Not too long ago, I talked with Ashton Raze about character design, writing, applications in Game Development, and other highly unrelated topics. She was willing to answer some questions I had for her, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to her. It's amazing what random conversations on Twitter can turn into! Our conversation started on Twitter before moving to a more formal
interview. Those 140 character limits tend to really cramp what one can
say. Our initial conversation was how easy it is to add a token character to the plot for little reason than to check off a box
on the diversity checklist. I got to thinking about solutions to this problem when I started talking to Raze.
Admittedly, I had a bit of an agenda to push when I first reached out to Raze. I set out to rant about game characters and how developers don't spend enough time fleshing the character beyond a few simple traits/tropes. While talking with Raze, the conversation quickly changed and went an entirely different direction. The conversation changed to writing and character development, and as such, I've had to rethink how I would write this article.
Holy cow. There's a lot of games out there that most people overlook. Too many people follow the advice of this guy, and it's a real shame. If you follow Extra Credits on youtube, you've probably seen their series of games you might not have tried. They are a great resource of options, and I've found a handful of good examples, as well. All of the games that I mention have their share of fans, just not many. For some, this is a perfect time to try them out. Either way, you'll be hard pressed to find games in here that aren't worth your time.
Nintendo's Gamecube, originally, code named "dolphin," was a real underdog in the console wars. Even so, there's still so much epic win on this console, that I suspect it will have its fans for quite a while. Let's look back on the best of the best, from a console that hasn't seen a new game in five years.
The Adults Only rating, or AO for short, has long been seen as a "kiss of death" to a video game. Most if not all retailers will outright refuse to stock an AO game, and the rating itself is largely associated with porn, sex, and the most depraved violence out there. But, perhaps the fear of an AO rating is doing more harm than good. Here's a couple of ideas on how to make AO work, and where it can and should be used.
One staple of video games is the bosses. They make for a great end to a level, and they serve to prepare the transition to the next level. But every now and again, you'll run across a boss that makes you scratch your head, say, "what the f***?" and walk away. With that in mind, here's:
Non-Player Characters, or NPCs, are a staple of most single player games. They can be hapless civilians, wizened teachers, or merchants willing to keep you stocked in exchange for a few coin. As always, however, there will be at least a few characters that make you scratch your head and wonder what is wrong with them. Here's my picks for:
Top 5 Creepiest NPCs
5. Christopher (Shadows of the Damned)
Christopher is not so much creepy as he is misunderstood. It's easy to brush him off as another demon at first glance, but he's got his charms. I still can't forget that cut scene when you first meet him. Of all the faces he could have made, why did he have to choose this one?
4. The Merchant (Resident Evil 4)
"Geetings, Strange-ah!" Just the way that he greets you is more than slightly unsettling. When you factor in the firepower he's packing at some of his shops, you really have to worry that this guy isn't going to go on a murderous spree or fund people who will. I dunno about this one, he just seems like a loose trigger.
3. Plasma Man (Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon)
PU-LA-ZU-MAAA! He sure doesn't wear much. I wonder if that's how he attained enlightenment? Those awful, heavy clothes must really weigh down your brain. If we all go nude, maybe we'll be as wise as him! (Seriously guys, DON'T DO THIS!!!)
2. Happy Mask Salesman (Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask)
Yeah...this is one guy you don't want to make angry. One minute, he's all smiles. The next, he's about ready to slit your throat. He really needs to relax. Perhaps a cruise to Koholint island would give him the stress relief he needs...
1. Great Fairy (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
I'm not even going to say anything about this one. Just watch the video...
Are you creeped out yet? Good! I'll see you again in two weeks.
All joking and limericks aside, it's been an amazing year in gaming. 2011 saw Sony's flagship PlayStation Network get breached, a plethora of huge titles released, and even a few long-awaited reboots. So now, let's take a look at the last 12 months for a Year in Gaming: 2011
Halloween always gets people in a mood to soil their trousers. Everybody and their mother tries to capitalize on this season, and game companies are no exception. The survival horror genre has been around since the original nintendo era, but I feel that the genre as a whole is in need of a spark of life, a la Frankenstein.
One thing that regularly bugs me is the when a game (or other entertainment media) is censored in a way that degrades the overall experience of the selected media. Movies do this, music on the radio does this, TV does this, and video games do it too. For the wayward youth, censorship is a real bummer. It's a road block to everything those boring adults don't want them to see. But with some entertainment, the content loses something when it gets edited. Various companies are making inroads into bridging the gap, but at what cost? How far is too far? Should the entertainment industries be playing parent?
It's no secret that Nintendo maintains a family friendly image. The level of marketing to the parents of young children feels like the brunt of Nintendo's marketing budget. With the lack of Pandora's Tower and Fatal Frame 4 in the US, it's very easy to dismiss Nintendo as yet another greedy corporation who only cares about where they can make the most money. Even so, Nintendo still pays attention to their core audience in some form or another. Whether you believe it or not, the Wii has several games that cater to the interests of the hardcore gamer. Here's 5 of them that you should be interested in:
Konami released another trailer for the upcoming Silent Hill: Downpour. Let's just say that I am disappoint.
Really? Korn in my Silent Hill? I like Korn as much as the next guy, but this is a bit ridiculous. There's a reason why Akira Yamaoka left Konami for Grasshopper Manufacture. S*** like this is why.
I have to commend Electronic Arts for financing such a gamble. They have a notorious track record for killing small development studios. The top talent usually gets carted off to another project and the remainders get gutted for whatever cash EA can find. That's the nature of the beast, I guess. New games based on an original concept rarely see big publisher backing the way Grasshopper Manufacture did. Goichi Suda, better known by his fans as Suda51, has a knack for making "arty" games that fascinate, but not necessarily sell well. However, he makes games that combine fantastic narrative, immersive aesthetic, and memorable characters. Shadows of the Damned is no exception. Suda51 wasn't alone in this venture, either. Accompanying him is Shinji Mikami, the creator of the Resident Evil series of horror games. If that wasn't enough star power, the audio was directed by Akira Yamaoka, composer for the Silent Hill soundtracks. This is top tier talent, and all three have years of game development experience following them wherever they go. Believe me, it shows.
