One of Roger Ebert’s criticisms of video games in his infamous games-as-art debate was the fact that the creators of games surrender authorial control when the game is released into the hands of the public. While this is an understandable issue, especially given Mr. Ebert’s background in film, granting the player control is an inherent part of the video game experience and can often be an important part of the narrative. While I am not interested in reopening old wounds from a tired debate, I am very much interested in understanding the effect of assuming authorial control as a player. The 2007 2K/Irrational Games title, Bioshock, is a great example of the type of experience that can actually be enhanced by the medium.
Studying Interactive Storytelling, Part 1: Mass Effect
February 16, 2011The 2007 Bioware role-playing game, Mass Effect, along with its 2010 sequel, is an impressive example of the power of interactive storytelling. The player has an enormous impact on the events that take place throughout both games, thus making it a great jumping off point for my research. Mass Effect takes you beyond simply controlling your character as the story plays out around him (or her) and instead allows you to make decisions that dictate the narrative. In doing so, the people behind the game have managed to take a massive universe and make it feel surprisingly personal.
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My First Week in New Vegas
October 26, 2010I spent a lot of time playing Fallout 3. I found every bobblehead. I did (almost) every quest. I played every expansion. It was the first thing I wrote about on this site. To say I was looking forward to New Vegas would be an understatement. Now, a week in the Mojave Wasteland under my belt, I feel many of those fond, old feelings rushing back.
Well this was just 17…
April 8, 2010…if you know what I mean. And the way it sounded was way beyond compare!
Actually, that’s not true, you could probably compare it to the previous 16 entries if you wanted.
Go ahead, read it and try!
Sweet Sixteen!
March 25, 2010The Shuffle returns and is just the right age to learn to drive and be confused about boys!
This week, our hero chucks a Rosetta Stone through a window of the Tower of Babel when languages other than English appear in the Shuffle!
Fourteen
February 19, 2010Shuffle? What’s that?
The 14th installment is up, so go get reacquainted.
12 o’clock rock.
January 25, 2010The 12th hour of the Shuffle is here.
In this installment, we pass the 200 song mark as well as hear a song from yours truly.
Enjoy!
The Eleventh Hour is upon us.
January 22, 2010A new day, a new Shuffle.
Some good songs came up today, including one that says the number 11 in it! Can you figure out which one?
