Opening Cutscenes

This might be a little more fun for you poetic and dramatic writers. Cutscenes are a HUGE part of gaming anymore. It started out as impressive, silent graphics and has now turned into short films about the characters and settings. Opening cutscenes can easily suck a player into playing a game.


Your prompt: Create a great opening cutscene. It can either be full of talk or speechless.


Reasons for speechlessness: A video game script doesn't just have dialogue. It has narration. A game script's narration is usually short and to the point, but there is plenty of it. A great opening isn't always full of talk. Sometimes confusion or an adrenaline rush can suck in a player.


Other notes: Even if your opening has no talking, be sure to involve sounds in your description. Sounds add tons of depth to any game.


Examples of great openings:


Final Fantasy 8

This cutscene has absolutely no speaking. The reason this make a great intro is because it shows many elements of the game: relationships, action, and future events. The music gives a nice adrenaline kick as well.







Prototype (CAUTION: This is a M17 game. It contains graphic violence. Like, people getting cut in half violence.)

This is a great opening because not only do you see really wicked action, but you learn the story of the character you're playing. Even with my weak stomach, I'm itching a bit to play this game myself because the story is so facinating. (Even if it is a bit of a I Am Legend steal.)







Uncharted

I like this opening because it makes me laugh. Ok, there are more reasons than that to as why it's a good opening. You learn about the characters you're going to be spending a good week looking at. The story is set up and when that is settled, it goes straight into the action. Perfect!









Kingdom Hearts 2

This is a very complicated opening, which makes it so great. Not only is this the opening to KH2, but it's a synopsis of the events in KH1 and KH: Chain of Memories. So it's like 3 games meshed in one. Not easy. This is another opening with no real talking other than the song lyrics.

Bully

System: XBox 360/PS2/Wii/Windows
Release: 2006/2008
Developer: Rockstar


PLAY THIS. I don't think I could be clearer about it. Rockstar is a company that has some of the best character and humor writing. Rockstar is famous for their sandbox games, including Grand Theft Auto.

So what do I give it?

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Side Quests: 5/5

Plot
The basis of Bully is that you play as the new kid at a boarding school that seems to be especially made for juvenile delinquents. Trying to survive relentless attacks by jocks and bullies, you try to make your way to the top of the social food chain.

The plot is simple enough, but almost anyone can identify with it. If you've ever been picked on in school, it feels great to walk up to a character in one of these games and just glass jaw him.

The main idea in this game is to earn respect of everyone in your school by doing jobs for people. Starting at the bottom of the totem pole with nerds, you slowly make your way up to the top. Your only accomplices are Pete, a wimpy follower, and Gary, a psychopath that I'm glad I never went to school with.

So Gary convinces you to take over the school, then betrays you and tries to get you to fall to the bottom of the food chain and tries to take over the school himself. So not only do you have to defend yourself against bullies and Fonzie wannabes, but you have to find Gary and destroy him before he destroys you.
In the end, you set Gary up and the principal gets him expelled. You're the top of the food chain. But only in Video Game Land. Sorry.

Characters

Jimmy
Even though Jim is a type of live-and-let-live type of character, he also helps others---at a price. Jim has a great amount of complexity in him, which is why I like him. He's got an attitude problem (that you can tell is from his lack of decent parents), he doesn't want to deal with anyone, and yet he still manages to become the most popular guy in school by helping everyone. For the goody-two-shoes (Does anyone understand that expression? Do rebels only wear one shoe or something?) that never talked back to teachers or meddled with school property, you will be surprised at Jim's behavior, but the teachers' behaviors kind of balance it out.


Gary
This kid doesn't belong in school, he belongs in a psychiatric ward. This kid makes an excellent teen villain due to the fact that he's absolutely crazy. Almost Kefka crazy in a sense. Finally releasing himself from medication, Gary goes nuts and tries to destroy Jimmy in order to get the school for himself. (Why is it that crazy people are the first to pursue big dreams?)




Other Characters
There really aren't a lot of major characters. They're evenly distributed throughout the game. The most interesting thing about the characters in this game is that they aren't copies. Each one has a name and personality. That's definitely a rarity in a sandbox game.

Side Missions
The funny thing about missions is that they were so much like the mainstream ones that I couldn't tell the difference. Some of them were a little more disturbing mind you, for example, getting your butt ugly lunch lady a date as she spits in the vat of mystery meat; but all in all they went seamlessly into the gameplay. It really is the best mission writing I've seen thus far.

Final Say:
Play it! Don't ask, just do it!

Other notes:
How about a female sandbox game, Rockstar? Why should guys get all the fun of hitting people, stealing cars, and pissing off authorities?

Prompt: Princesses

Inspired by Fat Princess (Sony), I thought I'd dedicate today's prompt to princesses. These are the types of princesses we usually come across in the world of games:

Sweet and Sincere
These girls are quick to think, slow to anger, and even slower to say anything. If they say anything relevant at ALL, it usually ends up being something timid and philosophical.

Punk Princess
These princesses usually have armor, a sword, and sometimes less clothes than normal people. They're quick to anger, quick to speak, and usually end up destroying one thing or another in the process.

The –Not So Secret-- Princess
Yes, yes. You're really a princess. We NEVER saw that coming. Come on.


Your prompt: Come up with a princess. Make her original. Make her deep. Make her bigger than a size 2. (Why are all princesses so TINY?)