Favourites

Sometimes it feels like I'm interested in too many things. My favourite medium is the computer game, especially (action) adventure games. My favourites subjects (any medium) are:

•  narrative & storytelling
•  affect and emotion
•  Tolkien & fantasy
•  Anglo Saxon and Icelandic myth
•  Middle Ages
•  Arthurian legend
•  historical fiction
•  native Americans

And since I'm a woman, you can add +gender to all of the above.

My first idea was to keep track of what I was playing, seeing and reading, but I soon discovered that that would mean having to change this page too often. So I decided to only list all time favourites and works that I particularly liked (or not) and those that otherwise impressed me.

Favourite Platform

Sorry Nintendo, although I really liked playing The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess which reminded me very much of playing out my favourite tv-series at the playground, as the Wii now only seems to be about the fitness craze and new Zelda games only appear on the DS, I play on the Wii less and less (though more on the DS). My favourite platform at the moment has to be the PS3. The second instalments of assassin's creed and uncharted and Metal Gear 4 are just breathtakingly beautiful, with captivating narratives and the gameplay is not too hard (or you get a choice).

Computer Games, all time favourite

The problem with computer games is that they take so much time to play. And the problem with good games is that you want to play them again and again. As I play both on PC and several consoles, I'm usually playing more than one game at a time.

If I had to pick my all time favourite games, I' d have to choose the Gabriel KnighT series by Jane Jensen. The more I analyse these games the more impressive they get. Until now I haven't played an adventure game that can hold a candle to this series.

Computer Games, great game

I'm trying to collect all the Lord of the Rings games that have ever been made. Of the recent games I find the GBA titles the most compelling (not the Fellowship game). They are not literal adaptations of the films but role-playing games that take you to locations from the books. Perhaps the fact that they do not even pretend to follow the narrative, but let you 'peacefully' hack and slash your way through loads of crebain, wolves, trolls and orcs, makes them so appealing. They are interactively sound and make you feel part of Middle Earth and after all that's what games are really about.
 

Computer games, Impressive

Lionhead's Fable is a very intriguing game. I did not like Black and White simply because I have this thing about being responsible for virtual creatures. Logic tells me that they are virtual and bits and bytes aren't sentient, still...

Fable is the classic hero myth with a twist. Through your actions you decide how your hero ends up. Some reviewers and critics said that Lionhead missed an opportunity by not allowing for a heroine. As I've grown up with all-male hero action films and tv-series, that didn't bother me too much. My only critique so far is that they stick very literally to the classic hero tale, which makes it too predictable. But imho the first game still is better than its successor Fable II

Computer Games, missed opportunity.

I waited months to buy this game. I even bought a PS3 to play it. But Assassin's Creed showed me again that a stunningly beautiful game to look at does not necessarily mean that the game is fun to play as well... (read more)

Computer Games, do not buy

I looked at The DaVinci Code for research purposes, but I certainly did not enjoy it. The puzzles weren't very innovative and quite repetitive and all the mandatory fighting was just stupid. If you love adventure games and do not have to play this game, than please don't. As the book already has all the trademarks of an adventure game this certainly is a missed opportunity.

Non-fiction, must read

J.C. Herz (1997), Joystick Nation, Little, Brown and Company, Toronto.

O.K. I said that I wouldn't do non fiction, but rules are there to be broken. It almost seemed that every article I've recently read made some reference to Herz' book. So I had to read it. Should be a classic read for everyone who's interested in computer games, as far as I'm concerned. Great insight in the American market, key players and key issues of the time.

Non-fiction, interesting

Antonia Levi (1996), Samurai from Outer Space, Understanding Japanese Animation, Open Court, Chicago and La Salle.

At a conference in the summer of 2006 I met Babsy who has worked as a games' designer in Japan. This rekindled my interests in Japanese stories and myths (started by the Final Fantasy series of games). Joris recommended this book to me some time ago and ever since it was stuck in my bookcase, but not any more! Could end up on my all time favourite list.

Non-fiction, controversial

Leonard Shlain (1999), The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image. Penguin Books.

Interesting book, although the evidence he presents for his theory that "Literacy has promoted the subjugation of women by men throughout all but the very recent history of the West" is mostly circumstantial and therefore not always convincing, he presents us with some interesting references especially on how the brain processes images.

Fiction, legendary

J.R.R. Tolkien (1954-1955) The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Shouldn't come as a surprise. What I particularly like (having studied English philology) is his use of languages and how he interweaves Old Norse and Old English stories, poems and myths in the trilogy. I first read this book when I was nineteen, just after I followed my first lectures on Old English (Anglo Saxon). Tolkien's book were the reason I decided to continue with Old English and Middle English and also took lectures on Old Norse.

Fiction, favourite

Dorothey Dunnet House of Niccolò series

I first read Dorothy Dunnet's Lymond-series, which got me hooked on her style of historic fiction. But the Nicolo-series has to be my favourite. Although the characters and plot are somewhat 'predictable' after Lymond (just a tiny bit) this is still the best historic fiction there is. I haven't read anything yet that can match her depth of knowledge about history, people and places and her mastery of weaving all this knowledge into an intricate web of beautiful and compelling fiction. Impressive and immersive, but beware, the stories are so dense in information both factual and fictional that some people will struggle.

Fiction, favourite

Due to the release of the Shogun mini-series on DVD, I decided to read the James Clavell books. I started with the Noble House, because I also remember its television adaptation. So far Tai-pan is my favourite Clavell book. Interestingly there also is a computer game adaptation based on the book. A trading game where first you have to borrow enough money to equip a ship and then you have to hire or kidnap a crew before you can attempt to amass a fortune trading. See the above link and the Mobygames entry for screenshots.

Film, favourite

Peter Jackson, dir. (2001) The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring

Again this should not come as a surprise. I think that Peter Jackson created a visually beautiful adaptation of Tolkien's books. My favourite is the Fellowship because although this is a modern interpretation it is visually convincing. I prefer the first film because in the other two, Jackson departs too much from Tolkien's version for my liking. I can understand his reasoning and film, as a visual medium, demands its own translation. And I guess you can't fault a director for wanting the please the crowd...

Film, favourite

Jon Avnet, dir. (1991) Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

The past portrayed in this film is very much the past of my great aunt. And although we are speaking about two totally different continents this film just conjures up memories of the summers in my early youth when I spent time at her house. The same goes for To Kill a Mockingbird (book more so than the film version). Apart from films like the lord of the rings, starwars IV and Dances with Wolves, Fried Green Tomatoes is the film I've probably watched the most times. But contrary to the other two films I still enjoy watching it. The female roles are strong, the acting is quality and the alternating storylines between the present and the past keep you interested. And, as I said, the visualization takes me back to those happy summer days.

Film, favourite

Carlos Saura, dir. (1983) Carmen

This film was a massive hit in Amsterdam when it was released (at least for the female part of the city, as well as my fellow students and flat mates) . Everyone (except me of course) was taking flamenco lessons afterwards. The film is a beautiful mix of 'reality' and fiction. And it's a very passionate film in more ways than one. The combination of Bizet's original music and the flamenco interpretation works extremely well. Unfortunately my DVD version is only mono, but even then the music and the dancing are totally immersive.

Broadcasting company, favourite

This definitively has to be the BBC or good old Aunty Beep (unfortunately we cannot receive any of the other English TV Channels). My first computer even was a BBC Microcomputer (also called the Beep for short). What can you say about the BBC? Good drama, good comedy, good detectives, good SF, good documentaries, good children's television, etc. Here's a list of some of my current favourites:

	Life on Mars (unfortunately the series has ended, but its on DVD to enjoy every day)
	Murphy's Law
	Dr. Who
	Child of our Time
	The Apprentice
	Raven (best RL approximation of an adventure game)

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