Adam Heine's Blog, page 7
August 6, 2015
Wells' Lair on The Flash is Braille?
I don't actually watch The Flash (lack of time rather than inclination), but my sister pointed out to me that the secret lair of Harrison Wells is covered in bumps that look a lot like Braille.
But is it really Braille? And if so, is there some secret message hidden in the walls? Since this aligns with my interests (i.e. ciphers, linguistics, Braille), I decided to investigate. There are some answers on the internet, but not enough to satisfy me or my sister. I'm fixing that now.
First, a littl...
But is it really Braille? And if so, is there some secret message hidden in the walls? Since this aligns with my interests (i.e. ciphers, linguistics, Braille), I decided to investigate. There are some answers on the internet, but not enough to satisfy me or my sister. I'm fixing that now.
First, a littl...
July 27, 2015
Classic RPGs Panel at PAX
Hey, all! If you're going to PAX Prime next month, I'll be on a panel there.
The panel is "CLASSIC RPGs FOREVER!" (yes, in all caps, apparently), and it'll be on Sunday, August 30th at 11 AM in the Sasquatch Theater.
We'll be talking about resurrecting subgenres of classic RPGs that were once thought dead. I'll be joining veteran game developers Annie Mitsoda, Josh Sawyer, Mitch Gitelman, and Swen Vincke, with Penny Arcade's Jeff Kalles moderating.
I'm super excited and super terrified. This wil...
The panel is "CLASSIC RPGs FOREVER!" (yes, in all caps, apparently), and it'll be on Sunday, August 30th at 11 AM in the Sasquatch Theater.
We'll be talking about resurrecting subgenres of classic RPGs that were once thought dead. I'll be joining veteran game developers Annie Mitsoda, Josh Sawyer, Mitch Gitelman, and Swen Vincke, with Penny Arcade's Jeff Kalles moderating.
I'm super excited and super terrified. This wil...
July 16, 2015
Q: Big Pot Cooking Recipes?
Erik says:
Actually, I do! Here are two of my favorites (my kids like them too, as it turns out).
Note that, as far as I'm concerned, cooking is essentially magic. So these numbers aren't exact (as evidenced by the ranges below). I usually try different amounts of things each time until I figure out what feels right. Tasting as you go also helps.
CASHEW CHICKEN (ไกผัดเมดมะมวง)
Roast 1 1/4 cup of cashew nuts and 1 1/4 cup...
You're a foster father of 10. Got any good big pot cooking recipes to share?
Actually, I do! Here are two of my favorites (my kids like them too, as it turns out).
Note that, as far as I'm concerned, cooking is essentially magic. So these numbers aren't exact (as evidenced by the ranges below). I usually try different amounts of things each time until I figure out what feels right. Tasting as you go also helps.
CASHEW CHICKEN (ไกผัดเมดมะมวง)
Roast 1 1/4 cup of cashew nuts and 1 1/4 cup...
July 9, 2015
Q: Which is harder, game writing with a team or solo-writing novels?
I actually got this question on Twitter, but I thought it deserved more than 140 characters. Although if you're into the tl/dr version then here you go.
So which is harder? Writing a game or a novel? Writing solo or on a team?
Game vs. Novel
First, you should know that I've never written for a non-Torment game, and Torment has lots (and lots and lots) of words. It's entirely possible there are games for which writing is a piece of cake. I wouldn't know what that's like.
What's difficult about ga...
So which is harder? Writing a game or a novel? Writing solo or on a team?
Game vs. Novel
First, you should know that I've never written for a non-Torment game, and Torment has lots (and lots and lots) of words. It's entirely possible there are games for which writing is a piece of cake. I wouldn't know what that's like.
What's difficult about ga...
July 7, 2015
How you can be part of a cybermob and not know it
Cybermobbing is getting ridiculous. I mean the entire spectrum here: public shaming, online bullying, harassment, and the general dickery that goes on all over the internet everyday.
The existence of this crap is not news (well, actually it is, like every single day). But it's often assumed that the people engaging in these activities are sociopaths, sadists, and trolls -- people who get high off wrecking other people, or who just have no conception of empathy at all. To be fair, parts of thes...
The existence of this crap is not news (well, actually it is, like every single day). But it's often assumed that the people engaging in these activities are sociopaths, sadists, and trolls -- people who get high off wrecking other people, or who just have no conception of empathy at all. To be fair, parts of thes...
May 18, 2015
Q: A couple of TTON details vs. Pillars of Eternity
Alessandro Gambino has two questions today:
I'm not sure where I might have mentioned separate inventory screens. If I did, it was either very early in design or else a mistake. Our inventory design is based on Pillars of...
a couple of questions that arose directly from my playthrough of Pillars of Eternity.
First question: As far I remember, in Torment we will have separate inventory screens for each character, won't we? And if so, any hope you guys are reconsidering this part of the GUI?
I'm not sure where I might have mentioned separate inventory screens. If I did, it was either very early in design or else a mistake. Our inventory design is based on Pillars of...
May 8, 2015
Q: What's your favorite part of the writing process?
Trevor asks:
My favorite part is the part where I make money, followed closely by the part where people tell me how awesome my writing is.
Is that... is that not what you meant?
So, in terms of actually creating the story, I prefer planning, by far. I'm a notorious, obsessive, ridiculously detailed planner (which is perhaps why I make a decent game design lead). I like to outline my stories down to each chapter's beats and cliffhangers, if I can....
What's your favorite part of the writing process?
My favorite part is the part where I make money, followed closely by the part where people tell me how awesome my writing is.
Is that... is that not what you meant?
So, in terms of actually creating the story, I prefer planning, by far. I'm a notorious, obsessive, ridiculously detailed planner (which is perhaps why I make a decent game design lead). I like to outline my stories down to each chapter's beats and cliffhangers, if I can....
May 5, 2015
Q: How do you have time for everything?
Trevor asks a very pertinent question:
I have no idea.
Well, that's not stri...
How do you have time for everything?
Seriously, I see that you have 10 kids, work remotely on an anticipated game, and write, among other daily challenges I'm sure. Was there ever a point when you wanted to let go of any of these passions? Do you ever worry that you can't devote enough time to each of them?Do I ever worry I can't devote enough time to everything? Constantly. How do I make sure that doesn't happen?
I have no idea.
Well, that's not stri...
March 31, 2015
Q: Will Torment use Unity 5?
Mark asks:
It turns out this was a more complicated question than one would think. We're planning to move to Unity 5, but we weren't sure about that for a long time (and even now, there's still a fair amount of work to do before the move is official).
Further details from our illustrious wizard/programmer, Steve Dobos:
We started work on Torment before Unity 5’s full feature set was announced. By the time Unity 5 beca...
Is Torment going to be / has Torment been developed with Unity 5 in mind?
It turns out this was a more complicated question than one would think. We're planning to move to Unity 5, but we weren't sure about that for a long time (and even now, there's still a fair amount of work to do before the move is official).
Further details from our illustrious wizard/programmer, Steve Dobos:
We started work on Torment before Unity 5’s full feature set was announced. By the time Unity 5 beca...
March 21, 2015
Q: How do we know who wrote what?
Haran asks:
The "secret way" is we ask people what they were responsible for. The answer we get back is rarely simple.
The thing is that most big games are a team effort. Although one person might initia...
About writing credits in games - in most big games, you can't know which part of dialogue\text was written by whom, just that there is a "lead writer" and other writers. Is there a secret way industry people like you guys use to know this? And for Torment, will you list somewhere who wrote what?
The "secret way" is we ask people what they were responsible for. The answer we get back is rarely simple.
The thing is that most big games are a team effort. Although one person might initia...
