Eric Crosby
Eric Crosby
  • Видео 7
  • Просмотров 370 196
Gamifying Dialogue - Analyzing the Best Conversation Systems in Games
Video games seem to be oversaturated with violence - and perhaps that is because it is easy to make violence fun. But, where are all the games that make talking fun? In this video, I explore the mechanics that game developers use to gamify dialogue. In doing so, I attempt to find ways that we can make games about talking just as fun as games about killing.
This video does not contain any spoilers for the games featured.
Support these videos: www.patreon.com/eric_crosby
Follow me on Twitter: eric_r_crosby
Join my Discord community: discord.gg/nCxHMMzwEx
-- Table of Contents --
00:00 - Introduction
01:58 - Choose Your Own Adventure
06:06 - Lock and Key
10:26 - Skill Checks
14:35 - Kinetic...
Просмотров: 9 132

Видео

Weird West - A Fine Immersive Sim
Просмотров 6 тыс.2 года назад
Weird West is the debut immersive sim from WolfEye Studios - founded by some of the folks behind Dishonored and Prey. So, how does Weird West stack up to those other immersive sims? I suppose you'll just have to watch the video and find out. This video does not contain spoilers! Support these videos: patreon.com/eric_crosby Follow me on Twitter: eric_r_crosby Join my Discord communi...
CONTROL - Exploring the New Weird
Просмотров 22 тыс.3 года назад
CONTROL is one of the greatest games of the past decade - but more than that - it is also an exciting celebration of the New Weird. Just what is the New Weird? In this video, I attempt to answer this and more while keeping the spoilers as light as possible. Correction: for some reason I kept calling Johnny Truant 'Harry' when recording the audio - and I think I somehow edited my memories to bel...
ARKANE Lore - Prey and the Power of Empathy
Просмотров 46 тыс.3 года назад
This is the fourth video in a series of video essays covering Arkane Studios' recent work. In this video, I retell the story of Prey in chronological order. Along the way, I give a close analysis of the game's mechanics, design and narrative. I pay particular attention to the game's themes of empathy, and its metatextual engagements with its players. Support these videos: patreon.com/eric_crosb...
ARKANE Lore - Death of the Outsider and Identity
Просмотров 38 тыс.3 года назад
This is the third in a series of video essays covering Arkane Studios' work since Dishonored. In this video, I closely examine the narrative themes, mechanical polish, and level design of Dishonored: Death of the Outsider. Table of Contents ~ No Spoilers ~ 0:00:00 - Introduction 0:02:39 - Something Old, Something New 0:07:52 - Honing the Edge ~ Total Spoilers ~ 0:16:10 - Karnaca, Sweet Karnaca ...
ARKANE Lore - Dishonored 2 and the Burden of Sequels
Просмотров 67 тыс.3 года назад
This is the second in a series of video essays covering Arkane Studios' work since Dishonored. In this video, I closely examine the themes, mechanics and narrative of Dishonored 2. My focus is on the ways in which Dishonored 2 does - and does not - live up to the legacy of the first. Content Warning: Violent gameplay footage throughout. Table of Contents ~ No Spoilers ~ 0:00:00 - Introduction 0...
ARKANE Lore - Dishonored and the Art of Nonviolence
Просмотров 182 тыс.4 года назад
This is the first of a series of video essays covering Arkane Studios' work since Dishonored. In this video, I give a close examination of Dishonored's mechanics, themes and narrative. My focus is on the ways in which Dishonored innovates on non-violent or non-lethal modes of play. Content Warning: brief discussion of sexual assault from 0:33:57 to 0:34:36, violent gameplay footage throughout. ...

Комментарии

  • @chrishall2594
    @chrishall2594 6 дней назад

    Giving Corvo a voice was the right choice. Silent protagonists suck

  • @fyrtower
    @fyrtower 9 дней назад

    i know im a bit late but why hasnt this video gotten 1 million views its very good.

  • @Nlwalker487
    @Nlwalker487 16 дней назад

    lol I finally played and finished it this week

  • @donnythedealer9761
    @donnythedealer9761 17 дней назад

    Corvo killing at the start is perfect for his character. His near-enough wife was murdered in front of him and he was blamed for it, he lost his child, and all this love he couldnt fully express because of the judgement of those who blamed him. He would be fucking SEETHING with hatred for those who wronged him. He would not be forgiving, but the game is great for giving you that option. You, as the player, are not personally connected with Jessamine as a character, but if you put yourself in Corvo’s shoes, Im sure you’d be just like Daud, despicable. And youd DEFINITELY kill people when on edge at the anniversary of your love’s murder. It is a non-issue.

  • @Aronmasonarts
    @Aronmasonarts 19 дней назад

    this game needs a movie, but one true to the game.

  • @carloreneeventura8714
    @carloreneeventura8714 28 дней назад

    No, *Lady Boyle Deserved It* I am not disgusted, its not creepy, this is Dunwall- not your American university

  • @valentine_typewriter
    @valentine_typewriter Месяц назад

    If I end up finishing the game I'm making, I'll thank you for this video

  • @869wh
    @869wh Месяц назад

    You are amazing, so amazing that I am forced to write a whole paragraph in youtube comments. I'm pretty young and I only just played the Dishonoured trilogy this year, after giving the first game a tentative try and becoming completely hooked, and you have made a brilliant summary of these 3 games which have left me scrabbling to find more (including buying Prey while it was on sale). I always felt that D2 was lacking something that I just couldn't quite put into words, despite the fact that I think it is much more entertaining (especially as a naturally nonlethal player), and in your second video you helped me understand what was missing. Then, like you, expecting lesser quality in a game meant to be DLC about the Outsider, especially after my disappointment at his voice change and randomly revealed backstory (which I felt was without weight, and ruined a lot of his mystery for no real reason), I was stunned to find what I consider to be the best of the trilogy and one of my favourite games in both story and gameplay (the nonlethal gadgets are a treat to use, especially as I usually get stuck using one tactic in the other games, e.g. I never used possession in my nonlethal runs). This game makes me appreciate Robin Lord Taylor (even if I still prefer Billy Lush, without voice effects) and his portrayal of the Outsider, as well as fleshing out Billie Lurk, who I really enjoyed from Daud's story - I think she was brilliant and was ecstatic when I saw her as the face of Death of the Outsider, another parallel in that it is a successor to the Daud DLCs in the same way D2 was for Dishonoured, and they star the protégés of the MCs from those. This game brings back the class commentary that was relegated to Billie saying you're complicit in Abele's corruption, and graffiti on the walls, and makes it the picture rather than the frame it was in the first game, even if it was a well-made frame. These videos are what I have been frantically searching for, since finishing these games and labelling Arkane as my favourite studio (Sorry Larian, I am too fickle with my obsessions). I have vomited some of my thoughts into this with no regard for readability, and if no-one reads it I can still be happy I've written this stuff down somewhere. Thank you, and I will certainly be looking out for your further content! Also I HAD NO IDEA YOU COULD MAKE MARKERS TO TELEPORT TO WHILE ASTRAL PROJECTING AND I CANNOT BELIEVE MY OWN IGNORANCE

  • @BatailleRapTishort
    @BatailleRapTishort Месяц назад

    49:40 the protagonist gets not-so-subtly called out by both Sokolov and Meagan for their part in the rise of the Duke and his wrongdoings in the intros to missions 6 and 8 though, not to mention all the clues we find here and there like Meagan snidely remarking that the protag should know they're low on resources because their own policies on Whale Oil have been bleeding people dry for energy. I get that it isn't the most prevalent theme but it's still very noticeable

  • @escapegulag4317
    @escapegulag4317 Месяц назад

    there is no power in empathy because in atheism there is no such thing as morals

  • @hesseltjeb
    @hesseltjeb Месяц назад

    Great video!

  • @mikeyestrada1674
    @mikeyestrada1674 Месяц назад

    No womder this game feels like half life it all makes sense with its steam punk look

  • @bestsnowboarderuknow
    @bestsnowboarderuknow Месяц назад

    Having Prey spoiled is analogous to having Dark Souls spoiled. It doesn't matter because what makes those two games some of the greatest of all time is not the stories. It's the level design. I'm always surprised at how few people understand this. I hear people talk about Dark Souls 2 and why they think it was a disappointment. They inevitably say something about dudes in armor and getting ganked... I always want to scream at them. It has nothing to do with the combat!!!! In fact, fighting dudes in armor is fun!!! Dark Souls 2 was a disappointment because the level design was flat and spread out. Whereas Dark Souls 1 was this densely interconnected world that was stacked vertically and wrapped around on itself in interesting and surprising ways. Coming down that elevator and suddenly realizing I was back in Firelink Shrine was one of the most amazing moments I've ever had in gaming. Prey 2017 has similar moments and everywhere I looked there was a secret path or shortcut or easter egg. Since From Soft has never been able to match the Dark Souls 1 level design, the best level design in gaming since Dark Souls 1 is Prey 2017. THAT'S what makes this game great.

  • @NotAnAlphaLegionary
    @NotAnAlphaLegionary Месяц назад

    A lil late to the party, but this was awesome.

  • @Sjohnston3030
    @Sjohnston3030 Месяц назад

    I need a continuation of the dishonoured series, after the tie in to deathloop, I need more

  • @Alunae
    @Alunae Месяц назад

    0:20 I recognized the Disco Elysium background music immediately haha. (And yes, I AM like you, and I prefer games about talking more than shooting, lol.

  • @hi-ougidemonfang
    @hi-ougidemonfang Месяц назад

    5:56 danganrompa tries to solve this by making your words into bullets you fire out of a gun:, which is very funny.

  • @ThousandairesClub
    @ThousandairesClub 2 месяца назад

    *indeed "how can we make talking to people as fun as killing them" is the question of life 😂 I think Road 96 did the best job of it 👌 each sequence relies on dialog and its something wildly different and interesting each time around. for open world games, its much more difficult 🤔 chatgpt is the only thing I can think of....because only unscripted and unpredictable dialog could tear me away from the boom boom bang bang.*

  • @Julius.F
    @Julius.F 2 месяца назад

    Great video, I love it

  • @GabrielleErudessa
    @GabrielleErudessa 2 месяца назад

    I love this game and replayed it more than any game. With how the ending points out how many typhon we killed, I'm thinking of next gameplay attempting to kill as little typhon as possible, doing it just when necessary for saving people and see what if it changes something lol

  • @dantheman5405
    @dantheman5405 2 месяца назад

    Corvo getting zapped in the beginning is wild. Corvo should have been not playable, silent, and more cleverly dishonored. Then we play as Emily and try to save the guy we love from the first game

  • @pen-nl1cm
    @pen-nl1cm 2 месяца назад

    I like the flood district. the way you have to go about especially for a low chaos run is an incredible testing of you knowledge. because it far less linear.

  • @kalkstein2694
    @kalkstein2694 2 месяца назад

    In your video on the first Dishonored you said that it was clear Corvo needed to protect Jesamine so the game doesn't count the assassins as Corvo's kills and doing so makes sense. This is exactly what happens in the intro sequence so I don't understand why you didn't like it here.

  • @kalkstein2694
    @kalkstein2694 2 месяца назад

    High chaos also drastically changes the drawings Emily does, so that they are way more eerie and brutal.

  • @pedromedina5881
    @pedromedina5881 3 месяца назад

    Amazing video 💪🏿

  • @alemateo1054
    @alemateo1054 3 месяца назад

    For me, the loyalists betraying me threw me for a loooooop bro. I'm not even joking

  • @progeniesofthetoiletpaperh6433
    @progeniesofthetoiletpaperh6433 3 месяца назад

    For me, the opening scene had corvo being the royal guard once more and just reacted to protect Emily. With all that happened in the first game, it just makes sense that Corvo go for the kill soon as threat shows up towards Emily again. I wouldn't count it as Corvo discarding the no kill method he did in the first game.

  • @progeniesofthetoiletpaperh6433
    @progeniesofthetoiletpaperh6433 3 месяца назад

    Man, I love Dishonored so much. Hope Arkane makes another installment

  • @evanrutledge-sz4yo
    @evanrutledge-sz4yo 3 месяца назад

    My biggest problem with the “Chaos system” is that it really just boils down to a usual morality system though one with a lot more choices. I think that the game should have moments that sort of punish you for doing the right thing and not killing people, in real life being good doesn’t necessarily grant you a happy ending. Imagine you choose to spare one of the targets, but than later in the game they come back and cause you trouble. I feel like that would add even more weight to your choices instead of going for a good or bad ending.

  • @lhays117
    @lhays117 3 месяца назад

    I’m totally fine with Corvo having a voice if it’s Stephen Russell’s voice.

  • @rayedd74
    @rayedd74 3 месяца назад

    Great video. but among us is an abormination.

  • @FinnaWoken
    @FinnaWoken 3 месяца назад

    Dishonored 2 and doto were the first and only games to ever make me feel motion sick :( no matter what I adjusted with the settings and visuals it never got comfortable moving in those games. I eventually gave up on ever trying to finish d2 despite the fact dishonored 1 is my favorite game to replay several times a year. I mainly blame how often the camera is wrestled out of the players hand. Every time you climb something, The camera is whipped down to the ledge at ridiculous speed, Emily reaches and lifts herself, There's a weird back and forth wobble for a split second. And then she looks forward with the control being returned to you while you're looking perfectly at the horizon so you have to quickly readjust the camera to get your subject in view again. There's countless actions that cause stuff like this to happen unlike in the first game where you always had control of the camera. At its worst you could only wiggle it back and forth a few degrees but it's still better than the void engine games. The exact same thing happened with dying light 2. I don't mind forced animations that much but it's agonizing when the camera is being jostled around as part of it.

  • @FinnaWoken
    @FinnaWoken 3 месяца назад

    20:57 I strongly disagree. One of the best parts of dishonored to me is that no life is worth more than another. Diplomats, ruffians, factory workers, royalty or assassin. A life is a life, and who a person was doesn't change how much of an effect their death has on the world. I think it would've been a pretty gross message if you could kill 40 people in a playthrough and still get the "good" ending but then murdering no one but a rapist and two slave owners is somehow more detrimental on the world. All lives are equally tragic to lose, was a pretty good message for 14 year old me to learn through the game

  • @lykahannal
    @lykahannal 3 месяца назад

    🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

  • @Cappuccinoitself
    @Cappuccinoitself 4 месяца назад

    14:00 the solution to that is to set your fps limit to 60 or 120. The camera doesn't work properly when the fps isn't a multiple of 30. I limited my game to 120 fps with the in-game fps limiter and the issue is completely resolved.

  • @telekinesticman
    @telekinesticman 4 месяца назад

    That final segment was spectacular. I hadn't even thought that much about how unconventional Billie is for a mainstream protagonist, and how letting the rats speak was like elevating the voices of the oppressed. This was an excellent analysis.

  • @telekinesticman
    @telekinesticman 4 месяца назад

    I found this series of videos and was worried it would just be another dry summary of events and mechanics, but was more than pleasantly surprised to find a thoughtful opinion piece loaded with insight and valuable critiques. Your narration is clear and to the point, and your editing is simple but effective. You don't waste the viewer's time with obnoxious jokes or overly detailed explanations of things they likely already know. This is exactly the kind of video I appreciate, and also the style I go for in my own work as a result. Great stuff!

  • @fossetti8216
    @fossetti8216 4 месяца назад

    loved oxenfree's dialogue options

  • @wtz529
    @wtz529 4 месяца назад

    19:30 when he’s talking about the Q-beam. At first yes it’s kinda lame. But if you have points in engineering the Q-beam became my go to weapon for the bigger enemies. It gets extremely powerful and has great range. Most of the time I would Q-beam a nightmare until he got up close then swap to upgraded shotgun and blast it away.

  • @rancidavocado2166
    @rancidavocado2166 4 месяца назад

    I didnt get it due to not being a real dlc if it was i would hsve gotten it in a heartbeat

  • @rancidavocado2166
    @rancidavocado2166 4 месяца назад

    Outsider was perfect detached, cold he was amazing. New guy is good but the first game is just iconic

  • @rancidavocado2166
    @rancidavocado2166 4 месяца назад

    Love the palpatine reference.

  • @DK_9035SB
    @DK_9035SB 4 месяца назад

    5:00 looks a bit like todd howard

  • @jubileechambers2604
    @jubileechambers2604 4 месяца назад

    I actually somehow managed to play Prey for the first time just this week with no spoilers going in. All i knew was aliens on a space station and holy shit did i walk into my newest favorite experience. I love this game so freaking much

  • @WhetuCreatives
    @WhetuCreatives 4 месяца назад

    Hello @EricCosby You should check out any of the "Way of the samurai" games. its got some very interesting interactive dialogue mechanics

  • @true_xander
    @true_xander 4 месяца назад

    It's the best essay on games dialogue I ever seen.

  • @celes7ial
    @celes7ial 5 месяцев назад

    The first time playing this game was truly amazing. I never knew anything about this game, but the fact that it is somehow related to space and what not. And already during the beginning sequence, I honestly just wanted to get to the balcony of my apartment, I picked up a wrench, broke the glass and stood shocked for like 20 minutes just to process what has happened. Since then this game felt like a horror for my whole playthrough. Sadly I never felt this way replaying the game, but it still is a wonderful piece of a game design and artwork I also had a strange occurence, when after deleting and reinstalling the game because of lack of my drive space, I just deleted the folder, but not the save files. So after I reinstalled the game I had no visible saves applied, however, when hopping into a new saving slot I got through the introductory sequence into the lobby for the 1st time and saw Weavers and Telepaths hovering around the place, while I only had a freaking glue gun and a wrench!!! This was shocking, but really thrilling

  • @GamePhysics
    @GamePhysics 5 месяцев назад

    Have you played any deus ex games? I've never had more fun with a dialogue system than when I had an argument with my boss and won.

    • @EricCrosby
      @EricCrosby 5 месяцев назад

      I have played most of them yes! I do particularly love the DXHR dialogue