tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post8797166674341306332..comments2023-05-08T04:26:41.949-04:00Comments on My Little Po-Mo: A video game story structure I'd like to see more ofFroborrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08782366056731381450noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-39499693111780303752014-06-27T16:02:22.682-04:002014-06-27T16:02:22.682-04:00Never really got into most of them, actually. Larg...Never really got into most of them, actually. Largely because they're rare on consoles and PC gaming costs a fortune.<br /><br />I should warn you that UQM is a somewhat odd duck as far as games with multiple paths go--much of what you can change *is* flavor text, and there is only one ending, for which you have to accomplish fixed tasks. However, the order in which you do those tasks is flexible, there's a very high volume of "sidequests," and you can go basically anywhere from very nearly the start of the game, so the number of paths from A to B ends up being very large.Froborrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08782366056731381450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-43918933753875459562014-06-27T15:46:38.492-04:002014-06-27T15:46:38.492-04:00"a game where you both control a character an..."a game where you both control a character and shape who they are and what they do, and participate in the telling of a complex and interesting story"<br /><br />I take it you like multiple choice rpg games. Although the last few I played your choices didn't actually make much bearing on the plot, mostly being flavor text; even if you take 'evil' choices you still go after the 'bad guy'.<br /><br />Will definitely check out that game, thanks.Only Some Stardustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-56955782257775643272014-06-25T13:06:42.967-04:002014-06-25T13:06:42.967-04:00I found Fusion extremely linear. I also had issues...I found Fusion extremely linear. I also had issues with the way the mission-based gameplay subjected Samus to a masculine authority where in prior games she'd been an independent agent-for-hire.<br /><br />I also have a HUGE problem with the use of pinup art as a reward system, effectively declaring that the more badass the player makes Samus, the more subject to the Male Gaze she becomes. Because we can't have a powerful video game heroine who isn't a sex object, that might disrupt the power fantasies of adolescent and adolescent-at-heart boys! (This is why my favorite "Samus takes her armor off" ending is the first Metroid Prime, where she takes off her helmet only and reveals... a basically ordinary-looking young woman.) <br /><br />Sure, you can argue that that started with the first game, but in games prior to Zero Mission the "good ending" images of Samus used the same pose, just without the armor. Starting with Zero Mission, however, and even more noticeable in Fusion, Samus wears less clothing and is posed more sexually as the player does better, making the "Samus' body is a reward for good play" connection explicit.<br /><br />Combining these threads, a scene where Samus gets nakeder the more she's affected by her (previously nonexistent) PTSD seems inevitable in hindsight.Froborrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08782366056731381450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-43348591281040111192014-06-25T10:55:50.491-04:002014-06-25T10:55:50.491-04:00As far as I can tell, there isn't anything inn...As far as I can tell, there isn't anything innately objectionable in Fusion. I had a positive impression of it after I played it.<br /><br />I do remember worrying that the inevitable elaboration on Samus and Adam's backstory would suck, but they exceeded my worst fears. I'm relieved I put off buying Other M long enough to get warned off.01d55https://www.blogger.com/profile/12422929110453082596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-5914477357837438892014-06-24T13:21:55.704-04:002014-06-24T13:21:55.704-04:00Okay then! *Goes of to download Star Contr- I mean...Okay then! *Goes of to download <i>Star Contr</i>- I mean <i>The Ur-Quan Masters</i>*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07117285086030971922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-13316292982696220512014-06-24T13:11:56.179-04:002014-06-24T13:11:56.179-04:00Other M's list of sins is long and deeply upse...Other M's list of sins is long and deeply upsetting.<br /><br />On the other hand, pretty much every awful thing it did was done to a lesser extent by Metroid Fusion, so we really ought to have seen this coming.Froborrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08782366056731381450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-73566199977778310262014-06-24T13:08:12.596-04:002014-06-24T13:08:12.596-04:00So, here's the situation:
Toys for Bob owns t...So, here's the situation:<br /><br />Toys for Bob owns the rights to the code and content of <i>Star Control</i> and <i>Star Control II</i>, but they don't own the rights to the name, and Accolade (or whoever owns Accolade's IP--I don't think Accolade exists anymore, do they?) has both the rights to the name and unlimited distribution rights on both those games. In addition, Accolade owns all the rights to <i>Star Control III</i>, which Toys for Bob had no involvement with, but no one cares because it sucks.<br /><br />After years of negotiations with Accolade to allow Toys for Bob to remake <i>Star Control II</i> or create a sequel that doesn't suck, Toys for Bob gave up and released the code and all related resources to the open-source community, with the only stipulation being that the game they were open-sourcing totally wasn't <i>Star Control II</i>, it was a completely identical game named <i>The Ur-Quan Masters</i>.<br /><br />So basically, there are now two versions floating around, a free, open-source one called <i>The Ur-Quan Masters</i> and a pay one called <i>Star Control II</i>--and it's the free one that has the endorsement of the game's actual creators.<br /><br />AFAIK, the original <i>Star Control</i> is only legally available by buying it, but you don't actually need to play it before playing <i>Star Control II</i>. It's pretty much just a crude strategy game that happens to share a combat system with its action-RPG sequel.Froborrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08782366056731381450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-83784727452831369772014-06-24T12:59:36.525-04:002014-06-24T12:59:36.525-04:00Metroid was always great about creating atmosphere...Metroid was always great about creating atmosphere and then letting the player build up the narrative and stuff in their mind. Super Metroid is a near-perfect example of telling story through gameplay.<br /><br />Then Other M happened. Oh. Ohhhhhh.Freznohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05116120919965820944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5106243389695628804.post-49025237068561192672014-06-24T12:52:02.294-04:002014-06-24T12:52:02.294-04:00Slight correction on Metroid Prime. Retro studios ...Slight correction on Metroid Prime. Retro studios retconned the lore for the PAL and trilogy versions, and now Metroid Prime was inside the meteor from the start, no space pirate involvement. Not really important, but I figure I'd mention it.<br /><br />About Star Control, is it really open source? Because I'm seeing it for sale on GOG. Is it some weird copyright shenanigans where the rights were passed around from publisher to publisher, like System Shock 2?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07117285086030971922noreply@blogger.com