Backslash

Sure there's a real difference in the medium as far as the writing is concerned but the storytelling? If anything the novels are less demanding as he can exhaust all of his time and effort into a single plot rather than having to branch it through a variety of choice driven alternating paths. Also are you sure that he has a team of writers working with him on the mentioned games? I was under the impression that he was the only writer they hired for those specific games (and almost certain as far as KotOR's concerned), the upcoming MMO excluded.

Originally posted by Regnir Bamos
Sure there's a real difference in the medium as far as the writing is concerned but the storytelling? If anything the novels are less demanding as he can exhaust all of his time and effort into a single plot rather than having to branch it through a variety of choice driven alternating paths. Also are you sure that he has a team of writers working with him on the mentioned games? I was under the impression that he was the only writer they hired for those specific games (and almost certain as far as KotOR's concerned), the upcoming MMO excluded.

I would strongly disagree. A novel is incredibly demanding. You have to: develop the setting, develop the dialog of each character, look out for contradictions between a myriad of subplots, have a solid grasp of the technical aspect of good prose, create credible motivations and backstories for a myriad of cast members, and somehow make all of this make sense into one complete overarching plotline.

As part of a video game, you are part of a team. As a writer, everything depends on you. Your editor can help refine the prose and make suggestions, but by far the burden is on the writer.

Well all of the storytelling based stuff that you mentioned would apply to any form of storytelling, not exclusively to novelisations or other kinds of descriptive storytelling. And as a writer working on a video game, sure you're working as part of a team but not necessarily a team of writers. Hideo Kojima is the only writer that works on the Metal Gear Solid games as an example. And I'm pretty sure the same is the case with Drew and the mentioned games.

The thing is, for novels, its totally on the writer to do everything. Games have numerous other things helping to create a setting and tone. Other people create the environment, the voice-actors add tones and individuality to characters. But for writers, you have to describe the world in a way thats both interesting and engaging, you have to create the characters using just the written word, have to set tone, set the feel of a character, you can't ellaborate with clothes, tones or even subtle things like their stance except through that. Etc

Thats why I'm looking to go more in a visual direction, like comics, scripts or manga. Who knows, maybe even games. *shrug*

Originally posted by Dr McBeefington
http://www.cracked.com/article/167_5-reasons-star-wars-sequels-would-be-worse-than-prequels_p2

I never realized how much Krayt looked like Shao Kahn. Thanks Cracked!

Double Post

That red-head is hot.

Yea this book pretty much sucked. I'm actually looking forward to the next one.

Spoiler:
The Sith and the Skywalkers become allies and go to the Maw to fight Abeloth".

I'm about to read it, and for once I actually don't want spoilers, so I'll let you know what I think when i get done.

Alright but you'll slowly realize you just wasted 4-5 hours.

...
so, nobody dies?

Decent book.

Two interesting tidbits regarding Luke:

* Another lackluster duel with a Sith Master at the end, though I'm pretty sure it was stated that Luke, recovered from his physical weakness in Abyss, was the superior duelist. Still, he did not shame the Sith in combat and his telekinesis was resisted by the Sith when he fled.

* Luke's own musings that the Nightsisters "probably" didn't have greater Force powers than himself.

Originally posted by Gideon
Decent book.

Two interesting tidbits regarding Luke:

* Another lackluster duel with a Sith Master at the end, though I'm pretty sure it was stated that Luke, recovered from his physical weakness in Abyss, was the superior duelist. Still, he did not shame the Sith in combat and his telekinesis was resisted by the Sith when he fled.

* Luke's own musings that the Nightsisters "probably" didn't have greater Force powers than himself.

Are you referring to:

Gaalan struck at Luke, high, low, a series of subtle and sophisticated blows that would have bewildered any lesser duelist. He was good; Luke gave him that. He might have been a match for an expert swordsmaster such as Kyp or Kyle Katarn. He would have been too much for a comparatively diffident duelist such as Cilghal, or even Luke as he had been back at Sinkhole Station, at low ebb in physical and mental strength.

But Luke, despite recent exertions, had had time to recover. He parried each of Gaalan's blows, and his ripostes, his blade skittering off Gaalan's and thrusting now at the Sith Lord's face, now at shoulder or knee or torso-came increasingly close to touching flesh.

Luke smiled at the man

Luke's own musings that the Nightsisters "probably" didn't have greater Force powers than himself.

It was frustrating that Luke didn't kill the Sith Lord. The first paragraph makes it sound like he is absolutely toying with him.

He parried each of Gaalan's blows, and his ripostes, his blade skittering off Gaalan's and thrusting now at the Sith Lord's face, now at shoulder or knee or torso-came increasingly close to touching flesh.

Luke smiled at the man

I turned the page expecting to see Luke finish the man off, and instead Ben and random guy with blasters starts killing sith and then the Sith Lord escapes.

I guess they feel they need an antagonist later.

Another thing though: The idea that the Tribe is a bunch of nobodies in combat was thoroughly squashed.

Gaalen is put at the level of Kyp and Katarn.
Rhea was put at the level of a Jedi Master.
Vestera was put at the level of a Jedi Knight, and she wasn't even an official apprentice.

Oh yeah TJ, Luke did not struggle with a single rancor, on the contrary he wtf pwned multiple ones.

And (spoiler alert) the beginning of Allies that is given to us heavily implies a BenxVestara romance.

Gaalen is put at the level of Kyp and Katarn.

He might have been a match for an expert swordsmaster such as Kyp or Kyle Katarn

Rhea was put at the level of a Jedi Master.

Originally posted by Dr McBeefington

This is very debatable as Luke was ridiculously weak during his fight in the maw.

I can give you a page number later. Luke actually says that about Rhea and Vestera, I didn't make it up.

Might is indeed a key operative, but it puts him in the discussion, and that is indeed what matters. Considering it bothers to say that the lower Jedi Master could not have handled him, it makes it seem likely that he would be a match (which doesn't mean he would win) for one of them.

What's the page number, I'll look it up in my copy.

*Rhea - KIA: If Luke was not physically weakened, IMO it would not have been much of a fight, but stupid author.
Gaalen - Does not come close to Kyp even if Kyp is drunk (Force).
*Vestara - Tahiri maybe? On a personal thought, she and Ben unite in Allies which is due to be released next month. Possibly romantically involved with Ben and may join the Jedi Order.

I'll get it too ya something like 6 hours from now? Still on campus, and I'm in the middle of tech week right now. : )

pg 100, 4th paragraph.

Crap, I can't find my copy. I'll take your word for it.