Game Expo - 01/22-23/2011

The game design expo of 2011 was very educational. It taught me a lot of what is needed to be a lead designer, it also renewed my vigor for going down the stream of designing games and the lot. Some of the speakers topics like how to create an effective horror game, by building up the fear, hitting a solid shock value and then push the player over into that wonderful scream of terror. Also how the speaker from Blizzard spoke of using flow charts, mind maps, graphs, and to lean away from using to many excel spreadsheets...

another bit

“Too right you are Delunar of Mar-Tellon and a gift I shall give to you so that Anherfn will know that he can trust you without question. For even now the Dragons still maintain the blood bond between us and the Draconian elves. Alas you are too young to carry such power for with this power you can shape simple your life. Fear will destroy you and control your power.”

And with that the body of this dragon began to decay and change the land around it. In the centre of its ribcage lay a small jewel shining, and calling out to us to take it and to consume it. That is when I first learned about magic and for the next thirty years I used the magic for my own. I stole, cheated, charmed, and caused much chaos until I was captured by a contingent of elder elves whose power I thought even I surpassed. So in shackles I was led to Bloodmoon Academy and Mord. With a loud, crash he burst through the door to his house;

“Tyre!” – he shouted

“Where is that boy? For he is going to begin his first lesson.”

I looked at Kella, confused for I thought that it was only her, Mord, and myself who lived within this cabin, of plain white walls with burn and pock marks. She rose from the chair and said;

“Mord, calm yourself…”

This was all I heard clearly for after that they whispered for some time. I was taking in the lovely little kitchen filled with pots and pans, spices, and all sorts of glassware. There was a small black oven/stove against the wall with a pantry and store room inlaid against the other side. As Mord and Kella walked back into the room I asked;

“Who is Tyre, sir?”

Where absent mindedly Mord answered with;

“A very old friend I thought was here but alas I forget she died many, many, years ago. Enough of her… we have many, many things to discuss like that dragon’s soul that you have hanging as a pendant from your neck.”

As I reached up to grasp the pendant for it has become my one and only treasure.

“It is quite the gift boy, don’t ever forget that it will protect you from many agents of Darkness” – continued Mord.

“I will release your suppression on one condition you give me your word, laced with magic that you will not use your abilities unless it is needed to save yourself and others.”

“What do you mean it will protect me from many agents of Darkness?”  - I asked.

Mord began to stroll around the little kitchen, tapping his chin. He then stopped suddenly and spoke;

“First your word, then I will answer your questions.”

“Fine, but how do I give you my word laced with magic?” – I answered.

An exasperated sigh escaped from Mord and he began to teach me how to make a promise with magic. As the night carried on and Kella prepared a large spread, that filled the table to the brim with roasted succulent meats, nice ripe vegetables, and a few freshly baked loaves of bread. I had never seen anyone eat as much food as these two. Suddenly shaken from his slumber by the locomotive’s staff Delunar was told that the train will be arriving in Bloodmoon City shortly. Stepping off the train and onto the dimly lit, grungy looking platform of the station, Delunar quickly looking around the platform noting the creeping feel of the dark corners, and  the shabby, worn out beggars, speaking to himself;

“This place has fallen on hard times; don’t suppose Mord would know anything about this dark, dreary, state that Bloodmoon has fallen into.”

Picking up his luggage and stepping out of the station into the cold winter air, he begins walking at a brisk pace towards the Academy and mentor.

Delunar standing in the main foyer of Bloodmoon Academy, accosted by the loud cacophony of students going this way and that, left and right, and grasping Kella’s hand, she begins to lead the two of them down the halls, and labyrinth of the academy, towards Delunar’s first class History, with Mord.

An excerpt from my book

The log dormitory of Mord’s which must have been built millennia’s before the village of Bloodmoon, it stood dilapidated, and crumbling the roof was in much need of repair and the walls could use a few patch jobs. The front door was practically hanging off its hinges and as Kella and I approached she raised her hand as if in greetings, and suddenly I found myself being engulfed by a very odd sensation something that I remembered from my childhood it was like being suffocated by a vast amount of essence hanging in the air for when I was a child I was very much the adventurer. I ran into this vast force and decided to follow it only to discover that it belonged to a peculiar dragon. A creature lost in time but this dragon was nearing its end and as I approached it spoke to me;

” Ah, young elf you give off the smell of Draconian blood. Come closer so I may look upon a rarity that the humans seem hell bent on destroying, for they fear all riders and Draconians since they lost the ability to control the essence.”

As I approached this majestic creature my world began to change I could feel everything around me breathe in and out in almost perfect synchronization with this dying behemoth. The dragon began to speak again;

“What is your name ye of the fallen elves?”

I replied simply and cautiously with my name and asked;

“What do you mean Draconian blood I thought that the Draconians fell with the ending of the Abyss war because the humans betrayed them to the portal?”