I usually write these topical threads in inspiration from another conversation. Most recently I had a discussion with Buttered_Scones about a game mechanic I find I love about games, and this even found that others had some opinions on their views of mechanic vs. gimmick, and what makes SH 'flawed.'
I am from a different spectrum of this way of thinking, as if I could make money observing Videogames, I would. But in most cases no degree =/= no critic job. Maybe I should start a blog.....
ANYWAYS, sorry for going off tangent but instead of blogging about it, I'd love to discuss it with ya'll sommore.
The first order of business is addressing 'what is what is starhawk?'
A third person shooter?
A real time strategy?
A flight simulator?
A big ol' playground?
I am of the opinion, that it may be an RTS before a 3rd person shooter. I really like the idea that if I have a well coordinated group of 16 people, all of us have a vital role to play in all out in game wars. This is a fantasy of mine that one day, I have commanded a clan of 16v16 to conquer a game of TDM on narrows on the ground and in the air.
Within seconds the open virgin landscapes will be littered with our tools and weapons of massive destruction to absolutely decimate enemy tanks and hawks and sabotage bases, and hopefully, another evenly matched team of 16 may make the challenge so intense, that we may need more training to get the upper hand.
I admit that I haven't bothered to study maps or battlefields because I don't have that team to lead, but the idea is a cool one. 3 hawks in the air calling hawk formations and changing it up because freaky is that good, would be incredibly awesome.
Tactics like that are a pure expression from skill though, and that is the second meta I love about the discovery and depth to Starhawk. When I learn how to play Esper Control in Magic the Gathering, I will need to prepare for every possible situation. Especially for even match or underdog matches.
The first meta, most recently mentioned in that convo with Scones is the thought of 'counter play.' The broader subject is also 'perfect imbalance,' but the way the theory goes is that for every tactic, or skill, or building structure there is an opposite counter tactic, or counter skill. Even the ones that seem really horrible at first may have a place in the way this is structured.
With the right combinations, horrible skills could be your lock and key. And the way how this game could really use a team of people to kick **bleep**, the revenge skill may have a personal place in your arsenal. Lol, at least it's good to kill mrdurant!
Perfect Imbalance in all games give people the opportunity to learn the game and feel empowered. 'Noobification' and the introduction of auto turrets and beam turrets to a game 'like warhawk' (sue me) is a great way for a noob to get to thinking they may have an actual shot at winning games. Every game that has these 'imbalances' (really at one point it evens out) is a real hook for people like me.
Auto turrets have a hard counter in turret jammer. It's my reason to get the skill. But then there's the incentive to 'get good' and deal with them auto turrets. A skilled player in Magic the Gathering doesn't use a bad card because their biggest fear is an opponent's ace in the hole. Instead a better player is rewarded by finding ways around and dealing with it.
This is where I find Starhawk most rewarding. I do not fear auto turrets. I do not need turret jammer to progress through a turret field. Instead I use stealthy, and take on them turrets unimpeded, and now I am Legend!!!
this is me helping
