TOM FRANCIS
REGRETS THIS ALREADY
Hello! I'm Tom, I write about video games for a living at PC Gamer. I'm also making a game called Gunpoint, I sometimes write short stories and stuff, and I like figuring out how to be happy.
Gunpoint Steam Achievements
TooNu: Oh awesome :D I am going for 100% completion!
Gunpoint Video Blog: Story Vs Games
Darius: The Wing Commander series did it very well, the games are still playable today...
Team Fortress 2 Unlockable Weapon Ideas
Owen Simpson: I am now going to tell you my melee weapon ideas plus primary for...
New Gunpoint Test Build Soon, Sign Up Here
Zack Shadows: I would really love to test this game, it looks AMAZING. I have a...
Why Isn’t There A Gunpoint Kickstarter?
KevD: Just saw your game on Random Encounter. It looks brilliant....
Game Idea: Slumber
NounVerber: I had a similar idea to this. Instead of eating enemies you just have to FIND them (by...
Arguing On The Internet
Dean: Thank you sir. You have changed the way I argue, on the Internet and otherwise, forever....
Résumé
Sly: I know this is fairly redundant, but here goes anyway: Yey Southampton! I’m in my final year of...
The Calamitous Pacifist In Gunpoint
nova?a: Although I would be one to try to be as pacifist as possible, it would add...
Gunpoint Trailer: Gadgets And Steam
Fletcher: I need this game in my life right now.
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By me. Uses Adaptive Images by Matt Wilcox.
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DESPAIR Review
You’re a doctor, and six unconscious patients come in with a mysterious condition. Their Machine of Death predictions all read: TESTS. What do you do?
A great story, and a great premise. All the stories hinge on the machine in some way, but it’s the sign of a great one when it feels like it’d be worth making up the machine just to tell it.
It’s also cool to have a story that’s serious and urgent, rather than chin-strokey. From 800 submissions that must have been tediously similar at times, you can see why a medical drama would stand out to Malki and co.
If I had to criticise, I’d say the thing with the security guard, which I won’t spoil, felt jammed in for character development. Not enough room in a short story to make it feel natural. And like any story that ends on a question, it’d be better if it didn’t.
Neither bothered me much, and I’m expecting this to remain one of my favourites.
Machine of Death: a book that appears to be good so far. It’s now $18 whether you buy it from Amazon or Topatoco, and I think Topatoco have faster international shipping. The whole book is free in PDF form, and is trickling out steadily as an audiobook in podcast form. My story for it is online here.
Jaz: Loving these. Useful and entertaining reviews, Tom.
AlphaTM: I've like all the stories I've read thus far (I'm at FIRING SQUAD), but ALMOND has thus far been my favorite.
K M Lawrence: If it explains anything, in the two versions of the story that preceded the final one, the security guard was the main character.
Anyway, I'm glad you liked it!
Tom Francis: It's K M Lawrence! Interesting, that does make sense. Didn't hurt my enjoyment, anyway - good job!
Kit Y: Loved this story. Wonderfully done.
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