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Okay, so dying in computer games is hardly the most joyous occasion, but few companies really take much notice of dying. You’re shot, you collapse, game starts over. Oh, and perhaps a life is deducted if the developer is so inclined.
However, I’ve noticed a recent resurgence in varying the whole idea of dying in gaming. The game that has caught my eye the most over this issue is Tekki- a typical Japanese mecha game except for one quirk. The quirk? Everything is totally realistic.
You use a peripheral three times the size of a Xbox to control your mecha (big robot for non-Japanese speakers), complete with 50 buttons, 2 levels and 2 joysticks. And, more importantly for this topic, an eject button covered under a plastic capsule. (Originally the eject button was to have a glass layer you needed to smash to get to it). The reason for such extravagance over this one button is that, should your robot fail completely during the massive game, you are forced to eject… deleting EVERYTHING you have done in the game up to that point (and yes, it wipes your save file too).
Certainly not a game for the casual (well, it’ll cost loads anyhow!). Dying in the game really does end the game then and there- no second chance and no retries. Now that is a brave leap for Capcom to make.
Other games have used equally innovative ideas. Take Soul Reaver in which you control Raziel- a vampire set on getting revenge on his master. Of course, vampires are already dead (!) so what to do when his life gauge reaches zero? Well the way it’s been worked is this: if you “die” in the real world, you are forced to enter the dead world- a place where the souls of dead creature live that resembles the real world but with distorted properties. (This fact makes it necessary to move between worlds in order to solve tasks). To re-enter the real world you must replenish on the energy of dead souls. Far more interesting than just restarting from your last checkpoint!
So, what use are these ideas to normal games? Clearly you can’t delete a player’s progress when they die on the latest James Bond game! Nor could Bond enter an undead state (he’s only allowed to do that when played by bad actors in films). However, perhaps there could be more incentive to trying to stay alive- like giving the player bonuses when they complete a level based on how many times they die (of course, there would have to be an auto-save to stop players resetting the console!).
In RTS games, losing one battle could affect the course of the game as well as lead to different consequences. So, for example, your army would lose moral and you’d be forced to fight another day- changing the path you take in the game. Imagine playing Command and Conquer and being allowed to lose missions, but every mission you lost pushing you further and further back, with increasingly important and tense missions.
Games that react to the player- now that would be something.
Sonic
(Those of you who are perseptive will know how this and the "I've seen things..." topic link together ;) Cookie to the first person to get it!)
However, I’ve noticed a recent resurgence in varying the whole idea of dying in gaming. The game that has caught my eye the most over this issue is Tekki- a typical Japanese mecha game except for one quirk. The quirk? Everything is totally realistic.
You use a peripheral three times the size of a Xbox to control your mecha (big robot for non-Japanese speakers), complete with 50 buttons, 2 levels and 2 joysticks. And, more importantly for this topic, an eject button covered under a plastic capsule. (Originally the eject button was to have a glass layer you needed to smash to get to it). The reason for such extravagance over this one button is that, should your robot fail completely during the massive game, you are forced to eject… deleting EVERYTHING you have done in the game up to that point (and yes, it wipes your save file too).
Certainly not a game for the casual (well, it’ll cost loads anyhow!). Dying in the game really does end the game then and there- no second chance and no retries. Now that is a brave leap for Capcom to make.
Other games have used equally innovative ideas. Take Soul Reaver in which you control Raziel- a vampire set on getting revenge on his master. Of course, vampires are already dead (!) so what to do when his life gauge reaches zero? Well the way it’s been worked is this: if you “die” in the real world, you are forced to enter the dead world- a place where the souls of dead creature live that resembles the real world but with distorted properties. (This fact makes it necessary to move between worlds in order to solve tasks). To re-enter the real world you must replenish on the energy of dead souls. Far more interesting than just restarting from your last checkpoint!
So, what use are these ideas to normal games? Clearly you can’t delete a player’s progress when they die on the latest James Bond game! Nor could Bond enter an undead state (he’s only allowed to do that when played by bad actors in films). However, perhaps there could be more incentive to trying to stay alive- like giving the player bonuses when they complete a level based on how many times they die (of course, there would have to be an auto-save to stop players resetting the console!).
In RTS games, losing one battle could affect the course of the game as well as lead to different consequences. So, for example, your army would lose moral and you’d be forced to fight another day- changing the path you take in the game. Imagine playing Command and Conquer and being allowed to lose missions, but every mission you lost pushing you further and further back, with increasingly important and tense missions.
Games that react to the player- now that would be something.
Sonic
(Those of you who are perseptive will know how this and the "I've seen things..." topic link together ;) Cookie to the first person to get it!)
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doublezero wrote:
> Great post.
>
> When it comes to dying in everyday games, when i kill an opponent i
> like their deaths to be fun to watch. (i am sick aren't i) This
> includes responding appropriately to where they have been shot (in the
> leg, etc) as well as slumping down before collapsing face down onto
> the floor. Also, it is essential that the dead corpse must continue to
> respond and move,etc when i continue to needless shoot at it... just
> for fun. (Yes, i definitely am sick!)
In other words, you need SoF2 :P
> Great post.
>
> When it comes to dying in everyday games, when i kill an opponent i
> like their deaths to be fun to watch. (i am sick aren't i) This
> includes responding appropriately to where they have been shot (in the
> leg, etc) as well as slumping down before collapsing face down onto
> the floor. Also, it is essential that the dead corpse must continue to
> respond and move,etc when i continue to needless shoot at it... just
> for fun. (Yes, i definitely am sick!)
In other words, you need SoF2 :P
!
partial non-linear integration has several day to day uses...
no. I'm lying.
partial non-linear integration has several day to day uses...
no. I'm lying.
DeltaJava wrote:
> It pays to remember the ways of integration and differentiation,
> "dude".
Yes... If I wanted to become a Maths teacher...
> It pays to remember the ways of integration and differentiation,
> "dude".
Yes... If I wanted to become a Maths teacher...
It pays to remember the ways of integration and differentiation, "dude".
Strafex wrote:
> Or, you could buy your SR membership for about 7 quid, getting your
> free gift and leaving you free to claim a game.
>
> It makes sense.
MY GOD MAN!
Not only that, but I actually have 10 reddies... so I can join, get TWO free gifts (although I'll have to buy a game), get a free game and be able to win games in the future.
My brain must have turned to jelly since A levels finnished. I LITERALLY don't know any maths any more!
> Or, you could buy your SR membership for about 7 quid, getting your
> free gift and leaving you free to claim a game.
>
> It makes sense.
MY GOD MAN!
Not only that, but I actually have 10 reddies... so I can join, get TWO free gifts (although I'll have to buy a game), get a free game and be able to win games in the future.
My brain must have turned to jelly since A levels finnished. I LITERALLY don't know any maths any more!
I have ten reddies to spare.
Interesting topic on something small yet important in a game. I would never have thought of it in a million years.
Interesting topic on something small yet important in a game. I would never have thought of it in a million years.
Or, you could buy your SR membership for about 7 quid, getting your free gift and leaving you free to claim a game.
It makes sense.
It makes sense.
Insane Bartender wrote:
> Sonic, are you going to claim this GAD or leave it to the fish?
Lol... I was waiting for some GC free gifts to come about... I think I'll get a pair of extension cables for my controllers!
> Sonic, are you going to claim this GAD or leave it to the fish?
Lol... I was waiting for some GC free gifts to come about... I think I'll get a pair of extension cables for my controllers!
Sonic, are you going to claim this GAD or leave it to the fish?
I really want this game, but it'll probably mean importing from America! Importing an Xbox, game and controller will cost God knows how much! Considering the controller is 3 times the size of the console :s
Sonic
Sonic
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