Tattered Page

Well, the City of Heroes Comic Book Creator contest prizes are announced this week.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time exploring some comics there, and while none of us would probably be “professional grade” there are some real noteworthy achievements out there.

When I started my entry, I had some aspirations to winning it- now, I don’t really care- there are so many entries over there that deserve some attention… so many with just a dozen or so views.  I just want all the participants to feel their entry is worthwhile.

I first tried this over in hypercomics’ blog, but I’m re-posting here.  Sometimes a story just drives me to give it a little more attention. It may be the humor, or the style, or the message it delivers. It just might resonate with my mood of the day. When it does, I’ll write about it here and share why.

“Not a Hero” is such a comic. Go read it now. There may be some spoilers ahead.

(more…)

Nerfbat’s posted “MMO Development Lesson #16” and while I agree with the overall message, I don’t like the way the introduction feels. “Don’t be different for the sake of being different. Be different for the sake of being better.”

It is a good cautionary message- too many new developers want to come in, challenge all conventions, assume that everything in the past was somehow flawed or lacking vision and run headlong into the same obstacles that the MMO pioneers met. Still, as I peek into the betas of more MMO’s, I wonder if perhaps some developers aren’t clinging a bit too tighly to that philosophy to avoid any substantial change. “Different” is the “better” that we’re desperately missing.

(more…)

I’ve always lamented that the game with greatest toolset for self-expression and roleplaying was tied to an ever-changing combat engine that never seemed to live up to that potential.  I’m talking about Star Wars Galaxies, of course.

I don’t know whether it’s because so many people had such high hopes for it or because the bad reputation it developed through the occasionally-drastic changes it implemented, but the game doesn’t seem to get much attention anymore.  Shame, really.  They still manage some interesting ideas.

“Storyteller” is one of them.

(more…)