Reality Panic

So, finally getting a chance to catch up on some games and cracked open Far Cry 2. Acclaimed for its open world (50 square kilometers of it!) and dynamic narrative, I’ve decided to intentionally play differently as a way to “test” this emerging style of game design.

For example, I have NOT researched the Achievements (which I always do with a new game, given I am most definitely a gamerscore whore). While Achievements are meant to be a meta-element of the gameplay, it certainly does direct you in specific ways and/or forces you to make decisions in order to maximize your gamerscore. Also, I’m not going to read any of the online FAQs or walkthroughs.

Additionally, I’m not going to play for 100% “coverage”. Meaning, I’m not going to explore every corner, break every crate, pick up every item, etc, etc (which of course is a style of play many of us of have been trained to perform over the years). And, I’m not going to reload save games, for example, when I miss an objective or a buddy gets killed, etc.

I chatted with both Clint Hocking (creative director) and Patrick Redding (narrative designer) at the last IGDA-Montreal event, and they assure me that the game will never “break” because I missed an item in a crate five missions ago, or that I won’t be able to advance because I need a certain buddy by my side. The game should handle things gracefully and all should appear smooth on the part of the player.

Admittedly, I am feeling a bit of anxiety (especially when running past a pile of crates), but I am enjoying the more “carefree” style of play. Or rather, I’m just playing the game rather than the game playing me!

Another great Montreal Game Summit has come and passed. Bigger crowd than last year, and the quality of speakers/sessions continues to remain on par with GDC. Several sessions got written up at Gamasutra…

The major theme this year was making games with meaning. From Warren’s opening keynote, to Randy’s games are art talk, to the social impact panel, to the preventing gender violence workshop, right up to Jon Blow’s closing keynote, there was a very obvious undercurrent of the need to be more intentional (and aware!) of how we embed meaning in games, and the impact that has on society. Was all very stimulating!

Anyway, to the photos…

Warren Spector (Disney) delivers the opening keynote.

Petri Purho (Kloony Games) discusses his prototyping process.

Laura Fryer keynote on creating a culture or production.

Randy Smith lecture on games/art, referencing Joseph Campbell’s book, Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Steven Okimoto (Nintendo) proudly displays his IGDA member card :)

The Ubisoft/Microsoft party at Rouge.

Raf Diaz (Champlain College) dancing!

Scott Simpson (Playbrains), Trevor Fencott (Bedlam Games) and John Sutyak (DDM) at Rouge.

Scott Simpson loading booze into Trevor Fencott!

Yummy Schwartz smoked meat for late night munchies.

Larry Kutner keynote on violence/media…

David Braben (Frontier Developments) future looking keynote, with a side rant on piracy.

Thomas Anderson (A2M) and Chris Crowell (A2M) working on a design during the EMC’s prevent gender violence session.

Jon Blow keynote. Wow!

3D stereoscopic gaming action at Gamma 3D.

The Kokoromi Collective: Cindy Poremba, Phil Fish, Heather Kelley and Damien Di Fede

The year is almost done, and it’s been one big crazy busy whirlwind of busy-ness. Sometimes, it’s like you just don’t have time to think… And, just when I likely need the escape of a good game is when I have the least time to immerse myself in them.

And, there are so many awesome games beckoning! A few that come to mind are Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, Fable II, Dead Space and LittleBIGPlanet. Plus “smaller” fare like Braid, Reset Generation and Portal. Never mind the fact that I’ve yet to crack open GTA4! I’m crazy busy and feeling sad.

Of well, hopefully after this week’s Leadership Forum (plus IGDA Board retreat) in San Francisco and the Montreal Game Summit the week after, things will start to calm down a bit.

Mind you, with all the flying, I have been keeping up with my reading list. Appropriately, next in the queue is CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast-Paced Life.