Abhimanyu Shekhar

We can all name more than one game franchise that's essentially a recycling of sorts. A lot of R&D goes into improving features and adding new ones, but they still "feel" the same once gameplay begins. Why does this happen? Are such games not receiving enough hard work? Or is it just us feeling that way while the truth is different?

I think it often has to do with cost management. If Ubisoft makes an Engine for Assassin's Creed, it is cost effective to reuse the Engine on multiple games rather than start from scratch each time. – Sean Gadus 4 years ago
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The Sims 4 cops a lot of flack for this very reason. Could be an interesting game to explore in such an article. – Samantha Leersen 4 years ago
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@J.D.: I have a few games in mind. Source engine based ones, Unity based ones, Pokemon, COD, Sims, NFS, Elder Scrolls primarily. And yes, the amp is coming because the symbol isn't allowed to be formatted into here, but won't be a problem in the article. @RedFlame: I will definitely specify more than a few franchises so readers have a clear idea of what exactly we're talking about. And valid point - perhaps, I'll tackle both types of recycling separately. Makes sense to let people learn there's not just one kind of recycling that goes into games. – Abhimanyu Shekhar 4 years ago
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I think this article can do very very well if you also throw in some numbers in terms of development cost and creating new IPs in general. It wasn't touched on extensively, but I remember when watching the documentary on developing God of War (2018), they briefly mentioned how tough it was starting a new IP in general with new mechanics. If you have numbers or at least quotes of reputable people in the industry talking about the numbers then this article can go far. – Daniel Ibarra 4 years ago
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I think this could be an interesting thing to do a comparison with. Recycling in gaming vs. recycling in other media (Literature, film, Music). – Bct417 4 years ago
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games

emotional connect

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Why some games create such an unforgettable impression

Witcher 3 – why was it more than just a game? It was the prerequisite for the Netflix show. Pokemon games – why did they spawn a whole franchise of merchandise, TV shows, and more? In this article, I will dissect what makes a game have that sacred "emotional connect" for most of the people who play them.

Gungrave is another game which ended up creating a fine anime adaptation. You may want to check it out. – RedFlame2000 4 years ago
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Some games definitely leave a long-lasting impression on me. A key franchise for me is the Xenoblade Chronicles games, especially the first and second games. It took me a month for the second game after playing it every day, and almost a year for the first game. Because it took me quite a while, I truly felt like I was traveling and adventuring with these characters that I grew to love. The story also really brought that out, as I always reached a new plot point with each sitting, or met a charming new character. Those games still sit at the top of the lists of my favorite games, and it would be hard for me to forget any aspect of them. – Max 4 years ago
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I have written the article with your feedback in mind, do check! – Abhimanyu Shekhar 3 years ago
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Pending

games

Game developers

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The importance of indie game development and why we should fight monopoly

Indie game developers have always been there. And the tools and platforms that allow them to reach more and more gamers have only improved over time. But monopoly of the big game studios is a serious concern, which grows day after day. Why should we actively fight against that and how is it even more important than gaming as a hobby itself?

People just like to gamble. Oh and if you can edit it I'm pretty sure that the indie games are more likely to be found online. Websites like coolmath Games, Crazy Games, Poki.com, and lagged.com. – horrorfan 4 years ago
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arts

Colors

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The War of Colors

Watercolor, acrylics, poster color, and oil colors. Well, there are more. I think it'll be a fun and interesting article to simple analyze the pros and cons of color types in a humorous sense. Something like the personification of colors. Amid our serious articles, we need something light to serve our audience.

That would be a very fun article indeed! The major thing is not to take this seriously because there is no way a certain colour or material is better than another. Each one has a different purpose, and it's very subjective - you would start a war in the comment section! So make it fun and ironic and light :) – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun 9 years ago
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This sounds delightful. I don't know that much about art but something like this could be informative and lots of fun to read. Hope someone takes on the challenge. – Celeste Reeb 9 years ago
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I agree with Rachel, this could be a tricky subject to work with though unique in its approach. The topic sounded a little too vague before; if only because the subject of colors could be applied to just about anywhere artistic, not just the "Arts." Maybe have an article centered around artists like Pablo Picasso who used color to emphasize the subjects of his art's emotions (Rose Period, Blue Period, etc.). – dsoumilas 9 years ago
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As a mixed media artist, this topic intrigues me. The thing that concerns me is your suggestion of using humor to convey the topic. As a person who uses sarcasm and humor in most of his writing, I wouldn't know how to use humor in an effective way when talking about different paint mediums. – Kenny Lim 9 years ago
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writing

research

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The Line Between Research and Copying

To copy from a source is called cheating. And sometimes, when a writer (mostly content writers) copy from multiple resources, they're applauded for their research capability. There has to be a fine line between copying and genuine research. A mindbending article about this topic will be a good read for all writers and the people who hire them.

This topic is an interesting one but a tough one to write about. You will need to treat it very meticulously by researching specific cases of 'copying' or plagiarism in the history of literature, film, theatre, art... What is the line between being inspired by and actually copying? Copying suggests the appropriation of the work. It's also very different from copying as paying a tribute. I know some people are allowed to copy some of the art works in the Louvre Museum but they have a specific title and a card, and they have to change at least one thing about the painting, whether colour or scale or small detail, to avoid plagiarism. – Rachel Elfassy Bitoun 9 years ago
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It is interesting to note between academic and amateur copying. While most consider academic copying to be fool-proof it is possible for a person to cite their own work previously published, thus augmenting an argument with their own information that doesn't normally get checked further down on. Theoretically a person could for decades perpetuate a lie or half-truth. All research is based on limited abilities of human beings to comprehend, such as the long-time fact of a flat Earth, etc. Looking at human research and its faults then is key for an article of this nature. – smartstooge 9 years ago
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This is very interesting. But It is even tougher sometimes when a writer thinks that he/she have researched something that he/she is positive that hasn't been used/written/applied before, it turns out that (not so often) it would be on internet. It's hard to do research when the internet is very broad and an idea can just as contagious as the ones on the internet. – banalma 9 years ago
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games

Ori and the Blind Forest

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Ori and the Blind Forest: The Magic of Simplicity

In the age of 3D, high-voltage, intense action-packed games, Ori and the Blind Forest stands out for its simplicity. The stunning (but mainly 2D) graphics and a Disney-ish approach to storytelling make this simple game fun. So what makes it so beautiful and exciting? Analyze the strengths of Ori and the Blind Forest.

This game brings a simplicity that we've lost nowadays. We valorize an important visual over a good story that connects us to the game we're playing (for example Bioshock Infinite, with stunning graphics but dull storyline and repetitive quests). Also, the atmosphere the games create involves a very urban and modern characterization. Ori really innovated by bringing to a modern experience (the consoles) a comfort and simplicity inspired on the tales of the "Good Mother Nature", that really stands against the aura of destruction that permeates modern games. Ori proposes that we construct instead of shoot everything to the ground, and in a certain way makes us calm and relaxed, because the graphics are cute and comfortable and the storyline is beautiful. The painting this game produces is different from what we've been seeing and maybe it would be interesting if you searched if that line of thought for games already existed (and wich games fit into it) and if it's going to be developed. – Samuel23 9 years ago
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Web-Videos

Props

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Web Video Making: Props for Newbies

In videos for the web, a lot of props and customized items are required. But without a strong financial support, how are the newcomers supposed to acquire them? Don't they deserve to be equally popular? Find out ways for acquiring necessary props in affordable ways.

It would be good to give examples of Youtubers who have become successful after becoming creative with their props. – Ryan Errington 9 years ago
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film

50 Shades of Grey

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50 Shades of Grey: Movie vs Novel

Analyse the shortcomings of the movie adaptation over the novel, and the inherent benefits a movie adaptation brings with it over its novel counterpart. There's a great deal of debate about the movie toning things down — here you can discuss the role of censorship. And this might bring you to conclude that apart from the lack of motion, action, and music, the book is better than the movie adaptation.

This is a broader argument in the original work vs adaptation department (usually noted in novel vs movie arguments). How can one compare two radically different treatments of the same origin material, especially if the adaptions aren't done by the original creators? While always a good idea for debate, the actual idea that one can be better than the other comes down to comparing the original to like-material and the adaption to like-treatments of other work. Example: You should talk of how a successful adaption like "Lord of the Rings" works while an unsuccessful one, say "Super Mario Bros." doesn't and why. Recreating the book in movie form is not the goal, making a film feature inspired by the book elements is, don't fall into the trap of being able to compare a movie to a book. You wouldn't compare "Citizen Kane" with "Fahrenheit 451", so it becomes about seeing whether a movie adaption of a novel has successfully presented the original material in film form effectively with the techniques available and true to the intention of the novel (going back to "Lord of the Rings" note while the story is the same, the films are almost nothing like the books). This can easily address the idea of "lack of motion, action and music" by showing how it's not the techniques an art form lacks that make any difference, but the effective use of the ones at hand (the ways of using written word for books, and the ways of utilizing visual and audio methods for film). The idea of censorship is a great starting place. – smartstooge 9 years ago
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Latest Comments

Aug 7, 2022 Abhimanyu Shekhar I agree that it’s not an over-explored topic, but I also think that it’s actually on the rise. And my only concern arises when mental illness is used in a way that downplays the actual hardships, such as in constant satire throughout a work.	Is Mental Illness an Over-Explored topic in Indie Games?
Aug 7, 2022 Abhimanyu Shekhar You note that there are many adaptations including Israel and India and reference a link (8th). It might be important to remark that the Indian remake is in the making, and currently there is in fact no Asian remake of the show.	Social Commentary in The Office
Jun 25, 2022 Abhimanyu Shekhar Persona 5 is a great game. However, JRPGs are not for everyone especially with their focus on episodic narratives, pre-established characters, and very long introductions. On the other hand, gamers who do love storylines more than the action will definitely find Persona 5 to be one of the most emotionally-stimulating games.	Why Do Some Games Create an Unforgettable Impression?
Oct 20, 2020 Abhimanyu Shekhar I do believe that you’re not completely right when you say that the Guardians of the Galaxy are not as invested and loyal to Earth as Steve Rogers or Tony Stark. The whole point of those movies was to help them “discover” their ties to Earth and find out much they actually do care for the planet. But yes, I agree that if they’re going to be a face of anything, it’s going to be galactic, not limited to Earth, because that simply makes more sense.	Who Will Be The Next Face of The Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Oct 20, 2020 Abhimanyu Shekhar I fully agree with the survivalist tendency being robust but vague and your analogy to Supernatural is actually very, very realistic (one of the shows I grew up watching). In fact, I believe there’s a survivalist syndrome and it’s not permanent and can be sort of “obtained” if you’re faced with a set of specific circumstances.	How Trump Won: Heroes, Villains and Surviving the Apocalypse
Oct 20, 2020 Abhimanyu Shekhar Really spot-on. Being an Indian, I thought I knew all about the Indian culture and food in general, but I guess I was wrong! Really insightful piece. One thing I’d like to point out, though. “Masala” and “curry” are two symbols foreigners related with Indian food, but you’ll surprised how different their meanings are here. Masala in general stands for dry powders that act as the raw materials while curry is a specific type of dish only, in general. But we understand where these terms come from and what they signify in a context.	Indian Food: A Multicultural Enterprise
May 27, 2016 Abhimanyu Shekhar Wow, Spawn’s case is really interesting. Regrettably I don’t know him, my lack of exposure nothing else. Yes, it’s really hard to differentiate right from wrong in such a case and the fiber of morality becomes really thin here…	Superhero Villains and their Struggle with Morality
May 27, 2016 Abhimanyu Shekhar Probably, yes 🙂	Superhero Villains and their Struggle with Morality

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