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Post by CharlesX on Mar 28, 2022 12:41:22 GMT
I will not be doing a poll asking your favourite FF set on Earth, because out of House of Hell and Blood of the Zombies I don't think it'd be a close run (yeah, that is just published FF gamebooks). But I am doing a poll asking if you'd like to see more FF set on Earth, after the series has had conspicuously few such FFs. Polling closes 9 p.m. 10 April. You may choose up to 6 answers to give the best picture.
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Mar 28, 2022 18:13:20 GMT
On Earth. Meaning any location and at any point in the past history of the Earth and into the future? The scope is enormous.
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Post by CharlesX on Mar 28, 2022 18:44:30 GMT
On Earth. Meaning any location and at any point in the past history of the Earth and into the future? The scope is enormous. Yes, meaning exactly that. So, Ian Livingstone had the entirety of planet Earth's history, present day, and future, to choose from, and managed to write the worst FF gamebook we've had, probably will have, maybe even so bad it set back the likelihood of gamebooks set on Earth . While Steve Jackson wrote a modest but effective gamebook set in many people's present lifetimes, with some supernatural tropes, and wrote one of the best gamebooks, FF or otherwise .
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Post by vastariner on Mar 28, 2022 19:36:15 GMT
Went for no. If they're going to be set on Earth, make them a separate series or idea or whatever. Am too used to 12/24/12 being on Allansia or similarly analogous world. Otherwise it's not really "fantasy".
House Of Hell works because it's not really set on "Earth" but a portion of Hell that has been dragged up here. That's about the only real idea that would work.
Now, I'd love to experience a Maelstrom series, and I did enjoy the Cretan Chronicles, even if they did get too stochastic in the final one...
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Post by CharlesX on Mar 28, 2022 19:50:30 GMT
Went for no. If they're going to be set on Earth, make them a separate series or idea or whatever. Am too used to 12/24/12 being on Allansia or similarly analogous world. Otherwise it's not really "fantasy". House Of Hell works because it's not really set on "Earth" but a portion of Hell that has been dragged up here. That's about the only real idea that would work. True. House of Hell reminds me of the old PC Doom games (around 10 years later).
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Post by terrysalt on Mar 28, 2022 20:26:17 GMT
I voted no. At this point I don't think I want more FF books. The newest 4 didn't really recapture the magic for me.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,434
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Mar 28, 2022 22:32:38 GMT
Sure, why not?
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Mar 30, 2022 15:37:32 GMT
On Earth. Meaning any location and at any point in the past history of the Earth and into the future? The scope is enormous. Yes, meaning exactly that. So, Ian Livingstone had the entirety of planet Earth's history, present day, and future, to choose from, and managed to write the worst FF gamebook we've had, probably will have, maybe even so bad it set back the likelihood of gamebooks set on Earth . I found the story more engaging than his Eye of the Dragon which was all over the place and utterly forgettable. The problems I had with it was in the untested mechanics, the zombie tallying and the removal of the familiar FF combat system. The Intro and Outro were ridiculous too, but other than that, it's quite solidly written with good sequences, a decent pace, good atmosphere where required (but still not quite enough), and you don't end up needing a cart load of items. If only it was more like a typical FF book. It feels like if it was given a proper FF makeover it would turn out to be a pretty decent book (something I have considered but why do I have to do all the work? lol). As it stands I'd say it's in the bottom 5 in the series without hitting rock bottom. Not that that's any consolation by any means.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Mar 30, 2022 15:41:50 GMT
Freeway Fighter was decent too but lacked a bit of substance as well as better illustrations. Whatever Iain McCaig was working on at the time, they should have waited for him. His preliminary artwork for it looked great.
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Post by linflas on Apr 1, 2022 5:59:50 GMT
Never heard about that, do you have any photos?
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Post by CharlesX on Apr 1, 2022 6:40:39 GMT
Never heard about that, do you have any photos? Ironically coming from someone who didn't bother mentioning Freeway Fighter in this thread (and yeah, I have played it before), I have heard of their big commercially published graphic novel, which might well interest you: link
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Post by CharlesX on Apr 10, 2022 20:11:34 GMT
So, maybe half of those voting either reckoned no, or didn't feel strongly, possibly a majority wouldn't mind another FF on Earth if it were done well. While fewer than 20 voted, I still find it a slight take-away that no one would like to see Ian Livingstone take a shot at another FF on Earth, even in spite of the recent resurgence in interest in Freeway Fighter with the graphic novel project I mentioned before. We'll forgive you for Blood eventually, Ian !
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Post by terrysalt on Apr 10, 2022 21:01:48 GMT
It's not just Blood, I haven't liked any of Ian's books since Temple (which I guess is when my nostalgia ran out).
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Apr 11, 2022 8:19:39 GMT
While fewer than 20 voted, I still find it a slight take-away that no one would like to see Ian Livingstone take a shot at another FF on Earth, The trouble is wherever and whenever it would be set, it would be another item hunt full of random instant deaths, rules anomalies, plot holes, and lack of logic. Like a Freeway Fighter setting off with not enough petrol and not even the means to syphon it, a book set in modern Earth will see you probably die for want of a nine volt battery or pair of flip flops. I do wish he would read and analyse other gamebooks and learn from them.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,434
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Apr 11, 2022 10:23:37 GMT
While fewer than 20 voted, I still find it a slight take-away that no one would like to see Ian Livingstone take a shot at another FF on Earth, The trouble is wherever and whenever it would be set, it would be another item hunt full of random instant deaths, rules anomalies, plot holes, and lack of logic. Like a Freeway Fighter setting off with not enough petrol and not even the means to syphon it, a book set in modern Earth will see you probably die for want of a nine volt battery or pair of flip flops. I do wish he would read and analyse other gamebooks and learn from them. In Ian's defence, I do kinda enjoy item hunts to an extent. Failing because you don't have the flip flops and then finding the flip flops on a subsequent playthrough is a pretty good feeling. My problem with them is more where they feel a bit arbitrary - collecting dragon artefacts in Temple of Terror is fine, buying a vase in the off-chance it might come in useful in Armies of Death is not. Design-wise there's no real difference but the latter takes you out of the experience in the way the former doesn't.
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Apr 11, 2022 10:51:51 GMT
In Ian's defence, I do kinda enjoy item hunts to an extent. I thought he did a great job in City of Thieves because you were given a list to look for and rewarded for a bit of thought. Pearls being from the sea, in lieu of a jeweller's shop a good place to look for them might be down the harbour, at the seaside. Where to look for rare flowers but in the gardens? And I think there was a rumour that hags were to be found in the sewers?
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Post by dragonwarrior8 on Apr 11, 2022 13:51:59 GMT
In Ian's defence, I do kinda enjoy item hunts to an extent. I thought he did a great job in City of Thieves because you were given a list to look for and rewarded for a bit of thought. Pearls being from the sea, in lieu of a jeweller's shop a good place to look for them might be down the harbour, at the seaside. Where to look for rare flowers but in the gardens? And I think there was a rumour that hags were to be found in the sewers? And where else to get a completely ridiculous tattoo other than the "One Drunken Night For A Lifetime Of Regret Tattoo Parlour"! (You should have had to get a tattoo that said "Get it here")
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