Thinking Outside of the Box
By LightYagami245 7 Comments
I have just recently bought The Orange Box. I must say that the game deserves all the hype it gets. I have started Half Life 2 and Portal, with the latter being my main interest now. Portal must of been a killer to program, but whatever engine they used for it(I assume the Havok or The Source engine) it paid off in the end. Both games force the player to manipulate the game's physics. As for Half Life 2, you can start the game without any previous knowledge of the first Half Life game and still know what's going on in the game. I have to say that Valve is a great gaming company without any flaws.
One of the games that I really want to get, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, is going to have its demo released on August 21. Even though Game Trailers shows all these gameplay vids of the game, I don't think all of that will be in the demo. So any Star Wars fans or interested gamers, get ready to download it. What is your guess on the size of the demo? I estimate 2 Gigs. I also think you will be playing the first level only. If the Blue Dragon demo taught us anything, don't show 40% of the game in the demo.
In other gaming news, I have finished the single player of Call of Duty 4. I did like the story unlike COD2(see previous blogs about my opinion on COD2). The multiplayer is very addicting. I'm level 23 now(haven't been caring about levels, just trying to do challenges), and I really like Domination and Headquarters the most. I'm also customizing my own classes. There is one I have that uses a sniper rifle with juggernaught. Overkill FTW!!!
For anyone who is a programmer fluent in C++, I have a question for you. What book will help me learn the language quickly? I really want to learn the program, but I need a book to help me learn. I have tried the internet, but each is different and uses different programs than the one I have. I really like learning a program, so I do want to learn the right way. Can you tell what books you used or books that you recommend me buying.
I was at Borders bookstore the other day and I saw a guide to game design. It covers nearly everything that goes through the development of a game. I looked at the designer part of it, and it's pretty accurate(it better be it's $50). A designer must do the concept(duh), level design(crap, I can't draw), music(that I can do), and a few more. I think that I have a ways to go to be a alright designer, but I'm glad I started trying to write my game ideas down now. I have started one that I will enter into Gamespot's Developer 4 a Day next year(I'm almost done), and after, I will start on another, just for myself to see, not for any contests. I wonder if Giantbomb will have a contest like that. I would enter it instead of GS'.
Also, another question. How much of an impact does music play into games in your opinion? Do you think some game scores could be on the Billboard Top 100?