What Makes a Good Adventure Game?

When it comes to video games the genre lines are often blurred, and the true definition of what constitutes an adventure game can be elusive. Take for example 2006’s The Da Vinci Code. Although modeled after a thrilling book, released at the same time as the action-packed movie, and marketed as an action/adventure game, it remains, in fact, little more than a puzzle game. This begs the question, just what makes a good adventure game? The theories are varied.

Essential to any good game, not just adventure games, is a good story. Without it, players grow weary of mindless actions and quickly lose interest. Players aren’t looking to be part of an audience, however, they want to be involved in the story, and a good way to ensure involvement is to throw in an element of problem solving along with the story, be it solving a puzzle or fighting a bad guy. That problem solving often comes from a small set of characters or a singular character, which throws in an element of role playing to allow the gamer to immerse him or herself into the game.

What remains is a gap between storytelling and role playing, and this is where elements like character development, environment exploration, and community interactions come into play. No single one of these elements is the essential ingredient, and while some games prioritize one over the others, some games successfully combine elements to create an enjoyable experience.

Looking for more action and adventure? Visit our online library at www.fasthall.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Interesting Facts About George RR Martin

Considered to be nothing short of a literary genius by many, George RR Martin gave the world one of the most popular TV shows of all time thanks to HBO’s Game of Thrones, an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, which continues to enjoy unparalleled success to this very day. Here are two interesting facts about George RR Martin that you may not have known.

He wrote for The Twilight Zone in the 1980s. Long before HBO adapted his work into the wildly successful Game of Thrones series, Martin made his first forays into the world of television in the 1980s when he wrote for CBS’s reboot of the The Twilight Zone. Martin wrote 5 episodes in total for the series in 1986, and the next year he would continue to write for the network when he worked on Beauty and the Beast before leaving television to focus on his novels.

He used to type on an old computer from the 80s that still ran DOS. Up until recently Martin used a computer that could only be described as an antique to write his novels, a machine from the 1980s that ran WordStar 4.0 on DOS. The machine has since given up the ghost, however, so Martin now uses a more modern computer, but still runs WordStar 4.0 and DOS on an emulator.

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Interesting Facts About Full Metal Jacket

A fan favorite and usually a safe bet to make it to the “all time best” lists, Full Metal Jacket continues to be an enduring classic to this day. For those looking for a deeper dive into the film, here are 3 interesting facts about Full Metal Jacket that you may not have known about.

It was based on a novel. Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece was actually adapted from Gulf War veteran Gustav Hasford’s novel The Short-Timers. Written in 1979, The Short-Timers is different in tone and structure than Full Metal Jacket, but is served no less as the inspiration for Kubrick’s 1987 film.

A new title. Although Kubrick was a big fan of The Short-Timers, he decided against using the same title for the movie. The term “full metal jacket” doesn’t actually appear at any point in Gustav Hasford’s novel. Kubrick came upon the term, which describes the metal casing of a bullet, in a gun catalog.

Full on weight gain. Vincent D’Onofrio (Pyle) packed on a considerable amount of pounds for his role at the request of director Stanley Kubrick. D’Onofrio gained nearly 80 lbs for the role in 7 months, and it would take him another 9 months to drop the weight after filming. The weight gain came with some consequence, however, as D’Onofrio tore ligaments in his knees on the obstacle course due to the extra weight.

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Action Packed Adventures on the Sea

Life is full of tales of action and adventure, and many of those adventures have been thoroughly researched and condensed into books that are almost as exciting as the adventures themselves. But with so many adventures taking place on land or in the air, it may be easy to forget just how much adventure took place in open water. Here are three books about true life marine adventures.

Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen. Bergreen goes into far more than just an account of Ferdinand Magellan’s life with considerable detail of his groundbreaking expedition to circumnavigate the globe. First published by William Morrow and Company in 2003, the book came out to critical acclaim.

Adrift: Seventy Six Days Lost At Sea by Steven Callahan. After his boat sank in the middle of a transAtlantic sailing race, Steven Callahan found himself adrift on a life raft in the middle of the sea with insufficient supplies. Callahan recounts his harrowing tale of survival as he endures shark attacks and inclement weather for seventy six days before finally being rescued.

The Four Voyages: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches with Connecting Narratives by Christopher Columbus. Columbus’ own journal brings new insight into not just the man but into his expeditions and discoveries. The journal chronicles voyages to Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti), Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Venezuela.

Looking for more Action? Visit our online library at www.fasthall.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audio books, music, and more!

Places to visit in the new year

With the new year in tow, it’s time to begin planning your vacations and where to visit. Vacations are good for the mind, body, and soul, and help us get away from everyday worries. If you’re unsure on where to visit, here is a little inspiration.

Italy - Jump on that plane and indulge into the heart-warming Italian culture. Italy is a country like no other with so much character, you can’t help but want more. Whether you’re a massive foodie or love history, Italy has many beautiful cities to explore and sights to see. Make a wish in Rome’s Trevi Fountain, ride a gondola in Venice, shop-till-you-drop in Milan or relax on the beaches along the coastline. You won’t be disappointed.

Vietnam - For a taste of a completely new culture in the new year, add Vietnam to your list. You’ll discover some unique sights, landscapes and a whole menu of food you’ve never tasted before. The country is massive and has a few popular areas to visit such as Hanoi and Hue.

San Francisco - The famous hilly city in northern California is a must-see in the new year. It’s known for the famous Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and colorful Victorian houses. Ride along in the cable cars and get some Instagram-worthy photos in this incredible American city.

New Zealand - To experience a completely nature packed vacation, New Zealand is a once-in-a-lifetime location to visit. You’ll witness sights you’ve never seen before and experience some brilliant nature walks. There are plenty of national parks and mountains to explore that you’ll never want to leave the peaceful country.

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Top 3 Kickass Female Action Heroes You Should Know About

Action heroes have been an important part of the entertainment industry for a while now, which tends to be more male-dominated. In recent years, though, female action heroes have risen to the top inspiring young girls everywhere to be anything they want to be. Here are the top three female action heroes you should definitely know about:

1. Wonder Woman

Her lasso of truth is her trademark, and her super strength is what villains fear. Wonder Woman is probably the most well-known female action heroes out there, and one of the most popular in general. Born in the DC Comics world as Princess Diana of Themyscira, this warrior woman from the fictional Amazon is the epitome of strength. It’s no wonder she’s the most popular female action heroes in the world.

2. Elektra

This tough assassin from the Marvel world keeps everybody on their toes. Well-trained in martial arts, and skilled in taking her enemies by surprise, Elektra is silent but deadly. Her trademark weapons are two bladed sai ready to be used on anyone in her way. Although violent in nature,  she’s highly independent and exudes a confidence that can be taken in by girls everywhere.

3. Storm

Another one of Marvel’s popular superheroes, Storm is a loyal member of the X-Men determined to fight for peace between mutants and humans. Even though humans prove to be relentlessly intolerant of her and other mutants, she stands strong by her beliefs. Her hope is what keeps her going on and reminds us to hold on to what we believe in. She teaches patience and tolerance, which makes her an action hero everybody should know about.

There are many more female heroines out there that we should definitely know about, but these are the top three that we thought could spark your curiosity. If you want to explore more, try reading The Secret History of Wonder Woman, by Jill Lepore. This is an extensive look at this iconic character’s background. Feel free to browse through our online library, www.fasthall.com for the action content you crave!

Tips to Build Character for Your Fiction

If you are seeking action from your favorite hero, Fasthall is the place for you. Characters form the basis of entire story. If there is any conflict, drama or any scene, it will definitely involve mental and emotional condition of your characters. Anyone can come up with a character, give them suitable name, occupation and reason for their existence in the story. But, making that character live, breathe and successfully drive your story forward is entirely different phenomenon. The trick is to make them feel real. Now, the question is how to do that? These are a few tips and tricks to help you bring your character to life:

• You must know the backstory of your characters, which doesn’t mean your readers have to know that. It is just that you should have better understanding of your characters and their history. For instance, why and how your main character responds to different tings?

• You must have at least basic understanding of human psychology. We all have read books that annoyed us as the characters failed to feel real. This often happens when psychology is ignored and the behavior of characters doesn’t seem natural.

• You have to understand and show the character’s power. The main characters must not be same by the end of tale as they were in the beginning. Their growth and change is the key point of the story’s momentum.

Readers fail to empathize with the flat characters. But if you have characters that seem real readers will be hooked to your story. Understanding the actions and responses of your characters help create best possible image of your fictional character. Why to wait! Grab the latest exciting action-packed novels from Fasthall.