Diecast 358: The Good, The Bad, The Writing
Channel: Paul Spooner
Date: 2021-10-11

Listen to all the Diecast episodes with Shamus Young in here: https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?cat=287

Show Notes
00:00 I am Iron Man
07:42 Dyson Sphere Program
09:26 New World:
37:59 Signed copy of Mess Effect?
39:05 Mailbag: Shang-Chi?
45:54 Mailbag: Foreshadowing and Payoff
55:01 Mailbag: Good Writing?
1:03:01 Mailbag: Annoying Messages
1:10:53 James Webb Telescope
1:12:21 Wrapping Up
1:12:33 Outro Music
1:13:55 Secret Stinger


Shang-Chi
Dear Diecast

Have you guys seen Shang-Chi? Or more specifically, did you guys go outside to the cinema to watch Shang-Chi? I admit that I'm miffed that Hollywood is rushing to pretend everything is back to the old normal while a new delta variant of the plague rages across the country, just to keep theaters open for their "prestige value" compared to home streaming.

Love, 
Mule


Foreshadowing and Payoff
Dear Diecast,

in Final Fantasy VIII (that's 8 for readers unfamiliar with Roman numerals), there are several ways to access the game's lore. Aside from the obvious (NPC dialogues) there is also Squall's PC in the Balamb Garden classroom. A number of lore entries can also be accessed through the in-game menu.

Now one of those lore entries talks about how Guardian Forces (what summons are called in the game) have a detrimental effect on their users' memories. Later in the game this detail pays off in the plot by the main characters finding out that they have forgotten some important stuff.

That plot point has been criticised for coming out of nowhere, which made me wonder: do you think that all foreshadowing of important plot points needs to be done in mandatory dialogue and/or cutscenes, so players don't get blind-sided?

Vale,
-Tim


Good Writing?
Hi guys,
 
Shamus's most recent article on writing in video game writing sparks an obvious question: What are a few of the games you both regard as the most well written titles out there? Furthermore, how many of those are relatively new, versus being 'old classics'?
 
I'm not trying to spark an old grognard argument there, mind you. :) All of my favorite game stories were classics for almost the entirety of the last decade, but these last few years smaller studios and indies have produced many tales that I've found to be truly exceptional.
 
-JMobius


Good Writing!
Dear Diecast,

Last week you covered bad writing. What about good writing? What are
your top 3 best written games? Not simply good, but the best by your
own standards?

- Steve C


Annoying Messages

Ok, so I was playing Elder Scrolls Online, ran into a quest where I get "You must gather your party before venturing forth," and it was all I could do to not throw my mouse into the wall. Apparently, I have some unresolved issues with Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale. So, is there a type of game message (or a particular one)  that just drives you guys up the wall?
Thanks,
Melfina (Mel-feen-ah) the Blue