Writing and Design

Steve Ince, freelance writer and game designer, posts thoughts and comments on these two meaningful aspects of his life.

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Name: Steve Ince

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Top Ten Games I Worked On

I was sorely tempted to add Beneath a Steel Sky to my list of Top Ten games in the previous post, but I think that would be bad form because I worked on it. Although I didn’t do any of the writing and design, I still think it’s not something I should put on a list like that. So here is my top ten list from the games I've worked on.

  • Beneath a Steel Sky
  • So Blonde
  • Broken Sword – The Sleeping Dragon
  • Broken Sword – The Shadow of the Templars
  • In Cold Blood
  • Mr. Smoozles Goes Nutso
  • Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado
  • Rhianna Ford and the Da Vinci Letter
  • Wanted: A Wild Western Adventure
  • Call of Cthulhu: Destiny’s End

Again, the order is not a concrete one.
I put the last one on the list because it was turning into one of the best games I ever worked on and was eighty percent complete when it was cancelled. Perhaps one day I’ll post some of my favourite scenes.

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10 Comments:

Anonymous Jannik said...

Funny, I've been thinking about BS3 lately, and how it's a shame that so few adventure games have been experimenting with 3D - before or since.

What I mean is; to this day very few 'real' 3D adventure games have been released. Some games have experimented with direct avatar-control, but in most games the camera and gameplay still feel more 2D than 3D.

What I like about BS3 was the mix of tasks, from traditional puzzle-solving to stealth and (light) platforming. And the camera and avatar-control was also quite good.

I don't think the game was successful in every thing it tried, but it was different and refreshing.

It's not that I don't like traditional point & click games, I just think there's a huge untapped potential in this particular sub-genre: 3D adventure games.

8:44 PM  
Blogger Steve said...

I agree with you almost entirely.

There are a few things I'd go back and improve on if I had the chance.

I like the recent Sam and Max 3D games, but as you said, they could have been done in 2D.

8:51 PM  
Anonymous Jannik said...

BTW; I hope it didn't came out as I think the game was an interesting experiment, but not that good a game. I actually highly enjoyed it.

I think the gameplay was a little better in BS1, but that's probably to be expected since it's formula is more 'tried and true'.

9:43 PM  
Blogger Steve said...

No, I never read it that way.

BS3 was always going to struggle a little when set against BS1, particularly when trying new things that might not have succeeded.

7:40 AM  
Blogger Outlaw said...

With regards to Broken Sword 3, I have to say that its always been my personal favourite of the series. I was having an argument with a friend of mine about it a few weeks ago after I bought it again on Steam, and he seemed to have a really low opinion of it, yet the only thing he could complain about was the 'abundance' of block puzzles and that he personally doesn't like Nico as a character.

I think the system used for controlling the game is one that never got the recognition it deserved, and really should get a second chance. I found the game much better than Angel of Death, thats for sure.

11:04 AM  
Blogger Steve said...

Thanks, that's good of you.

With hindsight we clearly put too many of the crate puzzles in, but to hate a game for just this one thing seems a little extreme of your friend. Ah, well. Live and learn. :)

I never played Angel of Death. When it came out my computer wouldn't handle the shaders required. Since then I've read so many mixed reports that I don't want to do so in case I spoil my memories of working on the other three.

11:11 AM  
Blogger Outlaw said...

One other thing I wanted to mention was Broken Sword 3 is single-handedly responsible for getting a different friend of mine into adventure gaming. Two years ago, he arrived at my house while I was starting it up again, and instead of going to the cinema like we had planned to, he sat down beside me and we played the whole game through in one sitting. So thanks! :)

11:50 AM  
Blogger Steve said...

Wow! That's a great compliment for the whole team that worked on the game.

Thanks. Tell your friend thanks, too.

12:06 PM  
Blogger Outlaw said...

Well thank you for taking time out to reply to a fan :)

12:22 PM  
Blogger Steve said...

My pleasure. Thanks for posting your comments.

12:31 PM  

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