Comments on: Literature for the digital age: A Batman: Arkham Asylum Review http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/2010/01/31/literature-for-the-digital-age-a-batman-arkham-asylum-review/ the #makeithappen blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:20:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brandon http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/2010/01/31/literature-for-the-digital-age-a-batman-arkham-asylum-review/comment-page-1/#comment-427 Brandon Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:37:21 +0000 http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/?p=330#comment-427 Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of those rare games that nails story-telling method in a video game. Often, when a game tries to tell a story (as opposed to giving you the tools to create your own), it comes off a severely lacking and unnecessary (except for when it opens up a broader fictional universe, such as the Halo series). For this reason, the only thing I look for in most games is pure game play: the story just needs to be there as a kind of vague thread to string together the game play sequences. However, Batman tells a deep, emotionally-involving, multi-layered story that is only that much better because you're experiencing it first-hand. There is nothing in the game that doesn't tie into the narrative; even the Riddler challenges are a sub-plot to the main game. I can honestly say I loved "reading" the game as much as I loved playing it. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of those rare games that nails story-telling method in a video game. Often, when a game tries to tell a story (as opposed to giving you the tools to create your own), it comes off a severely lacking and unnecessary (except for when it opens up a broader fictional universe, such as the Halo series). For this reason, the only thing I look for in most games is pure game play: the story just needs to be there as a kind of vague thread to string together the game play sequences. However, Batman tells a deep, emotionally-involving, multi-layered story that is only that much better because you’re experiencing it first-hand. There is nothing in the game that doesn’t tie into the narrative; even the Riddler challenges are a sub-plot to the main game. I can honestly say I loved “reading” the game as much as I loved playing it.

]]> By: Allen http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/2010/01/31/literature-for-the-digital-age-a-batman-arkham-asylum-review/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Allen Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:54:56 +0000 http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/?p=330#comment-207 One of the reasons why I've been enjoying gaming so much lately is because of how the developers are really pushing to create thoughtful and compelling narratives. When I heard that Paul Dini was writing for Arkham Asylum, I knew it was going to be a winner (based on his spectacular work on Batman: TAS). While I enjoy blasting aliens, monsters or whatever as much as the next guy, games like BioShock and the upcoming Heavy Rain are great because I can take something away from the game (other than mindless slaughter and such). In fact, more often than not, I can forgive a title that may suffer from gameplay issues but has a narrative that shoots through the roof (Silent Hill series, Rule of Rose, etc.). Out of all the great story driven games coming out this year, I have to say I'm looking forward to Mafia II the most. If you haven't played through the first one, drop whatever you're doing and buy it (PC version preferably). One of the reasons why I’ve been enjoying gaming so much lately is because of how the developers are really pushing to create thoughtful and compelling narratives. When I heard that Paul Dini was writing for Arkham Asylum, I knew it was going to be a winner (based on his spectacular work on Batman: TAS).

While I enjoy blasting aliens, monsters or whatever as much as the next guy, games like BioShock and the upcoming Heavy Rain are great because I can take something away from the game (other than mindless slaughter and such). In fact, more often than not, I can forgive a title that may suffer from gameplay issues but has a narrative that shoots through the roof (Silent Hill series, Rule of Rose, etc.).

Out of all the great story driven games coming out this year, I have to say I’m looking forward to Mafia II the most. If you haven’t played through the first one, drop whatever you’re doing and buy it (PC version preferably).

]]> By: coordinating conjunctions | Grammarist http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/2010/01/31/literature-for-the-digital-age-a-batman-arkham-asylum-review/comment-page-1/#comment-199 coordinating conjunctions | Grammarist Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:55:06 +0000 http://blog.8bitlibrary.com/?p=330#comment-199 [...] [yet] We as librarians are purveyors of arts and literature, and we shouldn’t be wasting our time playin... [...] [...] [yet] We as librarians are purveyors of arts and literature, and we shouldn’t be wasting our time playin… [...]

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