Podcast Summary
Representation and diversity in media: Historically, East Asian men have been underrepresented as strong male leads in Western media, while Asian women often receive more representation but in supporting roles to non-Asian men.
Representation and diversity in video games and media are important topics that deserve nuanced discussions. During a recent episode of Triple Click, the hosts discussed the representation of black men in video games, specifically in Assassin's Creed Shadows. A listener named Diana shared her thoughts on the issue, highlighting the historical lack of representation of East Asian men as strong male leads in Western media. She pointed out that Asian women often receive more representation, but in supporting roles to non-Asian men. This issue is complex and has deep historical roots, and it's important to acknowledge and discuss it in a nuanced way. Unfortunately, the conversation was muddied by negative reactions from certain parts of the gaming community. It's crucial to separate these reactions from the actual discussion and focus on the important issues at hand. The Triple Click team plans to revisit this topic when they play and review Assassin's Creed Shadows in the future.
Perfectionism and audience feedback: Extreme perfectionism and constant audience feedback can hinder creative projects by causing delays and loss of focus on the original vision
While virtuous behaviors like perfectionism and listening to audience feedback can be beneficial for creative projects, they can also become hindrances when taken to extremes. Perfectionism, if not managed properly, can lead to endless iterations and delays, preventing projects from ever seeing the light of day. On the other hand, constantly seeking feedback and trying to please the audience can result in an endless cycle of revisions and lost focus on the original vision. As Jason mentioned in the discussion, the culture of perfectionism at Rocksteady Studios led to significant delays and bottlenecks in the development of Suicide Squad: The Game. Similarly, an overreliance on fan feedback can lead creators to lose sight of their initial vision and goals. It's essential to strike a balance between striving for excellence and ensuring timely completion.
Constraints and Creativity: Constraints can fuel creativity and productivity, as seen in literature and game development, but finding a balance is key to successful collaboration and avoiding overly ambitious projects.
Creativity often thrives under limitations and constraints, as opposed to unlimited freedom. This was evident in the discussion about Stuart Tarantino's novel and the approach he took to changing the functioning of a ship for the sake of his story. Similarly, in the context of game development, both strict and lenient leadership styles have their flaws, and finding a balance is crucial for successful collaboration. Deadlines also play a significant role in ensuring productivity and preventing projects from becoming overly ambitious. When it comes to purchasing games from defunct developers, the revenue usually goes to the former owners or the bankruptcy administrator to pay off debts.
Powerlessness in journalism: Knowing sensitive information without being able to share it can lead to frustration, loss of trust, and a sense of powerlessness for journalists
The dynamic between knowing information and not being able to share it can be frustrating for journalists, especially when it comes to sensitive or controversial topics. Jason, from the discussion, shared an example of knowing about Dr. Disrespect's past misconduct but not being able to report it due to lack of confirmation. This situation can lead to a sense of powerlessness and annoyance, as well as a loss of trust from the audience if the information is eventually leaked. On the other hand, when it comes to writing, the best advice is to just do it consistently, regardless of inspiration. Writing, like cooking, firefighting, or any other craft, requires dedication and practice to improve and succeed. While Triple Click has touched on writing and its importance in games journalism, there's potential for a dedicated episode or bonus content exploring the craft of writing further.
Writing tools and process: Some writers plan extensively before writing (plotters), while others prefer to write as they go (pantsers). Tools used for writing can impact the process, and resources like Roy Peter Clark's 'Writing Tools' and Jeff Tweedy's 'How to Write One Song' can help improve sentence and paragraph construction.
Writing is a process that varies greatly from person to person. Some writers, like Maddy, spend a significant amount of time thinking and planning before they start writing, while others, like Kirk, prefer to jump right in and figure it out as they go. This concept is often referred to as the "pantsers vs. plotters" spectrum. Maddy identifies as a plotter, someone who likes to have a clear outline and structure before beginning to write. However, she also acknowledges the value of the more spontaneous, "pantsing" approach, especially when it comes to fiction or imaginative writing. Another important aspect of writing is the use of tools. Whether it's a typewriter, computer, or notepad, the actual instruments used to construct sentences and paragraphs can greatly impact the writing process. Roy Peter Clark's book "Writing Tools" and Jeff Tweedy's "How to Write One Song" are valuable resources for understanding the mechanics of sentence and paragraph construction. When it comes to movie tie-in games, there are fond memories of titles like Harry Potter, The Matrix, X-Men, and Narnia. However, the trend seems to have reversed, and now there are more movies and shows based on games rather than the other way around. No specific movie or game was mentioned that the panel would like to see turned into a tie-in game, but the possibility was left open for future discussion.
Movie tie-in games: Movie tie-in games can disappoint by not living up to the movie's promise but can also surprise with unique gameplay mechanics and staying true to the source material's spirit.
While some movie-based video games can disappoint by not living up to the promise of the source material, others can surprise and offer unique experiences. For instance, the Home Alone game may not have captured the essence of the movie's trap-setting and gradual preparation, but the experience of exploring a house and jumping between furniture still held a certain charm for the speaker. On the other hand, the X-Men arcade game, based on a failed TV pilot, exceeded expectations by allowing players to work together as a team and embodying the spirit of the X-Men. Similarly, Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade, a direct adaptation of the movie, provided enjoyable puzzles and expansions on the movie's story despite its age. Overall, these examples demonstrate that movie tie-in games can offer unexpected delights when they focus on unique gameplay mechanics and stay true to the source material's spirit.
Entertainment recommendations: Try Celico, a unique Doom mod with captivating story and enemy AI, and Elantris, a fantasy novel about a cursed city, for immersive experiences and captivating narratives. Some games feature intriguing visual trends like having certain elements move at different frame rates.
We shared our recommendations for engaging forms of entertainment, including a video game called Celico and a book called Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Celico is a Doom mod with unique enemy AI and a captivating story set in an underground bunker after Earth's destruction. The game's visuals blend classic Doom elements with modern graphics and high frame rates. Elantris, on the other hand, is a fantasy novel about a city that was once blessed by the gods but is now cursed, and the story follows three protagonists. Both Celico and Elantris have received positive reviews for their immersive experiences and captivating narratives. Additionally, we discussed the intriguing visual trend of having certain elements of a game move at different frame rates from the rest. Overall, we highly recommend giving these recommendations a try if you're looking for new ways to be entertained.
Elantris vs Final Fantasy XIV: Two intriguing forms of escapism: Elantris - a complex fantasy novel with engaging characters and clever plot twists; Final Fantasy XIV - a high-quality MMORPG with an intriguing story and improved solo playability, but with a monthly subscription and long storyline.
"Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson is an engaging and complex fantasy novel with three intriguing main characters: a cursed prince, a politically married princess, and a battle priest with a surprising arc. The story is full of clever manipulations, twists, and a great balance between action and storytelling. On the other hand, "Final Fantasy XIV" is a high-quality MMORPG with an intriguing story, clever writing, and improved solo playability, but its monthly subscription and long storyline might deter some players. Both "Elantris" and "Final Fantasy XIV" offer unique and immersive experiences for those who are willing to invest their time and energy.
Final Fantasy reunion: The creator of the Final Fantasy series is reuniting with Square Enix to publish his new game, Fantasia, after becoming re-obsessed with Final Fantasy XIV and conversing with its director, Naoki Yoshida.
The creator of the Final Fantasy series, who left Square Enix 23 years ago, is reuniting with the company to publish his new game, Fantasia. This reunion came about after the creator became obsessed with Final Fantasy XIV and had a conversation with its director, Naoki Yoshida. Yoshida suggested publishing the game through Square Enix, and the creator agreed. This is a significant development in the gaming industry, as it brings together a legendary game creator with the company that helped establish his career. The conversation took place after the Nintendo Direct and was covered on the TripleClick podcast. The episode also featured discussions about the new MMO, Final Fantasy XIV, and the games and products mentioned on the show may have been sent for free for review consideration. TripleClick is a podcast produced by Jason Shrier, Maddy Myers, and Kirk Hamilton, and is a proud member of the Maximum Fun Podcast Network. Listeners are encouraged to support the show by becoming members at maximumfun.org.