Comments on: I COME TO BURY ENSEMBLE STUDIOS, NOT TO PRAISE THEM

By: superbrothers

superbrothers — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:46:16 +0000

Thanks for the reasonable and measured comments folks. I think I’ve learned a valuable lesson here, namely: never let loose a rant-powered stabbing frenzy, particularly if the target is not properly framed in context. I think I’m learning a similar lesson with the clip DESIGN REBOOT HD – it wastes no time in criticizing, but without building a solid foundation first, it runs the risk of being counter-productive.

By: Jim Munroe

Jim Munroe — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:09:29 +0000

I think your grafting theory is probably right, but you probably feel the dissonance more than a person who likes the conventions this game slips back into. People who love the conventional patterns are comforted by them, even if they liked the unusual way it began.

By: miguel

miguel — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:16:07 +0000

I think you have a good point and you get it across well. So this suggestion is more stylistic then anything else.

I’d cut down this paragraph to something shorter:
“And this is the moment when Ensemble Studios walks the plank, when they are immolated on the mouldy conventions of this suddenly, irredeemedly pathetic style of videogame creation. This is precisely where any claims to authenticity are cast aside, where any relationship to reality is severed. This is where my interest level plummets, where I immediately stop playing and decide to rid myself of a what is clearly a superfluous and utterly vapid piece of junk entertainment. Too harsh? Perhaps.”

Then use some of the space you saved to really show how dumb what they’re asking you to do is. Remind the reader of the real threat of upcoming invasion and then, in detail, go step by step through all the things you had to do before you could get rid of the bandits and start defending the country. If the game has an in game calendar mention that you spent a year raising livestock (or however long it is). The longer this is the more you make your point. Basically try to show them how incredibly stupid this is in more detail then you currently do rather then telling them how incredibly stupid it is.

Of course take this with a grain of salt, I make no claims of being good at writing this sort of stuff. You’ve had the dubious privilege of reading some of my rants 😉