Critique of new feature: ON MAP Presidente

[el_malo]

Yay for arcane literary references 

Can I be #10 Ox 

[Coconut Kid]

... Can I be #10 Ox 

The one barrier science fiction has seldom penetrated is that between reality and imagination - individual or collective. Time travel is no problem, and even parallel universes are simplistic. But jumping into another person's mental construct has been explored only rarely.

You will have to be the judge.

Hughart's first novel, Bridge of Birds (1984), introduced Li Kao, an ancient sage and scholar with "a slight flaw in his character", and his client, later assistant, the immensely strong peasant Number Ten Ox, who narrates the story. The book blended Chinese mythology—authentic and imagined, from several eras—with detective fiction and a gentle, ironic humour. Among the genuine myths alluded to in the book is "The story of Cowherd and Weaver Girl", from which the title is derived.

It seems an almost classic literary device akin to "god in a box" to portray the peasant as strong in body but weak in mind while the educated become strong in mind but weak in body. Put that together with the team-tag of the protagonist with a faithful "side-kick" and you have a universal formula for literature.

Even Tropico provides a "side-kick" for the player. That disconnected voice which warns El Presidente of pending trouble is classic.

 
a good link for Terry & the Pirates:

http://www.toonopedia.com/terry.htm

From an Amazon review:

Going back in time more than 70 years is interesting. Many of the Chinese characters in "Terry and the Pirates" are caricatures of racial stereotypes that are a little jarring in today's milieu of political correctness run amok. Buck teeth, protruding ears and typecast speech patterns ("solly" for "sorry, "Melican" for "American," etc.) reflect the culture, beliefs and prejudices of the mid-1930s. These strips are accurate depictions of the social mores of the times--even though Caniff reportedly never visited the Orient. Hyper-sensitive individuals may want to avoid exposing themselves to such "blatant racism," but anyone of normal sensitivities should be able to put the seeming slurs into their proper historical context.

[Lyubo_Haemimont]

Can I be #10 Ox

Only if you can carry el Presidente on your back during his travels on the island.

[el_malo]

Since CK is my Li Kao... I think that I can manage it 

Of course, I will probably need a helper to carry his gin 

[Coconut Kid]

... Of course, I will probably need a helper to carry his gin 

That would be my faithful burro, Clementine !

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/clementine.htm

Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine,
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.

 

Upon consideration, El Presidente should have a fine white horse rather than a limo. The people would love him much more seeing such fine horsemanship!!

[Coconut Kid]

Kalypso Media Forum.

Developer Interview Part I, Question #9,

snip - Factions will express their major concerns by petitions. ... El Presidente is finally able to personally meet the protesters and calm them down in person.

Developer Interview Part I, Question #13:

snip - Election Speeches are a new feature ... that allows the player to sway voters in his favor before the elections. He is able to make election promises (and bear the consequences from them at the next elections), praise a faction or foreign power, or address a hot issue by blaming it on someone else.

http://forum.kalypsomedia.com/showthread.php?tid=1350

[Coconut Kid]

Today the curtain is raised a bit more on Presidente on the map and as a vehicle for the player to
ROLE PLAY !

[Coconut Kid]

July 2nd Q&As:

#1

Yes, you are able to control directly El Presidente and make him interact with people and buildings on the island - for example you may send him calm down a protest, rush a construction, or decorate a general with a medal. He is also able to address the people from the balcony of his palace. In ... games you usually watch the maps from far above, rarely zooming down to street level. From a gameplay point of view this is practical, but you tend to miss all the cool little details that take place at street level. So, in addition to the normal game camera, we are preparing a street-level view that tracks individual units like El Presidente or a selected citizen in a close and personal third-person view. ...

#12 snip

You can send El Presidente to personally shoot some rebels, but the rest of your troops act independently.