Bandango
07-08-2009, 02:17 PM
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRADT.jpg
WARNING: SELF-INDULGENT PROSE BELOW
Once upon a time, a dragon hatched in the loneliness of a dark wood. It wandered the forest floor, slunk through wet caves and scaled the tallest trees in search of a remarkable species of beetle it found to be especially delicious. The dragon ate so many that its very scales were died the same shade of blue as its quarry. Its stomach full, the dragon decided to find a warm place to sleep off the prodigious meal. But before such a place could be found, a dozen thin shafts like those of strong saplings appeared all around him, as if from no where. Beyond them the dragon caught sight of its only natural predator, man. What the dragon did not know was that the tiny trunks around him were the bars of a magical cage, and that the man before him was a wizard, his new master. The dragon would grow accustomed to both very quickly.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD3.jpg
The Wizard was not a cruel man, but he treated the dragon as little more than a resource. Over the years the dragon grew larger, stronger. One day, the Wizard stopped making his daily visits to the dragon’s pen. More importantly, he stopped bringing food. Hunger drove the beast from its cage. The mushrooms it found in the dungeon were earthy and meaty. The sweet tasting elixir on the desk in the Wizard’s study tickled the dragon’s nose. After filling its belly, the dragon came across the Wizard on his deathbed. Upon finding him, a grumbling rose in the dragon’s gullet. The strange new foods that it had ingested caused it to belch in a way it never had before. A magical, digestive mist filled the room. The Wizard rose. Cured, he thanked the dragon again and again for its kindness. The Wizard’s gratitude filled the dragon with a powerful new sensation, and when the Wizard granted it its freedom, it could think of only one thing to do with it.
The great dragon surveyed the countryside until he came upon an impoverished village. There it cured the sick and healed the wounded, finding great pleasure in the acts of kindness. The dragon became the patron of the little town, taking roost in its only stone building. When news of the dragon reached the capitol, a foolhardy young hero made haste to the ‘occupied’ village. Despite the protestations of the townspeople, the hero strung his bow and slew the mighty beast. The villagers were heartbroken, but the tales of the powerful warrior long outlived their lament.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD2.jpg
This is How to Raise a Dragon in a nutshell. By the way-- spoilers.
Arranged into four simple vignettes, How to Raise a Dragon’s status as a game may be debatable. I, for one, think it’s an awesome game, but that’s because I’m easily smitten by new things. Much is familiar. You use the arrow keys and press a button to jump, but the unique arrangement and objectives of HTRAD (awesome acronym, huh) are anything but conventional. The best way I can think to describe it is as an interactive picture book.
Throughout the game, well written excerpts from the pages of a yellowed manuscript describe the nature of dragons. These excerpts provide motivation for playing and either anticipate or describe your actions in the game. Within the four stages, each representing a different period in a dragon’s life, there is a respectable amount of experimentation possible. Different actions yield different excerpts from the manuscript, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD1.jpg
The first time around, How to Raise a Dragon is short and sweet. If it hooks you, though, there are enough heroic and un-heroic acts to keep you occupied for a while longer. Unfortunately, after fooling around in the world for an hour or two, I discovered there were far fewer outcomes than I would have liked. But, as it stands, it’s fun. Try it out. If you enjoy it, be sure to check some of Gregory Weir’s others, particularly The Majesty of Colors.
How to Raise a Dragon is:
-a leisurely experience.
-a unique experiment in storytelling.
-rewarding on your first time through, but has more to offer afterwards.
Play it here-
http://armorgames.com/play/4046/how-to-raise-a-dragon
Gregory Weir’s site-
http://ludusnovus.net/
WARNING: SELF-INDULGENT PROSE BELOW
Once upon a time, a dragon hatched in the loneliness of a dark wood. It wandered the forest floor, slunk through wet caves and scaled the tallest trees in search of a remarkable species of beetle it found to be especially delicious. The dragon ate so many that its very scales were died the same shade of blue as its quarry. Its stomach full, the dragon decided to find a warm place to sleep off the prodigious meal. But before such a place could be found, a dozen thin shafts like those of strong saplings appeared all around him, as if from no where. Beyond them the dragon caught sight of its only natural predator, man. What the dragon did not know was that the tiny trunks around him were the bars of a magical cage, and that the man before him was a wizard, his new master. The dragon would grow accustomed to both very quickly.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD3.jpg
The Wizard was not a cruel man, but he treated the dragon as little more than a resource. Over the years the dragon grew larger, stronger. One day, the Wizard stopped making his daily visits to the dragon’s pen. More importantly, he stopped bringing food. Hunger drove the beast from its cage. The mushrooms it found in the dungeon were earthy and meaty. The sweet tasting elixir on the desk in the Wizard’s study tickled the dragon’s nose. After filling its belly, the dragon came across the Wizard on his deathbed. Upon finding him, a grumbling rose in the dragon’s gullet. The strange new foods that it had ingested caused it to belch in a way it never had before. A magical, digestive mist filled the room. The Wizard rose. Cured, he thanked the dragon again and again for its kindness. The Wizard’s gratitude filled the dragon with a powerful new sensation, and when the Wizard granted it its freedom, it could think of only one thing to do with it.
The great dragon surveyed the countryside until he came upon an impoverished village. There it cured the sick and healed the wounded, finding great pleasure in the acts of kindness. The dragon became the patron of the little town, taking roost in its only stone building. When news of the dragon reached the capitol, a foolhardy young hero made haste to the ‘occupied’ village. Despite the protestations of the townspeople, the hero strung his bow and slew the mighty beast. The villagers were heartbroken, but the tales of the powerful warrior long outlived their lament.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD2.jpg
This is How to Raise a Dragon in a nutshell. By the way-- spoilers.
Arranged into four simple vignettes, How to Raise a Dragon’s status as a game may be debatable. I, for one, think it’s an awesome game, but that’s because I’m easily smitten by new things. Much is familiar. You use the arrow keys and press a button to jump, but the unique arrangement and objectives of HTRAD (awesome acronym, huh) are anything but conventional. The best way I can think to describe it is as an interactive picture book.
Throughout the game, well written excerpts from the pages of a yellowed manuscript describe the nature of dragons. These excerpts provide motivation for playing and either anticipate or describe your actions in the game. Within the four stages, each representing a different period in a dragon’s life, there is a respectable amount of experimentation possible. Different actions yield different excerpts from the manuscript, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww294/GoldenSandlewood/HTRAD1.jpg
The first time around, How to Raise a Dragon is short and sweet. If it hooks you, though, there are enough heroic and un-heroic acts to keep you occupied for a while longer. Unfortunately, after fooling around in the world for an hour or two, I discovered there were far fewer outcomes than I would have liked. But, as it stands, it’s fun. Try it out. If you enjoy it, be sure to check some of Gregory Weir’s others, particularly The Majesty of Colors.
How to Raise a Dragon is:
-a leisurely experience.
-a unique experiment in storytelling.
-rewarding on your first time through, but has more to offer afterwards.
Play it here-
http://armorgames.com/play/4046/how-to-raise-a-dragon
Gregory Weir’s site-
http://ludusnovus.net/