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http://hallower1980.blogspot.com/ - I created this site as a way to consolidate my various game philosophies and ideas into an easily browseable index; and to share them, of course. For the sake of disclosure: I occasionally receive review copies and other benefits from game developers&nbs

hallower1980.blogspot.com - 11 days ago
learning curves, options and challenges
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — Though I'm not a fan of every addition in Assassin's Creed 2 , it is a lot... of fun overall. In the beginning, it felt slow and confined. I knew that it would pick up and set me free eventually, but it definitely kept me on training wheels for far too long and held back much of what ultimately ... (more) learning curves, options and challenges
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 13 days ago
moving with NPCs
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — "Follow me!" the NPC says. So I do. Well, I try to. When I walk, the NPC... is moving faster than me. I fall behind. When I run, the NPC is moving slower, and annoyingly alternates between walking and running because he or she is incapable of matching my pace precisely. Why is this a problem? Why ... (more) moving with NPCs
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 14 days ago
Pandemic job cuts
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — It seems the rumor about Pandemic closing was largely true . About 200 Pandemic employees are being... laid off today. It's unclear right now what exactly EA's plans are for Pandemic. Apparently, some senior Pandemic employees will be transferred to EA's studio in Los Angeles. EA claims this is not ... (more) Pandemic job cuts

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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 15 days ago
Modern Warfare 2 issues (360)
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — There are dozens of reviews out there that tout Modern Warfare 2 's strong points. And they're... right -- it's a great game. Infinity Ward took a great game and improved it in many ways. They even added a new mode, Special Ops (co-op missions), which itself provides hours of repeatable ... (more) Modern Warfare 2 issues (360)

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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 20 days ago
progression through failure
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — I just want to emphasize a point I made the other day. Players can, and generally should,... progress even as they fail . You can see this in games like Diablo 2 and Borderlands . When you die, you don't lose the experience points you gained on the way to your goal (such as killing a boss mob). ... (more) progression through failure

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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 21 days ago
why I avoid Steam
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — I have used Steam on occasion, but only in response to exceptional bargains. In general, I avoid... Steam, instead opting for services like Direct2Drive. The reason is that I can only play a game purchased through Steam if I'm online, so Valve can constantly verify the legality of my game copy. Why ... (more) why I avoid Steam

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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 22 days ago
fake emergencies
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — me: "Do you think anything is lost by the way games say "hurry!" and then let you... dally all you want?" Ysharros : "I most certainly do. It sets expectations (at least in me) that then aren't fulfilled. Yet almost every game I know does this." I agree. If an NPC urges me to hurry, that urgency ... (more) fake emergencies
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 27 days ago
gradual indicators (navigation)
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — Maps are the most common way to guide players around games. Other methods include beacons, landmarks, a... compass, trails, and many other things. Another option I rarely see is what I'll call gradual indicators. By that I mean, a visual feature becomes stronger/weaker or more/less common as the ... (more) gradual indicators (navigation)
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 27 days ago
rounded RPGs
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — While chatting with Scott about Dragon Age: Origins , we talked a bit about the different types... of RPGs. Inevitably, I started describing what I've enjoyed in past games and what I hope for in any RPG. I've always preferred Action RPGs, but the label can be misleading. Action RPGs tend to be ... (more) rounded RPGs
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 28 days ago
replayable quests
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — If there's one aspect of games that rarely has much replay value, it's missions/quests/jobs. At best, some... games allow you to choose between dialog options or one of a few scenarios, but those dialog lines and scenarios are strictly scripted and play out basically the same way every time. Let ... (more) replayable quests
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hallower1980.blogspot.com - 29 days ago
filler
— hallower1980.blogspot.com — Lately, I've been going back and forth between Borderlands and Brütal Legend . A noticeable difference between... them is the effect of music in Brütal Legend to make travel between missions less mundane. Borderlands has good music. In fact, I've been surprised how many of my friends have ... (more) filler

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