Category Archives: Mechanics

Dec
01
2008

No More Mechanics

Last week I lied a little. It is likely that there will be no more Mechanics articles in the future or, if there are some, they won’t be on the weekly basis that they have been lately. I do plan to continue writing a weekly article of sorts, but I don’t really want to limit [...]

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Nov
17
2008

Mechanics 7: Heart of Darkness (Far Cry 2)

I just got another mission from the unnaturally quick-speaking warlord of the African UFL — one of two warring factions in Far Cry 2 — when one of my buddies gave me a call on my cell phone telling me to meet them if I wanted to make my mission take twice as long as [...]

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Nov
13
2008

Mechanics 6b: Unnecessary Vehicle Segments

I hate them.

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Nov
10
2008

Mechanics 6: You’re the Hero Now, Dog

Ruff, ruff!
This quote comes from one of the only, if not the only (aside from Half-Life 2’s Alyx Vance), video game companion that never becomes annoying or troublesome to gamers. One of the most recurring problems in any video game is that of trying to create a companion in a video game that can tag [...]

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Nov
03
2008

Mechanics 5: Vault-Tech Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.)

With the development of Fallout 3, Bethesda Softworks faced a dilemma: they had to make a first-person RPG engine that was typically used for high-fantasy RPG/adventure games handle the intensity, gore, and statistical probability of the gunplay in Black Isle’s cult-legend Fallout and Fallout 2 in such a way as to not annoy either first-person [...]

By Trent Polack | Also posted in Gaming, General | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | View Comments
Oct
27
2008

Mechanics 4: Integrating User Interfaces

Interfaces of all sorts are one of the most game-specific features of any entertainment medium; there’s never an ammo counter on-screen when watching John McClane do Die Hard thing or a health indicator attached to Forrest Gump’s forehead in his movie — that would be ridiculous. Yet throughout the history of the gaming industry UIs [...]

By Trent Polack | Also posted in Gaming | Tagged , , , , | View Comments
Oct
20
2008

Mechanics 3: Achievements

Everyone likes candy. Diabetics or people on a strict diet may nay-say such a statement but, for the rest of us, a bit of candy here and there is a little treat composed solely of sugar and happiness. Achievements in video games are similar class to a piece of candy. Players can gain achievements for [...]

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