May, 2016
#61399: Mar 28th 2014 at 3:08:52 PM

Pretty much anything that looks like it's going to high quality and actually finished. There's a couple that look like they would be cool to be a part of. Shattered Kingdom (Fat chance getting onto that one though, they've got Pen Stroke for the writer. I'm confident in my ability, but I know myself well enough to say that I'm not in the same league as him.), Legends of Equestria (Everything was filled like a year ago), Fallout Equestria (dunno where that one is). Then there's my own project ideas, that changeling stealth game, a pony/touhou game, three original game ideas, as well as two graphic novels that I'd like to get off the ground eventually.

edited 28th Mar '14 3:09:47 PM by CDRW

marcen12 Sigh from Under The Floorboards (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Sigh
#61400: Mar 28th 2014 at 3:37:41 PM

Hey guys. Me here. I just want to let you guys know that I beat 60 percent of Silver's episode in Sonic 06...in 2 hours. The part where you put the balls in holes...took me 11 minutes. So far, no frustration. No gliches. Some confusion of some places I'm going. All in one day. (points to nose) See, no blood. Guys, I can get through this OK game. I can't wait to play it after I beat all these other games. Sonic The Hedgehog. The first PS 3 game I've ever beaten.

https://youtu.be/_1F5HhUvFbM?si=csgwerqELcG6615q

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