DRONES; Nobodies with skill and Outsource studios!

After having about a 2+ hour conversation on MSN with a couple of my friends. I was reading the main page of the Mistwalker site and couldn't help but take it out of context.

We strive to create and produce the highest quality games,


including plot/script, system design, conceptual art and 3D graphics.


We hope you will enjoy our games and our heart warming message will reach you.

Now mistwalker is a great company and all, but the bold letters sound like they are advertising services as an OUTSOURCING company. Lo and behold when that 2+ hour conversation started by taking the bold phrases out of context. I am quite familiar myself with outsourcing companies during my research of the animation and game development industries. The word "DRONE(S)" come to mind since these companies are practically filled with what they call themselves "Nobodies", but quite frankly they are "Nobodies with Skills".

The thought also occured to me with mistwalker is when my friend Yumi Ozaki used the terms "Mr. Sakaguchi" and "I'm nobody". Mr. Sakaguchi seems to be the only driving force behind mistwalker and people like Ozaki and others under him are "Nobodies" who just do the work Sakaguchi drives them to do. During one of those conversations a programmer I know said Lionhead Studios under Microsoft is the same way...A man by the name of Peter Molynuex practically runs the studio all by himself with his coworkers being "Drone-like Minions" who wait on paw and knee for him to call the shots.

What happens is when a company lacks a driving director such as Sakaguchi or Peter they become a "Drone Company". Which Drone Companies usually form into "Outsourcing" companies that crave direction and purpose under a project giving by a "Mr" or "Mrs" superior. Outsourcing gives them purpose, it gives them money, and the continue to do their respective skills and jobs as "drones".

Personally I remember writing a script for an "Azumanga Daioh" fandub, I decided to insert a family injoke and asked if the producer had issues with it. They didn't mind it AT ALL and when the video was done I found out they played the main character and the injoke appeared which appealed to me and the rest of the script was fantastic with nobody mentioning complaints against the injoke.

Fast forward for me putting a "writer available" ad on gamedev.net and a programmer who wanted to make an XNA RPG for the Xbox 360 indie service came to me and wanted to me to write for his RPG...I find out he didn't want me to write FOR his RPG...but his WHOLE RPG quite frankly. He seemed to be another victim of droning and gave me full control over the story and he would just program and design based around the plot I would create. I wrote quite a bit of the story and took the challenge but the programmer had to leave and the project ended, with practically no feedback or complaints from him on the story.

A came across an Animation ad from an Outsourcing company out of China on forums.awn.com and it goes like this;

http://forums.awn.com/showthread.php?t=12726

EasternMiracle is a digital content production company specializing in 3D and 2D animation and VFX post production. (Our website www.easternmiracle.com Look forward to your visit and exchange)



EasternMiracle is one of the largest and highest quality digital animation and VFX studios in China. We provide quality, yet inexpensive, animation production and consulting services to overseas digital entertainment companies such as television and film production companies, game developers, as well as advertising agencies in production of their television commercials and other digital needs. We provide production services in conceptual design art, modelling, rigging, texturing, animation, cinematics and digital effects to our clients in USA, UK, Germany, Norway, Australia and China give them an edge over their competitors.


Chinese artists recruited locally are well trained by experienced western talents who raise the Chinese artists' production quality to meet and even surpass our clients' expectations.

Our game team has extensive experience in modelling, texturing and animation from complex high resolution characters for normal map texture generation purposes to very low poly count props.Our core talents were educated and experienced in North America and Australia and speaks fluent English and Mandarin.


We hope have business with you. Thanks.

Notice the similarities in the dialog between "Eastern Miracle" and "Mistwalker"? Listing the kind of work they do for public consumption? Probably the only difference right now is mistwalker (at least at this point) is still making their own games(under the direction of Mr. Sakaguchi). What worries me is the possibility of mistwalker becoming an outsourcing company after the retirement of Sakaguchi since at least one of them admits to being a "Nobody". Amazing individuals, Amazing skills, but people who see themselves as Nobodies craving work and a driving force.
 
Practically...DRONES.

JRPG, WRPG, the RPG battle that scorches the pacific.

Many a forum fall to the wrath of console wars and bashing or flaming. People get banned, forums are ruined, but the battle never ends. There is yet another battle that since the early 2000s has been kindled by the fuel of furious gamers. The war between JRPGs(Japanese or Eastern RPGs) and WRPGS(American or Western RPGs) has begun ever since people wanted to make RPGs based on Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, and popular titles like "The Lord of the Rings". On the east side is treasures like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and other such titles like Fire Emblem.

Both genres of RPGs have very unique aspects that cater to usually two sets of RPG gamers. To the point of where it is hard to believe that both genres were rooted by the same origins that is Pen and Paper or Paper and Dice RPGs. Both started at class-centric character-based brawls against hordes of horrible fantasy creatures. Usually each "party" of each genre captured the essence of a "warrior", "magic user", "thief", or "tank" like character. As the genres spewed over in their respective regions the classes expanded into culture ideals and soon became very unique.

You would never find a "white, black, or red" mage in a WRPG, and you would never find an actual labeled "elf" in a JRPG(though there is few exceptions such as Final Fantasy XIV and such who use alternative naming). Though there are quite a few linking traits that keep each genre that self same overarching genre of "RPG". Warriors use armor, magic users wear cloaks or comfy clothing, and usually you have the "tank" class that can pound a house into brown sugar with their huge weapon, and of course "Dragons", and so forth.

The point is this rant is I think in the near future people should try making a "bridge" game. A game that combines the aspects of the "J and W" side of RPGs and can turn it into something grand. A Lord of the Rings game designed by mistwalker(aka Sakaguchi)? A Final Fantasy game made by Bioware? Possibilities in my opinion are quite endless since it's practically a game of mix and match for game developers. A game that is not purely "J" or "W" but just..."RPG".

"ULTIMATE GAMER!!!"; The game show...about video games!

A recent idea I had for a TV show came to me when I was in the depths of ultimate boredom. I was thinking about key game shows like JEOPARDY and WHEEL OF FORTUNE to name a couple. Then the idea occured to me that wouldn't it be cool to have a GAME SHOW about VIDEO GAMES? When this occured the name of the game show was immediately obvious..."ULTIMATE GAMER!!!".

There would be 3 contestants throughout each episode. A Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox contestant. Each contestant would have to answer questions based on their specific console(s) and also answer group questions covering all the consoles. If a contestant got too many questions incorrect they would be eliminated and transfered to a "detention room or area". The contestant to answer the final question correctly and/or first would get a prize and be dubbed that episode's "ULTIMATE GAMER!!!".

The main marketing run for the show is the impending episodes' bigwig cameo from a famous or popular game company who would have the honors of asking the final question.

The dawn of a new era. The sun setting on one of days old.

Final Fantasy is the crown champion of RPGs in this world. First designed, then directed, then on to be produced by a man named Sakaguchi. Final Fantasy named after being a last ditched effort for Squaresoft(Now known as the lesser-abled Square-Enix) the game became a large success spawning 12 or so sequels and spin-offs. Turn the clock to about 14 years later and Sakaguchi and his composer Uematsu break off to form Mistwalker funded by the loathing Microsoft who was able to suck up many JRPGs for Xbox 360 which the original Xbox exponentially lacked. Mistwalker went on to make 2 games for the Xbox 360. One being Blue Dragon that catered the long-awarded Dragon Ball style by Akira Toriyama. The second title being an Unreal Engine 3 RPG similar to those bad attempts by the crazy Square-Enix company trying to bide time for the eventual 5 year release of Final Fantasy XIII.

Go on to 2010 and Mistwalker up from then has made a small collection of blue dragon and other games for the Nintendo DS and now what seems to be their last marker with the simply named "The Last Story". It is not difficult to say that Sakaguchi has begun another loop of another last ditch effort to make Mistwalker a truly successful RPG developer. My hopes are on end seeing the trailer for it and only being fairly impressed of what is to follow. The most daunting issue is what happens AFTER The Last Story. Is the game really Sakaguchi's "LAST STORY FINAL FANTASY?" to the point of actually retiring? That and if The Last Story only makes minimal sales and Sakaguchi DOES leave...what would become of the Mistwalker corparation? Will Ozaki and the rest go back to separate companies or will they just move on to reorganize under yet another design studio?

It's hard to say but I find it rather saddening to have Mistwalker dissipate while Square-Enix goes on living without a sense of gratefulness. Mistwalker, if they wish to keep up their game must be willing to open up to new ideas for games instead of just "borderline RPGs". They need to find a designer or designers who appreciate the genre yet have the concepts needed to have Mistwalker become that "truely successful" company. If only I was one they would consider being able to take on the task of doing such a thing.

That ends my rant for now. Good luck Mistwalker.

METAL ACE CHRONICLES script

(dark screen)


One day, I was just a simple man. I had a family, friends, and a job. Also one day my life came to an end during a fatal car crash (crashing sound)

They put me in a status chamber and said when they had the technology they would use it to repair my body. Years past, decades past(2010 on the screen goes past 2030 and ends at 20XX). The day came when they revived me.

(scientist): We now have the technology to rebuild him, he will be man and machine. The strongest human in the world.

(shows lab tests and stuff)

(back to main character): They repaired me using both human and robotic parts. I was stronger and faster than any human, and soon they wanted a favor. They said people like me who have been given robotic strength have waged war against normal humans and have slaughtered thousands of innocent humans. They outfitted me with armor and weapons and soon I became known as the Metal Ace...and this is my story

(of course shows scenes corresponding)

(following it is action packed gameplay footage)

words fly by during it

COURAGE

DUTY

LOVE

HATRED

POWER

(then the gameplay ends with a giant robotic humanoid flinging metal ace off a building)

METAL ACE CHRONICLES

coming soon

World War 3: Modern Conflict

I need to vent. WW3:MC was an old 5 or 6 year old I had as a teenager. Quite frankly my idea's originality has stood the test of time as not even recent games have come close to that age old game idea. A massive combat action game set upon large(and I mean HUUGE) battlefields against two opposing factions fighting a war based on only the assumption. The story basically comes to fruition when South Korea's coast is pummeled by a nuclear warhead. Almost immediately the UN points fingers at North Korea and call it an act of war. North Korea in earnest denies the deed. Soon military forces with North Korean markings converge on and attack the South Korean border. The UN establishes an invasion force under the title UNAF(United Nations Allied Forces) and begins their attack to occupy North Korea. The North Korean counterattack is established by a force comprising of North Korea and it's allies called the DFOA(Dragon Force Of Asia). Gameplay begins after the introduction plot.

Players choose from one of the two opposing super-forces and creates their character based on a certain class or MOS. Players can create separate classes with other characters similar to loadouts on current games. There is some customization but it would not exceed the "reality" of that Class or MOS. Players can access a wide range of Land, Sea, and Air vehicles and platforms during skirmishes(the real-time and 24/7 battles that take place on the gigantic battle maps). Vehicles and platforms including Transport and attack choppers, attack and transport boats, attack and transport ground vehicles, Jets, and a Limited variety of transport planes. The game is based on old conventional modes known as either Conquest, Domination, or AAS(Advance and Secure).

To reach the maps the players usually will spawn from the DFOA or UNAF HQ which one is located in central China and the other Mainland Japan. The players can access superior transport planes that will give them a streamlined way of moving across the overworld or separate maps.

The game after the end of every year goes into a somewhat "Expansion Pack" mode where the story develops where a secret organization nukes the US, EU, and Asia. The organization is revealed as a mix of Neo Nazis, old communist regimes, and terrorists under the title "Pure NAZI". The game changes the maps into timed missions located in Africa, the Middle East, and Siberia.

So basically after this the DFOA and UNAF team up(the player factions are combined) and the super faction takes on timed missions against AI Pure Nazi units. Afterwards the final mission opens where players must occupy the PURE NAZI HQ in the cold depths of Siberia where the Nuke Silos are and after the final battle happens an ending ceremony happens where the top players of the year get mentioned during a real-time cutscene. The game ends with the world back in order and then the game reboots for another "one year war"

That's really all there is to it but it seems it's easier said than done.

Blacklight: Tango Down 60-minute XBLA trial

Well at first I had mixed ideas about Blacklight. First I heard it was only rated Teen but after seeing a few trailers with blood I was put off by it. So today I decided to search on the XBL Game Marketplace to try the game for myself to see how the gameplay actually was. I was a bit surprised that the blood wasn't as bad as it seemed in the trailers and I became interested in the game again. I did a few tries of the Co-op(alone) and got put in my place multiple times by the AI. After taking a break I decided to try out the online multiplayer component.

It took awhile but I finally found other players in the "Last Man Standing" mode. Basically your typical "die and your dead for the rest of the round" deathmatch. Let's just say there was only once that I made it to the end of the round where the victor ended my prolonged life and won the match again.

After several rounds I tried my hand at the "Domination" mode which for many other games is labeled "Conquest". The point of the game is to capture as many nodes as possible and keep them for your team. There were only a couple of rounds where my team actually won but the battles were quite frantic where players were getting killed by the second. Also players with the shotgun was a menace due to the considerable power and distance the shotgun had...after my time was up I was able to unlock the shotgun and ended up getting a killing spree of around 4 enemies and ending the demo finishing a round with 12 kills coming from the onslaught of my shotgun and spamming grenades.

Me and my Brother plan to get it for PSN/PS3 and play it together, but that will have to wait 'til mid to late august when the PSN/PS3 version actually launches.