Tom Chick puts it better than I could have.
Although, you know, I'm not quite as jazzed about Canvas Curse as everybody else seems to be. When I first started playing it, I was like, "God damn this is terribly freaking clever." But whenever I'd get to the end of a level I didn't feel any strong urge to play the next level, and generally I'd stop and do something else and then maybe come back to it later.
One thing I'd like to write more about at some point in the future is videogame "affordances" - that's not quite the right word, I'm looking for something meaning the motions you make with the controller translate intuitively into the gamespace. I met a guy at NTI who works for Nokia who is completely devoted to studying this kind of thing...and I forgot his name. Sorry! If you're reading this, give us a shout?
Anyhow, Canvas Curse and Warioware are great examples of this phenomenon. The first example I can think of is Shufflepuck Cafe for the Mac - the motion you made with the mouse was just like the motion of the air hockey thingy on the screen. It was a kind of immersion you don't normally get.
Also, there's this Japanese cooking game - I don't even know what it's called; James Chao has an imported copy in the office - and the various motions you make with the controller (swirling, moving and chopping, and so on) match the various preparation steps for the thing you're cooking. It's really quite fun.
Actually, that's all I had to say on the subject. So I guess I have written about it, now. Still looking for a better word.
I don't see how midnight club 3 is representative of the games available for the PSP. At least not in loading times. In the action, yes, of course it is, this is a different experience. I also do not see how Lumines is a throwaway. I have not played it yet, but from what I understand it is one of the favorite titles for the system.
Posted by: zachary j gamedesigner | July 21, 2005 at 10:31 AM
Ore no Ryori! The cooking game. It's weird how short the period of experimenting with dual analog was. The way they phased it in over the last half of the Playstation's life probably doomed it--by the time the PS2 came out and you could count on players having a Dual Shock everyone already knew what it was for.
Posted by: mjh | July 21, 2005 at 10:46 AM
Jamie, I believe the NTi guy you're talking about is Matt Jones.
http://www.blackbeltjones.com/work/
Posted by: Jim Rossignol | July 22, 2005 at 04:59 AM
There is a word for it with mice PCs at least, and I'm betting you know it. Gestures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse_gesture I think the same word works here.
Posted by: Jeffool | July 22, 2005 at 10:38 AM
Hi I saw your weblog being advertised as "the joel on software" but then about games. Do you also write about Software engineering issues of developing games?
Posted by: eelke folmer | July 23, 2005 at 05:03 PM
It's really more of a gamedesignblog.com or maybe a gamereviewblog.com.
Posted by: AC | July 23, 2005 at 09:18 PM
That article you linked to left kind of a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed like he was complaining about the PSP mostly because he wanted to complain about something.
Sure, slow load times aren't great and the PSP doesn't have as many games as the DS, but the guy seemed more interested in whatever the console version of [i]ad hominem[/i] is to get his point across. This is of course quite ridiculous. The PSP is a nice consumer machine that has given developers some trouble as I understand it. It will catch up.
I have more specific complaints about the article but I'll keep them to myself for now. Let's just say that I think you probably could have said it better yourself, because I can't imagine it being said worse.
Posted by: Not a Sony shill | July 24, 2005 at 09:53 PM
I'm not sure who the above troll is, but it isn't I. Tom Chick is a GEANIUS. I'm wearing my Tom Chick t-shirt right now. I have subscribed to his newsletter and will be submitting all of his stories to slashdot.
Posted by: zachary j gamedesigner | July 25, 2005 at 02:54 PM
I'm Derek Smart and I approved this message.
(btw Jamie update plz kthx)
Posted by: Derek Smart | July 27, 2005 at 11:05 PM
PS anybody got any ideas for my next game? I was thinking it would continue to have wildly innovative interface management. I mean, pie menus, aren't they the cool new thing?
Posted by: Derek Smart | July 27, 2005 at 11:07 PM
By the way, I think the name of the cooking game is Ore no Ryouri. Just in case you were curious.
Posted by: TB | July 29, 2005 at 05:34 PM
I believe that PSP is the best portability system that exists because of its functionality. Everybody thinks the wieght and the size matters. But what I want to say is that this doesn't rally matter because you wouldn't actually play these games outside the house. I mean how many of you actally seen a person play PSP outside. I haven't. Another things I want say that people these days are obsessed with putting their gadgets in their pocket for some reason. I don't know why u o this for. Have u heard this thing called bags that u carry with. I mean u look pretty stupid if u put stuff into your pockets. This is out of date. Today we are living in the world called 21st century. You look like peole who can't afford bags.
DS = 3.5 star PSP= 4.9 star out of 5 . (obiusly if it was 5, it means it is perfect)
p.S (CAVEMAN MIGHT PUT STUFF INTO THEIR POCKETS)
Posted by: #### | August 25, 2005 at 02:24 AM