tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2891935591396698390..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: The Playing's the Thing: How Computer Games Can Help You With Your PlottingJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70182708160573175612017-02-03T01:48:50.834-05:002017-02-03T01:48:50.834-05:00wonderful postwonderful postPeter Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532264814565369687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30920465783520575902016-06-13T11:31:04.073-04:002016-06-13T11:31:04.073-04:00Bioware's works are so perfect. I love them.Bioware's works are so perfect. I love them.Olivia @ Reptar Musichttp://reptarmusic.com/best-headphones/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84330986783742949732012-01-28T08:27:21.768-05:002012-01-28T08:27:21.768-05:00Barb, that's so cool, I haven't gotten the...Barb, that's so cool, I haven't gotten there yet (or my class doesn't do that). I've been very impressed with the story telling in SWTOR. To keep you engaged takes a lot of work, both in the writing and voice acting. I don't know if it would be as compelling with bad voice work. The "characters" wouldn't be the same.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-54185219212230919282012-01-25T13:51:01.211-05:002012-01-25T13:51:01.211-05:00I've been trying to put together my own though...I've been trying to put together my own thoughts for SWTOR and lessons for storytellers. There are so many wonderful techniques they use.<br /><br />My favorite so far was doing a class mission... At a certain point, my character made the transition from doing what she was told by her mentor to taking own her own projects. Instead of meetings with the boss, it was calling her companions together and brainstorming what to do next. And that was the point where my obsession with the story took over. Even though the actual micro-missions were the norm (go here, loot this thing) the writing made it feel so important to the character. Instant hook by making my character "active." Brilliant story psychology on Bioware's part.Barb Rudehttp://barbrude.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41092117469839535662012-01-23T16:09:26.699-05:002012-01-23T16:09:26.699-05:00Dani, I spend forever during character creation no...Dani, I spend forever during character creation no matter what the game. :) Gotta be a writer trait.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71260850124054350472012-01-23T12:27:58.542-05:002012-01-23T12:27:58.542-05:00I love Skyrim. It took me forever to choose my cha...I love Skyrim. It took me forever to choose my character because I wanted to make sure I knew her story, her strengths, and her weaknesses first. And then, once I started playing her, I needed to know: what's her favorite weapon, or does she prefer magic? Does she care about the civil war? Is she a cold-hearted murderer, or a lone hero?<br /><br />I made two characters and went completely separate paths.<br /><br />It must be the writer in me wanting to know so much about a game character (I also think that's what draws me to the game) <br /><br />Anyways, I liked that you mentioned the fact that if the story is the same no matter what the character, then what's the point of your main character.<br />Awesome post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12964473925684317787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84066619843829486332012-01-21T07:37:32.244-05:002012-01-21T07:37:32.244-05:00Paul, I usually play on easy mode myself. A friend...Paul, I usually play on easy mode myself. A friend of mine loves Mass Effect, though I haven't tried it yet. I'll have to try that one next.<br /><br />Elizabeth D, probably not the future of the novel, but storytelling does evolve, and games are just one more place to tell a story. It would be fun to write the story behind a game :)<br /><br />Gellie, I think my years of playing RPGs really helped me develop my plotting skills. It's all about characters facing a problem and figuring out how to solve it.<br /><br />CO, I'll have to try that one,too :)<br /><br />Angela, totally use it as a reward :) If you start it, you won;t want to stop for a while. It's a great ad addictive game.<br /><br />Tasha, I have several friends with elementary school aged kids and they say games help with reading comprehension, so I can easily see kids learning more playing them. <br /><br />Lego Harry Potter is perfect for letting your brain disengage from the writing so your subconscious can work out difficult plot problems. :)<br /><br />MK, great idea, and one that works even when you aren't stuck. Gaming has a lot of the same skills as writing.<br /><br />Kathrine, I'm so the bad girl in games :) They let me get my evil on. You're right though, that is one of the fun things about writing. We can be totally different people. <br /><br />Elizabeth B, they put out some fun games. I'm actually at a part in the game where I'm worried about an asset. I just know he's going to get into trouble and I'll have to kill him or let him die and I really don't want to, LOL.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67828830162113808102012-01-20T16:11:12.005-05:002012-01-20T16:11:12.005-05:00Love SWTOR - and everything else by Bioware. They ...Love SWTOR - and everything else by Bioware. They have such great writers.Elizabeth Briggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572251749088056704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7838766837416405192012-01-20T15:44:58.841-05:002012-01-20T15:44:58.841-05:00Oh-ho-ho, Janice plays bad girls. ;)
Your second ...Oh-ho-ho, Janice plays bad girls. ;)<br /><br />Your second point is perhaps the most fascinating facet of writerdom to me. I almost get giddy when I get to make a character make different choices from what I would do. It's a very strange, writing from the I said - I did point of view and yet doing things I would never do. And... fun. Very fun.Kathrine Roidhttp://kathrineroid.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-3635982767322011582012-01-20T13:59:21.966-05:002012-01-20T13:59:21.966-05:00This post immediately made me think my DnD playing...This post immediately made me think my DnD playing days, which certainly helped. When I'm stuck, I'll often think of what I'd do if I were playing such-and-such character. Helps me come up with the smartest, in-character choices.MKHutchinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07715686902529938959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1400524344324074592012-01-20T10:31:37.015-05:002012-01-20T10:31:37.015-05:00I cannot believe how much video games helps my stu...I cannot believe how much video games helps my students understand motifs, arcs, protag and antag AND Greek mythology! <br /><br />However, I'm not sure how much Lego Harry Potter will help me.Tasha Seegmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489911822054861132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53606554104628507392012-01-20T09:21:19.107-05:002012-01-20T09:21:19.107-05:00Ack! I didn't need a valid reason to play more...Ack! I didn't need a valid reason to play more computer games! I love these things, but I have OCD about them and can't stop playing until I finish, which can wipe out a whole weekend or week. I've played the other Elder Scrolls so now you've got me jonesing for Skyrim :( Maybe it can be my reward for doing my final polish and sending out my first round of query letters...Angela Quarleshttp://www.angelaquarles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20871317536917030042012-01-20T07:44:26.200-05:002012-01-20T07:44:26.200-05:00-raises imaginary controller-
I find that Team Fo...-raises imaginary controller-<br /><br />I find that Team Fortress 2 is great in terms of characters.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-77523894996113239842012-01-20T07:39:18.017-05:002012-01-20T07:39:18.017-05:00I agree! Just last summer, I realized just how muc...I agree! Just last summer, I realized just how much the RPGs affected my way of thinking and therefore my writing. While two of my favorite games- Tales of Vesperia and Tales of the Abyss- don't make plot-altering decisions, I do get an in depth view of people in general. It's interesting how these two games both have the world-saving plot and yet offer a diverse set of characters with different personalities.<br /><br />Talking about this makes me want to play the games again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-45801954160313449292012-01-20T07:20:42.712-05:002012-01-20T07:20:42.712-05:00Is this the future of the novel? I have often wond...Is this the future of the novel? I have often wondered. Janice, I could see you writing your own video game - they sell millions! Why don't you go for it?!Elizabeth Dunnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41637799480476809362012-01-20T06:11:51.515-05:002012-01-20T06:11:51.515-05:00I don't play video games often, and when I do ...I don't play video games often, and when I do I usually crank down the difficulty so I can get on with the story.<br /><br />My favourite series has been Mass Effect. Although the general goal of your hero, Commander Shepard, remains the same (save the galaxy), how you do it is open for countless different options ranging from "straight-taking, upright, heroic solider" to "reporter-punching, back-talking, arrogant bastard." These choices have consequences running through the whole series and can make certain challenges easier or tougher, with no way of knowing for certain until it's too late to go back. <br /><br />The series' third and final installment is due out in a couple of months, and everyone I know who plays it is talking about how "their Shepard" is prepared for the final battle and the kinds of choices they make.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.com