(Remember when I said someone on Twitter had said a Superman game couldn't be done? And I wrote about it? The person who got me, thinking, Julian of http://www.gamepad-dojo.com/, volunteered to contribute his insights on the idea of a came, and the fundamental flaws such a game would have)
comics
Making Superheroes Work In Videogames: Implementations
Last column, I discussed superhero videogames, why they often don't work, and the two elements that would come together to make them work, or at least not suck.
Those two elements? The “thematic" elements (look, story, writing, acting) and the “mechanical” elements of gameplay and game system.
I've come to the conclusion that the big problem superhero games is that the mechanical elements are often done wrong, poorly, or use inappropriate elements from common gaming systems and tropes. Thematic element problems can usually be cured with the right graphics, writer, and self-respect. Mechanical elements on the other hand, seem to be harder.
My Long and Twisted Journey, Part Two
(Jason Sacks of Comics Bulletin recently offered to document how his fandom experiences helped him grow for his fellow fans in a series of blog posts. Thanks for guest posting Jason!)
As you might remember from part one of my little story, I had been a comics fan for many years but lack of time and money pretty much drove me away from my passion. Without sufficient time or money, I had no way of turning my passion into anything close to a career.
But after I had found a good job and reconnected with some old friends, my whole attitude turned around.