Platformer fun! (Dust: an Elysian Tail & Deadlight)

During my little hiatus from my blog here, I downloaded two free games on my Xbox 360. Before I get into them, however, let me point out how awesome that is. Steam and Sony have been doing it for a while but I am more pleased to see Microsoft on that bandwagon considering I own a 360 and an Xbox One. This means that I could potentially have four free games every month!

Excited doesn't quite cover it.

Anyway, this post concerns the two games I've recently been playing thanks to this "More with Gold" offer that Microsoft has going. They are Deadlight by Tequila Works and Dust: an Elysian Tail created almost solely by Dean Dodrill. Both are 2D platformers but otherwise couldn't be more different. Aside from the fact that they are both fun and both several years old. (These reviews of mine are out of date, but I get the feeling that like me, many of you might have missed these gems as well)

Let's begin with Deadlight. This 2D survival platformer is set in a post-apocalyptic Seattle. Shadows (read: zombies) run amok in this grizzly setting and constantly chase after you as you jump, leap, grab, and puzzle your way from one dazzling level to the next.  Tequila Works definitely went the realistic route with their artwork which makes clambering over damaged vehicles, through eerily empty houses, or crumbling buildings all the more exciting.

The story suits the setting and is not one for the kiddos. Art stills with limited animation serve as the primary method of filling in the gaps between levels and they range from the brutal to the downright depressing. If you are a fan of The Walking Dead or post-apocalyptic zombie tales in general then you will not be disappointed. This game tends to focus not just on telling a gruesome story but in detailing how someone might survive under these conditions. I found the level of detail to be slightly wanting overall but far more than I would have expected from a 2D platformer.

But is it fun? A capital YES is there. Admittedly, it did take me a little time to become accustomed to the controls but once I did, I was jumping across rooftops, shooting the heads off of Shadows, and smashing through doors like a pro. I did find myself occasionally frustrated when trying to stand underneath a ledge or object and jumping up to grab it. It seems you have to be standing in the exact right spot or you might end up leaping from your position of safety or even further out of position. Those moments were scarce however and I found the entire experience to be enjoyable on the 360's controller.

Do not expect the puzzles themselves to be all that difficult. That said, there are definitely some moments that take quite a bit of trial an error. I died quite a few times in areas where you have to execute a string of maneuvers in order to effectively dodge the shadows, escape an environmental condition, and move on to the next area all at once. Thankfully this game comes with an excellent auto-save system that seems to know where the difficult moments will be. I rarely lost any significant gameplay due to a poorly timed jump or getting overwhelmed by Shadows.

Overall, this is a solid game. Its shooter elements are fun once you become accustomed to the control scheme but its strength is in the sometimes frantic platforming elements that can be tricky but rewarding to complete. If you missed this game, the time to rectify that mistake is now. You won't be disappointed.

Dust: an Elysian Tail is an entirely different can of beans.

The biggest similarity between these two games is that there is more to them than meets the eye. You would expect either to be a fun but relatively straightforward experience. This is not the case. Particularly with Dust. This game has RPG elements including a leveling system, extensive (for the genre, anyway) conversation options with certain NPC's, and long, full levels that require multiple trips to experience everything they have to offer. Couple that depth with an easy to pickup and incredibly fun and remarkably responsive combat system and you can be certain that you'll have plenty of hours of fun with this title. Also, it is beautiful.

The story is solid and definitely more than I expected. A lot more. There are moments of levity between Dust and his little flying companion but they are smothered by the deep story concepts of the central lot that deal with identity, death, war, and societal concerns. It is difficult for me to believe that aside from the music and a trace element here or there, this game was designed and created by one man. There is just so much to it and the combat really is as fun as I'm trying to explain.

You build up combos by hitting enemies - which happens incredibly fast if you use the whirling special attacks in unison with your companion's magic - and lose the combo bonus if you get hit by enemies. It sounds simple and plays simple but that in no way takes away from the fun. In fact, even as a gamer who plays more the story than the gameplay usually, I found the high-flying combat to be a welcome contrast to the at times pensive dialog and deep plot elements.

As a platformer, it is pretty straightforward. You have to jump just right from one spot to the next or hop down from one ledge to another but there is nothing special here. Really, the environment is best served as a tool to use in combat to help you gather up your foes and achieve higher combos to increase your XP and gold rewards.

Again, if you missed this one like you might have missed Dead Light then stop reading my blog and go play it. By no means will it be the best game you've ever played but you should find it a satisfying and even rewarding experience.

With that, I have more games to play and I'm sure you do as well. Still, if you find the time, please subscribe to my blog here for industry updates, game reviews, and posts about Bio's Remnant Gaming as we finally start to get our games out there. You can also find me at twitter @MAWeeden and can drop me a line at the_last_penfighter@hotmail.com

~Matt

Far Too Long

Friends,

Apologies for the lengthy hiatus from posting here. I have received quite a few emails inquiring about the status of my blog and whether or not it is dead. I can confidently report that this blog is still, in fact, very alive.

My lack of posting here is not an isolated occurrence. I am not really posting anywhere! Work with Bio's Remnant Gaming has been keeping me incredibly busy and much of what I am doing with them is done behind closed doors for now. I am certain that when some of the projects we have been developing finally see some light you will here plenty about what I've been up to.

In the mean time, I will be following up this remarkably brief blog post with commentary on the gaming industry as well as indie game development. Heck, I might even toss in a review or two!

Check back often!

~Matt

Write It Forward

Today, I will answer the feedback in my inbox by providing an excerpt of a current work of fiction. A collaborator and I have been working on a science fiction television pilot about a very unique colony of humans far away. I won't reveal the big hook, not yet, but I have been working on a short story within that universe that explores a specific group of military leaders.

They are the Anrisan Air Captains and they are exciting to work with. However, I am not going to stop there, oh no. Today, I am kicking off my Write It Forward campaign. Everyone who reads this and is a writer must continue the cycle by posting an excerpt of one of their current or recent works as well.

Please, comment in my blog with a link to your excerpt, or hit me on twitter @MAWeeden so that your followers can see what you are up to as well. Facebook is an option if you don't have a blog. Instead of excuses, I'd prefer to actually do some reading tonight. :) Enjoy the following excerpt and remember Write It Forward!

*********

 

             

“Just a minute!” Brandyn called out as he rushed toward the door. A quick look through the small square peephole revealed his roommate, Prospect Arin Lushe, leaning on the other side. Brandyn backed away and activated the round dial to the left of the plasiglass doorframe. The door slid noiselessly down into a thin slit in the floor and Arin wasted no time in crossing over it into their room. He looked Brandyn in the eyes as he passed but said nothing.

             

“Nope. I’m not going to ask, Lushe. Not this time.” Brandyn joked.

           

His roommate didn’t reply. It was obvious, however that Arin was barely containing his mirth. Brandyn watched him saunter over to the closet door and began punching an identity code on the square buttons of the lockpad. 

             

Brandyn sighed but allowed a thin smile to show itself on his face. A face he only just remembered was half covered with hygiene gel. His eyes flicked down to the dress white military uniform slacks he was wearing and for a moment he panicked, afraid that in his carelessness some of the gel might have dripped down onto them. It would be nearly impossible to get the gel off the uniform and the material dried before the ceremony began later this morning. Thankfully, a cursory examination proved his fears unfounded.

             

He stepped further into the small training quarters to a set of twin sinks against the back wall. Brandyn looked in the mirror, reached down to reclaim his shaving edge, and resumed preparing himself for graduation. He slid the sharp edge along his jaw line delicately, careful to avoid nicking his cheek.

After today, Prospect Brandyn Teris would be an Anrisan Air Captain; he didn’t want his first battle scar to come via an embarrassing shaving accident.

           

“Hurry up, Teris! We’re going to be late!”

           

 It seemed Lushe finally felt like talking. Brandyn stopped shaving long enough to say “Look who’s talking! Instead of getting ready like your eminent roommate has been all morning, you’ve been off dallying with a nurse from the medical domicile.”

             

Lushe gasped in exaggerated shock as he stuck his head out from the small closet he was rummaging through, “Me? Dallying with a nurse? How dare you impugn my honor! Today is a remarkably solemn day and I would never disgrace myself by engaging in such activ-“

           

“She was a waitress from the meal room then, wasn’t she?” Brandyn interrupted.

            

 Laughter came out of the closet. A moment later so did Lushe carrying his dress uniform unceremoniously in his arms. Brandyn briefly wondered where the man would find time to get into it before they were supposed to report to the Brazen Courtyard. 

“Yes,” Lushe answered dramatically, “But she was so much more than a waitress. More like a deity of desire!”

             

Brandyn rolled his eyes and faced the mirror again. He finished shaving as Lushe prattled on about how this girl was the one he had been searching for but he had no idea how to proceed given that he was leaving the facility tonight. Instead of replying, Brandyn just let him talk knowing that Lushe sometimes accomplished more while he was running his mouth than he might if forced into a proper conversation.

             

Sure enough, by the time Brandyn dried his face from shaving and turned around, his friend was already in the uniform slacks and was pulling the white undershirt over his chiseled torso. He offered Lushe a sympathetic half-grin and then stepped over to the wall to his left and pressed a small blue button on the otherwise smooth white surface. A thin seam suddenly appeared along the wall and a short, flat bed with a dark blue covering emblazoned with the Air Captain Logo – a white Multi Craft silhouette flying through a silver wreath - emerged from the wall. On it was his dress uniform’s shirt and jacket. Both were startlingly white and unadorned. Prospects didn’t earn awards.

          

He examined the shirt carefully before removing it and sliding his right arm into a sleeve. As he started with his left arm he heard Lushe say, “Did that trick actually work; pressing it flat by leaving it in your combo bed?”

             

“Yes, Lushe, it did work. Why do you always doubt my methods?” The question wasn’t entirely serious, but it wasn’t completely in jest either.

            

 “Because I didn’t think of them!” Lushe fired back with a grin and a chuckle, “I’m always number two when compared to you, Brand. You are always one step ahead. First to fly.”

          

  Despite the laughter, he wondered if Lushe actually resented that fact. “First to die.” Brandyn stated automatically before adding with a wink, “Besides you are number one with the ladies, Arin.”

             

“That’s true,” Lushe said with a wide grin, “I deserve a medal for handsomeness. They should call it ‘The Irresistible Star’. Though instead of pinning it on my uniform, they should give me dozens of them to hand out to the ladies I meet.”  

In that moment Brandyn began to doubt his eagerness for it all to end. Arin Lushe might be a bit overbearing at times but Brandyn had become accustomed to having his friend around. For six years they’d been roommates together here at the Vanbourgolie Air Captain Academy. There could not have been two more different men in the entirety of the Corps but somehow that helped them achieve more in the team drills than anyone else. They’d become mild celebrities amongst the other Prospects. It seemed the duo could not be bested at any war game or trial.

“Sure, Lushe, whatever you say.”

Arin went to the sink and began to hastily shave his cheeks as Brandyn lifted his jacket from the bed and examined it carefully. Everything was in place and properly sewn. Nevertheless he meticulously double-checked the decorative buttons and seams. He knew there were no mistakes but it felt good to have a place to expend some nervous energy.

Brandyn had long anticipated this moment. He had expected to feel a sense of completion or fulfillment at accomplishing his lofty goals but now that the time was here he found himself feeling uncertain and a little overwhelmed.  

“Air Captain Brandyn Teris,” He muttered to himself as he pulled the jacket on, zipping it up the front and checking to make sure the short tail in the back wasn’t rumpled. His hands tugged at the bottom to test the jacket’s fit before finally turning to look in the mirror.

Tears threatened to well up in his eyes. Light blue eyes that matched the trim of his otherwise brilliant white jacket and dark brown hair that matched the belt and shoes.  His immaculate posture presented the uniform as proudly as his father once had. Suddenly it was not his reflection staring intently back at him from the mirror but his father’s. Brandyn imagined the lone tear rolling down his smooth cheek was actually traveling his father’s face as he looked on at his son with pride.  

           

 He wiped the tear from his jawbone with his thumb before realizing Lushe was standing next to him, speaking words that echoed his thoughts, “Your father would have been proud, Brand. You are doing more than filling his shoes.” Brandyn felt his roommate’s hand rest on his shoulder as he leaned in close, “You didn't just get yourself through the toughest school in the Free Nations, but me as well. I will never forget that.”

           

 Brandyn turned to face his friend and blinked back a new wave of tears. “I know.”

           

 He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as only he could before turning away to finish dressing himself.He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready. He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready.

There was nothing left to say. No words could communicate the bond they had forged here and it would have been foolish to try. Instead, Brandyn knew, they would honor each other’s memory by continuing to uphold the standard their new uniforms implied. They would honor their memory and the memory of everyone else who wore the same uniform by serving the people of the Free Nations of Anrisa either through commitment to their duties or, if necessary, self-sacrifice.

“Hey, Brand, have you seen my dress shoes?”

That is, if they made it to graduation on time.

******

I truly hope you enjoyed the read! Remember to Write It Forward by posting a link to an excerpt of your own work and then ask your readers to keep it going. Who knows, maybe we'll help someone out of writer's block or connect tomorrow's next famous collaboration. Can't hurt, right?

Just post it.

~Matt

As High As I Can Reach

Presently, there are no words to describe the creative high I am experiencing. I've always been one to take on a number of projects and see which has staying power and which will run out of gas, but lately, they all seem promising. I offer a massive thank you to everyone who I've networked with, begun a collaboration with, or otherwise worked with over the last few months. Because of what we've accomplished together and what I've been able to do on my own, I've never felt better about my abilities than I do right now.

But am I satisfied? Far from it. I still have much to learn if I want to reach higher still and achieve my dreams, lofty as they are.

You see, observing the actors rehearse my work in Florida caused an itch to form in my creative brain that writing prose has not been able to scratch. I've been lucky enough to start a project with game developer to write my favorite type of game but even that isn't where my heart truly is. I want to write for the screen, whether it be movies or television shows.

There is something beyond magical that happens when I see what an actor can do with one of my characters. Even the majority of the characters of my short-lived radio play resonated with me profoundly. The feeling was sort of like meeting an old friend you haven't seen for a while and then discovering that they've taken on some traits you never noticed before. It is nostalgic but fresh as well. Familiar and strange yet in a way that brings a smile to my face.

I can't get enough of it!

I am eager to see what comes of the characters and world I am working on for Bio's Remnant, but a large part of my soul will yearn for a time when I have the right people in my network to turn the television ideas currently in development (shout out to Sam, Samantha, and Christa, respectively) into fully filmed and produced pilots. I realize the odds against such things, sure, so I don't require any lectures. I will always be one who separates his eggs out into different baskets.

 Maybe it is fitting that both TV notions currently in development are science-fiction projects. I feel as if I am reaching for the stars. Maybe I'll ride a fictional ship out of my imagination into the figurative stars. Only time (as relative as it is) will tell.

~Matt

First Contact, Part 2 (Querying an Agent)

Last entry, I discussed what I've discovered to be true about where a writer or artist must be prior to seeking out someone to represent them to working professionals. Judging by the e-mails I received, I struck a chord with many of you. I am honored that you found something helpful in my words, but I should follow-up that entry by reminding everyone what I posted is simply one way to do it. Don't take my advice alone.

Also, apologies on the time it has taken for me to follow-up. As many of you know, I never want for something to write. I always keep myself busy with various writing projects in several different forms of media. Recently, however, I was interviewed and hired by Bio's Remnant, a new independent video game developer. My work with them kept me away from my blog for a time as the project got underway but now that I've established a pace and a rhythm, I feel comfortable setting it down long enough to resume my blog.

Anyway, today's entry will be tighter in focus. As the subtitle of my post indicated, I will be writing about the Agent Query process.

I want to start by mentioning this: This process is far less painful than it has been made out to be. The following is a quote I've copied from AgentQuery.com,

"Agents take queries very seriously, and yes, they really do read them. It’s not some universal rumor that agents have perpetuated because they all have a secret fetish for being bombarded with mail. Sure, agents make it sound like digging through the slush pile is the last priority of their day. Some agents even relegate the ambivalent task of reading unsolicited queries to an assistant or intern. But the fact of the matter is that most agents do read queries. Even more importantly, agents actually respond to ones that spark their interest.

So write a professional, intelligent, concise, intriguing query and not only will you entice an agent to ask for more, but you’ll move yourself one step closer to a book sale."

Doesn't sound all that frightening, does it? The reality is, the process is simple once you know what literary agents are expecting. As a writer, you only need two things prior to sending your query: Item 1 is something finished to pitch them. Item 2 is knowing exactly who you are sending your query to, and why.

Whether you've written a children's book, a book, or a script you should have it finished before you begin to query agents. As you'll discover when you begin to read Agent profiles at sites like the one mentioned above, they are assuming what you are pitching is finished and they'll have something to immediately begin to try and sell for you. Keep in mind, they are interested in your second work, as debut novels and scripts usually don't bring in all that much money. Having that first project done goes a long way in proving that you can finish what you start.

Item 2 is an often overlooked aspect of the query process, but you should be aware who exactly the person on the other end of that e-mail is and why you are sending it to them specifically. In fact, most agents state in their Submission Guidelines that you include this as part of your query. The implication here is to do your research and learn who the agent is.

Writing a query is the next point to bring up, and let me tell you, it is far simpler than you realize. Follow the formula below:

• Start with a one sentence description of your project. Remember: ONE sentence. For example, Sheriff James Toole has arrived in the town of Waterhouse with a plan to evict the dangerous outlaws living there and protect the hard-working families of the surrounding areas.
• The next paragraph should be an expanded synopsis that explains the first sentence.
• The third paragraph should be an explanation of who you are, your resume, and why you selected this agent.

And that's it! Everything else will be agent specific. They might want you to put a certain phrase, their name, or the name of your project as the subject of the e-mail. They may ask for the first ten pages of your book to be attached or they just might want an excerpt copied into the e-mail. If it is a script, they likely will want a logline and perhaps a few dialog samples. Regardless, this is another reason why you should do some research on the agent before you send anything to them.


Finally, here is a list of questions to ask yourself as you go about researching agents:

Does this agent have a sample list of published books and authors on their website?
Not having books advertised or mentioned on an agent or agency's website is a red flag. They make money via selling written works. If their site doesn't "Show-off" who or what the agent has successfully represented then it is likely they have not been successful. Exemptions exist, but make sure you find out what or who the agent has represented and how recently they have had success before you send your query.

Does the agent represent my chosen genre?
Should be obvious, but make sure you practice due diligence on this front. Don't assume they will represent science fiction because they represent fantasy, and don't assume they represent all forms of the genre you are writing in. For example, I've seen an agent list in his biography that he was searching for science-fiction with a female protagonist. Not all agents are this specific, but you get the idea.

Are they accepting submissions?
Again, sounds obvious but I've found myself sending an e-mail in to an agent only to be browsing their site later and find they weren't accepting queries. Research handles this question and the ones before it as well. Know your agent and you stand a better chance of success.


...And that concludes my blog post on this topic. Just remember to be patient and to never give up. Most agents I've queried have replied kindly to my submission, even when turning it down. Some have even given me some advice on how I might be more appealing in the future. Keep an open mind and I'm sure, you'll do find.

Good luck! And let me know if you find any success!

~M. A. Weeden