This topic is for discussing my Let's Play projects. I want to discuss future projects that I'm considering, as well as tuning my recording process. I'll dicuss future projects in the first post, then create another post for other points of discussion. If you want to just read up on the games I'm considering, skip down to "The Point".

I initially wanted to wait until after finishing my FF12 test run before posting this discussion. However, since I got sidetracked with OOT and SD3, I fell behind, and wanted to talk about this now.

When I tentatively selected FF12 as my next main LP to follow FF4, it was with the intention of starting an FFXHD LP immediately upon release. I could do test runs on FFX in advance, since it would basically be the same game. The idea being to harness the immediate interest of the game in a way that I otherwise could not with a brand new game.

However, we still have no idea when it will be released. Not to mention the rumor (unconfirmed still?) that it's being completely overhauled with the Crystal Tools engine. That would obviously take a lot longer to develop, instead of just a straight port upscaling the original graphics, adding some achievements, and slapping on a $60 price tag.

Regardless of whether that is true or not, I think I'm going to let go of my restriction of starting an FFX LP immediately upon release. While it would be nice to harness the hype, I really don't care about that. What I would care about in making an FFX LP is having fun and being as thorough as possible with it. Starting an LP on an arbitrary date forces me to play a game at that particular time, which I don't think would not be fun for me. Of course, I'd still LP the HD version, but likely not immediately upon release. I'd probably start an LP a lot sooner than other new games, due to prior experience with it.

With that restriction lifted, I'm certainly in less of a rush to LP Final Fantasy 12. Of course, I'll finish my current test run, since I'm so close to finishing it, anyway. However, I would probably think about holding off on a second test run, if at all. I don't feel the need for a second test run, as I think I'm learning everything I need to learn. Plus, I'd like to consider a different game between the FF4 and FF12 LPs, to continue my pattern of alternating between a Final Fantasy title, and something less popular.

The Point
I would like to seriously consider Dragon Quest 4 DS as my next main LP to follow Final Fantasy 4, which would then be followed by Final Fantasy 12. I've been wanting to LP the game for quite some time. I feel that it is certainly long enough to warrant being a main LP, as it's certainly longer than either Lufia title. What do you think?

Given the results of the poll, I would likely LP the DS version, though I'm still very open to considering the NES version. In either case, I would test both versions, and certainly make bonus episodes covering the other. Honestly, I'm more impressed with how much they did with the NES version of the game, though I equally enjoyed the DS version, and would be just as passionate in an LP of either version.

It would be easier to record the NES version and probably easier on the eyes for viewers without the multiple screens of the DS version. On the other hand, the DS version would be more applicable to players following along, which is the purpose of the walkthrough format I favor. Plus, it would be more consistent with the DS versions of DQ5 and DQ6, which I'd probably want to LP someday, as I'm definitely not interested in the SNES fan translations. What do you think?

I'd also like to consider Final Fantasy 4: The After Years as my next side LP project between my remaining two Seiken Densetsu 3 LPs. It's certainly long enough to fill in the gaps. The main reason I want it to be a side LP is because of all the grinding I'll probably have to do. Not to mention, the Challenge Dungeons. There's no way I could make an episode every single day, like a main LP, without playing 5-6 hours offscreen on some days, which I don't want to do. What do you think?

I also wanted to talk about utilizing the relatively new lack of time limits on videos. I already know I want to try to stick to 10-15 minute videos. However, I want to discuss how to best utilize that time with what I do without a time limit. In the past, I would have to edit out a lot of content, just to make some progress in a 10-minute video. Now, I don't have to do that, but does that mean I still should (rhetorical question)? Let me bring up a few points for discussion.

Backtracking. Some instances are obvious. In a game like FF13 or FF12, it can take at least 5-10 minutes just to get to a mark for a hunt or mission in an area I've already been to. Conversely, in Radiant Historia, after a bad ending, it only takes me 30-60 seconds to backtrack to a critical decision point, so I don't worry about editing that out.

The problem comes with editing out too much backtracking. I create my videos with the intention of a viewer watching them from start to finish and remembering critical locations, so that I can offscreen boring backtracking. However, I will sometimes get a viewer watching only a specific video, and not know how I got from Point A to Point B. In general, I feel that if the backtracking would take over 90 seconds, I'm better off doing it offscreen to avoid the tedium. If someone is only watching that video, that's too bad. This is a Let's Play, not a boss/sidequest/achievement series of videos. What do you think?

Talking to NPCs. There are two issues relating to this, particularly ones that are far more prominent in Radiant Historia. First, simply talking to them. How do you feel about putting that in an LP at all?

When I first started making LPs, the games were relatively small and didn't have THAT much text to read, even in bigger ones like FF7. It was practical for me to talk to all the NPCs, as it didn't take that long. Personally, I love talking to NPCs. Not only to show the viewers how I figured out how to do something, but also to re-create the atmosphere of the game in the LP.

However, now it seems to be dominating the screen time of my main LP, which I understand is turning off some people, regardless of how interesting the story is. I'm still going to stick with it for Radiant Historia, since there's really no avoiding the amount of text in the game, regardless. What's the difference between 6 episodes in Cygnus, instead of 7? However, I wanted to get your take on this issue for future consideration, particularly with FF12.

The other issue is how long to hang on text boxes. Radiant Historia presented two issues with this. First, the sheer volume of text. Second, the fact that I have to record it with post-commentary, so I don't know how long I want to talk about a particular line of text. In my experience in watching LPs, I don't like it when someone goes through the text too fast. Otherwise, why bother showing it? At the same time, I understand that hanging on them too long can turn off some people. Generally, I'd rather err on being too slow than too fast, forcing people to pause the video, unless I think it's something that's not particularly interesting. What do you think?

Random battles. In the past, I've edited out random battles with old enemies, as I don't feel that I have anything new to say about it, unless it's like a 5-second battle. It's why I'm making LPs at all today, as this was a big problem for me in my first Arcana LP. However, like I said, I'm noticing in Radiant Historia that the story is dominating the time spent. Adding some repeat battle may serve me well to break up the tedium. On the other hand, the random battles are relatively simple, and I don't think that would really add to the LP. I think it's just best to keep doing it the way I'm doing it. What do you think?

Thanks a lot for the discussion.

Bailly, I believe you should listen to your own points here, because I think you already have most of those answers, and your just looking for someone to tell you your right..cause your silly. :P

Key points I will emphasize on our:

This is an LP, not an achievement/boss guide" and for that reason, I do think cutting out excessive backtracking is a good idea. If someone chooses not to watch the full thing, how is that your fault, or your obligation to cater to the whism of the handful of peeps going "Need halp on THIS scene onry" over the people who are faithfully watching the whole thing?

Secondly: Bailly, DO YOU enjoy longer videos? Is it more fun/more convient for you to have 15-20 minutes in an episode? If you answer yes, than you have your answer to alot of your points. Your not being paid, no one is giving you instructions based on a monetary gain here, thus you have no obligation to inconvience yourself at their pleasure. Your primary goal should, (in my opinion of course), be to make it as enjoyable as it can be for you. You don't owe me, or this forum, or the 50,000 people who clicked a subscribe button anything. Try to remember that mate. Summing up Point 2, what i'm saying is DO YOU WANT to talk to every NPC in a town? will that fill you wtih joy? than fucking do it. Period. Fuck everyone else. Do YOU want to show more random battles? will it make it easier on YOU? than do it. etc, etc, etc. B)

Finally, as to what to LP when, follow your personal motivations. If 40,000 people asked me to play a racing game for them, (again, none of them are signing my pay checks) why should I? I don't like racing games, I don't feel it. If you look at DQ4 DS and go "I want to play this on camera. I'm excited for this" than do it, if your not feeling it, and you wanna do FF12 instead, do that. Honestly brother, sometimes I suspect you need your fans to verify your work to feel any sense of gratifaction when we both know your one of the more intelligent people on the internet already, and thus are above the INFERIORS who you strive to amuse so. :)

and let me guess, To long, no one cares to read it. Well fuck you impatient forum people too.

Radiant Historia is a "talky" game. There's really no way around it. Add to the fact that you can start every battle with a preemptive strike and even the battles will get old quick, because as you mentioned, it's the same thing every time. Trap-Push-Push-Push-Dead.

Not showing backtracking is fine, since you at least explain where you are and how you got there.

I'm all for fewer NPC interaction. Most of them have nothing interesting to say the first time around because it's like "Abyssia Forest. Whatever." Then the second time around, it's like "Ohhhhhh, that's what they meant."

Once you get to the Wasteland and Abyssia Forest, there's not too much talking time, so things should pick up.

i say go ahead with dq4 though i personally would like to see 12 sooner then later but that's just me

as i said in the past ff4 AY is always a welcome lp in my opinion and it could work between the two SD3 runs

with random battles you could just add a few in to get more action in the episodes

These are my thoughs on the subject

Backtracking.
Its truely something I don't mind if its short. The only time were I think you should show backtracking that is longer is if its confusing to get back. I know you did something like that in one of the dugeons in you Lp of Orcale of Ages and thats very helpful to new players who do get lost. Its also a godd idea to show backtracking becasue maybe something may have changed in the game after getting something at that point (little or nig detail). For expamle, you just got the Hookshot in a dugeon and while your backtracking there is a place were you can use it but its no to critcal to show but its little thing to show off that could insteast people.

Talking to NPCs.
I think you should showoff NPCs. NPCs add to the feeling of the game and allow you to know what it feels to bein there world or tell useful advice (well no really since when you Lp a game you know what you are doing). If a NPC really doesn't have anything that helps the story (for example I AM ERROR in Zelda II)
then you should just skip it then but thats really rare to see in most games.

How long to hang on text boxes.
I say long enough so someone can easily pause the video and read the text. I say time wise about 4-7 seconds is good enough.

Random battles.
I do like the idea of cutting random battles. In most games random battles are the same (unless its something like Pokemon were you find a shiny Pokemon, sorry, its the only game were I can think of something random happening with random battles). So it would be like showing the viewer the same thing over andoverunless its a new emeny or speacil encounter. But if the battle if battle is going to take 5 seconds long then dont cut it.

That my thoughs on that subject.

wow, that's a lot of text to chew through

I never played DQ4, so I can't help with that
since you're breaking up SD3, why not do the same with TAY?
the episodic nature of it would make it easy, I think. do 2 chapters, do a short game in between, do 2 more chapters, etc. then, do the final chapter as a Main LP. what do you think?


talking to NPCs
personally, I always found that it really dragged the progress down whenever you took time to talk to a lot of NPCs. it can add to the plot, but it overstays its welcome very quickly, I find.
I don't say you should stop talking to NPCs entirely, but since you're having doubts yourself, too, limited it a bit


text boxes
it might get better over time when you do more DS games and get more practice recording for post-commentary. you'd have to practice "planning out" what you'd say during certain text boxes, which I think is more trouble than it's worth. there were only a handful of instances where I noticed that you stayed on a box for too long in RH


random battles
I think that depends on the game. if there's multiple ways you can get rid of enemies, you should show them off as you go on. it adds to the walkthough-ish nature of the LP AND provides some rest from the plot

if the enemies are completely vanilla, though (btw why'd you stop saying that?), there's no point in showing them multiple times. even as an "escape" form the plot, it wouldn't really help, as it would likely only replace one boring thing (going through dialog) with another (fighting cannon fodder)

That suggested schedule sounds fine. And for text, since it scrolls in RH, just leaving it up for 2 or 3 seconds after the scroll ends is fine.

Depends on how interetsing the NPC's are. Like, when I played Curse of the Sinistrals, I wanted to get every single line of dialogue in the game, so every time an event happened I actually went to every single town and talked to everyone. The problem is, NO ONE had anything interesting to say. That took up a significant chunk of my overall play time.

Obviously, that's the kind of thing to keep in mind. If the NPC's have bland and generic dialogue, you might as well skip them. I never will when I'm playing a game, but that's just my OCD. :P

I would also guess you might want to LP Xenoblade Chronicles after you play that, just like you wanted to LP Radiant Historia and FFXIII after playing them. I could be wrong and you might hate the game, but its something to also consider HC.

Also you seemed to completely forget XIII-2 in your post. Werent you considering LPing that game ASAP... like not on release, but pretty much start test running the game on release?

I agree with Nosgard, do whatever you want, besides anything you do is bound to be contrary to the wants of somebody, there is no way to please everyone.

I agree with the Nos also. Look at where you are now. You are one of the most popular LPer on the internet. There's a reason for that so just keep that reason and you'll be fine.

If you need another LP after that why not a blind FF13-2? How does that sound to you?

Given that FF13-2 has a release date and FFXHD does not, it is highly likely that I would LP FF13-2 first. That assumes that it's a good game and I want to LP it.

As for Xenoblade, that's certainly a possibility too.

- I only played the NES version of DWIV, but I'm content with an LP of either one.

- As long as it's not a case of "huh how the fuck did you get over there?" I don't mind backtracking.

- I'm indifferent towards NPC interaction. Go for more of it if you feel like it, but less won't bother me personally.

- Again, I'm indifferent on how long you hang onto text boxes. I read REALLY fast, so it's not an issue for me either way.

- Showing more may not be a bad idea, if only to showcase more abilities or strategies. It isn't any skin off my back if you edit out more of them though.

Also I'm gonna have to say NO to the idea of a blind LP. What makes HC interesting wouldn't apply at all to a blind playthrough. I don't like blind LPs, never have, and never will.

so far from what i played it's looking pretty much like a game for you
i won't spoil it but both gameplay and story wise it's already looking like something you'll like though you'll probably won't like the side quests

if you're going for DQM4 I'd prefer it to be the DS version. I for one don't care for DQM games at all but maybe I'd get into it if I saw a version of the game that is available. that's assuming, of course, that the game also appeals to me during the lp but I think you get my point.

as for the challenge dungeons in the after years, I can only assume that you'd make those bonus episodes since from what I can tell, as someone who's never even tried to do one of those, you'd be completely overpowered for the rest of the game if you tackled them right away, right?
it'd also slow the progression down if you did them right away. but I'm probably just stating the obvious now.

I always found it rather nice that you'd go around and talk to everyone, everywhere. it fleshes the world of the game out and adds to the experience which is partially the reason you'd watch an LP, I think. I also enjoy simply because in many games I don't feel like talking to everyone simply because there are, more often than not, just a bunch of useless peons running around that are just a waste of time anyway.


I hope that helps you out somehow. :D

I wasn't talking about the Dragon Quest Monsters and/or Joker games. Those are more like Pokemon, aren't they? :angry:

I think doing that may help the characters not get underleveled really. There's a level cap at 40 which is around what level that is good to start at in the final chapter.

one day hc... one day you'll try pokemon and find out how much these games are fun and full of stratagy
IT IS OUR DESTINY AS FANS TO MAKE YOU A POKEMON ADDICT!

really? good lord. am I glad I did not keep playing that.
my characters were all like level 20 at the end of their respective
chapters. geez.

I still say play Order of Ecclesia. :) And maybe one day try Lunar Silver Star Story Complete, which you also expressed interest in. You might enjoy either one of these games enough to Let's Play them. Even if not, you'll still probably enjoy them nonetheless. Like I said, I'm about 80% confident you'll like OOE.

sorry, I thought that was like the same series with different titles.
honestly, I was sure of that xD

The only pokemon games I actually like are the first 2 gens, and really thats just the charm of the world. The main strategy is the post-game, if you're actually interested in competitive play, which I doubt HC is. The main game is absurdly easy as long as you're not stupid.

Don't care for gen 3 and onwards. It lost its charm at that point for me.

that sounds like alot of pain....

Hey HCBailyy, I was wondering on you thoughs on Okami? Its like a Zelda game but instead of items you get gods that give you abilites to change your envirorment. The game is long but the story is all great. Basicly your a goddess that got revived by a wood sprite and now you must save the world from evil and get back to the Celestial plain (which is were the gods live bacily).The game is long but the soundtrack is amazing, the game has a type of cell shaded look and controls are great. The game is both PS2 and Wii but the Wii verson has faster loading time than the PS2 verson. There are little to none motion controls besides swinging the mote to attack and to paint (by pointing the remote at the screen). And the painting with the remote isnt bad becuase all it really is in the end is draw a line which is alot easyer and faster in the Wii verson. Thats just my option though and I would love to hear what you would have to say HCbailly :D

The game stars out quite actiony, but as your skillset grows over the course of the game and you get more and more abilities the RPG elements become more and more of a factor.

If HC knows what he's getting into and that EVERYONE struggles with these bosses it won't be as bad. And it's not due to poor controls or anything like that, but rather because the bosses are just that powerful.

We had a huge shitstorm about Okami a long time ago.

don't ever come to some pokemon fan forums..... they'll skin you alive......

he doesn't want to play it and let's leave it at that to avoid that discussion again :unsure:

oh boy this sounds just great...

I was never happy with how you have two weapons and you alterate between X and Y to pull combos off. I like the concept alright but I could never ppull it off properly. also:

GIANT ENEMY CRAB STINKS

well if it makes you feel better darkwolfgavin by liking okami you just became 93% cooler in my eyes and have earned the title of gaming saint
ALL PRAISE THE MIGHTY SUN GODDESS AMATERASU!

He wont play Okami because he doesnt like the art style. We've had huge discussions about this before so nothing else needs to be said.

I wanted to get okami for my nephew's birthday but I was like two bucks short xD

I was going to discuss how I want to handle the Challenge dungeons for the LP in more detail when I start a test run, but I can go into it now, if you like. Even though I'd start both DQ4 and TAY at about the same time, I think I'd want to start a test run on The After Years first, since it is much longer. It would also be easier to test, since I can break up each part into a mini-test run. If I forget or decide to redo something, I don't have to replay the entire game.

I'm not worried about being overpowered with the levels and equipment from the Challenge Dungeons. In my first playthrough, I went through every CD, capped everyone's levels, and still found the end-game a fair challenge. I would think some bosses would be impossible to kill without all those levels. By the end, I was at Level 50-60 for my main characters, and I was still underleveled for Shinryuu (whatever it's called in TAY).

I also think that it was clearly intended by the game designers for you to go through the CDs and max out your levels. The idea was that you would probably get through an episode in a week or two, playing it on your cell phone during lunch breaks, and such. However, you still had the rest of the month before the next episode, during which time you would raid the CDs.

I almost thought about making the LP in that sort of format, like someone was mentioning earlier. I could make TAY into a third LP, making 10-15 episodes per month, or however long it would take me to get through a chapter. However, I've found that putting such large gaps between episodes, really causes the audience to lose interest. I'm better off taking longer breaks between LPs than shorter breaks spread out.

Besides, people are going to want to watch me go through the CDs. If not for their own research and interest, then at least to watch me suffer. Some of those CDs are really hard. Most importantly, I want to do them. I find the raiding to be quite fun, fine tuning my method as I go through it over and over again, until I achieve perfection and get everything I want.

That's how I look at it.

wow thanks...its proably hands down my favorite game ever played.

you have just became even more awesome

wow thanks xD

I think you're doing fine just the way you are. I like the sweet spot of 15 minutes (ten is too short and 20 is too long) for your videos, unless of course shorter/longer in a particular episode helps you get to a better place to end that episode for the day. The majority of NPCs in the majority of RPGs really don't have a whole lot to say nor do they add much to the story. This is especially true for FFXII (i.e. don't talk to any non-quest related NPCs).

Also, I voted for DS DQIV. It's just far superior to the NES version in every way possible. The DS version is also more accessible to people who legitimately want to play the game. The NES version is not available on the Virtual Console. Now, I know most of us know how to get it through emulation, but I still consider the DS version superior. It also opens up a consistency with LPing DQV and DQVI on the DS.