I've seen the SimTopi cover pages showing up on SimStorytellers probably since you started posting, but it was only with this most recent chapter that I decided to click and take a peek. I did a quick skim of Chapter 15 and it piqued my curiosity, so I went back to Chapter 1 and started reading through the whole thing. Well, at least the whole thing you've been doing with this generation.
I have to say that I am really impressed and I'm now completely hooked. The whole concept of taking a single generation and turning their tale into a stand alone story is really a fascinating idea to me. Having not read any of the earlier stuff, I don't feel too lost at all. You've shown a deft hand at developing your characters with a minimum of text and some excellent images.
Speaking of the images, you really have some fantastic shots that are both creative and inspiring. The way you use unexpected animations for different things really sparks ideas for me and makes me want to get back into the game and try some new stuff for my own story. On top of that, your set decoration and design is fantastic, whether its stuff you've built yourself or other people's buildings, you always seem to have the perfect setting for the scene being shot. Whether it's the soccer game, the art studio, the rooftop café, or even an abandoned gas station in the middle of nowhere, it's perfect.
About the only complaint I have about your pictures is the occasional skillbob or personperson++ that sneaks in occasionally. I keep wanting to grab those pictures and photoshop those things out of them. :}
Pretty pictures don't make a story great, though, so I've got to comment on the story itself. I'm really intrigued about where you're going with the whole plot. The mix of inter-personal relationship stuff combined with the supernatural back story really has me hooked. This is the type of story that really gets me excited and interested – where you've got major machinations going on in the background that are completely intriguing, but we're still concerned about the emotions and feelings of the various characters. While I want to know what's going on with Willow being the heir, I also want to know who she's going to end up with romantically. And do I root for Adrian or Gabriel (or even Wesley)? And Rowan and Meadow's little side plot, wow. Speaking of, nice use of Maxis playables and townies. I love seeing how people make use of them or integrate them into their own stories.
Anyway, I've written a book here, but I wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your story. I've friended you, so I'll be jumping on the next update as soon as you put it up. :)
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Date: 2009-10-05 08:56 pm (UTC)I have to say that I am really impressed and I'm now completely hooked. The whole concept of taking a single generation and turning their tale into a stand alone story is really a fascinating idea to me. Having not read any of the earlier stuff, I don't feel too lost at all. You've shown a deft hand at developing your characters with a minimum of text and some excellent images.
Speaking of the images, you really have some fantastic shots that are both creative and inspiring. The way you use unexpected animations for different things really sparks ideas for me and makes me want to get back into the game and try some new stuff for my own story. On top of that, your set decoration and design is fantastic, whether its stuff you've built yourself or other people's buildings, you always seem to have the perfect setting for the scene being shot. Whether it's the soccer game, the art studio, the rooftop café, or even an abandoned gas station in the middle of nowhere, it's perfect.
About the only complaint I have about your pictures is the occasional skillbob or personperson++ that sneaks in occasionally. I keep wanting to grab those pictures and photoshop those things out of them. :}
Pretty pictures don't make a story great, though, so I've got to comment on the story itself. I'm really intrigued about where you're going with the whole plot. The mix of inter-personal relationship stuff combined with the supernatural back story really has me hooked. This is the type of story that really gets me excited and interested – where you've got major machinations going on in the background that are completely intriguing, but we're still concerned about the emotions and feelings of the various characters. While I want to know what's going on with Willow being the heir, I also want to know who she's going to end up with romantically. And do I root for Adrian or Gabriel (or even Wesley)? And Rowan and Meadow's little side plot, wow. Speaking of, nice use of Maxis playables and townies. I love seeing how people make use of them or integrate them into their own stories.
Anyway, I've written a book here, but I wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed your story. I've friended you, so I'll be jumping on the next update as soon as you put it up. :)