Recent content by zjspeed

I'm not saying it's okay. I'm saying that Valve considered it, tested it, and determined it's not okay.

Early in development Valve considered that Portal 2 would have exclusively gel-based puzzles and not even use the portal gun mechanic. This was the spiritual successor path. I guess the idea didn't test well. ("Baa baa four legs good two legs bad, etc.") So, they made a direct sequel instead.

I think the BioShock series is interesting because it seems that it exemplifies two completely different ideas for how to create a sequel: - spiritual successor - lazy direct sequel BioShock was an original property promoted as the spiritual successor to the System Shock series. But, it...

"suggestive and vaguely insulting gesture"

This trend is more about ergonomics than anything. There are three types of computing: DeskWindows, Macintosh, web browser SofaWii, Playstation, Xbox, Apple TV MobileDS, PSP, iOS, Android, Windows Phone There is some overlap. And there will be more. A Windows computer with a...

It's not really a pure "Let's Play". But, Freeman's Mind [http://www.accursedfarms.com/movies/fm/] by Ross Scott is hilarious.

Valve experimented with a hybrid FPS and RTS for Team Fortress 2 very early in its development. Team Fortress 2 was to be a modern war game, with a command hierarchy including a commander with a bird's-eye view of the battlefield, parachute drops over enemy territory, networked voice...

The ultimate hybrid: Spore. It was lame.

Ha!

The reverse-leveling mechanic would be easier to implement as a linear single player or cooperative multiplayer game. Explain and understand it simply as scarcity. Ammunition and other supplies become more and more rare and valuable as the story progresses. I think Left 4 Dead does this on...

I got bored with Fallout 3 and Borderlands. Too often I wasn't well rewarded for my exploration. I agree with the Escapist article "Gordon Freeman, Private Eye" by Craig Owens from January. Valve's Half-Life and Portal games encourage exploration in an amazing way--especially considering the...

Space Quest IV Roger embarks on a time-travel adventure through Space Quest games both past and future. An infomorph of reborn Sludge Vohaul from Space Quest XII: Vohaul's Revenge II chases Roger through time in an attempt to finally kill him. Roger also visits Space Quest X: Latex Babes of...

I can't imagine a first-timer handling any 3D game at all. Controls and camera issues are often frustrating to life-long players. I don't think it's realistic to expect a first-timer to be able to bypass casual games. It's all about the controls. 1. Start with something slow and simple...

I like MelasZepheos idea of Fun Space Game: The Actually Scary Fun 90s Shooter.

Ooo! I like that. Don't display injury, malnutrition, or whatever with a bar graph. Instead keep it in-game with hallucinations, drunk-style stumbling, etc.