"Don't be a dick." That simple notion is the first of Victor Lucas' 3D rules. The others? Don't dick around and don't hang out with dicks. Some would lead you to believe the games press is filled with dicks. It's not. With this in mind, I seek out the best games writing - from news to interviews to reviews and beyond - and highlight it here.
Theme by Andy Taylor, modified by Aaron Hudspeth.
Sci-Fi (Games) Could Do With A Change
Because how many games take place in outer space or in a Not So Far Away Dystopian Future? Pretty much all of them.
Streamline Studios Product Development Director Stefan Baier remarks:
Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional sci-fi, but in our modern world – a world of relationships empowered by iPads and social networks – technology is no longer all that mysterious in mainstream culture. It’s a brighter place, and there is still a lot of green… at least hopefully so.
Then there’s Bitmob’s Rus McLaughlin who is tired of the hulking, white Space Marine:
See, Mr. Space Marine isn’t just a walking, shooting cliché…he also severely limits width and breadth of the story you’re allowed to tell. The second you step into those space-army boots, you’ll spend the next 6-8 hours shooting ugly aliens and/or rival space marines from Planet Enemy, guided by a disembodied voice on a mission of critical importance (despite only meriting a detached squad of four soldiers), moving from skirmish to skirmish while a major engagement plays out in the middle-distance. Possibly you’ll start feeling betrayed by high command’s big picture vs. realities on the ground, or a few surprise betrayals will blindside you, but then you’ll go shoot them.
Baier, Stefan. “To Sci or not to Sci” (May 3, 2012) <http://www.streamline-studios.com/wordpress1/2012/05/03/to-sci-or-not-to-sci/>.
McLaughlin, Rus. “Retire the space marine” (Bitmob: May 8, 2012) <http://bitmob.com/articles/retire-the-space-marine>.
7 ways to build a better end-boss - Bitmob
“What’s up with final bosses” could very easily be the start of a Jerry Seinfeld joke. Fortunately, it’s not, but we’re sure Rus McLaughlin asked himself that very question when writing this list. Here’s an acute observation:
The secret rules of game awesomeness apparently decree that any end-boss must be knocked down three times for ultimate defeat. Maybe they even transform into scarier versions of themselves between sessions! Or else they’re just bigger, healthier versions of the baddies you’ve been killing for hours. Find the exploit — it glows! — give it a good whack, savagely beat enemy while stunned, circle strafe to avoid incoming fire, yadda yadda yadda. Seriously, who put these kindergartners in charge of ultimate evil?
So what are these suggestions? Read his article to find out, silly.
Also, is Mr Freeze not the best boss you’ve fought in ages or what?
