Jeff Dumont

Jeff Dumont

Gonzo cartoonist.

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Latest Articles

Animation
49

Ren & Stimpy’s History: 30 Years Later

The Ren & Stimpy Show was one of the earliest examples of a sociocultural phenomenon in American animated television. Its...

Jeff Dumont

Games
42

Remembering Dead Rising

When it comes to analyzing an ideal formula for success, several tips have been given to creatives. Be “original”. Say...

Jeff Dumont

Animation
44

The Legendary and Cautionary Tale of The Simpsons

Excluding their appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show, the Simpson family and their fellow Springfield citizens were introduced to the...

Jeff Dumont

Games
41

Pokemon Gold and Silver: Peak of a Phenomenon

Pokemon is a phenomenon that swept not only its native Japan, but the whole world. It is now the highest...

Jeff Dumont

Animation
73

Live-Action Disney Remakes and the Souring Faith in Animation

Another day, another Disney hit smashes the box office, breaks records, and already becomes one of the highest-grossing animated films...

Jeff Dumont

Film
32

The Muppet Movie: Ambition and Optimism

In the month of June, the Muppets celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their first feature film. While Jim Henson’s beloved...

Jeff Dumont

Animation
47

Into the Spider-Verse Provides Hope for Mainstream Animation

Being an animated film is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you are given limitless possibilities when...

Jeff Dumont

Animation
36

The Double-Edged Stigma Faced By Western Animation

Animation as a medium has faced several hardships that are still prevalent today, which proves to be frustratingly ironic, as...

Jeff Dumont

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Latest Topics

5
games
Open World Games
Write this topic

Linear vs. open-world games

Ever since games have gone 3D, there has been an increasing amount of open-world video games. Nowadays, it seems to be a trend of making a game open-world just for the sake of it. Does having a sandbox feel generally improve a gaming experience, or can more restrictive level design benefit a game in certain areas?

  • I would compare open world games and non-open world games to understand the pros and cons to both game types. – BMartin43 7 years ago
    4
  • It stands to reason that changing something as fundamental as dimensions would have a massive impact on the kind of games being made, and the popularity of open-world games (MMOs particularly) makes them a popular major project. Gaming is a big and competitive industry and AAA games have to follow the money. That said, there are ways to tighten up level design in a sandbox (linearity would be the main one). Whatever angle the article takes, I'd suggest acknowledging off the bat that both open-world and closed-world have their pros and cons, and there are dedicated audiences for both. – Cat 7 years ago
    5
  • I don't think there's an easy or objective answer to the question you've asked. The gaming experience is subjective and will depend on various factors, including what a player is looking for in their game and their personality. Having a more linear game style, I feel, is a good way to direct players through a story in a more direct way. Open world gaming has given players, or at least, coincided with the trend of, giving players more power to make and guide their own stories. One feels more like a book to read, while the other feels like you've been given a notebook, a pen, and backstory to craft your novel. Obviously, this analogy is a bit of an oversimplification. Possible benefits of linear might be: for developers with limited or low financial resources, having a linear design means they are able to dedicate their time to the finer details of a game (e.g. if they spend all their time working on an open world, the overall design quality might be reduced, the story might be lacking, etc.) but this is obviously less relevant for developers who have the resources and time to effectively design all components of a game including an open world. – Kacey Martin 7 years ago
    2
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Latest Comments

Jeff Dumont
Aug 18, 2017
Jeff Heckleton

Nice list overall, I especially enjoy the presence of Esmeralda, Anna and Megara, since it shows that members of the Princess brand aren’t the only Disney women that can be role models (or the opposite of one)

The lack of Mulan on the best side left me a bit surprised, although I appreciate your analysis of the characters’ qualities nonetheless.

 Best and Worst Disney Role Models for Girls and Young Women
Jeff Dumont
Jul 9, 2017
Jeff Heckleton

Interesting article! I’m starting my studies for an English Literature major this year, although I am planning on switching from that to Creative Writing. Hopefully, I won’t suffer through similar issues in my program.

 Genre Fiction in University Writing Programs: No longer the MFA's Red-headed Stepchild
Jeff Dumont
Jul 9, 2017
Jeff Heckleton

This show, alongside Rick & Morty, set a new bar for how adult animated shows should be handled. I love South Park, but its style and impact can’t be replicated, and as a result, its results are often stale and ineffective. Bojack is a show that I honestly felt skeptical about, but after three seasons, I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s a fantastic character-driven work.

 Bojack Horseman: Balancing Humor and Dark Themes
Jeff Dumont
Jul 9, 2017
Jeff Heckleton

Well, now Metroid Prime 4 and a remake of Metroid 2 are on their way, so this article’s wishes did come true after all

 Why Nintendo Should Make a New Metroid Game