tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post1953636537200577578..comments2023-08-03T04:54:13.975-05:00Comments on Critical-Gaming: The Aims of BioShock: Shoddy ShootingKirbyKidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13866037458298228815noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-49324774176366418632009-09-23T07:48:46.167-05:002009-09-23T07:48:46.167-05:00"Just about any weapon out of your walking ar..."Just about any weapon out of your walking arsenal can be used on any enemy at any time."<br /><br />This is so that all encounters can be conquered, even if you're out of ammo for one specific gun, the fact that any weapon can kill any enemy does not change the fact that it will become harder to kill the enemy with a weapon that is bad against it.<br /><br />For the article in general, I do like the ideas expressed but believe that you can show and don't tell even with recordings scattered around by their exposition and by letting environmental elements take place in the recordings. To what extent bioshock does this is, well... it can be discussed, certainly. :)Ava Avane Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04564104575376090627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-48508401917267644792008-02-28T21:51:00.000-06:002008-02-28T21:51:00.000-06:00Alec Gullon:Thanks for the kind words. Good luck w...Alec Gullon:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the kind words. <BR/><BR/>Good luck with MGS2.<BR/><BR/>If you're intending on writing critically about a game, then you might be interested in joining the team (writing for the critical-gaming blog).<BR/><BR/>Have you written anything else gaming related that I could check out? We should talk. AIM me if you have it. My screen name is in my profile. <BR/><BR/>ThanksKirbyKidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866037458298228815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-49875388916343352602008-02-28T15:51:00.000-06:002008-02-28T15:51:00.000-06:00Excellent work there kirbybird. As an English Lite...Excellent work there kirbybird. As an English Literature student I've always thought that video games could be analysed in much the same way as other more accepted art forms. I remember playing Metal Gear Solid 2 when I was a young kid. The entire thing was over my head, but nevertheless I enjoyed the gameplay and the shallower, fun plot twists.<BR/><BR/>A wierd thing happened though. After passing my exams last summer I had a lot of free time on my hands, and I ended up replaying up Metal Gear Solid 2.<BR/><BR/>I was impressed with the storyline and ended up reading about it a lot on the internet. That's when I encountered the same idea that cropped up in a lot of critical essays that were written at the time - MGS2 is postmodernism... in a video game. Nothing prepared me for this but each essay outlined it pretty straightforward - Hideo Kojima had embarked on a bold and brave project to make one of the first games that might be recognised as art - not literary art, visual art or musical art... but gaming art.<BR/><BR/>And now I've stumbled upon your excellent website which shows me even further what I found with that original introduction. Good luck, keep up the excellent work and a quick question; do you accept reader submissions? ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-6373087709529717102008-01-08T00:30:00.000-06:002008-01-08T00:30:00.000-06:00Thanks for all the positive feedback. As far as "g...Thanks for all the positive feedback. <BR/><BR/>As far as "getting information right before you need it"....<BR/><BR/>There's nothing "wrong" about it seeing how it gets the job done. However, it's certainly not the best way. What if you were reading a book or watching a movie where two people were fighting with swords to the death. Right before one cuts the other on the arm, you get a flash back. It's a flash back of when the two fighters were kids and it shows that they have a special "secret handshake" that they do by hitting each other on the arm with their fists. <BR/><BR/>Then the flash back is over, and the fighter hits the other on the arm with the flat side of the sword. <BR/><BR/>Of course the idea of maintaining a friendship bond even in a fight to the death is cool. However, story wise (and composition wise) everything was put together too neatly. It's as if the writer/movie maker thinks that we're too dumb to remember the flash back if it were placed at the beginning of the story. Giving the viewer time between important moments (like the fight and the flashback) allows the audience to reflect on the story in a more profound way. <BR/><BR/>Part of the reason why the non-flash-back method is so appealing is because of how we encounter stories in real life. Many times, as we get older, we suddenly think "OHH. That's why my dad made me learn how to change a flat tire. I was so mad at him then. But now I see that it was for my own good" This "ah ha" moment usually doesn't come right before we run over the nail int he middle of the road, but much later after we're home. <BR/><BR/>In this way, art reflects life. And ultimately, it's life that we're most attracted to.KirbyKidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13866037458298228815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-63045866079391385382008-01-07T21:19:00.000-06:002008-01-07T21:19:00.000-06:00Let me first of all say that, once again, you have...Let me first of all say that, once again, you have done a fantastic job. Your essay's are some of the most brilliant video-game related writings I have ever read.<BR/><BR/>One thing you talk about in your essay is how information is given to the player right before s/he needs it. I'm not entirely sure I understand what the problem with this is. Could you please elaborate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1662140190218708863.post-83534409230505463882008-01-07T20:44:00.000-06:002008-01-07T20:44:00.000-06:00Keep up the good work. I enjoy your articles allot...Keep up the good work. I enjoy your articles allot. They are very true about the concepts and theories of games, I only wish the industry was aware of the issues you address and the video game medium matures. There would be much better games out there. I can't wait to read your thoughts on the other games you are analyzing and to hear your theories on home video games should be. It is obvious video games have allot of problems in design, concept, and execution. I wonder how you think this should be done and what games do you think execute themselves the best. Keep blogging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com