[REVIEW/ANALYSIS] of The Dreamhold, potential SPOILERS inc..

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Gene Wirchenko (genew@mail.ocis.net) wrote

>>>Here, Tobias Thelen <thelentob@utfors.se> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Andrew Plotkin <erkyrath@eblong.com> skrev i
>>>> diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet:cqcr3s$rrb$1@reader1.panix.com...
>>>> > Here, Tobias Thelen <thelentob@utfors.se> wrote:
>>>> > >
>>>> > > I disagree. The writing is forced and heavy-handed
>>>> >
>>>> > Same troll. Same ISP, same IP address.
>>>>
>>>> Andrew Plotkin, rec.games.int-fiction, 2004-11-17:
>>>>
>>>> When you write a game, you have to be prepared for players to not
like
>>>> it. And you do not get to write down a list of acceptable reasons
for
>>>> them to dislike it. That's the player's job. :) Your job is smile
and
>>>> nod and, if necessary, say "I'm sorry it didn't work for you."
>>>
>>>You're not a player.
>>
>>Elitism is never a good idea.
>
> Sure, it is. Standards of excellence are great.

I suppose you could be right, assuming the elitist is able to achieve
those standards. Plotkin isn't. The
find-white-key-to-open-white-door-type puzzles, the awkward writing,
the generic fantasy setting, the amnesia, the faceless PC, everything
screams "Staple food!" at you.

Dreamhold is quite simply too mediocre to justify Plotkin's diva-like
bitchin'. And the assumption that you somehow have to "earn" the right
to play it is, for lack of a better word, hilarious.
 
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Here, Walter S. <sisulu@africamail.com> wrote:
>
> Dreamhold is quite simply too mediocre to justify Plotkin's diva-like
> bitchin'. And the assumption that you somehow have to "earn" the right
> to play it is

Not what I said. Anyone can play a game. You don't really think
Dreamhold is mediocre, though. You call prominent games "mediocre" (or
"bad") at random, using random false names, to annoy people.

I figure all the actual RGIF newcomers now realize this, so I can stop
pointing it out for another few months. Have fun.

--Z

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
*
I'm still thinking about what to put in this space.
 
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It's quite sad. Some years ago I was very interested in IF. Recently, I
did not find much time to play new games. However, what I was interested
in were 'good' games - playing which would not kill time but be
rewarding in itself.

I did not play Dreamhold yet. I'm not sure I will. So this will be a
response to what I gather is a troll. Something one should never do.

This is, however, not just a trolling, but an attempt (maybe even a
success) to kill further discussions that would be helpful to IF.

The original author called Dreamhold a "mediocre" game, implying he/she
wants IF better that this. In truth he wants worse IF, traditional
puzzle games which would not *pretend* to be anything more. In fact, it
is exactly this aspiration which gives offence to the original author.

Calling a game 'mediocre' bans into the realm of adventure games.
Dreamhold may very well lack in some respects. I did not realize it
aimed at being avant garde. I would be quite interested to discuss the
shortcomings of good IF; while I immensely enjoyed, say, Christminster,
Mercy and Photopia, these games had quite a number of weaknesses. The
trolling, however, prevents this discussion. It establishes an
atmosphere in which harsh criticism looks like trolling and constructive
criticism read like fan boy articles.

Those who think IF is dead and playing it is a nostalgic indulgence will
not mind. Those who think its just a hobby of a couple of hundreds of
afficinados will not mind either. If, on the other hand, you think IF is
something worthwhile and promising, you better not ignore the "trolls",
but tell the hillbillies who are disturbed in their comfort of
puzzlefests to STFU and leave discussions to those who know what they
are talking about. (Indeed, I suggest discussing the trolle (while not
with them) instead of ignoring them; they are not classic trolls who'll
say anything to get a response; rather they seem to thrive upon an
attitude which need to be attacked at thoroughly dismantled).

--
ob