The Jennifer Hepler discussion is taking a turn for the worse

[Kahunaburger]

Okay, how many cutscenes/stories in JRPGs are really THAT interactive? It's mainly run from A to B, open chests full of items & equipment (that are used in battle), and then watch a cutscene (essentially a video). Rinse and repeat. If you skip the battles, there's no point to exploring as all the items you find are to help you in battles.

Some JRPGs are actually pretty nonlinear in terms of their storytelling because JRPG devs remembered to use what most WRPG devs forgot after Fallout: time management mechanics. You could totally take that formula and turn it into something non-combat, like Recettear without the dungeon crawling sequences.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

What really bugs me is that you imply that "Combat = gameplay" and there is nothing else besides it. There is. I really don't see the need to say it again because you won't understand it: Gameplay is what you do outside of cutscenes. Dialogue, exploration, item managment and action.

You're right I wasn't making a difference there and I do apologize. But gameplay is usually combat-centric. What are items used? For combat. What's exploration for? To find items & equipment, for combat. And wtf do you mean by action? Because I see that as a synonym for combat, but you're probably thinking of something else. I'll give you dialogue, but games that are usually centered around dialogue as gameplay are essentially just visual novels. So are you saying that you wish Mass Effect or Dragon Age became like the ME interactive comic that came with the PS3's version of ME2?
And I keep saying this, but being able to skip combat sections will make the incentive for developers making balanced games between combat & story even smaller, and that's what I personally do not like. There'll be more games that are more combat-heavy while others that are more story-heavy, and there'll be fewer trying to get a balance between the two.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

Okay, how many cutscenes/stories in JRPGs are really THAT interactive? It's mainly run from A to B, open chests full of items & equipment (that are used in battle), and then watch a cutscene (essentially a video). Rinse and repeat. If you skip the battles, there's no point to exploring as all the items you find are to help you in battles.

Some JRPGs are actually pretty nonlinear in terms of their storytelling because JRPG devs remembered to use what most WRPG devs forgot after Fallout: time management mechanics. You could totally take that formula and turn it into something non-combat, like Recettear without the dungeon crawling sequences.

Huh. Well, you learn new things every day. But I was talking about most typical JRPG gameplay mold.

 

[Something Amyss]

Sorry pal, I just don't see how having the option throws any wrenches into the story. Also I can't help but Femshep doesn't exactly throw any hints at being gay (or a xenophile) until she starts hitting on Liara halfway into the romance with her also Shepard can be anything from a man who screws Jack and walks away and punches out civilians for no reason to a guy who hugs a woman who went through Hell and back and patiently waits for the woman who can only have sex safely around once a week, saying that it wasn't part of his character makes no sense because Shepard doesn't have an established character.

Thank you for a rather well-put and succinct summary.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Of course, spamming her twitter and calling her cancer isnt right. I think just telling her what a terrible writer she is is enough, and more than justified. Nothing more, nothing less.

But isn't the fact a bad writer who doesn't even like games indicative of a growing problem in the game industry? It's becoming Hollywood: sex and violence sell while depth and meaning fall to the wayside. I think cancer is very accurate term here.

It's EAification. Make things appeal to as broad an audience as possible, whilst ruining it for the core market the medium has always catered to.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

By "action" I basically meant combat or combat-esque sequences.

And no, I am in no way implying this. But there are so many section in those games that I'd like to skip (mostly combat sections not involved with the plot in any way) that I won't miss if they weren't there. To be honest, there are two big parts in Dragon Age: Origins that I dislike so much that it stops me from revisiting the game. The forest sections with the boring and predictable ambushes just to let me fight some wolves and the whole dwarfen underground BS until the bossfight.

What I'd just like to see, especially in Bioware RPGs is a way to skip combat segments like I can skip cutscenes (just to "blow" you mind, I hate cutscenes even more than unneeded combatsections). I stopped playing most Bioware RPGs for their combat since, except Mass Effect, it hasn't changed in the pace since the earlier days. It has been streamlined and made it easily exploitable to me so most combats in DA:O were boring snorefests. I started to enjoy the supporting characters, the writing and dialogue (well, less the writing because it hasn't changed that much either). Maybe I'm just a little less afraid of imbalanced sections of combat and other stuff *goes back to playing Serious Sam 3*.

So, have a good night. Not gonna respond until next day.

Edit: Since I just saw that you read about it: Recettear is a good example of using more than combat to carry the gameplay.

Well I was getting a little sick of arguing as well, so I'm glad you ended this.
But whatever, I guess we just both see games in different way though you made some good points. Good night, or have a nice day, whatever part of the world you're from.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Oh, it's that stupid cow that ruined Dragon Age 2. And as if that wasn't enough she wants to ruin ME3 by adding a WHOLE FUCKIN' CHAPTER about homosexuality in a game about saving the galaxy from impending doom. It's not supposed to be an educational video game you dumb *****.

If people want to play with a homosexual character that's fine. But there should be an option in character creator to choose sexual preference early on. In Dragon Age 2 (because of this dumb *****) Anders kept coming on to Hawke, and Hawke could become gay with just one wrong press of the button. That can pretty much ruin the immersion for everyone who considered Hawke to be heterosexual up to that point. And statistically, that's a big majority.

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

 

[Something Amyss]

The plot about slaying aliens, not about "choices" and "having it your way" and "blah blah blah".

Actually, one of the major elements of the series as it was hyped and constructed IS choice.

If Shep is asexual for 2 acts and then suddenly finds in a heterosexual relationship in the third, its a typical lame action story. If Shep is asexual for 2 acts and then suddenly decides to be gay, its a typical lame action story that has a quirk at the end used to drum up publicity.

So replace "no sexuality" with "no overt sexuality." Since It's more likely appropriate here. BroShep could have simply abstained until the third act. I mean, you don't jump into bed with anyone who gives you the option, do you?

One need not be asexual to simply not screw anyone in game one or two.

Besides, game series tweak things all the time. How is this different from all the other tweaks they made to the sequels?

This is the point. I DONT CARE IF SHEPARD IS GAY. I care about the writing, and the writing (seriously, face it already) is AWFUL.

This much, I pretty much agree with.

 

[Vault101]

Oh, it's that stupid cow that ruined Dragon Age 2.

If people want to play with a homosexual character that's fine. But there should be an option in character creator to choose sexual preference early on. In Dragon Age 2 (because of this dumb *****) Anders kept coming on to Hawke, and Hawke could become gay with just one wrong press of the button. That can pretty much ruin the immersion for everyone who considered Hawke to be heterosexual up to that point. And statistically, that's a big majority.

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

I made a thread about this...but short version

1. it was originally intended ot have the option of a gay relationship

2. thats just Bioware dancing around the issue, kinf of like "oh no assari arnt female" and your telling me its ok to get it on with a blue woman but not a normal looking women?

3. role play role play ROLE PLAY....the DA2 exampel you gave might just be a an example of porrly handling the dialouge systm, in ME YOU controll what shepard has the hots for, eather that be guys girls or a velociraptor

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Oh, it's that stupid cow that ruined Dragon Age 2.

If people want to play with a homosexual character that's fine. But there should be an option in character creator to choose sexual preference early on. In Dragon Age 2 (because of this dumb *****) Anders kept coming on to Hawke, and Hawke could become gay with just one wrong press of the button. That can pretty much ruin the immersion for everyone who considered Hawke to be heterosexual up to that point. And statistically, that's a big majority.

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

I made a thread about this...but short version

1. it was originally intended ot have the option of a gay relationship

What was originally intended and what ended up happening are different things. If it was intended, but didn't make it into the final game then clearly they had a reason not to put it in the game. So why now? Why ruin the writing so much for no reason? It adds nothing to the game and it takes away a lot by making the story ridiculous. Romance options should be toned down drastically in ME3, because it's about saving the fuckin' galaxy. And instead they're expanding on the least important part of the game. This dumb ***** likes Twilight books. That's who's writing for Bioware nowadays. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

 

[GigaHz]

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

They'll probably explain the sudden homosexual outbursts logically. Like, space radiation made him gay.

Yeah... I've got nothing. I never really understood why Bioware was up its own ass about romance options anyway, gay or otherwise. They don't add anything meaningful to the game or story.

I remember taking the time to pursue a romance option in ME 1 and being incredibly disappointed by my 'reward'. I wonder why people cared about it so much in the first place, especially because the dialogue during these scenes is severely disconnected from the plot. It's very hard to take seriously.

 

[Vault101]

Oh, it's that stupid cow that ruined Dragon Age 2.

If people want to play with a homosexual character that's fine. But there should be an option in character creator to choose sexual preference early on. In Dragon Age 2 (because of this dumb *****) Anders kept coming on to Hawke, and Hawke could become gay with just one wrong press of the button. That can pretty much ruin the immersion for everyone who considered Hawke to be heterosexual up to that point. And statistically, that's a big majority.

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

I made a thread about this...but short version

1. it was originally intended ot have the option of a gay relationship

What was originally intended and what ended up happening are different things. If it was intended, but didn't make it into the final game then clearly they had a reason not to put it in the game. So why now? Why ruin the writing so much for no reason? It adds nothing to the game and it takes away a lot by making the story ridiculous. Romance options should be toned down drastically in ME3, because it's about saving the fuckin' galaxy. And instead they're expanding on the least important part of the game. This dumb ***** likes Twilight books. That's who's writing for Bioware nowadays. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

1. ruin the writing since when?

2. removed because unfortunatly people cant get their heads arond the Idea of gay people (but aliens are fine)

2. its OPTIONAL

you dont have to romance anyone, period, role playing is about having options

Garrus is a fan favorite and is opional to romance..does that mean fmeshep likes garrus? well not MY femshep because she didnt romance garrus, therefore she doesnt have a thing for turians

so am I complaing that "ewww femshep doest screw aliens?!" no...because who she does and doesnt screw is up to me

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Is she responsible for Anders in DA2? If not I don't care. But I will say that Bioware could handle romantic relationships better than they do now.

 

[Vault101]

It also doesn't make sense for Shepard to be homosexual, considering that male Shepard had only female romance options in previous 2 games, and female Shepard only had male romance options. It is obvious that Bioware wanted Shepard to be heterosexual. And I clearly remember them saying that in an interview once. So it's completely understandable that some fans will react aggressively to this.

They'll probably explain the sudden homosexual outbursts logically. Like, space radiation made him gay.

Yeah... I've got nothing. I never really understood why Bioware was up its own ass about romance options anyway, gay or otherwise. They don't add anything meaningful to the game or story.

I remember taking the time to pursue a romance option in ME 1 and being incredibly disappointed by my 'reward'. I wonder why people cared about it so much in the first place, especially because the dialogue during these scenes is severely disconnected from the plot. It's very hard to take seriously.

so you ARE going to CHOOSE to be gay?

in that case..hmmm well its not hard to think shepard just took a while to "come out" thinking "well we all mgiht die.."

plus at least with femshep, if ashley comes out alive aparently their conversation on horizon, it isnt hard to interperet it that way

honestly its not a huge stretch of logic...also depends on how you role play shepard

and why do peole act liek they are being forced into romance? you dont have to

 

[Gincairn]

Once again I am disgusted by the hate-mongering that can be found on the internet, hounding this woman for comments originally made in 2006.

Just Fuck you internet.

Don't get me wrong there are times when this sort of power can be used for good reasons, like finding that evil cow throwing puppies into a river, or the whole cat in a bin thing, but other times we see just how childish and hateful a group of people sitting at a computer can be, there's no thought for the person on the receiving end, no personal censor stopping them from saying something that they would think twice about face to face.

Just relentless, angry bile spewed forth over what could most likely be a non-issue.