In Medias Resolution: Chris M. Yap Research Blog on Game Narrative

Games, Seriously Podcast Ep. 06 out now!

Reflections on Shadow of the Colossus (PS2; Team ICO, 2005), Pt. 1

Reflections on Carnage Heart (PS1; Artdink, 1997)

My first game

"Technically, my first game" This is a video of the very last thing I made in the online metaverse of Second Life. It's an espionage/adventure game, and this video was taken by one of the few Second Life residents who was actually able to complete the game. I started scripting and building the game off and on in August of 2012, as a side project to my main SL business (Schism Industries Custom Weapons) and it lay dormant in its alpha state from Oct 2012 and onward. Two years

First Strike for the iOS

At the end of last week I got into a game for the iOS called "First Strike" which is a nuclear war strategy game. The premise is that world war III has already broken out and you must participate in the nuclear war in order to be the last nation standing. Pyrrhic victory is a foregone conclusion. I was drawn to this game because I am personally fascinated by the concept and history of nuclear war and in particular, Cold War history, the US Trident Missile Program, all that so

DiGRA Japan Conference 2013, Pre-conference dayin Kyushu

就職活動っすね

朝、ナムコバンダイホールディングス・スタジオの就職の説明会への参加。現在、Ｍ１だから就職すればよいかなと思っているが、博士まで行こうということも考えて迷って、議論中でござる。もし、就職エントリーして、急に博士コースしましょうよ！っと決めたらやばいよね。ちゃんと、考えなければならないが、そのために必要な時間が十分ではない。俺、いつもそうでござる。それにもかかわらず、なんか、何でも決めたら大丈夫も気がしている。人間が不思議な動物だなぁ。 #japanesegameindustry #jobhunting #gamedevelopment #gamedesign #industry #japanese #lifeinjapan #masters #musings #personal

See You, Game Studies Cowboy

Talking at length with the Associate Professor of our lab last night became a great wellspring of awesome, crazy, yet equally legitimate ideas. One idea in particular came together through this discussion which, if I am able to pull off with any workable degree of finesse, will be simultaneously the most audacious and effective thing I have ever produced academically. Yes, I am dying to tell you about it, but I'd rather show everyone once it is finished. And in stating as muc

Meaningful Play 2012 Student Game: "Don't Kill the Cow"

学生製作、道徳的「Don't Kill the Cow!」(牛を殺すな)というゲームである。目的はそのままである。ただ、7分間で牛を殺せず。だが、ちゃんと牛を無視したら、妹がなくなる。プレーヤーにとって、どちらのほうが大事: 条件を満たすことか妹を救うことか？ Student-produced game entitled "Don't Kill the Cow." All you have to do is not kill the cow for 7 minutes. If you do, however, your little sister will starve to death. So what is more important to the player: fulfilling the game goals or saving your kid sister? #game #studentgame #indiegame #conference #ethics #fun #gamedesign #gamedevelopment #gr

The Illusion of Choice in Games

Espen Aarseth on Quest Games: "Successful productions of this type, whether we call them stories, games, or story-game hybrids, must find a balance between the landscape and the path forward. The landscape must disguise its unicursal nature, and the true path must appear as though it was one choice among many." It's the freaking Matrix! #aarseth #criticalquestions #gamedesign #ludology #masters #musings #quote

Action Item (Alpha)--Retro Imagination

I'm currently going through this book, "The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design," and the authors pose interesting little exercises throughout the book that are called, "Action Items." One in particular that got me thinking is as follows: "ACTION ITEM (ALPHA)--RETRO IMAGINATION. Take your favorite game of today, and imagine it designed to run on...the Atari 2600. What elements of gameplay could be implemented? If you could play the core mechanic, would it bother y

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