http://www.sophiehoulden.com/games/thelinearrpg/
(webgame) Awesome deconstruction/commentary of the RPG genre. I wouldn't have thought it possible to code an entire RPG in one weekend; goooo Sophie Houlden.
It's a fair commentary in some ways, and overall pretty funny. Oversimplification of an RPG for humorous effect. Though in some ways, I felt a little insulted. The amount of simplification seemed to imply that something basic like this shouldn't be fun. But honestly, enough elements of RPGs were included in the game that it was kind of a fun time-waster to me (I mean, 5 minutes isn't that big of a time sink and I like Watching Numbers Go Up with some story-like flavoring). I realize that this is what she's poking fun at, and I suppose that's why it was a little insulting - she's saying 'How can you enjoy something that is like this at its core?'
Well, if I was entertained by the core for five minutes, then surely with enough fancy math multipliers, shinier graphics and tastier story flavor, I can be entertained for significantly longer.
But really, considering she must be a big enough fan of the genre to make this kind of deconstruction, I doubt the intent was to insult. I'm just being oversensitive. It -was- funny, after all.
-Djinn
