Showing posts with label Deus Ex Human Revolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deus Ex Human Revolution. Show all posts

Saturday, 20 April 2013

A Small Observation on Cinematic Storytelling in Video Games

I can tell you now this is not that short of an observation, but I think it's short in how expansive this could all really be written. Video games are not always a linear platform. They don't have the same rules and restrictions as cinema does, due to the combination of autonomy of movement with the player and the levels that are designed for them. That freedom is crucial in making the player understand the world or exposition the game is meant to be telling them on more than one occasion.

The issue I have with most games is that a lot of their exposition and worldbuilding is done through cutscenes that are incredibly obtuse and could be a lot more subtler. Either bits of dialogue or extended sequences create a world that feels more like a poorly produced play rather than a world I am living or playing through. In his GDC talk, Antony Johnston, writer of the Wasteland comics, the Alex Rider series and the first few Dead Space games, shows how important cutting unnecessary bits of dialogue and action is within the game Alan Wake.

I've always been a fan of "kill your darlings" in writing as more often than not it keeps a writer humble and self-aware with their writing. For example, I had a whole opening bit explaining why Bioshock Infinite is awesome and going into a good two paragraphs on how the first act sets things up properly...then I read Brendan Koegh's piece on it and realise he is smarter, articulate, older and better at writing about that than  I am and may ever be. So I decided to focus on Johnston and Alan Wake instead....for now.

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Episode #8 - ESCAPING THE SON



Yep, we're still putting up the HQ eps here and eventually will have the other eps on iTunes starting February 1st, 2013.

But without further ado, here we have the latest episode of Backroom Pitching and we're on Facebook!
and Podbean! Which means we'll be on iTunes soon. And if you have title suggestions or constructive criticisms, email us!

But first, you can download it here and even torrent it.

So this week we talk about Breastfeeding and exclamation points



Deus Ex Human Revolution still sucks
Ben watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
We're kinda fans of Michael Moore...but not really.
Harrison worked for the SES
Nick Cage

We need to see Escape from Tomorrow
The Sweatbox....I call it the Steambox in the podcast to make a gag that I realise doesn't work now.


AND FINALLY SOME BACKDOOR PITCHING!
yes, we're calling the segment backdoor pitching


Nicolas Cage



Tobey Maguire



Chris O'Dowd



Clancy Brown



Jessica Chastain



and Viola Davis



in...

ESCAPING THE SON


CHASING THE SON

MOCKUMENTARY

"escaping the bounds of humanity"

CHILD and HORRIFIC FATHER RELATIONSHIPp

ESCAPING THE ABUSIVE WORLD

VAUDEVILLIAN ACTOR

1920'S

running away to join the circus

super8

B&W

NICK CAGE - DAD
TOBEY MCGUIRE - SON

FRANKIE MUNIZ?

ACT ONE

OLD STYLE HOUSE

Edd - DAD

Will - SON

Eddy Pastafino - Joe Pesci

Elizabeth Schultz - Jessica Chastain

Bearded Woman - Chris O'Dowd

Ringmaster Steve - Clancy Brown

Magician - David Lynch

Catherine Schultz - Viola Davis

ACT TWO

FOLLOWING

CIRCUS

FADE TO BLACK

ACT THREE

SHE DIES


See you on the otherside when you...escape the son