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[John Kowalski]

IDK, she looks like she could be 18 to me.

 

[Muzicfreq]

Something I keep forgetting to mention: Max does not look 18.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an 18 year old to look like that, before someone jumps in and says "I know 18 year olds who look just like that!", and I would also agree that games largely portray 18 year olds to look older than they actually should, but Max looks about 14.

EDIT: Wait, is she 18 or 19? I forget. Point stands either way.

18.

Spoiler

text from her mom and chloe mentioning her birthday a month ago

She can pass off as 18 but I have to agree that in the gaming world with how they usually portray them in games is usually looking older.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

Something I keep forgetting to mention: Max does not look 18.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an 18 year old to look like that, before someone jumps in and says "I know 18 year olds who look just like that!", and I would also agree that games largely portray 18 year olds to look older than they actually should, but Max looks about 14.

EDIT: Wait, is she 18 or 19? I forget. Point stands either way.

You say you know 18-year-olds can look like this but agree the game portrays the teenagers as looking older than teenagers?

I am so confused with your issue.

 

[Dantis]

You say you know 18-year-olds can look like this but agree the game portrays the teenagers as looking older than teenagers?

I am so confused with your issue.

I know that 18 year olds could technically look as young as Max looks, and I know that games often portray characters in their late teens to look older than they should.

My issue is that if you said "How old do you think Max looks?", I cannot believe that anybody would say she's 18.

 

[Vazra]

Something I keep forgetting to mention: Max does not look 18.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an 18 year old to look like that, before someone jumps in and says "I know 18 year olds who look just like that!", and I would also agree that games largely portray 18 year olds to look older than they actually should, but Max looks about 14.

EDIT: Wait, is she 18 or 19? I forget. Point stands either way.

If your read Max's diary you can see she is 18. Its one of the first pages.

 

[Aaron D.]

Just finished. Loved every minute of it (minus the straight-up busted lip-syncing ).

What a gorgeous game world. It's so refreshing to have a setting & characters that feel grounded, authentic & relatable. Sure, there's a supernatural element with the rewind mechanic, but outside of that, this is the kind of tone I want in narrative-driven games (see: Gone Home).

And then that ending sequence & music selection. Man, that was affecting.

Triple-thumbs up.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

I know that 18 year olds could technically look as young as Max looks, and I know that games often portray characters in their late teens to look older than they should.

My issue is that if you said "How old do you think Max looks?", I cannot believe that anybody would say she's 18.

What about her looks specifically make her look 14? I'm sorry, but not every 18-year-old is a busty young woman with a tone, curvy figure.

You're using a precedent to determine someone's age. That's meaningless here.

She looks her age range. I think you're just seeing what you want to see.

Edit: as for the game itself the mix of tracks and composed pieces is amazing. I haven't heard "American Girl" in a long, long time. Fits well here.

 

[Chariot]

Yikes, warped american image of women.
Max is fine the way she is.

 

[peakish]

Here are some spoilers for the final episode so BEWARE

Spoiler

Kate's depression is what's bringing in the tornado and the story will be about breaking her out of it.

I sure hope that's not it but I'm putting my money down now.

(I haven't caught up if anyone brought this theory up earlier in the thread)

 

[Dantis]

What about her looks specifically make her look 14? I'm sorry, but not every 18-year-old is a busty young woman with a tone, curvy figure

I didn't mean exactly, specifically, 14. I'm saying that she doesn't look like an adult.

I also definitely didn't say she should be busty or curvy, haha.

 

[peakish]

I didn't mean exactly, specifically, 14. I'm saying that she doesn't look like an adult.

I also definitely didn't say she should be busty or curvy, haha.

I thought all characters except Chloe looked a bit younger than college-age so I see what you mean. It doesn't really bother me but eh.

 

[Chariot]

The hell do american girls look like at the age of 18? When I went to university at that age, most people in my age range looked similar to the people in Life is Strange.

 

[Messofanego]

The Giant Bomb Quick Look convinced me to give this game a look. I played through it last night/this morning and I really liked it. Question though,

Spoiler

after looking through my choices after finishing the game, I noticed a missed a bunch of good deed things (saving a bird, letting someone draw me, etc.). Should I go back and redo the game to do these or should I let it be?

Also, have they mentioned when they're planning to release the rest of the episodes?

Spoiler

Daniel drawing you is a very sweet moment

, so yes do that one And yes, in collection mode rather than having to replay.

 

[peakish]

The hell do american girls look like at the age of 18? When I went to university at that age, most people in my age range looked similar to the people in Life is Strange.

I'm not american. I'm putting it down to cultural differences.

 

[Aaron D.]

Yikes, warped american image of women.

American?

Get out of here with your insulting stereotyping.

 

[Dantis]

I thought all characters except Chloe looked a bit younger than college-age so I see what you mean. It doesn't really bother me but eh.

I only noticed it with Max, I think. The rest I can buy.

I think my one criticism of Life Is Strange is that it kind of goes heavy-handed with its good ideas. They wanted to write authentic sounding dialogue, which mostly works (the casual swearing gets a very sincere two thumbs from me), but then every so often you'll get a really cringey line where they've tried too hard to sound current. They wanted to make Max a geek, so they make her, like, the highest level of insecure geek girl possible. They wanted Max's design not conform to the supermodel body image that most games use for women, and they ended up making her look younger than she perhaps should do.

The hell do american girls look like at the age of 18? When I went to university at that age, most people in my age range looked similar to the people in Life is Strange.

I'm not saying it's impossible for an 18 year old to look like that, before someone jumps in and says "I know 18 year olds who look just like that!"

Yikes, warped american image of women.

Also, I'm British, not American.

 

[John Kowalski]

Max is not the highest level of insecure nerd girl, c'mon man.

 

[Chariot]

I'm not american. I'm putting it down to cultural differences.

American?

Get out of here with your insulting stereotyping.

I was assuming people where upset with the appearance of Max that does no equal the image of an american pupil, which she is. Then I remembered how american movies and pornos presented girls in that age and thus I came to the conclusion that the projected american image of girls in that age is at fault here.

 

[Choomp]

Yikes, warped american image of women.
Max is fine the way she is.

Is there really complaints about that, jeez. I thought she was almost too cute.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

I didn't mean exactly, specifically, 14. I'm saying that she doesn't look like an adult.

I also definitely didn't say she should be busty or curvy, haha.

And I am asking how she does not look her age to you. There has to be something physically that says to you, "she does not look 18". What is that?

I said busty, curvy, and toned because a lot of people have this assumption (from porn, media outlets, magazines, etc.) that women look a certain way at a certain age. I assume you fall under that camp. Am I wrong? If so then I will need an answer to the above question - which started this entire thing.

 

[Dantis]

Max is not the highest level of insecure nerd girl, c'mon man.

She is astoundingly nerdy and insecure, but that kind of develops her as a character more, you know? So it's not necessarily a bad thing, but just because somebody is into geeky things doesn't mean they have to fantasize about watching Spirits Within on a massive plasma screen, though.

We've seen super nerdy characters before, but I can't think of any cases where you get people who are into nerdy things without being completely into them.

And I am asking how she does not look her age to you. There has to be something physically that says to you, "she does not look 18". What is that?

I said busty, curvy, and toned because a lot of people have this assumption (from porn, media outlets, magazines, etc.) that women look a certain way at a certain age. I assume you fall under that camp. Am I wrong? If so then I will need an answer to the above question - which started this entire thing.

Her height. Her face. Her dress sense. Her build.

Your assumption was incorrect and silly.

 

[MisterShine]

Wolf Among Us turned out to be a very solid overall experience. The problem with that game was performance and scheduling.

Yeah TWAU was very good overall, but that first episode was amazing and frankly none of the other episodes could keep up that pace.

I was assuming people where upset with the appearance of Max that does no equal the image of an american pupil, which she is. Then I remembered how american movies and pornos presented girls in that age and thus I came to the conclusion that the projected american image of girls in that age is at fault here.

You have a very strange line of thinking, and where your brain jumps to.

 

[trinest]

Yikes, warped american image of women.
Max is fine the way she is.

Max is like the sweat girl next door sort of look. She is perfect the way she is. It's just a shame society has forced these girls to conform, why look at Chloe.

 

[LX_Theo]

Max is certainly looks young for her range, but is well within the range of what you would imagine an 18 year old as.

She looks 18, she just doesn't look like the standard for what a person looks at 18 that people have in their head.

 

[peakish]

I only noticed it with Max, I think. The rest I can buy.

I think my one criticism of Life Is Strange is that it kind of goes heavy-handed with its good ideas. They wanted to write authentic sounding dialogue, which mostly works (the casual swearing gets a very sincere two thumbs from me), but then every so often you'll get a really cringey line where they've tried too hard to sound current. They wanted to make Max a geek, so they make her, like, the highest level of insecure geek girl possible. They wanted Max's design not conform to the supermodel body image that most games use for women, and they ended up making her look younger than she perhaps should do.

Well I'm not gonna call myself an expert on it, it's been nine years since I was in that age bracket. Thinking back I remember a few girls in my year which looked similar in age to the girls in the game, and thinking more about it I remember some characters which looked a few years older so... I also think that the bullying scenes prepped my mind to look at it as a high school.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

Her height. Her face. Her dress sense. Her build.

Your assumption was incorrect and silly.

Her height is WRONG for an 18-year-old? That is facepalm worthy.

Her dress sense? Please have a look over your high school year book. My girlfriend's little sister who's 20 dresses similar to that. :/ Is she 14? My colleague dresses similar to that with the sweater jacket, double t-shirt, and flattop shoes. It isn't exactly an outrageous look that's way off.

Her build? What's wrong with her build specifically? Her flat-ish butt? Lack of big boobs? What is wrong with her build?

 

[Dantis]

Her dress sense? Please have a look over your high school year book. My girlfriend's little sister who's 20 dresses similar to that. :/ Is she 14?

This is the weirdest post ever.

I don't think Max looks 18. I would have personally appreciated if she had looked older. Most people dress better as they get older, but she has a young way of dressing, right down to her hairstyle.

Clearly, you disagree, which is fine. I respect your opinion. I also kinda feel like you're the one who has issues with how women should and shouldn't look...

 

[Chariot]

Is there really complaints about that, jeez. I thought she was almost too cute.

Yes, it's pity.

You have a very strange line of thinking, and where your brain jumps to.

Probably. But I honestly think that the cultural influence of the States is partly at fault for the assumption that girls have to look a certain way in that age.

Max is like the sweat girl next door sort of look. She is perfect the way she is. It's just a shame society has forced these girls to conform, why look at Chloe.

Agreed. But that's what you get when "sex sells" is everywhere.

 

[John Kowalski]

She is astoundingly nerdy and insecure, but that kind of develops her as a character more, you know? So it's not necessarily a bad thing, but just because somebody is into geeky things doesn't mean they have to fantasize about watching Spirits Within on a massive plasma screen, though.

We've seen super nerdy characters before, but I can't think of any cases where you get people who are into nerdy things without being completely into them.

Okay, putting aside the fact that i don't think at all that Max is astoundingly insecure or nerdy, i really don't think there is any problem with her momentarily expanding on what she nerds about. It's an introductory arc and to be fair i think all characters can be blamed of being a bit too archetypal. But that is crucial to the game's design, they're trying to build strong impressions and then slowly unveiling what lies behind them.

Max is a small feeble girl who dresses like a small feeble girl. I don't really see what about her is so particularly undeveloped as to make her appear that much younger than she actually is. They have a nice range of looks and appearances even among the 18 year olds, which is frankly a genius design choice.

 

[Choomp]

Spoiler

Daniel drawing you is a very sweet moment

, so yes do that one And yes, in collection mode rather than having to replay.

Oh crap, I missed that, where do I do that?

Okay, putting aside the fact that i don't think at all that max is astoundingly insecure or nerdy, i really don't think there is any problem with her momentarily expanding on what she nerds about. It's an introductory arc and to be fair i think all characters can be blamed of being a bit too archetypal. But that is crucial to the game's design, they're trying to build strong impressions and then slowly unveiling what lies behind them.

Max is a small feeble girl who dresses like a small feeble girl. I don't really see what about her is so particularly undeveloped as to make her appear that much younger than she actually is. They have a nice range of looks and appearances even among the 18 year olds, which is frankly a genius design choice.

I agree but I think Max is pretty nerdy/insecure. I think she has a little bit of Holden Caulfield in her(she does a lot of analyzing of people, introverted in that Holden kind of way) that's why I thought the game was trying to tell us there's a connection there. I really love her expression of all the books/photos/movies she likes, all of the comments you hear in her head are great. I like when Messofanego said the rewind thing was her presence in the world. I'm going to live by that similarity, I think Holden and Max are both "Everyday Heroes" in their own little world without others knowing,

 

[Chariot]

Oh crap, I missed that, where do I do that?

Spoiler

Daniel is sitting under a tree sketching after you leave school, northwest if you look from the school entrance to the street.

 

[CrazyDude]

This is the weirdest post ever.

I don't think Max looks 18. I would have personally appreciated if she had looked older. Most people dress better as they get older, but she has a young way of dressing, right down to her hairstyle.

Clearly, you disagree, which is fine. I respect your opinion. I also kinda feel like you're the one who has issues with how women should and shouldn't look...

Looking at senior class photos online, she doesn't look too young at all.

 

[blackw0lf]

Was this game originally made in English? The developers are French I think and I'm wondering if the problem isn't so much the original dialog but the localization into English, if the game was originally made in French.

 

[Squire]

I have a 19 year old sister who looks about 16. It happens.

I'm american, if that's relevant.

Edit: She has a very small build and a fashion sense similar to Max. She isn't very tall, which doesn't help, but I really think it's the aforementioned elements that have a big effect on her look.

 

[Chariot]

Was this game originally made in English? The developers are French I think and I'm wondering if the problem isn't so much the original dialog but the localization into English, if the game was originally made in French.

The weird thing is, that the game doesn't have french audio. One would think that this would be convenient.

 

[OceanicAir]

Yes, Max does look young for 18, but she does fall into the range of my mental image of an 18 year old. Have been more surprised in real-life when I knew a 30 year old lady in college that I was fairly certain was a good 7-8 years younger than she was. And I knew a guy who I and many others thought looked younger than his younger brother.

So what the heck do I know, the world is full of diverse people

 

[Violet_0]

And the part when the game tells you

Spoiler

that watering your plant will have consequences was really weird...

I bet a lot of people unwillingly

Spoiler

committed murder

 

[Dantis]

I have a 19 year old sister who looks about 16. It happens.

I'm american, if that's relevant.

It definitely happens, I agree.

But if I was personally designing a character with a set age in my head, it feels like it would be in my interest to convey that age to the player, rather than make her look a different age and then say "Well, actually she's older than she looks".

Does that make sense?

Edit: She has a very small build and a fashion sense similar to Max. She isn't very tall, which doesn't help, but I really think it's the aforementioned elements that have a big effect on her look.

Definitely.

Okay, putting aside the fact that i don't think at all that Max is astoundingly insecure or nerdy,

Max is amazingly insecure, which is why she lies about things she doesn't actually know about, and why she goes back in time to change what she said to get a 'better' response.

When the skaters call her a poser, they are completely right. I think it makes her a more interesting character, but I also completely stand by it being a part of her character.

 

[Certinty]

Eighteen year olds all look different, some look older (like the jocks), some look their age (such as Chloe) and some look younger (like Max), it's just life and I'm glad they portrayed them all differently.

I think it even adds to her character, I mean if she looked older it wouldn't really suit her image of being shy for example. Maybe stereotypical but I think Dontnod Entertainment nailed the characters perfectly, each one individually looks like you would expect them to and I quite like that.

 

[Modest Mauser]

Was this game originally made in English? The developers are French I think and I'm wondering if the problem isn't so much the original dialog but the localization into English, if the game was originally made in French.

It was originally in English, which I think is the issue. It wasn't translated by native speakers but written in a language that the writers weren't native speakers of. So you get a few lines here and there that sound a little off.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

This is the weirdest post ever.

I don't think Max looks 18. I would have personally appreciated if she had looked older. Most people dress better as they get older, but she has a young way of dressing, right down to her hairstyle.

Clearly, you disagree, which is fine. I respect your opinion. I also kinda feel like you're the one who has issues with how women should and shouldn't look...

It's not a weird post. You said she does not dress her age. I know people that are even older that dress like that. Is that wrong?

Looked older? This is why I wrote the porn, media, magazine thing. There are people who have a look for women and outside of that it's "off" or "wrong" or "don't look their age".

I disagree because you aren't saying what about her build DOES NOT make her look her age. You keep beating around the bush with that one. It's a very bold statement you made. What about her physical appearance does not make her look her age range?

You feel as though I have issues with how women look? The fuck is that? I never even said anything about her physical appearance. All I said is she looks her age range. You came in saying she doesn't look her age but "14" and won't say why when asked.

 

[Manu]

Is this game a lot like Gone Home? I haven't played Gone Home but someone said they're really similar, down to the main characters.

 

[trinest]

Do we have a list of all the side events? I feel like I've missed a few and did a few which we haven't really discussed

Spoiler

Like saving that chick reading her book from been hit by the jock dudes football

 

[Choomp]

Spoiler

Daniel is sitting under a tree sketching after you leave school, northwest if you look from the school entrance to the street.

Ok, thanks, gonna go do that right now.

 

[Dantis]

It's not a weird post. You said she does not dress her age. I know people that are even older that dress like that. Is that wrong?

Looked older? This is why I wrote the porn, media, magazine thing. There are people who have a look for women and outside of that it's "off" or "wrong" or "don't look their age".

I disagree because you aren't saying what about her build DOES NOT make her look her age. You keep beating around the bush with that one. It's a very bold statement you made. What about her physical appearance does not make her look her age range?

You feel as though I have issues with how women look? The fuck is that? I never even said anything about her physical appearance. All I said is she looks her age range. You came in saying she doesn't look her age but "14" and won't say why when asked.

Every time I tell you why I think she looks younger, you bring up boobs, butts, porn, and how you know people who are 18 and feature the things that I say make her look young.

How is that anything but super weird?

And yes, I do think you have issues with how women look.

 

[Aaron D.]

Is this game a lot like Gone Home? I haven't played Gone Home but someone said they're really similar, down to the main characters.

It's like Gone Home in the sense that the setting and characters are grounded and everyday-authentic. There's supernatural elements to the story, but all of the other trappings are atypical to industry norms that thrive on comic superhero characters in a Micheal Bay-bombast landscape.

It's pretty refreshing.

 

[Squire]

It definitely happens, I agree.

But if I was personally designing a character with a set age in my head, it feels like it would be in my interest to convey that age to the player, rather than make her look a different age and then say "Well, actually she's older than she looks".

Does that make sense?

Definitely.

It does.

I also agree with your point about the writing. In general, I think it's very solid. For the most part the dialogue is no worse than what you'd find in a televised teen drama.

I'm 22, myself. So I graduated from high school inside the last decade. In situations like this, I get the feeling the writer(s) are past that window and have to do their best to grasp a style of language they've lost their connection to.

They would definitely benefit from bringing in actual teens. Even Rockstar, as an example, doesn't actually write all that Califirnia gangster lingo you hear in GTA V. They hired character actors and let them improvise a lot and they built the hard script off of that.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

Every time I tell you why I think she looks younger, you bring up boobs, butts, porn, and how you know people who are 18 and feature the things that I say make her look young.

How is that anything but super weird?

Because you do not say WHY she looks young. I bring up boobs, ass, curves, etc. because you specifically said "build".

You are not being specific with your words. You say vague things like "young" and when people ask you do not respond. You selectively not quote that part of the message as well.

I bring those up because there's a very real phenomenon where men have a certain look for women. You even said her height was off.

 

[Dantis]

It's like Gone Home in the sense that the setting and characters are grounded and everyday-authentic. There's supernatural elements to the story, but all of the other trappings are atypical to industry norms that thrive on comic superhero characters in a Micheal Bay-bombast landscape.

It's pretty refreshing.

Pretty much. The focus on a realistic female protagonist reminds me of The Longest Journey, and I have a feeling a lot of people will be able to empathize with the school-life side of things.

It's weird and ambitious and beautiful and awkward and really kind of amazing.

 

[Violet_0]

Is this game a lot like Gone Home? I haven't played Gone Home but someone said they're really similar, down to the main characters.

it is partially inspired by Gone Home and the main character is a girl and they share a certain sentimentality, I suppose. Life is Strange is more similar to the modern TellTale games, you interact with the characters around you, try to learn more about them to change the outcomes of events and solve the looming mystery of your newly acquired time travel powers and the disappearance of a student

for the record, I kind of dislike Gone Home and I thought Life Is Strange is a pretty great first episode