#36. Point-and-Click Ain't Dead

I've just scooped this post from the draft - it was abandoned for about a month or two. New year, new post. Better late than never. You know the drill.

Recently I played some point-and-click adventures, namely the Deponia trilogy (or quadrology, I haven't bought Deponia Doomsday yet) and an idea struck in my mind. You see, point-and-click adventure was one of the most mainstream genre in videogame industry in past few decades, but it was all downhill since then. I have heard of some of the classics, such as The Uninvited and Shadowgate (I bought the remake version on Steam, although I am far from done) and, as always, decided, hey, it's too soon to just call this genre dead. It has a very distinctive taste, and it is a waste of a genre to ignore it.

So I thought, what made people think point-and-click adventure games "outdated?" Take the examples of some of the masterpieces by LucasArts, for example: The Monkey Island franchise is a prime example of golden oldies, and Grim Fandango was a breakthrough, yes, but if you ever attempted to run through the whole game without a single glance of walkthrough, you will get what I say. The puzzles are so non-linear, so outrageously hilarious or hilariously outrageous, that a single look will let pretty much everyone confused or frustrated, or both. I mean, how would anyone get that in first go? Sure, it's a gem of the game, but videogamers were trained to get everything short and simple, while puzzles in point-and-click adventure genre remained non-linear and esoteric. It is a great shame for the genre, actually.

So here is what I suggest. If the game could get the puzzles linear enough, so that a single, blind run is rather challenging, but at least possible, it will make a big difference. The recent remake of Shadowgate was, I think, is a charming example of both preserving the original flavor of the genre and adding some of the new, sleek renovations.

Special mention goes to the Life system: In most point-and-click adventure games, there is no "game over" to speak of. There may or may not be some of the most challenges face your character, but in most cases, they would not brutally harm your character to the point that you cannot proceed further. Of course, some of the games are rather merciless - the (in)famous Scarlet O'Hara scene in The Uninvited, or stabbing yourself with anything in hand in Shadowgate, or even that one part that you can actually drown in The Secret of Monkey Island. I think it is best to implement this system, at least in "three strikes" version, to keep the player tense. You can always die in actions, shoot 'em ups, and even turn-based, so why not point-and-click?

I am always aware of the fact that everything is easier said than done. Really should make some things on my own, fast. End transmission.

#35. New Year... New Determination

Long time no post, skip the usual I was busy routine, the world knows that it's just me being a hopeless slacker. So the year 2016 is only a couple of hours left to go, at least in the part of the Earth where I live, and after that slim amount of time we all will be celebrating a whole new year of 2017. Yay, woo-hoo.

So I've been asking myself some not-so-philosophical questions these days: What the hell am I? What the hell could I do? No, seriously, this have been bugging me for the past few weeks like nothing ever in my comparatibly short life. I mean, I've got only a few years before I introduce myself as thirty-something; I'm now this close to graduation; all I have is three languages and no technical or even practical skills at all, not to mention zero social skills; and seriously, where do people these days even get a job? Know thyself, a good man once said, but hey, I've got no clue whatsoever on who or even what the hell am I. Apart from the fact that I am a total weirdo, that is.

What I want to say is, that I want to find out what I'm made of - I still believe that there are more than just chemical and biological stuffs in me, other than 70 percents of water, a dash of protein and vitamin, and so forth. I want to find out who I am, what I am, and therefore, what I am really supposed to do. If that means I should quit all delusions I had for the last few years, so be it. It's already 2017 - there are still plenty of room for me to change. It may be already too late for me, but you know the saying goes, better late than never.

So yeah. See you next year, I'll be there few hours early. (Unless you live somewhere east from where I am, herp derp.) End transmission.