Monthly Archives: April 2019

This Old Guy reviews: Mortal Kombat 11

Posted on by
1

This Old Guy’s first video game console was a Magnavox Odyssey and his first computer an Apple IIe. Last five games purchased: Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4), Anthem (PC), Civ VI DLC Rising Storm (PC), Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4), Dragon Quest XI (PS4).

Do you like fighting games?

I’m not the first person to express admiration for the tutorial system for Mortal Kombat 11, or to believe that this infamously messy franchise is left in a fun place by the close of the story mode.

Before buying, the game’s gore gave me pause, just for a second. I shouldn’t have worried. Despite amazingly realistic modeling, the designers are not trying to scare or seriously creep anyone out. The goal is the squick, the oh no they didn’t! moments. Those are in abundance. Yay?

I’m not sure if anyone called out the beautiful way the game managed the download and installation process. The file was big, but on my PS4, as chunks of code downloaded, pieces of functionality became available. The game also gave me a guess as to when other stuff would became available. Download and installation practically by definition is a miserable process, but instead of feeling impatient, I felt engaged. Magical UX design, only possible when your management, testing, creative and technology teams collaborate.

More good stuff when it comes to the game structure and the art of labeling. Of the four main menu options, the labels Kustomize and Learn are distinct and transparent; I guessed right away what kinds of content and functionality I would find. Konquer and Fight were a little less intuitive, but all the labels are supplemented by help text. Once you’ve explored the game a little, everything at this level makes plenty of sense.

I’m reserving judgement on the Krypt and the weapon/augment/upgrade dynamic until I’ve invested more hours into the game, but right now the augment drops are very rare and the overall game impact minimal. Crafting is a mortal pain in the ass, mostly because you can’t look up recipes while standing at the forge. I like all these systems in theory, but hoo boy are they grinding-intensive! The UI in this area could use help, but if you’re the kind of person interested in refining your character, you’re hooked. You’ll figure it out.

Old guy topline takeaway? Beneath the buckets of blood, the flensed torsos, extruded intestines and BRUTALITY! is a game that cares about the people playing. Once again: do you like fighting games? If you do, this old guy says the game is worth the purchase price.

Liars, damned liars.

Posted on by
Reply

My late father raised me to respect conservative thought. He insisted that despite ideological differences, Republicans remained just as committed to fair play and the rule of law as the opposition.

Today’s behavior by William Barr – which even Fox News found to be unseemly, and unworthy of the Attorney General’s office – convinces me that there are, in fact, no more honorable people under the Republican banner. Just liars, damned liars, and apologists for wretched, unethical behavior.

And I’m pretty sure, after today, even my late father would agree with me.

Stroopwafel!

Image

Reply

One of the benefits of living in a big city? Grocery stores carry weird and wonderful stuff. This week’s discovery: the stroopwafel, designed to be warmed on top of a steaming mug of tea or coffee. The texture is crumbly rather than crisp. I’m honestly surprised to discover that I prefer breakfast treats, like the stroopwafels, where the sweetness isn’t cloying.

Bad decisions from Bioware?

Posted on by
Reply

I’m not optimistic about the future of Bioware games. I’ve been playing their titles since Baldur’s Gate, and I’ve written about my love for Anthem. But a new article from Jason Schreier over at kotaku.com suggests that there may be a conflict between EA’s demand for games as a live streaming service and players’ hopes for games that are unique and fun. Listen to the details of a game design/prototype:

The goal was to focus as much as possible on choice and consequence, with smaller areas and fewer fetch quests than Dragon Age: Inquisition. … There was an emphasis on “repeat play,” one developer said, noting that they wanted to make areas that changed over time and missions that branched in interesting ways based on your decisions, to the point where you could even get “non-standard game overs” if you followed certain paths.

That sounds like the kind of game I WANT TO PLAY RIGHT NOW! Unfortunately, EA didn’t agree; the iteration of Dragon Age described above has been junked, in favor of something that features a ‘live game service.’ I’m guessing that the EA suits dream of establishing a franchise like World of Warcraft. They aren’t likely to succeed, for a bunch of reasons.

The MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) market (of which WoW might be the best example) is saturated, and player inertia is firmly on the side of WoW, Diablo and other first movers. The MMO game model itself is well established, but ‘well established’ is another way of saying ‘predictable quest types and player experience.’

I want something innovative… maybe a LMO (Limited Multiplayer Online) experience? A game I could play alone, or with a small group of friends if they happened to be around. I can’t be the only one who finds strangers with experience-shattering names, running around on my screen, to be a detriment rather than a benefit to a game. And I can’t be the only one eager to try something different.

Summing up

Posted on by
Reply

Zero posts in three years! But I’m back. I’ve been busy; lots to share. The trilogy of Northern Arcadia fantasy novels upon which I focused so much time (Witch in Morning, Thief in Long Shadow, and Demon in Darkness) is drafted and theoretically complete, but I’m not sufficiently pleased with the results to market any of them aggressively. Lord, what I’d give for a good editor.

One of my new projects I am ready to share is the Blind Pilot series, short pieces of fiction introducing characters, concepts and settings intended to serve as the foundation for long-running narratives. Pup Detective is a traditional sci-fi crime procedural that explores extreme body modification, alternative family structures and the future that’s waiting for us in the US. One episode (in draft form) is available; I think that’s sufficient to set the stage. Reverie Isle returns to some classic American television from the 70s and 90s, with occasionally hallucinatory results. Multiple episodes (in draft form) are needed to show off the arc I intend for Reverie Isle. I’ll be uploading two here shortly.

I’m also publishing some fan fic, based upon the controversial video game Anthem, and (yes, I’m crazy) a design specifications document for version 2 of Anthem, with which I am not associated. In my defense, I think I’ve hit upon a genius, ground-breaking idea, and when someone else does the same thing I want to be able to point somewhere and say, ‘Dag nabbit, there’s the proof! I had the same idea!’

Like I say, lots to share. Excuse me while I go upload some content.