Ludus Novus » challenge http://ludusnovus.net The Art of Interaction Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:16:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=5970 2006-2008 Gregory.Weir@gmail.com (Gregory Weir) Gregory.Weir@gmail.com (Gregory Weir) posts 1440 http://ludusnovus.net/images/ludusnovusblog.jpg Ludus Novus » challenge http://ludusnovus.net 144 144 The Art of Interaction ludology, games, game design, rpgs, interactive fiction, video game theory, interactive art, interactive entertainment Gregory Weir Gregory Weir Gregory.Weir@gmail.com no no Boss Fights: Frustration and The Two Thrones http://ludusnovus.net/2008/09/22/boss-fights-frustration-and-the-two-thrones/ http://ludusnovus.net/2008/09/22/boss-fights-frustration-and-the-two-thrones/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:01:48 +0000 Gregory Weir http://ludusnovus.net/?p=46 Ah, the boss. Since 1975, games with combat have punctuated their gameplay with fights against characters that are bigger, meaner, tougher, or just cleverer than the average enemy. Zelda, most shmups, and Mega Man/Rock Man are well-known for bossy goodness. At its best, the boss fight can be a test of the player’s skill and a climax for each section of gameplay, bringing all of the aspects of the game together in one mano-a-mano battle. At its worst, the boss fight brings the fun crashing down as you scream at your computer screen.

I’ve been playing Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones on GameTap. I loved Sands of Time, and I’m eagerly anticipating concluding the trilogy. Sands was a masterpiece, we can pretend Warrior Within didn’t happen, and Thrones is all-too-happy to maintain our delusion. But there was one moment in Thrones that set my hands twitching and my blood pressure rising.


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]]> http://ludusnovus.net/2008/09/22/boss-fights-frustration-and-the-two-thrones/feed/ 0 Love Transcending Death: Challenge Versus Story in Calamity Annie http://ludusnovus.net/2008/09/09/love-transcending-death-challenge-versus-story-in-calamity-annie/ http://ludusnovus.net/2008/09/09/love-transcending-death-challenge-versus-story-in-calamity-annie/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:51:07 +0000 Gregory Weir http://ludusnovus.net/?p=38 My first column for GameSetWatch was just posted at their site. It’s called “Love Transcending Death: Challenge Versus Story in Calamity Annie,” and it’s about how that game does something very interesting to help bridge the gap between players who play for challenge, and those who play for story.

The plan is for me to write every two weeks on GameSetWatch. I’m quite excited about being able to contribute to their great site.

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