Game at the Bottom
Why spend millions on visuals that are just a distraction from the REAL game of hotbar-watching?
The Gradient of Plot Holes
Most stories have plot holes. The failure isn't that they exist, it's when you notice them while immersed in the story.
Borderlands Series
A look at the main Borderlands games. What works, what doesn't, and where the series can go from here.
What is Vulkan?
There's a new graphics API in town. What does that mean, and why do we need it?
Trashing the Heap
What does it mean when a program crashes, and why does it happen?
Especially not when you’re getting paid, right? ;)
Best written “Let’s Play” MMO series of 2009. Hands down.
I’m enjoying them, but will there be more singing?
I really can’t decide if I like it or not
It’s alright, but the “But I’m a musician!” joke feels like it will wear thin pretty quick.
My favorite part of it was the wraith’s pausing to consider getting off his horse to stab them. The absurdity of it worked well.
The ending was priceless; I had to come up with my own tune to go with :)
Great stuff, keep the ball rolling… and by ball, i mean horrible slaughter and comical composition.
Actually the “I’m a musician” joke will wear, become boring, then become hilarious again as it’s repeated while facing down a balrog after fighting through the legions of Moria.
“But I’m a musician!”
I don’t follow many Let’s Plays (My first ever was Boatmurdered, which made me play Dwarf Fortress, which did not end well for my poor dwarves), but I have quite enjoyed the few I’ve read! Can’t wait to see where this goes and when Shamus’s head explodes into rage-quit!
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OverUsedRunningGag
I think.
They’re okay. Probably won’t add this one to the RSS reader. Not too sure about Stolen Pixels, either, which has been going downhill.
Thought the best line of this entry was Lulzy’s threatening to write an epic poem.
Ironically, I think this made the end joke weaker, since the idea of Lulzy composing a new Iliad starring Amdir the Moron in revenge was far ludicrous and funnier for it than her “Brave, Brave Sir Robin” move.
You MUST keep adding bits of poetry and music. It adds a Tolkien-esque touch to the whole thing. OK, so maybe that bit of doggerel wasn’t quite as epic as the Lays of Beleriand but I make allowances for the fact that you’re not intending this to be the great American novel. Still, it adds just the right flavor.
“My favorite part of it was the wraith's pausing to consider getting off his horse to stab them. The absurdity of it worked well.”
Eh, I call Recycled Joke! http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=850
:)
Looking at these screen shots, I kinda wondered when the Hobbits were introduced to make up. Lulzy looks like she’s got enough make up on her for a night on the town.
Very nice! And quite enjoyable. You’ve totally converted me to written RPs, Shamus!
I have to ask though…since you now write these for The Man, do you find it difficult to keep within the allotted length (if there is one?) I know the adventures of SoC would run pretty long sometimes (longer than 4 Escapist pages anyway). I would hate to think you had to cut some jokes just to make something fit. (Or pad, for that matter, but I assume its easy enough to just play as long as you need to to get enough material for an installment?)
SoldierHawk: Actually, the word count for both series is about the same ~2,000 words per entry. I might have used more images for Soc, though. I haven’t been keeping track.
Keep up the series Shamus,I love it.Oh,and a little correction is needed in the begining:There isnt a balrog-kissing quest in the game,as far as you know for now.Who knows what easter eggs may still lurk in the game,or what may be added at some point in time.
Interesting…for some reason SoC’s adventures just felt longer (not in a bad way.) Maybe its just a trick of the brain, having to scroll down a lot rather than just click page numbers. Ah well. Thanks for the clarification!
I haven’t played CO, but it almost felt like SoC was touching on the main plot points at least. With LOTRO, it feels like Shamus would barely touch the plot if he stopped after the same amount of comics.
This comic has taught me that for some reason I find Hobbits infinitely more tolerable if they’re wearing shoes. And being little smartasses to everyone they encounter.
I can tell Lord of the Rings Online is definitely a standard MMO. Low populations of towns, high populations of enemies, clothing rewards, It’s all there.
It will be interesting ot see how future ones go.
I for one am really enjoying these, and I’m glad that the wider world (in the form of the readership of The Escapist) is getting to enjoy the beauty of a Shamus-created Let’s Play. The temptation to use the Champions one (which, after all, is already done) must be strong, and I wouldn’t blame you if you did — or will The Escapist not allow material that’s been posted elsewhere first?
More, faster, please. I don’t wanna end up rereading comic archives waiting. This is one of my new favorite web things.
This stuff is awesome.
That was a very entertaining LP. Too bad it wasn’t longer.
BTW, does anyone know some LPs that are made out of screenshots and they are also funny?Most of the archives I’ve found simply describe whatever happens in the screenshot without an ounce of sarcasm.
@23: http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Ultima%204-6
Starts off slow, but especially the later games are dripping with sarcasm as he cheats, steals and murders his way to becoming the Avatar of Virtues.