by Bret

Our Daily Beard – 03/02/13

Phoenix Wright. Are you familiar with his work? If not, read no more, and fie upon ye barnacles.

Nick, as his friends call him, started out in Phoenix Wright – Ace Attorney.

I’ve been replaying this recently (and the rest will surely follow) because I really enjoy this series of games. I’ve been playing it on an emulator (yes, I do own the DS game too) because it means I can tap away at it casually while at work or listening to web radio. Huge thanks to the DeSmuME team!

These games put me firmly in mind of the old text based adventures of yore, not because of the content (nary a dragon in sight) but because of the format. You meet characters and read what they have to say without any voice acting, and yet somehow the game conveys their tone and mood, with only a handful of different poses/expressions for each character.

The speed that it prints the text, pitch of the beeping sound the text makes, little flashes and sudden stops that demonstrate sudden activity (like a whip to the face) all contribute to the voice of a character.

You examine the 2d scenery for little clues, you examine those clues in detail, you present evidence to get information from characters. It reminds me of my favourite Mega CD game, Snatcher. Yeah, I went there. The whole mechanic is classic pre-3d gaming and it’s a super vehicle for both the plot and the core gameplay, namely winning court cases through logic.

Anyway, you’ve played it. Why am I going on about it?

Because I want more ‘visual novels’. Remember Hotel Dusk? The DS is only the start- let’s see some more for iOS, and for the PC! People play casual games and browser games- take it further. Mini browser or desktop games that tell a story, interactive books with a gameplay element.

iOS and casual game developers, hear my cry. Unleash me. If there’s something I can do, its short stories and episodic stories. We can make some gripping-ass games. Crime mysteries (light-hearted and dark), sci-fi puzzlers, choose-ye-own fantasies, anything you want.

Oy, let’s just make Phoenix Wright Vs Snatcher.

 

[sociable]

Our Daily Beard – 02/02/13

Today I am endeavouring to lend my acumen to the Which? brand of magazines.

Don’t thank me, guys. Just embrace it. It’s my calling in life.

 

Which? magazines are very useful for comparing things to similar things. You want to buy a camera? Oh, my friend, you’re probably asking yourself… which camera should I buy? Well, open Which Camera? and behold several cameras compared by price, function and overall worth.

No problem with the format. Information is important to decision making. Frankly, I can’t tell most similar objects apart, especially cars. However, I feel that they have missed out on some key areas where people need reviews and comparisons and star ratings.

 

Observe:

Which Prime Minister?

Which Blunt Murder Weapon?

Which Side Of The Bed?

Which Excuse?

Which Suicide Method?

Which Hazel?

Which Vertebrae?

Which Extinction Event?

Which Comparison Site?

Which Mammal?

Which Which Magazine?

 

This is only scratching the surface. There are so many things that need to be compared. Editors: sort it out. I don’t mind helping. Here you go, I’ll get you started on Which Blunt Murder Weapon: Snow globe – 3 out of 5 stars. Very dramatic scene of falling blood and snowy fluid. Glass shatter is satisfying, but coupled with globe contents makes for a forensic nightmare.

Make it happen.

 
[sociable]

Our Daily Beard – 01/02/13

I’m trying to come up with a 100 word story.

 

I’d love to enter this Kobo/Jeffrey Archer competition – Sir Clickington.

It’s hard. Here’s the first attempt:

 

I used to be a wizard. Nobody else knows. I had power at my fingertips. Respect, too.

But I lost my power, cursed by the drink. Bad spirits. Now, I struggle to even speak. My beard is knotted, my robes tattered. I reek, unwashed, shuffling from place to place with no home of my own. Disgraced.

People mistake my tales of myth and magic for madness, brought on by the drink. They don’t believe me. They see only the addled, bearded ruin. The tramp. Only I can remember.

They call me a drunkard, but I used to be a wizard.

 

 
[sociable]