Adventure Games

I'd like to make a post about something very close to my heart, the adventure game.

Ever since I first played through broken sword as a young boy I've held it as the height of gaming. Indeed, not only the height of gaming but potentially the height of writing as well, a level of immersion is possible in an adventure game that is not possible in conventional fiction. A fusion of graphics and writing that can make you feel part of the story.

They are a rare breed however, and notoriously difficult to make a profit from. First because it is insidiously difficult to create a good adventure game and secondly because it's not a huge market. In fact it almost died off entirely a few years back but, thank god, it's on its way back. New technologies have offset the huge development cost associated with them and its possible to whack one out with as small a team as you could ten years ago. The new monkey island game is an example of this. Not only an example, but a moderately good example.



Tales of Monkey Island is the rejuvenation of a license that hasn't seen the light of day in a long time. It's also a license that has epitomised the true power of the adventure game medium. Monkey Island games were funny, clever and involving. They drew you in with it's lovably dimwitted protagonist and well, pirate adventure. The puzzles were fiendish and at times utterly inspired and the art still holds up in many ways today. Needless to say, I was dreading its remake. Seriously, I'm almost convinced that creativity is on its way out these days. It just isn't commercially viable.

But, in all fairness, Tales of monkey island is a good game. I only played through the first episode of five, but it kept me interested. The puzzles were easy enough but there was just enough challenge to keep me going. This could to be the turning point, at least for me.

It's time for the adventure game to return. Let's not let I have no mouth and I must scream, Broken Sword and the Lucasarts greats be the end of a medium, let them be merely the beginning. I'm inspired enough to have a go with this tool to put together something myself. A new age is coming, an age of adventure and red herrings.

http://clarvalon.blogspot.com/

The Allure of Sciencey Shorty Fiction

Oh, it's just so good. Writing science fiction stories is addictive, letting the mind run wild. I have a feeling it's going to remain part of my writing for a long time now. Neat little adventures which explore a particular aspect of something sciencey. Pulling characters out of nowhere and generating worlds around them, it's pretty cool.

As for hopes on getting anything published, I have no idea what the chances are on that. But I'm starting to wonder what the deal with that whole thing is anyway. I mean, I've been waiting for ages for replys, I don't know what else I can do. Write and wait, wait and write. In the mean time, day to day life comes down like a hammer on a rail way spike.

Like some possessed navvie smashing his sledgehammer over my soul. But, well, it will not break, its here to do something, it's going to write, whatever, it's just going to keep trying to make something of itself.

Because you realise this about life, it does wear you down. I feel life and work getting to me, pulling me down. It's harder as you get older, each year going by taking that much potential with them, that much more possibility.

But production is up, quality is high and the drive is growing every moment, every second I am more prepared, more ready to throw myself harder against the wall. I am without means of victory but every day I grow more worthy of it.

I Should be Writing Now

Well, Okay. I am writing, but I should be doing something constructive.

Over Monday and Tuesday I managed to get a short story done, I was happy with it. Trying hard now to keep the pressure up but to be honest I'm feeling kind of exhausted.

I had a look through my list of ideas, I didn't leap at any today. I might have a look again after this though, if I can keep my eyes open.

I took one look at my novel and I almost died. God knows how I manage to work on that complex work of lunacy. I definitely have no head for it now. Writing is hard and there just isn't enough sugar in my bloodstream right now to get anything serious done.

So, work continues on the finding an agent front. Got another email, it said "keep trying, your chances are good". Which was nice in a way I suppose. They said they weren't handling my type of book right now, which is fair enough.

I've since sent a few really good query letters so I still have to see if they turn up any interest.

As for my short story that's been sent on to craigsworld. I am obsessed with them for the moment. It's a solid story, a bit of sci fi, a bit of horror. It's called "fanatic legion" and has a punch to it. Well, I'll keep writing anyway, I really think I'm improving. You develop a kind of instinct for it, a broader look on a piece. And with greater power of expression comes greater fun, so everybody wins.

Well, if I heard news good or bad I'll jot it down here. So the world in a million years may know the fate of a great late, writing magnate. Have a good evening.

Happy Writing Day

Okay, its Saturday, I slept until 2pm and well, its time to write.

I got my coffee right beside me like a tiny rotund companion and I have a bit of pink Floyd playing quietly. Now is the time and every writing day must start with a visit to my blog.

I'm happy with my new query letter and synopsis, like everything else it was tough to expose to criticism but I have to say it really really helped. I also read through a few previously successful query letters on www.pubrants.org and I do now have an idea now of what might be more successful. I'm going to send it on agent by agent, doing a bit of research every time.

It has also left me with a much better understanding of what my book is actually composed of. It seems ludicrous that others would be able to see that better than I would but its true. I see everything like its real, like it really happened, for in a way it did for me. It was a natural progression.

It does tell a tale of ambition and lust for power, and the power of patience and a balanced mind. Kind of. Its very hard for me to say. Here is the cover letter I have finished up with, for your reading pleasure.


Dear [Agent]

Redmond is the journey of a young man seeking purpose in a decaying world. It is a fantasy novel of around 100,000 words aimed towards adults and heavily influenced by the work of Sergei Lukyanenko and Frank Herbert.

Aster becomes the unwilling axis upon on which the salvation of a world descending into ruin swings. After coming into possession of the diamond of fate he is hunted by his enemies and exploited by his allies, all the while desperately trying to free himself from the grasp of the diamonds power.

It is a story which explores themes of loss, fear and fulfilling ambitions despite the opposing plans that fate may have in store.

Aster accepts a contract to retrieve that diamond of fate expecting just another worthless artifact, another relic that had gathered meaning over the ages like a tomb gathers dust. He had no idea that it was the home of an ancient Draconian spirit, crippled by its imprisonment inside a lost stone. Now he has become that spirits last chance at fulfilling its purpose, to return balance to a dying world.

A reluctant Aster meets the Red prince, a self made monarch on the path to becoming a god. Aster becomes wrapped up in the politics and emotional battle field of the Red Princes world as he discovers truths that illuminate the diamond of fates purpose and its part to play in a cataclysmic age.

As the Red Princes kingdom is invaded by outside forces Asters ideals and ambitions are threatened by the necessities of war. But, through help from the stone and the sacrifice of the Red Prince, balance is maintained and the diamond of fates plans move one step closer to completion.

Redmond is the first book of a planned series. I can provide the complete manuscript at your request.

I look forward to your reply.

Thanks
Eoghan

Keeping the fire burning

Called in sick to work today. I feel half dead.

I'm at this point now, feeling overly stressed, feeling overpowered. My query letter I spent hours on isn't good enough to line a hamsters cage and I generally feel like muck.

So now is a time to analyse. I did rework one of my short stories and submitted it to an online sci fi magazine, a little practice using the shunn manuscript format.
(http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html) And I am thinking about this holy grail query letter than I'm going to have another shot at this weekend.

So many different opinions on it on the web. The most successful type is the one that can make a connection with the agency/publisher but I don't know them so I'm relying on talking them over on the books merit. The most difficult part of this is actually expressing what my book is about.

It was the work cafeteria a few months ago. I was asked "What's your book about?". And, though I can express that at length with somebody, I was incapable of summing it up in that context. In the context where I had to justify somebodies interest.

Well, what is it about? A man seeking meaning in his world, consumed by ancient purpose. How about that? Because he is seeking control and finds purpose, which is not what he really wanted but is a doorway to it. Yeah, I'll start from there I guess. Will keep you updated.