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In talking further with Alex, I realize he that instance when expectations aren’t It’s the best online mag I’ve ever had didn’t see it coming. He was in design met, when bitterness ensues. Raph the pleasure of reading, and that’s not mode when he made the characters. He suggests that the client is in the hands of just because it’s the only one I’ve read. “It only took us 26 minutes to break it!” thought serpents were powerful and the enemy, and that developers should Well, actually it is ... but it’s still the I said, laughing. Everyone else was quick-striking animals and they made not trust the players. Cory Ondrejka of best! (So cliche). What I love most about laughing, too. Well, everyone except sense as a model for a fighting style. He Linden Lab, the developers of Second the mag is what a lot of others seem to Alex. didn’t expect us to take the martial art in Life has a slightly different take on this enjoy ... the perspective presented by any other way than just that. We idea, as we discovered when Pat Miller your writers and their grasp on the You see, Alex had been tinkering and expected a Friday night of fun, relaxation spoke with him. Also in this issue, Bruce gaming world as a whole. I would have planning for weeks on a new idea for a and laughter. That’s what we made it, Nielson discusses different companies’ to say that my favorite read thus far tabletop game and this was its big debut seeing humor in places it was not policies regarding modders. And Joe would be “A Fine Fantasy” by Patrick to our Friday Night Gaming Group. We intended. Blancato speaks with Brian Green, lead Dugan. I was able to completely relate didn’t even get past the character developer of Meridian 59, who not only as Final Fantasy’s II & III (SNES) conjure descriptions before we had taken Expectation is a funny thing. It’s a lens designed the game, but plays it. Find all up comforting holiday memories for me something in game and made it farce. through which we view the world around these articles and more in this week’s as well. us, highlighting the parts that fit our The Escapist. But can you blame us? The character expectations, downplaying those that do Reading “In Celebration of the Inner description included his fighting style, not. This is ultimately at the root of the Cheers, Rogue” by Mark Wallace brought back a the Path of the Lone Serpent. Further, trouble between those who make games memory of an experience I thought was the description: “This martial art initially and those who play games. Expectations worth sharing. I’m an RP’er at heart, teaches beginners the “Offensive Slither of developers to make the best game though not a very good one at times. Strike” and builds up to the “Standing possible, expectations of publishers to Actually, when I first started out I was Attack.” And to make matters worse, make a profit on a game, and downright awful. At one point a friend that same character’s talisman (or expectations of players to play the and I were discussing the issue, as we source of magical power) was The Hand greatest game ever don’t always match were both facing the same dilemma, and of Glory, based upon an idea stolen from up. When expectations aren’t met, eventually came to the conclusion that old witchcraft. But, of course, while people get angry and enemies are our problem was one of immersion. We thinking about the Lone Serpent created. To the Editor: Like most people, I’d like just weren’t good at becoming someone Standing Attack, you might see where to start off by saying that I love The else. The intent was there, but in the we went with it. This issue, “In the Hands of the Enemy,” Escapist. end we were just being ourselves and a line taken from Raph Koster’s rules for acting as guides to a character, rather creating an online world, is about just than adopting their personalities as our playing as a girl.” The guy rambles on for • Concluded with the obvious statement Maybe it’s since you guys let writers in own. about three pages about how girls are that he was the same character on/off on writing capabilities rather than on more sophisticated and they’ll attract line. what personal experience they have or That’s when we came up with the idea of males. There is no point to this. what type of person they are. Of course, using an avatar as a tool to overcome. That's about it. Of course, without any of this isn’t anything that’s unexpected. The idea was to visit forums and chat I think that a lot of your earlier articles the entertaining and notably rooms centered around topics we knew have been more well-thought out. At unnecessary filler. Of course, with everything, except nothing about and play a role based on a about Issue 26, nearly one month ago, wine, the magazine’s quality chosen avatar. We would start out small the articles began to get shorter. Before, deteriorating over time. and play out parts of the opposite articles might have spanned 10+ pages, -mofomojo gender, different ethnicities, etc. Then, such as Greg Costikyan’s “Death to The once we had made some noticeable Games Industry” and, more importantly, From The Lounge: [Re: “Masks in the progress, we would add another they presented concise and insightful Woods,” by John Tynes] I agree character trait unrepresentative of our points. Today, articles like “The wholeheartedly with the article - the true selves to the next role we would Celebration of the Inner Rogue” spanned problem game designers need to face is play. only about three pages, with very removing themselves from the formulaic blurred points and non-important points. frame of mind and thinking, “OK, how I have to say that the process paid off can I relate as the player?” for both of us. Because of the diversity The article, “The Celebration of the Inner of topics, roles, and the people w/ whom Rogue”, is outlined as follows (with a Many games do give you an awkward we would interact, we were for the most little objectivity, of course): disconnect from your avatar. But when part able to overcome our obstacle. To it’s executed masterfully, or even if it’s be honest, even if this project hadn’t • It begins, tells us about how the guy just well-done, the game instantly feels been a success, I would have at the very congratulates himself with every a thousand times better. Even games like least come out knowing that I thoroughly character victory Animal Crossing; it feels like your enjoy hazing unknowns. *grin* village, your house, that you are -Guy • It ends, telling us about how the guy building up and decorating. You don’t realizes the character is controlled by the say, “he got a royal couch,” you say I got To the Editor: I’ve noticed that your guy and that he is the character and that a royal couch, and it looks good in my articles have been getting increasingly the character is not him and how the guy house.’ shorter and less to the point, and some adapts his character's behaviour slowly. often have none, like that piece; “I like I think even the most “typical” of the high-end MMORPGs, like Everquest, have are the fundamentals of Anarchism! holding assault rifles; it would be no time room for this. I disagree that the game before the local law enforcement mechanics make the players unable to Anyway - if the game isn’t too linear, I approached the party to inquire as to the fully roleplay, though. Did The Escapist think players can always think of reason for all these equipment. not have several articles about something. Sometimes, it is manufactured gameplay in EVE Online? disheartening, sitting there, all looking at If you are anywhere near Southampton, each other with your 3-D models, not let me know :-) Indeed, one could argue that so-called doing much of anything, but it gets -Felipe “manufactured gameplay” is the only better as time goes on. At least I think. way to let players do what they want. -Parkbench That is, to create a game with a ruleset, but a - here it comes - paidia so From The Lounge: [Re: “Quest for effectively set-up that it is a sandbox. I Glory,” by John Walker] That was a mean, think about it - why can’t you brilliant experience Wizard-wise. really roleplay in Super Mario Brothers 3? You can barely even move two If I may note on an RPG convention that directions. Now think about real life, not many people pay attention to is that where physical games are created all the of complete strangers armed to the teeth time. Most of the time, these can be entering a settlement. I mean, done “without restrictions,” without historically if a band of four warriors in adhering to some, “oh, we can’t trade full plate armor and carrying longswords items,” or “yeah, Earth doesn’t have and whatnot was spotted anywhere near pencils” rule. a meek village on the countryside, the village would be evacuated way before EVE Online had a bunch of people these guys reached the village rather deciding they wanted to do something, than the local townspeople approach and even though everyone else “could” them and entrust them with important theoretically do “anything” to them (ie, quests.

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