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erere

I was overwhelmed by both the quality and quantity of the Monthly Musings articles of April; I've gotta say, you guys posted some really kickass stuff. I can only hope that this month's theme is strong enough to keep you guys going the way you have been: it's called "If you love it, change it," and it's about finding and fixing the flaws in your favorite games.

Since no game is truly perfect, there are always flaws to be fixed or untapped potential to be achieved. No matter how much we may love a certain title or series, there are always improvements to be made -- that's what this month's theme asks.

Take a game or series of games you adore, then find a way to improve it. Think Castlevania should lose all the backtracking? Does Zelda need a complete overhaul? Talk about it, and talk about why that'd make the series better.

Hit the jump for further clarification of the theme, and posting rules. 

This isn't about finding a flawed game or series and then saying how it needs to be better -- that's way too easy. We could all talk about why Halo needs a better story, or that Assassin's Creed needed to have actual gameplay. The challenge of this theme comes in looking at a series you personally love, and finding ways to improve upon it.

As unlikely as it may initially seem, every game can be bettered in some way; you've just gotta find the changes that need to be made, and discuss them. This theme is just as much about developing personal skills of critique as it is initiating informed, intelligent discussion (which will undoubtedly happen if your changes make sense).

As always, title your post "If you love it, change it," make sure it's well thought out, and don't hesitate to add some pretty pictures. If your post rocks, we'll shove it onto the front page. 

Any questions? 


Continue: More Monthly Musing stories





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30 comments | showing # 1 to 30

liquidninja's Avatar
liquidninja at 05/01/2008 13:57
Great where do I submit it?
Passionate Styos's Avatar
Passionate Styos at 05/01/2008 13:58
Ready to make about Castlevania, nobody steal it damn it! Or I should just do something else, this MM is perfect for me.
Jerkbutt47's Avatar
Jerkbutt47 at 05/01/2008 14:03
Halo could use a clearer cut story without all the alien backstabbing, but then again I did enjoy the Arbiter's story in Halo 2.

Well now I guess that the Halo games should have given us dual perspectives on the war. I guess that would have made the story more emotionally involving and provided an understanding of what made the individual characters do what they did.
razerangel's Avatar
razerangel at 05/01/2008 14:08
Hmmm could be interesting
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar
Hamza CTZ Aziz at 05/01/2008 14:10
Halo has a good story, it's just horribly told in Halo 2 and especially in 3.

AND HEY GUYS, HOW ABOUT ALL NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO MAKE YOUR BLOGS?!?!!?!?!?
Anthony Burch's Avatar
Anthony Burch at 05/01/2008 14:10
liquidninja:
The cblogs.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 05/01/2008 14:26
Cool Cool. This is one I can see people having very different things for the same game. I've got a couple clearly flawed favorites, but I'll definitely try to find some fault in my highly regarded favs (Megaman at least). Good Times!

@Hamza

I didn't :(
The Bez's Avatar
The Bez at 05/01/2008 14:30
can we do cblogs on non-videogame games?
hammburglar's Avatar
hammburglar at 05/01/2008 14:40
@the bez:
like mousetrap?
Char Aznable's Avatar
Char Aznable at 05/01/2008 14:51
Hopefully most of these won't devolve into flame wars in the comments, with people getting pissed off that their cherished games are being torn apart.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 05/01/2008 15:00
Oooh great idea
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 05/01/2008 15:01
agreed Char. But I think, since its coming from someone that loves the game in question, it'll probably soften the hate. maybe.

Then again, who actually reads articles before commenting. pff! :)
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 05/01/2008 15:06
Rock Band needs more Radiohead. I think I'll write about that....
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 05/01/2008 15:33
Here's my article:

If you love it, change it: Mother 3

They should make the Japanese text English instead, and then get it to run on my American GBA.

DONE!
Anthony Burch's Avatar
Anthony Burch at 05/01/2008 15:48
The Bez:
You can write one, but I doubt it'd get frontpaged.

Dexter:
I see what you did there.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 05/01/2008 15:57
I have an entire list of these. In fact, I already did two.

I'm gonna go revise those first... then it's time for new ones.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar
SWE3tMadness at 05/01/2008 16:25
All right! A Musing that I actually have a great idea for! I just need to made a funny picture to go with it. >.>
impetus's Avatar
impetus at 05/01/2008 17:01
Call of Duty 4: Start Menu option to reload last save point (instead of restarting the entire level). I intentinally grenaded myself many times simply to start a section over.

Wind Waker: saaaaaaaailing, sailing... yawn.
shit-polka's Avatar
shit-polka at 05/01/2008 17:45
I've got a better monthly theme; menstruation.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 05/01/2008 17:49
This is a great fucking idea! There are so many things that could be changed for the better in gaming, so many stale franchises and ideas.

This is awesome.
Wexx's Avatar
Wexx at 05/01/2008 18:16
This could be interesting, need something good inspiration though. BEE ARE BEE!
RJG's Avatar
RJG at 05/01/2008 18:57
Zelda. Take away the need to do everything in a linear fashion. Give me a sword, a horse, a bow and an overworld, and just let me loose. Let me find shit myself. Don't lead me from on point to the next. If I don't want to finish a dungeon, that's fine, I shouldn't have to. That just means I don't get the item or the power ups and I make the game harder for myself. Make it more like the original, where everything was hidden and shit, because Ganon had taken over and everyone was hiding and living in fear, and I have to find the survivors to get their help, if I need it. Failing that, let me do it without any help, all by myself if need be, for a real challenge and a real "garden I can put away in my drawer" not a "point a to b to do list I suffer through because Nintendo can't figure out open-endedness".
NegFactor's Avatar
NegFactor at 05/01/2008 23:49
I might be quite interested in posting a couple blogs on this.

But can you really improve Contra? I mean...removing the *F* and *R* power-ups doesn't really seem like much of an improvement. I just ignored them normally anyway. :P
Linkoman's Avatar
Linkoman at 05/02/2008 06:54
@RJG: they did that. its called The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Droll's Avatar
Droll at 05/03/2008 17:51
Absolutly love this topic for blog entry, Reverend Anthony! I was so excited upon reading the idea that I, in what can only be described as a fit of madness, wrote my take on the topic over a 5 hour period! I didn't stop till 2 in the morning!
Love to see what people think about my "If you love it, Change it!" entry on Sonic the Hedgehog! It's a fever dream design doc of genius!
Maybe :)
Eques-Ardor's Avatar
Eques-Ardor at 05/13/2008 00:02
Does this topic at all relate to the horrible things that are happening to the layout right now?

I like the new topic format, but I don't like that the tag is above the title of the post, and that there's only ONE. And I'm not so fond of the 'boxes floating in space' look.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 05/24/2008 16:17
My entry, just in case someone misses it in all the recent contest entries.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 05/24/2008 17:45
@Eques-Ardor:
I KNOW, RIGHT?
Azrael XJM's Avatar
Azrael XJM at 05/25/2008 20:04
Well, here's my Mamoth of an entry. I should right a more concise write up of NMH sometimes. That game doesn't get enough love, nor could it in a thousand lifetimes.

Or something.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 05/31/2008 10:38
This theme is just as much about developing personal skills of critique as it is initiating informed, intelligent discussion

I haven't seen to many of those arrise after the postings of most of those clogs to be honest... Either most simply say 'You Suck' without elaborating or nobody replies...
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