Hey ya'll,

Don't forget to check out the Producer's Note site blog for more stuff like this going forward.

Ryan

So Shadow Complex is ticking me off. On the one hand, I'm happy that it's trying to say something. Seriously, I am. We need more developers with the strength of conviction to actually say something. I just really, really hate what Shadow Complex is trying to say, and more precisely, the way it's saying it.

Besides being a shameless rip-off of Uncharted's shameless Indiana Jones rip-off Nathan Drake (from the attitude to the half-tucked shirt to the voice actor), the Shadow Complex protagonist foolishly dislikes the military industrial complex only to realize as soon as his girlfriend is kidnapped that "dad was right" to train him to be a one-man army. It's nice (and convenient!) that the principles of people who don't embrace war are so flimsy as to instantly change at the slighest personal impact of crime.

And then to hear the terrorists talk about how they expect New York and San Francisco to join up with them as soon as they go public... You know, because they're big cities in blue states and not part of the "Real America." The idea is laughable, even by the absurd standards of your run-of-the-mill video game plot. So far, Shadow Complex is more preoccupied with dismissing and insulting other points of view than properly explaining its own. How am I supposed to consider the developer's message when there's no real message to engage with in the first place?

Granted, I'm only about three hours into Shadow Complex. Maybe it'll eventually articulate something a bit more nuanced than "You'll be sorry you don't own a gun when a secret organization of terrorists bent on overthrowing the government kidnaps your girlfriend while you're spelunking."

But hey, baby steps, right? We have to learn to madly smear feces all over the wall before we can paint our masterpiece. And now that we've got that former part out of the way, let's work on the latter.

"You don't cry during video games."

Film director James Cameron made that comment during a Comic-Con panel, mentioned here. I think he does have a point. While I can't recall a time I cried during a video game, there have been plenty of tear-jerking films out there. However, I'm certainly aware that gamers have been known to shed a few tears for some video games, so I'm not saying it doesn't ever happen.

But this brings me to a specific question, when have you ever cried during video games, specifically, when NOT watching a cut-scene?

The cut-scene is just a cousin of modern film, inserted into a video game experience to help move the narrative along. There are certainly very moving, emotionally, and sob-worthy video games, but it's my feeling a gamer's top ten list of emotional games would be heavily cut-scene reliant. Have you ever cried from the actual stomping of a goomba, drop of a tetris block, or headshot with a sniper rifle? Or do we revert to needing what is essentially a short film to convey emotions in between the sessions of gameplay?

Listening to music, reading a book, watching a film, and even just looking at a painting can move a person to tears. Can we say that of actual gameplay as well? I'd love to hear some examples of this.

This week's tip for the community report ended up being quite lengthy. I decided to create a blog and link to it on Spam Filter.

I find users confused about how the Soapbox feature works;the two that come up the most frequently include:

- Why are some users featured more frequently than the next user?

- How do I get added.

Many inactive blog writers were removed earlier this year, but we still have roughly around 80 users in the SoapBox rotation. So, the next time you wonder about why certain users are featured and others are not, consider checking other GameSpot member profiles to see if they have the soapbox emblem. Ask them when they plan to create another editorial.

Soapbox Emblem

If you find that a specific user should no longer be featured you are welcome to send me a PM about it. I'll get to it at my earliest convenience.

Lastly, if you want to be featured in the Soapbox know that the opportunity should always be considered a temporary status. GameSpot Staff may remove or add users at any time. Posting one amazing editorial blog may get you noticed, but having a history posting editorial blogs also gets them noticed.

I have provided some areas to consider before you end up flagging your blog with the 'editorial' drop down, which willl be reviewed by GameSpot staff.

- Always write your blog articles with good enough grammar and mechanics. Don't forget to use spell check and grammar programs as they provide better comprehension among all of the GameSpot members.

- Do answer your own questions through research and thought. Remember, your audience (GameSpot friends and readers) are pretty savvy about these games so consider their knowledge when you write your editorial.

- Don't forget to explain to the non-gamer at times. There are some newer registrants that may not understand the gaming industry like the next person. Occasionally explain terms if you happen to think it is not broad knowledge to everyone.

- Colored text or fancy fonts is a no-no. Why? They distract the reader. Consider using bolded fonts or italics when absolutely needed. All caps is obviously not helpful unless you are yelling in your blog. Who wants comments of users asking you about why you are yelling at them though?

- One editorial is grand, but having a history of posting them is also considered by Staff. The reason for this is because we want to be sure someone is going to update their blog with an editorial at least once every few months. We realize that it can take weeks of research, but not updating with an editorial blog after a year may have the user's Soapbox status expire.

That should get you all started!

Lastly, if you don't want your blogs to be reviewed by GameSpot staff do not flag your blogs under the editorial drop down. Thanks for reading.

Lately, I've been having a great time with both Red Faction: Guerrilla and Infamous. And while both game's plots share similarities--a lone protagonist taking up against an overwhelming enemy--it's the differences between Red Faction's Alec Mason and inFamous' Cole MacGrath that stand out to me. Thus, I present for your consideration, my careful scientific study of the two heroes of each respective game.

Alec Mason vs. Cole MacGrath

Tale of the Tape

Last Name

Cole MacGrath: MacGrath

Alec Mason: Mason

Winner: Mason

Occupation

Cole MacGrath: Bike messenger

Alec Mason: Space miner, explosives expert, rebel

Winner: Mason

Powers

Cole MacGrath: Controls electricity

Alec Mason: SLEDGEHAMMER

Winner: Tie

Weakness

Cole MacGrath: Water balloons, water pistols, showers/baths, humidity, sweat

Alec Mason: Falling buildings

Winner: Mason

Haircut

Cole MacGrath: Close-cropped, blond

Alec Mason: Close-cropped, brown

Winner: Tie

Outfit

Cole MacGrath: Black and yellow leather

Alec Mason: Sweet-ass green trenchcoat

Winner (for Pittsburgh Steelers fans): Cole MacGrath (for everyone else): Alec Mason

Hygiene

Cole MacGrath: Hobo filthy (see Weakness, above)

Alec Mason: Slightly dusty, in need of shave

Winner: Alec Mason

Significant Other

Cole MacGrath: Trish (doctor)

Alec Mason: SLEDGEHAMMER (sledgehammer)

Winner: Alec Mason

Additional scientific facts about Alec Mason and Cole MacGrath (with assistance from fellow scholar Chris Watters):

• Alec Mason is only afraid of falling buildings. Cole pees himself when he thinks of lawn sprinklers.
• Also, Cole pees himself when he thinks about peeing himself. Then he dies anyway.
• Cole can't go outside if there is a chance of showers. Alec drives a ATV off a sweet jump then explodes the clouds to make it rain
• Cole hasn't taken a shower since the explosion. Alec Mason showers in the tears of Jesus.
• Cole stays hydrated by licking a moist washcloth. Alec wrings water out of Martian rock, EDF rebar, and the air.
• Cole can't use moist towelettes after enjoying BBQ. Alec Mason can.
• Cole's fans ask him to charge their cell phones. Alec's fans ask him to sire their children.
• Cole spent three days in a coma after touching a dog's wet nose. Alec Mason has genetically engineered Martian wolves from dust.
• Cole's hair is short because he is in a constant state of electrolysis. Alec's is short because the follicles have unionized.
• Cole's jacket isn't leather, it's insulated rubber. Alec Mason's trenchcoat is made out of unicorn pelt.
• When a building gets in his way: Cole clambers over it. Alec breaks it and the laws of the physics by destroying its very matter.
• Cole can't climb fences. Alec Mason doesn't BELIEVE in fences.
• Cole has nightmares about the ocean. The ocean has nightmares about Alec Mason.

Got your own Alec vs Cole science you want to drop? Let me know in the comments below.

As you probably know, I really like the Spore expansion pack, Galactic Adventures. I am pleased with the adventures I created (check out Perseus' Quest, which I think turned out well; too bad the Sporepedia hasn't updated yet with the correct number of plays and so on). I am now in the process of another one based on Korean legend, and can't wait to finish it this week.

But this is where you come in. Once I am done with the current project, I need a good idea for the next one--and I want you to be my muse. So come up with a little story idea. I'll choose the one I like most and seems most feasible to create, craft the adventure, and capture a playthrough so you can see how it turned out. Even better, I will send you a copy of Spore and its expansion, either a physical copy, or via Steam. (If you already own both or either, we can work out a different PC game). Here's the nitty gritty:

1. Give me a loose idea of a small game story that can be played through in around 10-12 minutes. It can be an original idea, a favorite legend or myth, a parody, or something else entirely! Feel free to be creative.

2. Just don't get too carried away. The Spore adventure creator has limitations, so I can't explore the seven levels of hell or anything. But it can have up to eight acts, and include combat, dialogue, fetch quests, and so on. But be as nonspecific as possible (rough outline), because the more specific you get, the less able I will be to create an adventure that intricate.

3. Reply here with your idea. I'll choose the one I like most based on a combination of how good it is, and how feasible it will be to create. Reply by July 1 at 12 PM (noon) Pacific Time, and you'll be eligible.

4. I will announce the winner in my blog. If I choose your entry, I will create it, and when done, I will record a playthrough and post it on the site. I will also credit you on the published adventure. And finally, I will send you a copy of Spore and Spore Galactic Adventures, either via Steam, or via snail mail. This will entail giving me either your Steam username, or your name and address. These would be emailed to me and kept private.

5. I like waffles. Mmm.

So that's about it. I look forward to hearing your ideas and bringing it to life. In the meanwhile, I keep my Twitter updated with all sorts of weird exploits, including Spore ones. And who knows, maybe I will like more than one adventure. If I do, I can't give the game to more than one person (how much money do you think i make!?), but I would certainly create your work of art!