tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707739904261330151.post5830410492478783715..comments2023-10-29T00:53:06.402-07:00Comments on Truth Inexorable: dwarf fortressNatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11967547718472192519noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707739904261330151.post-66886170170622625352008-02-25T22:11:00.000-08:002008-02-25T22:11:00.000-08:00I was previously aware of the words "I", "hated", ...I was previously aware of the words "I", "hated", and "X-COM", but it had never occurred to me that you could put them together in that order and form a sentence.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01353307602111785602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707739904261330151.post-25432776882587171802008-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:002008-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:00hm, I think your both right.@Sam: unexpected in th...hm, I think your both right.<BR/><BR/>@Sam: unexpected in that, since the world is randomly generated, there is no human storyteller and no plot, per se, and yet there are still awesome stories. It's somehow much funnier when you get a good story out of a seemingly soulless system.<BR/>@O.H. Yeah. I think some of the specific, physicsy things remind me of T.I.M., but you're right that the gameplay is otherwise much different. And I remember arguing about XCOM with you, but I've made my peace with it. You're right that XCOM is completely unwelcoming, as is DF. I<BR/>n each case I think there's enough meat inside to make it worthwhile, BUT! I don't say that to be snooty. There are many good games that I refuse to play, even though they have plenty of meat, because the curve is too much for me. For instance, most street-fighter-type games, most FPSs, etc. etc.. <BR/>I think it's mostly a matter of personal preference, which games are worth toughing it out for, for you, and which are not. And I guess I'm still surprised that DF was worth it for me.<BR/><BR/>Whether it would be as much fun without Dwarves... Idunno... There's kindof a comedy element associated with Tolkein-style dwarves that seems built in to their identities, which makes them a great match. I can see enjoying the game as a human settlement, or random aliens or whatever, but I think the flavor that Dwarves bring to the table is indeed quite valuable. Especially since they have carefully gone through and changed the words, so that "craftsmanship" becomes craftsdwarfship," and so forth. <BR/>Hm, it puts me in mind of the race selection choices we made for Evil Geniuses, which I think added significantly to the fun factor (via storytelling) of the game.<BR/>Specifically, when your dwarves throw tantrums, or spend all day drinking, or get taken by a strange mood and have to spend a month creating an artifact, it's a lot funnier to imagine Gimli doing it than, say, Boromir. <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottobear/87366880/" REL="nofollow">Although...</A>Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11967547718472192519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707739904261330151.post-4707034762005543622008-02-24T09:48:00.000-08:002008-02-24T09:48:00.000-08:00My guess (according to my great unpublished theory...My guess (according to my great unpublished theory of game fun, that I should really write down sometime) is that it just has a really solid progression mechaic. Complicated, yes, but engaging.<BR/><BR/>This would actually make it very different from The Incredible Machine (which was really all about the immediate gratification), but very similar to X-Com.<BR/><BR/>Also sounds like the meta-story is enough to keep it from falling on it's face. Would you find it as compelling if it the little mans were something other than Dwarves?<BR/><BR/>Also, in the interst of full disclosure (and starting a flame war?), I want to say that while I loved The Incredible Machine, I hated X-Com.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707739904261330151.post-48956754610401000092008-02-22T17:29:00.000-08:002008-02-22T17:29:00.000-08:00My hypothesis is that it's because it is complex e...My hypothesis is that it's because it is complex enough to be able to routinely create unexpected stories.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01353307602111785602noreply@blogger.com