Search
Search results
Alien Plague
Book
Dr Avery Hutton lives in good times. All of humanity now lives under the Global republic, a...
Science Fiction
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Mass Effect Trilogy in Video Games
Jul 25, 2017
An Example Of Why Dialogue Options In Video Games Are More Trouble Than They Are Worth
The first Mass Effect game was released 10 years ago this year and it pioneered many RPG mechanics that are still being used in RPG’s today. Like any pioneer, it spawned many clones that tried to emulate the cover based shooting mechanics that the game used, the romance situations that took place between the characters and the infamous dialogue options that the player could choose from during conversation cutscenes.
Mass Effect wasn’t the first game to do it, there are plenty of earlier examples of the mechanic being used before in games, such as the Fallout series. Bioware actually included the mechanic themselves in their earlier game in Knights Of The Old Republic, but its inclusion Mass Effect is what brought it to the mainstream and soon every developer was wanting a piece of the dialogue tree pie.
I never owned the original Mass Effect, the most exposure I got of it was through a few mates that owned the game at the time, but eventually the mechanic did end up creeping into games that I did own including; Alpha Protocall, Deus Ex, any Telltale game, The Amazing Spiderman 2, (for some reason,) and even in Uncharted 4.
As much as I enjoy a good ‘choose your own adventure,’ story and as much as I appreciate the trust that developers put in gamers to be able to tell their own story; whether that be through dialogue options, moral choices or customization options, I want you to tell me your story. I didn’t pay 50 quid to get given a setting and a bunch of characters to tell my own story. You guys get paid to craft amazingly immersive works of fiction, so do your job and suck me in. Whenever I’m playing a game with dialogue options and I am starting to get invested in the story and the characters, the inevitable dialogue tree pops up and takes me right out of the experience.
Sure, there are some movies that I watch and wonder why a writer or a director made a certain creative choice, but even if I don’t agree with the decision, it is the creator’s job to make those tough choices and that is what makes great art. One of my favorite movies of the last decade is Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Drive’ and that is purely because of the creative choices that the cast and crew made on that movie. I know people that hate Drive and I’m sure if given the option they would change it to be a less daring, more cookie cutter action thriller, but that wouldn’t have earned my respect like it has. Sometimes creators need to stop handholding the audience and make a tough call, even if it could potentially be a polarizing one.
In fact, when I think about it, all of my favorite stories are adored so much because of the definitive, drastic calls that they dare to make. I already spoke about Drive, Fight Club’s twist took some balls to pull off, the ambitious non linear storytelling of Pulp Fiction makes it iconic, Breaking Bad was consistently shocking and yet brilliant, MGS is insanely unconventional and I love it for it and The Last Of Us delivers a divisive finishing blow that we have no choice but to partake in.
That is how you tell a great story and that is how you stand out as a creator, by doing something that no one else could do, especially not your audience. When I come home after a long day at work, I don’t want to do much thinking. I want to relax and be told a story by the folks that are best at doing so. Personally, I think that you should believe in the story you are telling enough to make a definitive decision and if you don’t, is it really a story that’s worth telling?
Mass Effect wasn’t the first game to do it, there are plenty of earlier examples of the mechanic being used before in games, such as the Fallout series. Bioware actually included the mechanic themselves in their earlier game in Knights Of The Old Republic, but its inclusion Mass Effect is what brought it to the mainstream and soon every developer was wanting a piece of the dialogue tree pie.
I never owned the original Mass Effect, the most exposure I got of it was through a few mates that owned the game at the time, but eventually the mechanic did end up creeping into games that I did own including; Alpha Protocall, Deus Ex, any Telltale game, The Amazing Spiderman 2, (for some reason,) and even in Uncharted 4.
As much as I enjoy a good ‘choose your own adventure,’ story and as much as I appreciate the trust that developers put in gamers to be able to tell their own story; whether that be through dialogue options, moral choices or customization options, I want you to tell me your story. I didn’t pay 50 quid to get given a setting and a bunch of characters to tell my own story. You guys get paid to craft amazingly immersive works of fiction, so do your job and suck me in. Whenever I’m playing a game with dialogue options and I am starting to get invested in the story and the characters, the inevitable dialogue tree pops up and takes me right out of the experience.
Sure, there are some movies that I watch and wonder why a writer or a director made a certain creative choice, but even if I don’t agree with the decision, it is the creator’s job to make those tough choices and that is what makes great art. One of my favorite movies of the last decade is Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Drive’ and that is purely because of the creative choices that the cast and crew made on that movie. I know people that hate Drive and I’m sure if given the option they would change it to be a less daring, more cookie cutter action thriller, but that wouldn’t have earned my respect like it has. Sometimes creators need to stop handholding the audience and make a tough call, even if it could potentially be a polarizing one.
In fact, when I think about it, all of my favorite stories are adored so much because of the definitive, drastic calls that they dare to make. I already spoke about Drive, Fight Club’s twist took some balls to pull off, the ambitious non linear storytelling of Pulp Fiction makes it iconic, Breaking Bad was consistently shocking and yet brilliant, MGS is insanely unconventional and I love it for it and The Last Of Us delivers a divisive finishing blow that we have no choice but to partake in.
That is how you tell a great story and that is how you stand out as a creator, by doing something that no one else could do, especially not your audience. When I come home after a long day at work, I don’t want to do much thinking. I want to relax and be told a story by the folks that are best at doing so. Personally, I think that you should believe in the story you are telling enough to make a definitive decision and if you don’t, is it really a story that’s worth telling?
Just Press Record
Utilities and Productivity
App
Just Press Record is the ultimate mobile audio recorder bringing one tap recording, transcription...
Drag Racing Classic
Games
7.0
Rate It
App
Drag Racing is the most addictive, nitro fuelled racing game for your iPhone and iPad! Ranked the #1...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The One Plus One in Books
Feb 13, 2018
One of my favorite books that I read in 2014. Its sort of silly and outlandish in plot, but you dont care, because youre just riveted, wanting to read it as quickly as possible. Jess is a down-on-her-luck mom of two (her daughter, Tanzie, plus stepson Nicky), whose husband has abandoned her so she has to work two jobs to make ends meet. She meets Ed, a millionaire who is also a bit down-on-his-luck (oh just some investment fraud charges and such) while cleaning his vacation home. Eventually Ed comes to their rescue (literally, as the family is sitting on the side of the road) and helps drive them to a math competition for young Tanzie, who is a maths expert. Along the way, a lot happens. Youd think the novel would be pat and predictable, but its really just
lovely. And one of the few books Ive really loved that I actually think would make a good movie, provided I can approve all casting choices, of course.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Olympic Dreams (2020) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Beautiful Story
A dentist working the winter olympics falls in love with one of the athletes.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 2
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 8
Memorability: 6
Pace: 10
At just 82 minutes, the movie feels even shorter. It flows smoothly from scene to scene without ever feeling rushed. Director Jeremy Teicher does a phenomenal job of time-management and making you feel a connection in such a short amount of time.
Plot: 10
A part of what makes the story pop so well is how different they made the two main characters. They drive and move the story so smoothly because of their constant conflict. The concept is also very original as well.
Resolution: 8
Overall: 81
If you’re looking for a cute love story that’s not over-the-top sappy, Olympic Dreams is definitely the way to go. I didn’t enter the movie with very high expectations but I ended up absolutely loving it. Nick Kroll and Alexi Pappas are magic together.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 2
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 9
Entertainment Value: 8
Memorability: 6
Pace: 10
At just 82 minutes, the movie feels even shorter. It flows smoothly from scene to scene without ever feeling rushed. Director Jeremy Teicher does a phenomenal job of time-management and making you feel a connection in such a short amount of time.
Plot: 10
A part of what makes the story pop so well is how different they made the two main characters. They drive and move the story so smoothly because of their constant conflict. The concept is also very original as well.
Resolution: 8
Overall: 81
If you’re looking for a cute love story that’s not over-the-top sappy, Olympic Dreams is definitely the way to go. I didn’t enter the movie with very high expectations but I ended up absolutely loving it. Nick Kroll and Alexi Pappas are magic together.
The New Celebrity Scientists: Out of the Lab and into the Limelight
Book
A new cultural icon strode the world stage at the turn of the twenty-first century: the celebrity...