Images are nothing - October 7, 2000 - Andrew Kaufmann
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of
the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There
is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. I've suddenly realized I like
bagels. Don't say we didn't warn you.
There are few things I enjoy more than tooting my own horn. One of those things, though,
is tooting the GIA's horn. Here's an ad for Grandia II, which includes the words of the GIA.
Enjoy.
| Who can figure out Amano? |
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Okay, first off, as to your comment you made Amano yesterday (or the
other day, depending on when you get this) I have pretty much the same
feeling. He's got a whacked out style, but, he twists it in a way that you
just can't help but like. Though, I have to say, he's gotten much better
over the years.
His work of FFVI was half and half. His renditions of Cyan were right on
to me, but, most of the other characters, such as Sabin, Were totally
Fugged. Though, I find myself totally awed at his rendition of Setzer. I
both love and hate it. In some ways, like it's dark and broodiness, it's
cool. I especially like the white face and blue veins/scars, and the fact
that that is the one that they use for the profile in the game (unlike sabin
or edgar, persay). But he makes it totally impossible to understand where
the character begins, and the coat ends! Well, from an artist's stand point
anyway
But, back on the subject, I'm at odds with his newer stuff for IX,
except for his rendition of Edward. I can't figure out why they didn't use
the version he came up for. I like it so much better. In the Game he just
looks like a total goof, but Amano's give's me something to respect. I
dunno, I just don't like how goofy he looks in the game. I guess they just
had to have that one oversised character in there, like this games barret or
something to the effect. I mean... I know they're going for the more
traditional aspect here, but, still...
Now, as for the second subject, I sent you guys some new FF Movie media
a few weeks ago, and you guys never posted it!!! Come on! we're choking out
here for some new info on the flick! It was a cool pic too, and a good
scan...
Anyways, as loyal as ever
ERAU QSSI DLOR WEHT
Teverant
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I think Amano is a really cool artist, but I prefer to look at his art like
a peice of art and not as a representation of a game character I'm familiar with.
I was totally not on par with his FFVI drawings. He turned my favorite character,
the cool and sly Locke, into a man lounging in his tight leather like a male
prostitute. It wasn't cool. And let's not even talk about Strago. But even though
I might not agree with the man, I do like the fella.
Dude, I have to say that I don't know the FF Movie media you're talking about. We
either didn't post it because 1) we couldn't, because of copyright reasons 2) we didn't
want to, because we felt it wasn't that interesting, or 3) we never got your email
message. Can't say I know which it was.
| Hear me speak |
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Good'ay mate!
I just finished playing Seaman, and I started thinking about the voice
technology. Imagine if this could be implemented in RPGs. That would be a
ridiculously immersive game. The problem with mute characters is that
regardless of what you shout at the TV, the game still goes along with the
predetermined plan, so you can have an opinion, but the people that you're
the leader of don't care (That's another thing, why is the main character
always the leader? I'd like to play a cannon fodder pawn sometime). With
voice recognition, you could actually plot out a strategy with fellow team
mates and get their opinion on it, and each character would have a different
opinion, based on their personality and knowledge. Or in MGS, conversing with
a partner, and scheming some sneakiness.
As much as I enjoy Seaman, I'd like to talk to some fictional characters
besides an angry fish man. So anyways, I thought that'd be cool.
Gilbert
P.S. If I had voice recognition in FF7, I'd call Barret "Mr.T" just to piss
him off.
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Ah, Seaman could be but the tip of a massive iceberg. Unfortunately, right now,
making a whole game with a large cast of characters with which to interact
Seaman-style would be a daunting task. I sure know I wouldn't want to code that
beast. Maybe in the future we'll see something like it.
Why do you always play as the hero? Well, it might be interesting to play "cannon
fodder" sometime, but not necessarily entertaining. It's the old "role playing
game as an escape from reality" argument. My belief is that's why they're enjoyable --
the adventures and quests an RPG character goes on are ones you can't experience in
real life, and you don't have to worry about unhappy endings. I mean, if you want
to be cannon fodder, just go down to a bad part of town and start calling people
names, you know? You don't need a video game for that.
| Tantalizing info about a game you'll probably never play |
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Red Raven posted a message on the Double Agent column about how he wished
that he could play a game that had frantic battles with an unclear victory
and the like... I'm going to have to reccomend an old Super Famicom title
called First Queen.
In case you haven't played it, it's part Zelda, part Suikoden style warfare.
You're in control of one "hero" character, who runs about recruiting
mercenaries like soldiers and archers, and then storms enemy castles and
demon infested battle grounds.
Unlike a strategy RPG, you do not issue commands... You only control the
main character, and the rest of your troops fight on their own. The battle
controls are similar to Zelda.
So once you lead your troops into battle, it's an all out frenzy! The enemy
AI and planning is VERY well implemented in the game, with catapults and
other nasty devices just waiting to unleash their wrath, heh.
When the battlefield gets packed with enemies and allies, you get the
feeling that you are only one PART of the war.. Instead of the usual "rag
tag band of seven warriors against an entire empire."
Since you are only one out of hundreds that are doing the fighting, it makes
for some pretty tense moments as you see your allies get massacred... And
know that you're next!
Yeah, the game's in Japanese... But there isn't much dialogue in it
anyway... It's pretty rare too, unless you live in/travel to Japan. :(
The sad thing is that I remember reading that First Queen was being
considered for a US release in an issue of Nintendo Power back in the
days... Yes, I used to read Nintendo Power. Feel free to shoot me.
-Tom
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What tantalizing information, that game sounds pretty fun. I'd love to
get to play it sometime. Maybe some other game will follow those ideas
sometime.
And hey, don't be ashamed about reading Nintendo Power. They suck now,
yeah, but back in the day they rocked (even though they were an amazing
example of getting people to PAY for one big advertisement -- they always
bragged about having no advertisements, whereas I say the magazine was one
big advertisement. But I digress.) -- I have every issue from the first up
until about when the Nintendo 64 came out. It used to be the highlight of my
month.
| I like this guy |
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Greetings, Mr. Kaufmann
I, like undoubtedly many visitors to your column, am faced with the disturbing concept every weekend of identifying with you a little too greatly. This grim disorder can be recognized with a disdain for Vagrant Story, not having said disdain directed towards FFVIII, available members of the opposite sex keeping a good distance away, a tendency to create a large number of semi-lame, yet somewhat educated jokes in written prose, and an odd fascination with REM. Fortunately, I myself fortunately do not fall victim to the last trait, or that would be the final straw, and I'd have to brick myself up like Montresor... or was it the other guy... But it actually the other guy who bricked up Montresor, so the analogy doesn't work.. or was it Montresor who bri... Oops. I think I broke the paragraph.
As President of the Behaving Akin to Kaufmann Association (BAKA), I'm writing this goodwill (too late) letter to ask how you can withstand this crippling curse of Megabozian (Sorry, I've been on a Zork kick lately) proportions, so that the rest of us may gain enlightenment.
The Sesquipedalist
Oh, ye who go about saying unto each: "Hello sailor"...
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Ah, you mistake illness for gift! It's understandable, though. But hey man, don't fight it!
Roll with it! I like myself, and I think you can grow to like yourself, even if you're like me.
I just quit wearring earrings, and I went from long hair to short hair, so I've proven that you
can be AK as either the clean cut man or the pseudo-wild-thing man. If you want to be me, go
for it! As long as you're you at the same time. Remember, people are not liquids! We don't
take the shape of our container; we are our container. And don't try to fit a Rosanne Barr into
a Gary Coleman container. You see what I'm saying? Let's spell it out: be yourself under all
circumstances!
| The nights grow longer |
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AK
Just got back from a HUGE party, it's late, and I'm tired as hell. I'm
gonna try to make this a good letter, but I can't promise anything.
Do you think that Shenmue will revolutionize RPG's as we know them, or do
you think it will be the first and last of it's kind? If it does
revolutionize the RPG genre, do you think that traditional RPG's will die
out, or will they live forever?
-Agent X "done...bed...sleep...ahhhhh..."
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Sounds about like my night. I learned something about myself tonight,
though: at about 5:15 am, while rather (read: quite) tired, I tried to drive
my roommate to a friend's place. I discovered that driving while extremely
tired makes me feel carsick. And this is that I don't drink. Lesson to be learned
here! Don't drink and drive, especially if you're really tired! And another
lesson! Don't write a letters column while this tired! It'll stink! Like
most of mine!
Anyway, I think the RPG as we know them will continue to thrive. I think
Shenmue will be the instigator in a bit of a new genre, maybe titled
realistic adventure? Something like that. Shenmue's thusfar lackluster
success thus far may slow the development of the genre, but I think it'll
emerge as a solid set of titles in the long run. That's my prediction,
anyway.
Closing Comments:
I'm probably giving our staff artist, J. Parish, a hernia by now. When he
first drew me, I was a bleach blonde, then I transformed back into a normal
haired guy with a goatee, then long hair, then single earring, then
short hair again, then double earring with long hair, and now in one fell
swoop back to short hair and no earrings and clean shaven. Poor guy. I need
to pick an image and stick to it, you know? And why would you care? I bet you
don't.
-Andrew Kaufmann
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