STOKING THE FIRE
by sweep
I am literally counting down the days till I can get my hands on some sexy new games Dead Space and Fable II are so close I can taste them. With my mouth. So there is still a week and a half to go (for us here in the UK anyway, USA kids get their hands on the magic a little earlier I think?). The reason i'm so excited is partly because of the content I have already seen. I am, of course, talkin...
I am literally counting down the days till I can get my hands on some sexy new games
Dead Space and Fable II are so close I can taste them. With my mouth.So there is still a week and a half to go (for us here in the UK anyway, USA kids get their hands on the magic a little earlier I think?). The reason i'm so excited is partly because of the content I have already seen. I am, of course, talking about the numerous interviews and dev commentaries floating around the worldwide webbage.
For anyone that hasn’t already seen them, I would like to recommend the Dead Space dev diaries especially - available free to download on Xbox Live. The guys in the videos really seem to know what they are talking about. It's clear that a lot of thought has gone into the construction and essence of the game, and the enthusiasm of the guys talking about it is really exciting. Apart from anything it is really interesting being able to follow the design process and the ideas and concepts that the developers are hoping to achieve. These game mechanics of a Survival Horror game seem so obvious, but its wonderful to hear them explained whilst being shown glimpses of the terror you are soon to experience.It's a weird human quality, the desire to scare the fuck out of yourself.
It's a trait that doesn’t exist in any other life form we know of. I guess its a cheap shot of adrenaline, a quick burst of excitement and fear. I play horror games because I enjoy my ability to cope well under pressure. Being in a tricky spot and working your way out is a great feeling - even more so if you are disadvantaged and are required to use a heightened sense of skill to continue successfully. Hearing developers discuss these concepts and then demonstrate how they have been implemented into the structure of the game is really exciting, and implies such a great understanding of both the genre and computer games as a whole. I have a lot of respect for the guys over at EA Redwood Shores right now.I am also really impressed with the way Dead Space has handled itself in the build up. Instead of bursting onto the scene with an impromptu splash at a ridiculously early point in the development cycle, Dead Space seems to have built up fan-based momentum at a steady pace leading up to it's launch - meaning peoples interest is peaking at just the right time. I imagine it also helps tremendously that this is a Survival Horror game being released at Halloween. Everything about this title resonates professionalism and skill, both in terms of design and marketing.
Well, as you can tell I’m pretty stoked for Dead Space. I'm not going to go on about it any more because I don’t want to overstate the point (I probably already have done) but if you get a chance be sure to check out some of the Dev Videos on XBL. This is how a game should manage itself in the build up to launch, as oppose to titles like Gears Of War, which are announced at conception and then peak too early. I needed that game 2 months ago.
Outside that stuff I wanted to try out some of the new blog features that have been introduced to the site. This blog will be going up as a forum topic (or something?) and I am going to post some pictures of stuff like my Street Couch, which I found lying in the street on my way back from being drunk on Saturday night. Also a couple of shots of my room, so you can see where the magic happens.
Also a massive shout out to the GiantBomb staff for their great coverage of TGS! You guys are awesome!
Lastly there is a new picture on my profile. Yes. That is me. Aren’t I sexy.
Anyways, Thanks For Reading
Love Sweep