att: sword geeks and video gamers

[Stella_Omega]

Hi, Neal Stephenson here. My career as an author of science and historical fiction has turned me into a swordsmanship geek. As such, I'm dissatisfied with how swordfighting is portrayed in existing video games. These could be so much more fun than they are. Time for a revolution.

If you don't know Neal Stephenson, he's a rather fabulous writer of cyber-geek-punk scifi, he's really a swordsman, he's really a mathematical wizard-- in short, the guy who really could pull this off!

It's on kickstarter. It's probably going to be PC only, unfortunately for us linux users.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang

Also-- female characters that actually wear armor instead of chainmail bikinis. Which is pretty much history in the making.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Okay, that was seriously cool enough to get me to pledge $100.

A bastard sword is a bit longer than my katana, but my Kendo experience is gonna let me kick some MAJOR ass! Woo Hoo! Come on CLANG!

 

[desertslave]

Also-- female characters that actually wear armor instead of chainmail bikinis. [/URL] Which is pretty much history in the making.

Yayyyyyy! Because that shit chafes if the ring closures aren't near-damn-perfect!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Yayyyyyy! Because that shit chafes if the ring closures aren't near-damn-perfect!

Not to mention leaving your entire belly open to your opponent's sword. And your thighs, knees, hamstrings usually.

Not to mention-- those sexy metal boobmounds will guide a sword tip straight into your heart.

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

Yayyyyyy! Because that shit chafes if the ring closures aren't near-damn-perfect!

I'm pretty sure a very close shave would be important too as the rings move against one another with motion. (LOL)

Mike

 

[TheeGoatPig]

If you don't know Neal Stephenson, he's a rather fabulous writer of cyber-geek-punk scifi, he's really a swordsman, he's really a mathematical wizard-- in short, the guy who really could pull this off!

It's on kickstarter. It's probably going to be PC only, unfortunately for us linux users.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang

Also-- female characters that actually wear armor instead of chainmail bikinis. Which is pretty much history in the making.

I saw this video the other day and can't wait to see the results. I have been waiting for a more accurate melee combat in games for years.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'd just like to point out that real sword fights, like real martial arts encounters, are uniformly very short! Make one mistake, be off on your timing by a half second and . . . You. Are. Dead.

Terrible theater but I'm not responsible for your lack of entertainment.

Gun fights tend to be even shorter.

 

[Saxon Stonedyke]

A few years ago when my father was in better shape, we had a prowler running around and my mother called to inform me that Dad was out looking for them. Not long after some one knocked at my door. The shotgun was in the bedroom and the pistol was in the den. Answered the door with this. you should have seen the look on my poor fathers face]

Then he asked me "You wouldn't come to a gun fight with a knife would you?"

View attachment 1135928

 

[Stella_Omega]

I'd just like to point out that real sword fights, like real martial arts encounters, are uniformly very short! Make one mistake, be off on your timing by a half second and . . . You. Are. Dead.

Terrible theater but I'm not responsible for your lack of entertainment.

Gun fights tend to be even shorter.

So are car crashes but that's never stopped anyone from enjoying Grand Theft Auto.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

A few years ago when my father was in better shape, we had a prowler running around and my mother called to inform me that Dad was out looking for them. Not long after some one knocked at my door. The shotgun was in the bedroom and the pistol was in the den. Answered the door with this. you should have seen the look on my poor fathers face]

Then he asked me "You wouldn't come to a gun fight with a knife would you?"

View attachment 1135928

It is to be admitted that a yard of sharp steel has a very intimidating effect. Knights always had them even though maces were far more effective in combat. Still, a machete beats a ax handle for psychological effect any day.

 

[Safe_Bet]

It is to be admitted that a yard of sharp steel has a very intimidating effect. Knights always had them even though maces were far more effective in combat. Still, a machete beats a ax handle for psychological effect any day.

And when I chop both your hands off at the wrist with my katana how you gonna swing that mace, tin man???

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Depends. If I shatter that katana with my mace your last few seconds are going to be spent looking very worried.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

I was down with the more realistic sword play development, but if female costumes are going to be reality based as well, then I think I'll just have to pass. Physics defying costumes are the heart of any fighting game. Click

 

[R. Richard]

Then he asked me "You wouldn't come to a gun fight with a knife would you?"

Always carry a knife into a gun fight. Unlike a gun, a knife never runs out of rounds. If you shoot someone, they may or may not die. If you jam a Bowie into a motherfucker's gut and then pull it out with a Sicilian twist, he always dies.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I was down with the more realistic sword play development, but if female costumes are going to be reality based as well, then I think I'll just have to pass. Physics defying costumes are the heart of any fighting game. Click

No problem. I'm sure you'll find one or two million boy-designed bimbos in the video gaming world. You won't miss this one.

 

[PoppingTom]

Always carry a knife into a gun fight. Unlike a gun, a knife never runs out of rounds. If you shoot someone, they may or may not die. If you jam a Bowie into a motherfucker's gut and then pull it out with a Sicilian twist, he always dies.

Good advice for your grandma....

 

[Saxon Stonedyke]

Always carry a knife into a gun fight. Unlike a gun, a knife never runs out of rounds. If you shoot someone, they may or may not die. If you jam a Bowie into a motherfucker's gut and then pull it out with a Sicilian twist, he always dies.

Not legal to carry a bowie here but I do carry a folding lock blade thrower everywhere I go. Except the shower

The Old Jar Head started teaching me when I was 6. One of the first things was knife throwing. It's like a bad fart silent but deadly.

 

[Thefamiliar]

I'm in...

But Bethesda already gave women real armor in oblivion and skyrim. Though they seemed to keep the womanly shape...i always just figured the women to be the superior warriors as theycould fight naked and not get a scratch...

I am sure we will have holodecks before ya know it.

 

[Marvin33]

I like this.

 

[Carreira]

Depends. If I shatter that katana with my mace your last few seconds are going to be spent looking very worried.

You would be surprised about the resistance of a Katana....

 

[Carreira]

Ah, also guys- In strategy I was always upset about troops always swing the sword and the other guy just loosing HP - Till Shogun Total War 2 came out. The game is awesome and the Troops really fight, not just swing, they really fight so the skill matters, the morale matters, luck matters, the fight is ALL choreographed by real Kendo Masters.

If you don't know it, here is a small demonstration SHOGUN FIGHT SCENE

The good thing is that ALL troops fight with this level of detail, so Imagine on those battles you have 30,000 men! Best strategy game ever.

Here is a trailer that shows some battles TRAILER

 

[Saxon Stonedyke]

Ah, also guys- In strategy I was always upset about troops always swing the sword and the other guy just loosing HP - Till Shogun Total War 2 came out. The game is awesome and the Troops really fight, not just swing, they really fight so the skill matters, the morale matters, luck matters, the fight is ALL choreographed by real Kendo Masters.

If you don't know it, here is a small demonstration SHOGUN FIGHT SCENE

The good thing is that ALL troops fight with this level of detail, so Imagine on those battles you have 30,000 men! Best strategy game ever.

Here is a trailer that shows some battles TRAILER

Thanks! I've been playing WoW since '06 and after 10 level 85's alliance and 4 on horde side spread over two servers I am looking for something different.