Lurker > Darmik

The Admiral posted...

Incompetent? Totally fair criticism.

If people knew how Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us were shaping up for most of its development they'd think Naughty Dog was incompetent.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

LightningAce11 posted...

I think the situation would be helped a lot of developers would be more transparent and allow more reporting, similar to films.

The stuff is out there. But the stories are long and in-depth reads. Because making video games is ridiculously complicated. So most people don't bother. They'll click a headline that takes something out of context and make a molehill out of it.

Look at Insomniac. People looked at a YouTube video that compared screenshots with less puddles and they were accused of downgrading the game. They posted time and time again that it wasn't but it didn't matter. Those people didn't want to listen.

People will always latch onto the negativity.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Like I know it's a statement stated from ignorance but it really doesn't take much empathy to figure out why sometimes a creative project that involves dozens-hundreds of people planned over several years using new tools/whatever trying to meet constant deadlines/working within a budget doesn't always work out. It's a miracle many games work out as well as they do. Most of the time when you read stories about game development it's often said they don't even know if it's going to be a good game until the final few months of work.

Even complete garbage like WWE 2K20 would have had a whole bunch of overworked developers crunching hard in an attempt to salvage that game as best as they possibly could. But there's only so much they can do with the deadline, tools and budget they are given.

Scams on Steam are an obvious exception but barely anyone talks about those.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

metallica846 posted...

Darmik posted...

Go along with what?

Being told that they're not allowed to use old music and footage unless she cancels her plans to re-record her music and stops talking about the people who own it is a specific abuse of power that shouldn't exist and is an outright attack on the artist. It's not hard to understand.

No its not but you arent understanding. Its not an abuse of power. She doesnt OWN IT. She is taking the nuclear option and trying to force their hands.

Let me use your stuff.

Ok, but dont re-make our stuff.

No! Just let me use it, I wrote it!

Ok, well we own it so no thanks.

Thats whats happening.

This is a business deal. Taylor, Netflix and the VMA's aren't just asking to use the music for nothing. Like any other company/transaction they'll pay for the license to use the music.

But it's ridiculous she wrote and performed this music and she has absolutely no control over it.

It's not even that she just has to share a monetary cut with the label. She has no power at all. No input. Nothing. Scooter could exclusively license her music to the KKK and she can't do shit. Scooter isn't even the person she signed any deals with and he owns all of it. She had no input at all when her music was sold to someone else.

And this is Taylor Swift. Someone who signed with an up and coming label who had significantly more input over her career and work compared to the far majority of other artists. I don't think Big Machine Records would even exist in any relevant way without her.

The music industry is fucked up.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

metallica846 posted...

This is kind of going in circles. She is making a documentary with Netflix. She knew she didnt own the music that might be in it.

Does she think because she made plans that they would just go along with it? Kind of foolish on her and Netflix to assume so. And again, I have nothing against her. I

Go along with what? Licensing out the stuff they own? That's literally all they can do with it. But they're refusing to do license it out to the person who wrote and performed it.

Being told that they're not allowed to use old music and footage unless she cancels her plans to re-record her music and stops talking about the people who own it is a specific abuse of power that shouldn't exist and is an outright attack on the artist. It's not hard to understand.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

It's not just the songs. It would be stuff like concert footage and the music clips.

Re-recordings won't magically fix those. Those are pretty major things for a music documentary to lack.

They only will let them use her music if she doesn't re-record them. She's not even ruling out paying them a licensing fee. But that's not an option either.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

metallica846 posted...

I'm gonna be real though. This is just not a big deal to me.

She has like $400 million dollars and is going to re-record her shit and make more money from it and her label is footing the bill for the new sessions. It just kinda sounds like a Veruca "I want it now!" thing when all she has to do is wait.

She's getting an artist of the decade award and she's banned from playing the majority of her own music for the event.

She has Netflix working on a documentary from her career and she is banned from using footage of her work.

Waiting isn't going to fix that.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Halo478 posted...

This is what happens when you dont own your own music

Which is why she made the effort to own her music once she was established and successful enough to do so.

And this is still what happens when one of the most powerful women in the music industry doesn't bend over for her music label.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

metallica846 posted...

Will the old masters be worth anything after she re-records them?

Her team could tell anyone playing the old masters that they won't get anything new if they play the old stuff. Actually now that I think about it. I'd be pissed if I owned some masters I paid good money for and the artist could make my investment worthless with a "re-recording."

I think that's her intention but it's going to be tough to basically reset everything. It includes old concerts and performances too. Also I'm sure some people will prefer the originals since that's what they know.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

AirFresh posted...

No, seriously just watch The Life is Strange 2 e3 trailer and it tells you everything. Having freaking YouTube people "crying" and over reacting to your schlop forced writing just exposed them as the hacks they are.

You know it's the publishers who do the marketing right
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Compsognathus posted...

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

From what I understand she did try to buy them and they refused to sell.

Yep. It's clear the guy was upset she left the label. She was the biggest artist there. Of course she would have bought them. It's significantly easier than dealing with this and re-recording them.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

metallica846 posted...

Sounds like she signed something and it's biting her in the ass.

She signed with the label when she was 15 (or around that age)

After Reputation she signed with a new label who would allow her to own her masters for future albums

Her old label manager sold her old masters to Scooter Braun who is someone he knew she didn't want to work with

Now here we are
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

PleaseClap posted...

I dont know why people are assuming that game devs and writers are somehow being forced to include lgbtq characters in their work.

The frustrating thing is that the opposite (your characters must be safe and easy to market) is the truth. Yet these people would never give a shit. They're total hypocrites.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

No idea why I'm tagged but he seems like a good looking fella
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

A real shitty situation for her with some really shitty timing.

Crazy that they can stop an artist from celebrating their own career.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

The Admiral posted...

No, what bothers me is that I'm going to have to see probably dozens of topics and articles on this, when it's never a game I was going to play in the first place.

So don't read them?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

The Admiral posted...

AmericaTheBrave posted...

And "woke" devs will continue making these games because being woke is more important than getting money for some reason.

That reason is because of the vocal morons on Twitter and social media that don't come close to representing the general population or gamers at large. The "woke" crowd doesn't have any money or actual power, so no clue why companies don't just tell them to fuck off.

So games should care more about the money than what they actually want to make?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

mooreandrew58 posted...

Well I cant speak for women but a straight guy wouldnt ponder if he should have kissed a guy or not.

Homer Simpson did
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

DeadBankerDream posted...

I think it "flew under the radar" because it doesn't have the characters of the first one (or specifically Max) and as I understand it doesnt use the time travel mechanic either.

For all intents and purposes it seems like a spiritual successor more so than a sequel. Again, haven't played it, though.

*Minor spoilers*
It doesn't have time travel but the younger brother does have a super power.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

I think the big issue for Life is Strange 2 is it's too expensive and the episodic game trend is finished.

It's also taking a really long time to get it all out.

Probably why we're seeing everything come out at once for this game.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

For whatever reason developers need to port their game to Stadia. So they don't have enough established to make a proper subscription lol
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Ivynn posted...

Antifar posted...

FWIW in Life is Strange 2 the main character can get involved with a guy

Hold up, there's a Life is Strange 2? I was only aware of the prequel. Unless that's what people are talking about. I heard nothing about LiS2 so if it is out, that doesn't bode well for it's quality. >_>

There's a sequel with new characters.

It went completely under the radar. It's better in a few aspects but it's missing that big mystery hook the others had so there's not as much to talk about.

It's still worth playing.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

The Admiral posted...

Gaming "journalists" have already starting writing their articles blaming gamers for being transphobic for when this eventually flops.

It's a Game Pass game. It's already paid for.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Maze_ posted...

Darmik posted...

Chloe is gay
Rachel is bi
Max depends on the player

Chloe is established to have had boyfriends and not be a virgin.

She's bi too.

It's just Max who is player determined.

Ah right. Just Max and Sean then.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

dave_is_slick posted...

Well see, I'm taking the word of my gay sister so...

Did she write the game?

You could easily prove me wrong by quoting the diary entry you're talking about.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Antifar posted...

FWIW in Life is Strange 2 the main character can get involved with a guy

Yeah both Sean and Max can have their sexuality chosen by the player. Like Commander Shepard.

I don't remember how it worked with Chloe in Before the Storm. She has a boyfriend but from memory she seemed like she wasn't really attracted to him. But I don't remember if that was chosen by the player.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Chloe is gay
Rachel is bi
Max depends on the player
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

dave_is_slick posted...

Darmik posted...

dave_is_slick posted...

Darmik posted...

darkphoenix181 posted...

I mean their first big hit life is strange was about
Closeted lesbian lovers

Only if you played it that way.

Not really. Her final journal entry, even if you kept it platonic apparently (never read it myself) reads like someone in the closet.

Doesn't look like it to me.

So far you're the only one who's said that.

I looked up the wiki and I don't see the diary entry you're talking about.

You seem to have this issue where you think your decisions in Life is Strange are canon or 'correct'

You can play through the game only kissing Warren.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

dave_is_slick posted...

Darmik posted...

darkphoenix181 posted...

I mean their first big hit life is strange was about
Closeted lesbian lovers

Only if you played it that way.

Not really. Her final journal entry, even if you kept it platonic apparently (never read it myself) reads like someone in the closet.

Doesn't look like it to me.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

cmiller4642 posted...

TroutPaste posted...

cmiller4642 posted...

Meanwhile most Square-Enix fans own a PS4....

Game Pass is actually coming to Nintendo Switch iirc

It should be priority #1 for them to get the FF13 trilogy on PS4 first

FFXIII Trilogy on Xbox isn't a port. They're the 360 versions that are also enhanced.

Better hope PS5 can play PS3 games if you want to play them on a future PlayStation.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Why didn't the article mention Streets of Rage 4 smh

TroutPaste posted...

cmiller4642 posted...

Meanwhile most Square-Enix fans own a PS4....

Game Pass is actually coming to Nintendo Switch iirc

That has never been stated or confirmed.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

DeadBankerDream posted...

Is this an Xbox/Microsoft exclusive though? Would have to be on PS4 or Switch for me to play it.

Yeah Xbox/PC only. It's an Xbox Game Studio published game.

Could always change later on but I wouldn't hold my breath for it.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Jabodie posted...

Tbh, I don't really see why this is unique to game design compared to CYOAs or "interactive" streaming content. The extent of the branching paths to Detroid may have been more extensive than most other stories before it (tbh, I'm not even sure that's true since I don't read CYOAs). You could probably argue that CYOA and interactive streaming content themselves are games, which would be a pretty reasonable position I guess.

Choices in streaming content are limited due to their medium. You can't choose where a character walks. You can't make dialogue choices. There basically needs to be pause in the show to allow the viewer to make a choice. They have to be limited to what you can do with a TV remote. Which is typically just Choice A or Choice B. I think Bandersnatch shows how limited this format can be compared to a narrative based video game.

Perhaps something like Stadia can bridge the gap but we're not really there yet.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Chicken_Butt posted...

That's not what I mean. Let me try to explain it better. When they shine so much light on it like they're doing, it comes off to me like they're doing it to say "hey look we have a trans character."

I don't get that impression from the trailer. Only one line hints it is even a plot point.

Chicken_Butt posted...

Maybe that's not the way of it, and I think it's great that we're taking big steps to support LGBTQ in mainstream media. I hope they handle it really well and do a good job highlighting the issues transgender people face relating to their interpersonal relationships and in society.

That's probably why they got help from GLAAD.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

The cool part is the massive success of Game Pass has clearly helped a game like this get made. Hopefully we see more stuff like this on Game Pass. The service needs variety.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

viewmaster_pi posted...

These dudes make the same game again and again.

This game looks nothing like Vampyr or Remember Me.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Chicken_Butt posted...

Well, because that makes it sound forced. I thought I said that already. Is there a way to do it without calling too much attention to it? To just treat the character normally without intentionally bringing it up? It can be done, but I just don't see it happening here when that seems like such a defining element of the character given all the light they're already shining on it. That's what makes it feel forced.

The story looks like it's about the siblings revisiting their childhood trauma.

Why wouldn't it be a major factor?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Chicken_Butt posted...

it's just, someone sat down and made a decision to have a transgender main character, and something about that just doesn't feel right.

Why?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

darkphoenix181 posted...

I mean their first big hit life is strange was about
Closeted lesbian lovers

Only if you played it that way.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Smashingpmkns posted...

Is this the Twin Peaks style game? Cuz if so it actually looked decent and I didnt care for Life is Strange.

I think you're thinking of Last Stop.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

Malfunction posted...

don't think that disproves the point being made in the OP though. yes, they involve a greater degree of viewer interaction but much of their value otherwise is derived from the aping of the most obvious elements of other mediums.

I completely disagree. The value is from giving the power to the player.

I'll go into Detroit again since that's used as your negative example.

One of the stories in that game is escaping America with a little girl. There are several tense scenes in the game and you are told that you can die. And indeed you can throughout several parts of the game. You don't restart (unless you save scum) the story continues on without those characters. I got a happy ending with those characters. The final scenes were incredibly difficult and intense thanks to the decisions I made. When I saw where I landed on the final branches I saw how many different ways it could have progressed. Even in those final moments I could have made the wrong decision and got a sad ending. It felt like a massive relief when I managed to avoid that.

My wife didn't manage to get a happy ending. Her climactic scenes for those characters were significantly different but she failed. If she succeeded there she could have got a happy ending in a completely different location because of how she guided their story.

You cannot get that experience from TV or watching a stream.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

butthole666 posted...

For the sake of this thread, a game that is art is one that takes the most unique characteristics of the medium and uses them to create something transcendent, something that gives the player an emotional response or coaxes them to think critically about its themes via mechanisms unique to or enhanced via its being a video game.

Is Life is Strange art in your eyes?

I mean one of the big moments in that game is when it specifically takes away a rewind function from the player. It's a smart way to use a simple gameplay mechanic to create a significantly tenser moment for the player.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

nemu posted...

Darmik posted...

What do you mean from a marketing perspective?

If the point is to get PR for sales, then I doubt this is going to bring in any. It may even turn people away, regardless if it's from pure bigotry or simply having little interest in a narrative involving a transperson. It could just be they want to explore characterization that hasn't been explored in a mainstream game regardless of whether it's positive or negative for sales, which is perfectly fine.

I don't think it's obvious in the trailer but I don't know how you could possibly make that distinction.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

butthole666 posted...

Darmik posted...

I think you're not giving enough credit to how a game like Detroit: Become Human gives you a ridiculous amount of branches in the narrative. You can't do that in a movie or live action TV episode.

My experience of that game was drastically different to what happened in my wife's playthrough.

I'm not saying every game manages it well. It's always going to be an illusion to an extent. The genre still doesn't have all that many games but there's still improvement every year or so like any other genre starting off. But I think it's still a unique thing only video games can provide and worth pursuing.

My wife isn't interested in RPG's and she never will be. Some people do just like making decisions in a story.

The branching narratives have merit and are a valuable contribution to game design, but ultimately the effect is a game that feels almost identical to watch as it does to play, and an often limited number of final outcomes calls into question the actual significance of all those choices you made.

I think that depends on the player. Choosing dialogue choices and making those choices yourself is a different experience than watching someone else make them.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

nemu posted...

I don't really see the point from a marketing perspective, but there's certainly nothing wrong with a company making a game however they want to make it.

What do you mean from a marketing perspective?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

It's not overly surprising that DONTNOD is taking it on.

But it is surprising that it's Xbox of all companies who are breaking into new territory with this.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

PIITB415 posted...

Well that's one game that will never see a can't from me. Not because I am against trans but because it's completely stupid and pointless.

Wut?
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

I think you're not giving enough credit to how a game like Detroit: Become Human gives you a ridiculous amount of branches in the narrative. You can't do that in a movie or live action TV episode.

My experience of that game was drastically different to what happened in my wife's playthrough.

I'm not saying every game manages it well. It's always going to be an illusion to an extent. The genre still doesn't have all that many games but there's still improvement every year or so like any other genre starting off. But I think it's still a unique thing only video games can provide and worth pursuing.

My wife isn't interested in RPG's and she never will be. Some people do just like making decisions in a story.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik

https://youtu.be/JVXqGQC9J2o

Announced today at X019 in London, the story-driven episodic experience will focus on two twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan as they unravel memories of a precious yet troubled childhood. Chances are it will jump between the past, present and future.
It takes place in a small town in Alaska, once again adopting the charming, somewhat grounded roots of the studios other works, albeit with a supernatural element of sorts thrown in for good measure.
DONTNOD has confirmed that Tyler identifies as a transgender man; the studio says it has worked closely with LGBTQ organisation GLAAD to shape Tyler as an authentic character.

Microsoft and DONTNOD have approached Tyler with a real commitment to authenticity, explains Nick Adams, Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD. Tyler is a fully-realized, endearing character, whose story is not reduced to simplistic trans tropes. Creating a playable lead trans character and taking such care to get it right raises the bar for future LGBTQ inclusion in gaming.

Tyler and Alyson will be dual protagonists, both playable throughout Tell Me Whys three episodes, shortened from the usual five since DONTNOD is aware that fans arent the biggest lovers of the long wait between installments.

We listened closely to fans of narrative adventure games, and we heard loud and clear how painful unpredictable gaps between episodes can be, said Peter Wyse, General Manager for Xbox Games Studios Publishing. Were thrilled to announce that the entire Tell Me Why story will release in Summer 2020.

Tell Me Why will release simultaneously across Xbox One and PC (via Steam) and will be available for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch, which itself saw a flurry of new announcements tonight. Were super curious to see how Tell Me Why shapes out, and well be sure to share more information once we have it

Wow it still didn't hit me when I watched the trailer. Makes more sense now. I was thinking there was going to be a twist that the twin sister was imaginary.
---

Kind Regards,
Darmik