04 | April | 2018 | Writing Wings

Another month slips by and along comes another Insecure Writer’s Support Group monthly blog post. Behave brain and focus on the IWSG voluntary guidance question:

April 4 question – When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?

I’ll try and be brief.

If I’m desperate to get words out, then I switch into journo-mode and slog on to meet the deadline – and end up with a blah story, or a draft.

If I’ve got time to spare, and the weather is overcast or drizzling, then I go for the scribbles-surfing-research approach – or fall asleep with my dog on my lap.

If there’s thunder & lightning, and if the gods of frustration are weighing me down, then I escape into a gaming world.

And that’s why my 2018 Blogging from A to Z Challenge, aka A2ZMMORPG is on Gaming. As you will discover, H brings me back to my WIP and into the sunshine.

Photo of a cloud illuminated by sunlight. ~ by Ibrahim Iujaz from Rep. Of Maldives

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The awesome co-hosts for the April 4 posting of the IWSG are Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood, and Tamara Narayan!

Purpose of IWSG: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time – and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

The aim of my Blogging From A to Z Challenge is to find the origins of online games, some relatively modern and some with ancient roots. Gaming might well be a modern take on an art that is almost timeless – storytelling. A perfect excuse for a writer to delve a little deeper. [Visit here for links to other A to Z participants.]

Game: Defiance is a futuristic shooter developed and released in conjunction with the television show, Defiance.

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Developer: Trion Worlds

Genre/gameplay mechanics: third-person; open-world; shooter; quick weapon-switching; driving.

Setting: Realistic graphics with action taking place in the California Bay Area, formerly San Francisco, 15 years after the devastating Pale Wars between Earth and a loose alliance of extra-terrestrial races known as the Votanis Collective. Terraformed landscape but Google map echoes.

Storytelling: Defiance was Syfy’s big experiment with transmedia storytelling as the series’ storylines were designed to mesh with the narrative of the game, sharing characters, species, events and more. Regular show-and-game intersections took the form of in-game events, character and story crossovers, and promotions. However, the player takes on the role of an ark hunter – a treasure/bounty hunter recently arrived in the Bay Area in search of valuable Votan technology with a main quest line that runs separately from the show.

Releases + Expansions:

Sequels: In February 2018, Trion announced, “the next chapter in the Defiance universe will be coming this summer to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in a massive online sci-fi shooter we’re calling Defiance 2050.”

Formats: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Origins (Chronological): The Defiance team developed new mythologies, languages and societies for the Votanis Collective.

Adaptations set in the ‘Defiance’ universe:

TV: Defiance, the TV series existed in the same evolving universe, but the series takes place in what used to be St. Louis, Missouri, now called Defiance. Some major characters in one had cameos in the other media. When the series cancelled before the fourth season, Syfy commented: “‘Defiance’ was a truly ground-breaking series, delivering an immersive, cross-platform experience that transcended the television screen in a way that viewers had never seen before…”

Recommendation: Defiance received mixed reviews from critics upon release but established a loyal player base. However, ongoing connectivity problems, strained content and bugs have eaten away at the support. Defiance 2050 might revive the interest.

3.5 Stars: From playing Defiance regularly with my partner, soon after its release, and watching the show, we are now irregular players. I enjoy the setting and killing ‘hellbugs’ when frustrated, but the storyline came to an end too quickly and much of the game became repetitive. However, I belong to a great clan, Zodiac – and we plan to move on with Defiance 2050.

Setting: 3.7*
Storyline: 3.5*
Gameplay: 5*
Entertainment: 3.7*
Genesis: 1.5*

Alternative ‘D’ thoughts:

D is also for Donnie Darko, but even though this is a cult classic, there were now games spawned by the movie – very disappointing as this is among my favourite films.