18.2.09
13.2.09
MMO IPs and a little bit of philosphy
Am I the only one who finds the IPs people choose to make MMOs out of kind of... weird? Almost as weird as my tendency to misspell weird 'wierd', thank god for spell-check. Anyways, I'm not just talking about some fantasy vs. sci-fi argument rehash. I mean if I were looking for qualities that set an IP apart for ease of transition, I sure as shit wouldn't pick Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Warhammer. It's not that they're bad, it's just... well it's like mining tin instead of gold, lots more mining for comparatively less profit.
Let's take LotR for just a second. It's got the obvious pieces, swords, monsters, a few races and some good back story. Now you need to write a reason for the player to be in the story, either double your work by including both factions or find some way to make PvP somewhat reasonable, and build a world where your players can socialize at different levels without even having full control of your mapping and architecture. If you take a step back and look at pretty much all of the IPs that have been carried over, they were picked for nerdbase (or better put nerdgasm), but all of them require some serious designer two-step and worst of all they need it in places that are basically no-win scenarios with the fan base.
My take? Well first off, we're gonna have to leave the American culture sphere since, honestly, they don't have much that's quite so perfect. So my first three proposals would be Pokemon, Angelic Layer, and Air Gear. Kids, pre-teens, and older teens to adults respectively, hell if you allow some of their nudity shenanigans Air Gear would be more adult than Age of Conan on it's best day. Now why these?
What advantages do these IPs offer? For starters, no death. This means we never have to worry about why all the source material characters were afraid of dieing, when the players have the immortality button. Organized PvP. Not only do we have a reasonable system for players to fight each other, we also have leagues, ladders, duels, team duels, scoring systems, betting systems, achievements, titles, and even story driven battles. Directed social interaction. This is probably the most important of all, and it's tied into the organized PvP but it's just as important in PvE and downtime. These shows have already shown us when, where, why and how the players interact, when they fight, when they cooperate, when they just talk and hang out. Right now there is a lot of complaining about the grind, and people are right to knock it, we've gotten so focused on how every needs to be the hero we've missed something. Practice. Nobody is perfect at first, and sometimes you practice alone, but what really makes practice so awesome is you get to hang out with your friends and see each other grow as you do it. Walk around alone and of course it's just going to suck sooner or later.
Let me get philosophical here for a minute. Game designers have had a good long time to learn how to make a game fun for someone for a little while. We've also had a while to learn how let a few friends have fun and compete for years. So far this has all been in the context of real life, distributed virtual scoring for virtual representation of an identity. The real advantage of an MMO is the unified context, you aren't just doing something, you're doing it with everyone around you and you're all sharing in one great big experience. It's not about solo or group, or anything so fucking divisive, even when you're alone you're in the middle of the great stream of players and activity around you. If that stream slows down, it sucks, but it never stops till the devs pull the plug and walk away.
These IPs have a flow guide, a route already laid out. If it wasn't so apparent that the industry needed training wheels, I wouldn't bother pointing them out. Listen, the reason nobody is going to overthrow WoW is because it needs more than just that perfect storm of publicity. I never thought polish was the right word, and I'm tired of all the debates over the word fun, the fact is it has to be a fundamentally good game and it has to generate enough content to bridge the gap of four years within a month. With these IPs you have one job, render their fundamental hat in terms of fun game play then follow the map making minor corrections as needed. That doesn't mean it can't still be a fun project, and I think there are more than a few big names in the industry who need to get their asses back to the roots of game design.
I know I don't have a job in the industry, and my projects aren't really working out all the time. I've got my problems, but if anyone at the top is reading this, look out. You keep it up with the phoned in performances, and I'm gonna catch up to bite you in the ass. I'm tired of playing around, so consider yourself warned.
Let's take LotR for just a second. It's got the obvious pieces, swords, monsters, a few races and some good back story. Now you need to write a reason for the player to be in the story, either double your work by including both factions or find some way to make PvP somewhat reasonable, and build a world where your players can socialize at different levels without even having full control of your mapping and architecture. If you take a step back and look at pretty much all of the IPs that have been carried over, they were picked for nerdbase (or better put nerdgasm), but all of them require some serious designer two-step and worst of all they need it in places that are basically no-win scenarios with the fan base.
My take? Well first off, we're gonna have to leave the American culture sphere since, honestly, they don't have much that's quite so perfect. So my first three proposals would be Pokemon, Angelic Layer, and Air Gear. Kids, pre-teens, and older teens to adults respectively, hell if you allow some of their nudity shenanigans Air Gear would be more adult than Age of Conan on it's best day. Now why these?
What advantages do these IPs offer? For starters, no death. This means we never have to worry about why all the source material characters were afraid of dieing, when the players have the immortality button. Organized PvP. Not only do we have a reasonable system for players to fight each other, we also have leagues, ladders, duels, team duels, scoring systems, betting systems, achievements, titles, and even story driven battles. Directed social interaction. This is probably the most important of all, and it's tied into the organized PvP but it's just as important in PvE and downtime. These shows have already shown us when, where, why and how the players interact, when they fight, when they cooperate, when they just talk and hang out. Right now there is a lot of complaining about the grind, and people are right to knock it, we've gotten so focused on how every needs to be the hero we've missed something. Practice. Nobody is perfect at first, and sometimes you practice alone, but what really makes practice so awesome is you get to hang out with your friends and see each other grow as you do it. Walk around alone and of course it's just going to suck sooner or later.
Let me get philosophical here for a minute. Game designers have had a good long time to learn how to make a game fun for someone for a little while. We've also had a while to learn how let a few friends have fun and compete for years. So far this has all been in the context of real life, distributed virtual scoring for virtual representation of an identity. The real advantage of an MMO is the unified context, you aren't just doing something, you're doing it with everyone around you and you're all sharing in one great big experience. It's not about solo or group, or anything so fucking divisive, even when you're alone you're in the middle of the great stream of players and activity around you. If that stream slows down, it sucks, but it never stops till the devs pull the plug and walk away.
These IPs have a flow guide, a route already laid out. If it wasn't so apparent that the industry needed training wheels, I wouldn't bother pointing them out. Listen, the reason nobody is going to overthrow WoW is because it needs more than just that perfect storm of publicity. I never thought polish was the right word, and I'm tired of all the debates over the word fun, the fact is it has to be a fundamentally good game and it has to generate enough content to bridge the gap of four years within a month. With these IPs you have one job, render their fundamental hat in terms of fun game play then follow the map making minor corrections as needed. That doesn't mean it can't still be a fun project, and I think there are more than a few big names in the industry who need to get their asses back to the roots of game design.
I know I don't have a job in the industry, and my projects aren't really working out all the time. I've got my problems, but if anyone at the top is reading this, look out. You keep it up with the phoned in performances, and I'm gonna catch up to bite you in the ass. I'm tired of playing around, so consider yourself warned.
12.2.09
11.2.09
10.2.09
Hard Learned Lessons
I've learned a few lessons in drawing the hard way. Today I want to share the biggest bitch that comes with learning how to draw in an anime or manga style.
Moral of the story, learn volumes first! Hell, do still life drawing and life drawing, focus on the lighting and rendering. If you can render it right, you can draw it right, but if you can only draw it right, you'll have to unlearn how you see things in order to render it right.
Final Thought:
Everyone can draw a circle, square and triangle, especially since it really doesn't have to be perfect. Therefore, you already know everything about shape needed to start doing still life. The real challenge of still life is to look at something, say an orange for instance, and instead of mentally filling in a shape, circle in this case, to instead see how the contrast between light and shadow is creating that shape. It can be boring, but hang in there and you'll appreciate it later!
Moral of the story, learn volumes first! Hell, do still life drawing and life drawing, focus on the lighting and rendering. If you can render it right, you can draw it right, but if you can only draw it right, you'll have to unlearn how you see things in order to render it right.
Final Thought:
Everyone can draw a circle, square and triangle, especially since it really doesn't have to be perfect. Therefore, you already know everything about shape needed to start doing still life. The real challenge of still life is to look at something, say an orange for instance, and instead of mentally filling in a shape, circle in this case, to instead see how the contrast between light and shadow is creating that shape. It can be boring, but hang in there and you'll appreciate it later!
Paprika
Nine-ish years ago now, there was a movie named The Cell. It stared Jennifer Lopez and Vince Vaughn, and to be perfectly frank, I don't hold either in esteem for their acting abilities... But the concept... a hell of a concept, there, dream diving. I only saw parts at a time, but the cinematography and visual style were almost spot on... almost.Six years later an anime named Paprika was released. The concept was revisited. Again it was a thriller, though this time not a crime thriller, at least not in the sense The Cell was. The acting of the drawn characters, and the voice acting behind them is clearly professional. The stylistic tone changed from obnoxiously loud to thoughtful and colorful.
At one point the conceit is carried slightly too far, but it is used to convey the final connotations of the theme. Also to finalize the exploration of the characters and their subtler motivations.
I'm not sure what I think of The Cell, to be honest. It was good, in it's way, but not a great work of cinema. I'm not sure how I feel in it's entirety about Paprika... because I am simply in awe of being allowed to witness such powerful and sublime cinema. Or to put it simpler, it would be like comparing the difference between a Micheal Bay film, and Schindler's List. For whatever faults I can eventually nit pick out of examining Paprika, I find so much more, that I hadn't even been aware of as I watched, that leaves me in awe of their writing and directing.
I only regret not watching it sooner.
9.2.09
Kedy
Kedy was a teddy bear, a plain brown teddy bear. Her stitching was a little gilded, and her edges were looking worn. She loved a little girl named Karoline, who hugged her every night and told her what a good teddy bear she was. For five long years she kept by Karoline's side, through laughter, tears, and many hugs.
One day Karoline asked Kedy a question. It was an odd question to be sure, who else would have thought to ask but a young girl who loved her teddy bear. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Kedy thought long and hard, hard and long, before it finally occurred, "I want to be a little girl, and laugh and sing and play with Karoline!"
"But teddy bears can't grow up to be little girls," Karoline told her. "But I want to do it anyway!" Kedy replied. "You can't do it, Kedy!" Karoline scolded. "I just want to be a little girl and laugh and sing and play with you! Don't you want that too!?"
And Karoline was quiet for a while, then stood and left the room. Kedy could only wait, wondering if she had hurt the best little girl she'd ever known. Karoline came back, with something hidden behind her back, "now Kedy, tell me really, no games, and nothing impossible, what do you want to be when you grow up!?"
"A little girl, is all. It's all I'll ever want!" But Kedy's answer made Karoline angry, and she pulled out what she'd been hiding. With one swift stroke her first stab landed, the knife cutting brown and gold. "I'm sorry" cried the little bear, as her only love attacked. "Sorry!?" Karoline called with manic glee as she ripped the bear to shreds. "How dare you say such awful things to me, stupid bear, stupid useless bear!"
The police arrived the following day, but called others on there way. It wasn't there's to take her, despite the gruesome scene. The men in white would come for one who holds her little girl and screams, "What a bad little teddy bear you've been! You should have listened to me!"
One day Karoline asked Kedy a question. It was an odd question to be sure, who else would have thought to ask but a young girl who loved her teddy bear. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Kedy thought long and hard, hard and long, before it finally occurred, "I want to be a little girl, and laugh and sing and play with Karoline!"
"But teddy bears can't grow up to be little girls," Karoline told her. "But I want to do it anyway!" Kedy replied. "You can't do it, Kedy!" Karoline scolded. "I just want to be a little girl and laugh and sing and play with you! Don't you want that too!?"
And Karoline was quiet for a while, then stood and left the room. Kedy could only wait, wondering if she had hurt the best little girl she'd ever known. Karoline came back, with something hidden behind her back, "now Kedy, tell me really, no games, and nothing impossible, what do you want to be when you grow up!?"
"A little girl, is all. It's all I'll ever want!" But Kedy's answer made Karoline angry, and she pulled out what she'd been hiding. With one swift stroke her first stab landed, the knife cutting brown and gold. "I'm sorry" cried the little bear, as her only love attacked. "Sorry!?" Karoline called with manic glee as she ripped the bear to shreds. "How dare you say such awful things to me, stupid bear, stupid useless bear!"
The police arrived the following day, but called others on there way. It wasn't there's to take her, despite the gruesome scene. The men in white would come for one who holds her little girl and screams, "What a bad little teddy bear you've been! You should have listened to me!"
8.2.09
7.2.09
Four friends having tea.
It was dark outside of the starkly decorated room. A low table in the middle surrounded by velour cushions was the only furniture in the room, and the way the paint on the walls danced as though the water on the walls was real was it's only distinguishable aspect. Out of the open rear door, the descendants of cicadas chirped into the lonely mountain night.
Inside a woman with silver hair and eyes, wearing a worn training gi, poured tea into four handleless cups. The red headed woman nodded and said something polite as her cup was filled, the black haired man following her example, while the blonde haired man skipped the pleasantries all together to launch into conversation.
"Well, it looks like all our special training has finally paid off," he says.
"Oh yes, well some of us had more special training than others," the red head replies, glancing over at the silver haired woman.
"Be nice Mara," the black haired man warns.
"What, it's only true," Mara replies.
"I am only property, I do as my mistress commands in all things," the silver haired woman interjects.
"So you don't deny it then, Shiala," the blonde interjects.
"Oh come off it you two," the black haired man says.
"Interesting choice of words, Jenji" Mara says, prompting a laugh out of the blonde, and a coy smile from Shiala.
"Come on, you can't say you've never been the least bit curious," Mara smiles at Jenji.
"Well nothing like you and Tion seem to be... but, do you really do it just because the master tells you to?"
Shiala smiles and shrugs slightly, "perhaps."
"Typical, an answer as clear as mud," Tion laughs.
"You three don't seem to be worried about tomorrow at all," Jenji says. "I just can't stop worrying about it."
The mood sours slightly, and Shiala picks up in the absence. "We're all nervous Jenji, some of us possibly even more than you, we just each have our own way of dealing it."
"I'm worried I won't be able to notice the soul of the sword speaking to me," Mara says while spots of rose blossom on her cheeks.
"Hell, I'm worried what happens after we meet our swords. Do we get to stay here till we feel ready to go, or will we be sent off to serve some lord or other. Or worse, are we just going to find ourselves out on our assess to fend for ourselves," Tion says, placing his hands behind his head and leaning back slightly.
"Even if that happens, I don't think you three have anything to worry about. I mean, Mara, you attack like the wind, and you're only getting better. Shiala, you've got the greatest balance of all the students, some of them say it's even better than master's. Tion, well, I don't think anyone outside of this room, except master of course, has even managed to touch you lately. I don't think I have anything like that, so what would I do?" Jenji says.
"Haha, you're in this room for a reason Jenji. You may just need some time to find your own strengths." Mara smiles to him.
"In fact, Jenji, you may be the most talented of us all. You've managed to keep up with all of us despite our specializations, that takes no small skill." Shiala adds.
"Anyways, tomorrows the big day, so let's drink up! To the Master and the pursuit of honor!" Tion interrupts.
"To the Master and the pursuit of honer!" the rest repeat.
Inside a woman with silver hair and eyes, wearing a worn training gi, poured tea into four handleless cups. The red headed woman nodded and said something polite as her cup was filled, the black haired man following her example, while the blonde haired man skipped the pleasantries all together to launch into conversation.
"Well, it looks like all our special training has finally paid off," he says.
"Oh yes, well some of us had more special training than others," the red head replies, glancing over at the silver haired woman.
"Be nice Mara," the black haired man warns.
"What, it's only true," Mara replies.
"I am only property, I do as my mistress commands in all things," the silver haired woman interjects.
"So you don't deny it then, Shiala," the blonde interjects.
"Oh come off it you two," the black haired man says.
"Interesting choice of words, Jenji" Mara says, prompting a laugh out of the blonde, and a coy smile from Shiala.
"Come on, you can't say you've never been the least bit curious," Mara smiles at Jenji.
"Well nothing like you and Tion seem to be... but, do you really do it just because the master tells you to?"
Shiala smiles and shrugs slightly, "perhaps."
"Typical, an answer as clear as mud," Tion laughs.
"You three don't seem to be worried about tomorrow at all," Jenji says. "I just can't stop worrying about it."
The mood sours slightly, and Shiala picks up in the absence. "We're all nervous Jenji, some of us possibly even more than you, we just each have our own way of dealing it."
"I'm worried I won't be able to notice the soul of the sword speaking to me," Mara says while spots of rose blossom on her cheeks.
"Hell, I'm worried what happens after we meet our swords. Do we get to stay here till we feel ready to go, or will we be sent off to serve some lord or other. Or worse, are we just going to find ourselves out on our assess to fend for ourselves," Tion says, placing his hands behind his head and leaning back slightly.
"Even if that happens, I don't think you three have anything to worry about. I mean, Mara, you attack like the wind, and you're only getting better. Shiala, you've got the greatest balance of all the students, some of them say it's even better than master's. Tion, well, I don't think anyone outside of this room, except master of course, has even managed to touch you lately. I don't think I have anything like that, so what would I do?" Jenji says.
"Haha, you're in this room for a reason Jenji. You may just need some time to find your own strengths." Mara smiles to him.
"In fact, Jenji, you may be the most talented of us all. You've managed to keep up with all of us despite our specializations, that takes no small skill." Shiala adds.
"Anyways, tomorrows the big day, so let's drink up! To the Master and the pursuit of honor!" Tion interrupts.
"To the Master and the pursuit of honer!" the rest repeat.
I realize I'm a little late.
So before the EVE bomb hit, everyone was discussing the announcement of the 300k subs in WAR. I would have said more earlier, but I didn't quite feel like making a one line post consisting of "I fucking told you so!"
Actually, my views have shifted a little, I'm not so down on PvE these days. And arguably, the relative inadequacies of their PvE may have cost them the most. I still stand firmly by the simple truth that you won't get WoW's numbers with a new MMO. And a large part of that is something that I had already put in words sometime around the end of GDC '08. "Any new game will be, on release, a categorically worse game than every other game on the market." Of course, I didn't account for releases within a short period, but basically a new game simply cannot hope to stack up to a mature game in terms of quality and quantity of content, it's impossible.
(By the by, the friend I told that too said that he had been told almost exactly the same thing by Scott Hartsmann while at GDC that year, thus how I know the time frame. Which reminds me, I consider oHai the next big project to watch. The last one, with audio verification to prove I'm not changing my mind in hindsight, that I considered that way was Metaplace, and lately they've completely blown me away. And that also reminds me, there is a beta and I have 10 invite keys if you want in too.)
Actually, my views have shifted a little, I'm not so down on PvE these days. And arguably, the relative inadequacies of their PvE may have cost them the most. I still stand firmly by the simple truth that you won't get WoW's numbers with a new MMO. And a large part of that is something that I had already put in words sometime around the end of GDC '08. "Any new game will be, on release, a categorically worse game than every other game on the market." Of course, I didn't account for releases within a short period, but basically a new game simply cannot hope to stack up to a mature game in terms of quality and quantity of content, it's impossible.
(By the by, the friend I told that too said that he had been told almost exactly the same thing by Scott Hartsmann while at GDC that year, thus how I know the time frame. Which reminds me, I consider oHai the next big project to watch. The last one, with audio verification to prove I'm not changing my mind in hindsight, that I considered that way was Metaplace, and lately they've completely blown me away. And that also reminds me, there is a beta and I have 10 invite keys if you want in too.)
6.2.09
5.2.09
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