Science Fiction Heartbreakers...

[clehrich]

No, well, this is the same argument I just had with John.  Of course it's not the same thing.  But haven't you ever picked up a cool-looking SF game, thought, "Wow, maybe this'll really get the whole SF thing like I'm hoping something will," and then you read on and you think, "Oh dear god, somebody spent an incredible amount of time and love on this and it totally sucks, for all the same reasons as all the previous ones sucked, don't they ever learn?"

Isn't that more or less what a heartbreaker is?  If not, if it's specific, such that "fantasy heartbreaker" is actually a redundant term because all heartbreakers are about fantasy by definition, then yes, this is a pointless conversation.  But it started with the assumption that there was such a thing.

Which still needs to get defined.

[GB Steve]

But there are plenty of SF heartbreakers around. I think d20 Traveller is one of them (and some might argue for other Traveller editions too).

But there's also things like Reichstar, Shatterzone etc. And just look at John Kim's list of free SF games.

I think many of the games were written for similar reasons to the fantasy ones but SF has its own issues (mostly covered above by clehrich in usual thorough fashion). Also many SF games are fantasy games with a space feel such as Tribe 8, Torg, Shadowrun maybe.

There are few SF space games that actually look at what all that space means and offers as a game. Most of them either use it as an excuse for any old weird stuff goes, or give you space but then reduce the options (Aliens).

Only a few games, such as Transhuman Space, really look at what the change in technology actually means in terms of social development

[GB Steve]

But there are plenty of SF heartbreakers around. I think d20 Traveller is one of them (and some might argue for other Traveller editions too).

But there's also things like Reichstar, Shatterzone etc. And just look at John Kim's list of free SF games.

I think many of the games were written for similar reasons to the fantasy ones but SF has its own issues (mostly covered above by clehrich in usual thorough fashion). Also many SF games are fantasy games with a space feel such as Tribe 8, Torg, Shadowrun maybe.

There are few SF space games that actually look at what all that space means and offers as a game. Most of them either use it as an excuse for any old weird stuff goes, or give you space but then reduce the options (Aliens).

Only a few games, such as Transhuman Space, really look at what the change in technology actually means in terms of social development

[Ron Edwards]

Hello,

This conversation has become a bad thing.

Why? Because there is no topic. People are making a variety of assertions as if they were relevant to a shared topic, and there isn't one. I've found at least a dozen points that deserve constructive discussion, and several which are whiz-bang excellent points, but no discussion.

The thread topic concerned writing an article, and that issue was dealt with.

Theory topics should be taken to the Theory forum. You guys know that; practice some moderating on your own.

Best,
Ron

[KeithBVaughn]

Thanks to all for some imput, it has helped me to start a train of thought.  I'm beginning to recognize some common threads of doomed games in SciFi genre'.  I'm starting to see some differences from a Fantasy Heartbreaker that make a SFHB unique.  I'm also seeing at least one sure fire way to make a Heartbreaker.

All for Now,
Keith