Comments for Handy Vandal's Almanac http://handyvandal.com Resources for Game Designers Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:54:39 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Coop’s Beholder by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2011/01/coops-beholder/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Patrick.Ladwig Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:54:39 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=1821#comment-162 I contend that the proper question would be, "Is the Beholder the coolest monster in ANY game?" Yes. Yes it is. I contend that the proper question would be, “Is the Beholder the coolest monster in ANY game?”

Yes. Yes it is.

]]> Comment on The Massively-Multiplayer winter getaway by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2010/02/mmo-winter-getaway/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Patrick.Ladwig Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:21:44 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/2010/02/the-massively-multiplayer-winter-getaway/#comment-105 Well, that's a nice start, but they left out quite a few. Even under the "sword-and-sorcery" heading, they neglected: Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures http://www.ageofconan.com/ To say nothing of completely omitting the mask-and-tights genre (No capes!) he had just discussed: City of Heroes/City of Villains http://www.cityofheroes.com/en.html Champions Online http://www.champions-online.com/about_champions DC Universe Online (coming soon) http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/ Marvel's Super Hero Squad Online (coming soon) http://www.heroup.com/ Well, that’s a nice start, but they left out quite a few. Even under the “sword-and-sorcery” heading, they neglected:

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
http://www.ageofconan.com/

To say nothing of completely omitting the mask-and-tights genre (No capes!) he had just discussed:

City of Heroes/City of Villains
http://www.cityofheroes.com/en.html

Champions Online
http://www.champions-online.com/about_champions

DC Universe Online (coming soon)
http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/

Marvel’s Super Hero Squad Online (coming soon)
http://www.heroup.com/

]]> Comment on Spidey Noir by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2010/06/spidey-noir/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Patrick.Ladwig Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:33:13 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=1160#comment-63 Seems like a good thing to incorporate. I played the game that was released after the first Sam Raimi movie and being stealthy sure helped to keep Your Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler alive, but it wasn't exactly the point of the game. I just hope that they don't try to make it a gritty, "Dark Knight" kind of feel. That may have worked for Batman, but it ain't Spidey. Seems like a good thing to incorporate. I played the game that was released after the first Sam Raimi movie and being stealthy sure helped to keep Your Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler alive, but it wasn’t exactly the point of the game.

I just hope that they don’t try to make it a gritty, “Dark Knight” kind of feel. That may have worked for Batman, but it ain’t Spidey.

]]> Comment on Red Dead Redemption by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2010/05/red-dead-redemption/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Patrick.Ladwig Wed, 26 May 2010 16:28:39 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=1068#comment-62 The videos impressed the heck out of me, too. The guys at Rockstar have certainly built upon what they've been delivering with the "Grand Theft Auto" series and taken the gameplay to a whole new level. One of the things that I am most intrigued by is the factor of "shot placement." The game engine doesn't just register a "hit" on a target, but actually takes into account WHERE you hit someone. Those of us who always strive for a headshot might apply that same fanatical accuracy to winging an outlaw in the arm, to disarm him, or in the leg to slow his attempted escape. (Crawling on the ground don't go too fast.) Of course, this makes it easier to gain the positive Honor points you mentioned, because you can bring an outlaw in alive. The game looks totally immersive and, as with "GTA," they provide ample activities to keep you entertained outside of continuing the story. I would definitely love to load up a .50 cal rifle and head up into the mountains to hunt bears! Especially since, after your kill, you can skin your prey and trade the hides in town for cash. It looks like quite the robust in-game economy! I have a feeling that there's going to be a thriving online community in no time. I just hope it doesn't take them long to port it over from console to PC, so's TRUE gamers like me can take a stab at it! The videos impressed the heck out of me, too. The guys at Rockstar have certainly built upon what they’ve been delivering with the “Grand Theft Auto” series and taken the gameplay to a whole new level.

One of the things that I am most intrigued by is the factor of “shot placement.” The game engine doesn’t just register a “hit” on a target, but actually takes into account WHERE you hit someone. Those of us who always strive for a headshot might apply that same fanatical accuracy to winging an outlaw in the arm, to disarm him, or in the leg to slow his attempted escape. (Crawling on the ground don’t go too fast.) Of course, this makes it easier to gain the positive Honor points you mentioned, because you can bring an outlaw in alive.

The game looks totally immersive and, as with “GTA,” they provide ample activities to keep you entertained outside of continuing the story. I would definitely love to load up a .50 cal rifle and head up into the mountains to hunt bears! Especially since, after your kill, you can skin your prey and trade the hides in town for cash. It looks like quite the robust in-game economy!

I have a feeling that there’s going to be a thriving online community in no time. I just hope it doesn’t take them long to port it over from console to PC, so’s TRUE gamers like me can take a stab at it!

]]> Comment on Tiny & Big: the game with the laser that slices everything into pieces by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2010/04/tiny-big/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Patrick.Ladwig Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:43:22 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=916#comment-51 It does look cool. I wonder if you get killed if an object were to fall on you... It does look cool. I wonder if you get killed if an object were to fall on you…

]]> Comment on Random Dungeon Generator by volsung http://handyvandal.com/2009/12/random-dungeon-generator/comment-page-1/#comment-29 volsung Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:00:27 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=459#comment-29 WoW, thanks for the post. The generator is still a bit rudimentary, but we're working on it, adding a bit more of... "narrative" to the dungeons (as in something more than monsters and loot in the rooms). Keep up with your blog! It's cool! WoW, thanks for the post. The generator is still a bit rudimentary, but we’re working on it, adding a bit more of… “narrative” to the dungeons (as in something more than monsters and loot in the rooms).

Keep up with your blog! It’s cool!

]]> Comment on Escape From City 17 by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2009/11/escape-from-city-17/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Patrick.Ladwig Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:01:18 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=282#comment-22 Really impressive! Some of the technical shortcomings were mildly annoying, but we can't really expect amateurs to have access to a Steadicam, I suppose. The costumes were quite convincing, though, and the post-production integration of in-game CGI blended seamlessly with the real-world digital video. I'm looking forward to subsequent installments! Really impressive! Some of the technical shortcomings were mildly annoying, but we can’t really expect amateurs to have access to a Steadicam, I suppose. The costumes were quite convincing, though, and the post-production integration of in-game CGI blended seamlessly with the real-world digital video.

I’m looking forward to subsequent installments!

]]> Comment on Rushkoff on creating an alternate reality game by Patrick.Ladwig http://handyvandal.com/2009/11/rushkoff-on-creating-an-alternate-reality-game/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Patrick.Ladwig Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:52:00 +0000 http://handyvandal.com/?p=303#comment-21 It's a seemingly grand idea: link/crossover static literary content with fluid/dynamic, player-generated game developments. Not sure how successful they'll be at it, though. It smacks of one of those ideas that looks good on paper, but falls apart in practice. But who knows? Maybe they'll actually be able to pull it off. Here's hoping... It’s a seemingly grand idea: link/crossover static literary content with fluid/dynamic, player-generated game developments. Not sure how successful they’ll be at it, though. It smacks of one of those ideas that looks good on paper, but falls apart in practice. But who knows? Maybe they’ll actually be able to pull it off.

Here’s hoping…

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