Reformatting Blog...
I’m switching this blog to Movable Type, which is taking a bit of fumbling around.
Update: Now reconsidering this move, assuming I can re-configure how Rapidweaver set up this blog. Did you notice that there is no “Older entries” link at the bottom of the page? Isn’t that a pretty standard convention?
Click here for my older posts.
Confessions of an Impatient Cheater
I have a confession. I never beat The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past without infinite magic. I used infinite lives to finish Hyperzone, Thunder Spirits, or any of the other SNES scrolling shooters that I loved. My first full play-through of Final Fantasy 6 was made a little easier by starting the game with four of the most powerful weapons and accessories. Game Genie made it all possible. Did I miss out on some of the fun by cheating my way through challenges?
Read More...Introducing Moki Combat 2.0
Moki and Rooki are back! Moki Combat 2.0 features a brand new design built around a unique physics engine. It's been a fascinating experience to take the original demo and gradually transform it to the current state. Moki Combat 1.0 was based around arena combat, but as we implemented the new physics we transitioned towards slower almost puzzle-like jousting, switched from arenas to linear levels, and eventually de-emphasized the combat itself. Hopefully I can shed some light on our process and the challenges we encountered along the way.
Read More...Have Adventure Games Forgotten the A in MDA?
I like adventure games. I'm referring specifically to the traditional point-and-click graphical adventures... But what do I remember of the puzzles and various interactions? .... In typical adventure game fashion, the actual playing of the game is a whole lot less memorable then the non-interactive writing and art. I never think "Oh man, it was so cool when I clicked on the shovel and then on the wall and a secret passage opened! I'm so good at this!" ... Hearing people talk about the lack of new adventure games, they frequently say they miss the complex stories, the humor, the interesting situations. Who misses the actual interactions? Are the point-and-click mechanics merely the most convenient method to tell the story? I'm sure many readers would take issue with my assumptions (or even better, are yelling indignantly at their monitors), but bear with me: We're getting to the good stuff.
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