I see it a lot. Actually, I get emails from "fans" who have minor "suggestions" to make toward my game.

I've been asked to make katana's unbreakable and do as much damage against people and vehicles as a goddamn RPG-7, as well as ignore hardness. That might fit with Hollywood, but a real katana breaks pretty damn easily.

I've been told that sunglasses should provide marksmanshit bonuses. Uh, no.

I've been nastily informed that trenchcoats are the ultimate clothing, since it covers almost the whole body and has pockets. Well, it weighs a lot, the pockets suck, and the zombies will grab you by it, drag you down, tear it open, and feast on your flesh.

I've had all kinds of advice about shotguns. Advice I really don't need. Most of these people have obviously gotten all of their shotgun knowledge from movies. They aren't instant kill weapons. They don't shoot through cinderblock walls. They don't have "almost no recoil". Leave the shotguns alone, the way they are presented is fine.

And finally, the Chainsaw.

OK, I know Ash whipped it around, and I know other zombie movies and vampire movies make it look cool, but it is obvious by the emails most people have never used a chainsaw, and the letters that demand that they do massive damage, cut through steel, etc, usually get me going "WTF?" Have they actually used a chainsaw. Ever? I'm a backwoods countryboy (not hick or redneck, just raised in the country whenever my dad was gone to some shithole nation) and I've used them plenty. You can't just whing them around like they are coke bottles. They are heavy, unbalanced, and unwieldy. As far as damage goes, it's OBVIOUS they've never used a chainsaw. I experimented with one once on the body of a fairly large fish that washed up on shore after an earthquake. The flesh from the fish bound up the saw within 30 seconds. It then took me about an hour to clean and do maintenance on the saw. And lets not even get into fuel, how easily they stall, and what happens when a blade jumps the guide.

Still, people insist that katana are the ultimate weapon (It's made for slashing for the most part. Thrusting is asking that blade to snap), Chainsaw armed men could destroy the US Army even with tanks, Trenchcoats are better protection that Hard Entry Unit armor, shotguns instantly kill everyone to the horizon, sunglasses give your eyes mystical powers, and finally, that "everyone knows this!"

I like having fans, I really do, but what really sets my teeth on edge is the insistance that Hollywood is always right about weapons. Pundit rails on and on about Swine, but never looks at what really has fucked up modern adventure games: Hollywood.

Hollywood+anime+Hong Kong action.

It sounds like you've got a subset of fans who would prefer a more cinematic system. Two questions:

1) What the hell game are you talking about?

2) Would it benefit the game's marketability to have an optional set of tweaks available to allow for a more hollywood-ish feel?

Quote from: James McMurrayIt sounds like you've got a subset of fans who would prefer a more cinematic system. Two questions:

1) What the hell game are you talking about?

Year of the Zombie.

Quote2) Would it benefit the game's marketability to have an optional set of tweaks available to allow for a more hollywood-ish feel?

I suppose it would. But the thing is, if you go Hollywoodish with super powers and the like, the game changes big time.

I'm just bitching today. I'm tired and my jaw hurts and I'm almost out of Wild Turkey.

You mean... they don't cut through tanks?


:eek:



:rolleyes:

Yeah, the game changes, but that would be the intent of those rules. I guess it boils down to whether the possible change in revenue is worth undergoing whatever level of "corrupting the idea" the change would be to you.

Watch the anime Seven Samurai. They cut through battleships without having to be any longer.

Quote from: T-WillardI
I've been told that sunglasses should provide marksmanshit bonuses. Uh, no.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that's a typo, and that it should really read marksmanship.  Furthermore, I'm totally going to pinch that idea because, frankly, for a certain type of game...that idea is freakin' beautiful.

Quote from: T-WillardI see it a lot. Actually, I get emails from "fans" who have minor "suggestions" to make toward my game.

You're making a game? Cool.

Quote from: T-WillardI've been asked to make katana's unbreakable and do as much damage against people and vehicles as a goddamn RPG-7, as well as ignore hardness. That might fit with Hollywood, but a real katana breaks pretty damn easily.

I don't know enough about katanas, so I can't help on this one.

Quote from: T-WillardI've been told that sunglasses should provide marksmanshit bonuses. Uh, no.

You're probably right. However, certain sunglasses of various tints do make it easier to see, depending on what terrain you're in. For example, if you're fishing out in the ocean, you'll want a different tint than if you're on a golf course. There are other examples out there.

Quote from: T-WillardI've been nastily informed that trenchcoats are the ultimate clothing, since it covers almost the whole body and has pockets. Well, it weighs a lot, the pockets suck, and the zombies will grab you by it, drag you down, tear it open, and feast on your flesh.

Good point.

Quote from: T-WillardI've had all kinds of advice about shotguns. Advice I really don't need. Most of these people have obviously gotten all of their shotgun knowledge from movies. They aren't instant kill weapons. They don't shoot through cinderblock walls. They don't have "almost no recoil". Leave the shotguns alone, the way they are presented is fine.

How are you presenting shotguns in your game? Just curious.

Quote from: T-WillardAnd finally, the Chainsaw.

OK, I know Ash whipped it around, and I know other zombie movies and vampire movies make it look cool, but it is obvious by the emails most people have never used a chainsaw, and the letters that demand that they do massive damage, cut through steel, etc, usually get me going "WTF?" Have they actually used a chainsaw. Ever? I'm a backwoods countryboy (not hick or redneck, just raised in the country whenever my dad was gone to some shithole nation) and I've used them plenty. You can't just whing them around like they are coke bottles. They are heavy, unbalanced, and unwieldy. As far as damage goes, it's OBVIOUS they've never used a chainsaw. I experimented with one once on the body of a fairly large fish that washed up on shore after an earthquake. The flesh from the fish bound up the saw within 30 seconds. It then took me about an hour to clean and do maintenance on the saw. And lets not even get into fuel, how easily they stall, and what happens when a blade jumps the guide.

Yeah, you've got a point there. I've used it too, and the chainsaw is no lightsabre. It's rather hard to control, and doesn't automatically chop in half everything it touches either (though I'd never want to risk putting my fingers near the blade). My chainsaw is a bit small though, and I've only used it for chopping apart small trees in my back yard, so my experience is limited.

Quote from: T-WillardStill, people insist that katana are the ultimate weapon (It's made for slashing for the most part. Thrusting is asking that blade to snap), Chainsaw armed men could destroy the US Army even with tanks, Trenchcoats are better protection that Hard Entry Unit armor, shotguns instantly kill everyone to the horizon, sunglasses give your eyes mystical powers, and finally, that "everyone knows this!"

I like having fans, I really do, but what really sets my teeth on edge is the insistance that Hollywood is always right about weapons. Pundit rails on and on about Swine, but never looks at what really has fucked up modern adventure games: Hollywood.

People want to simulate Hollywood adventures. Can you blame them?

Another thing you missed out on, Tim... is the ubiquity of these weapons. I mean, everyone keeps at least one of the three in there house. An ancient Japanese Katana can be found in ever pawn shop, shotguns are found in just about every other car. And if there is a toolshed within a three mile radius, there is bound to be at least ONE chainsaw in it, if not half a dozen.

Me? I know that when the Zombie Apocalypse comes, I WILL be a surivivor. I know this because I'll have my Katana in one hand, my chainsaw in the other, and a shotgun sticking out of my trousers. My trenchcoat will protect me and my bad-ass-shadesTM will give me the combats skills of 'The One'.

The Cricket bat slung across my back, on the other hand, is just there to get me babes.

My brother recently convinced me that the best choice for weapon to face a zombie apocalypse... is the crowbar.  It won't break.  It won't run out of ammo.  And when you need to open that door at the end of the alley while the shuffling hoard of undead aproaches... you'll be glad you left the Katana at home.

Quote from: Sacrificial LambPeople want to simulate Hollywood adventures. Can you blame them?

I can. My favorite games were never the ones based on this paradigm and the ones that are have always struck me as shallow and lame.

Quote from: StuartMy brother recently convinced me that the best choice for weapon to face a zombie apocalypse... is the crowbar.  It won't break.  It won't run out of ammo.  And when you need to open that door at the end of the alley while the shuffling hoard of undead aproaches... you'll be glad you left the Katana at home.

doesn't have quite the style points though, but if we can get a solidly good zombie movie made with one, it will be entered into the minds of america as an excellent zombie bashing weapon.

On another note, that much weight would be a pain to be swinging and quite tiring. (and might need to be wielded two handed as well)  On the other hand, I'll agree that it's a hell of a lot more versitile then the katana.  Easier to find as well.

Crowbar. Yea, that gets my vote as well. On a weird note it dosn't look like we are alone, check out the 'also viewed' section. What the hell do they know that we don't? And now I wont feel safe until I've located mine.

You'd probably be better off with a brace of ice axes, they're designed to be light enough to wield for hours at a time.  Unless you've got plenty of spares, use the head that's shaped like a hoe - you don't want it to get stuck in a zombie's head

Katanas: 95% of males ages 8-40 agree it makes a great substitute penis.
Chainsaws: see above.
Shotguns: Oh fuck, shotguns are hilarious.
Wait a minute, they "have no recoil"? My instructor must have telekinetically shoved me onto my ass as a 12-year-old when a first fired one...

PS: Next time my little brother praises the paramilitary virtues of trenchcoats and shades, I'm gonna eat his brains.

I know I'm fucked when the rotters come. The least I can do is to not make myself a nuisance for y'all and find some way to make my brain inoperable.