Any gamer worth their salt in 1987 knew of or was obsessed with the original Legend of Zelda on NES. Eleven years later, finally adding that sacred 3rd-dimension into the mix, Ocarina of Time translated all the dungeon crawling, gear upgrading, environmental puzzling and exploratory design of the 2D classics. Nintendo 64 developers adapted to the additional plane of depth with inspiring results, changing the landscape of action RPGs and pioneering mechanics that remain prevalent today. Z-Targeting was an ingenious solution to the elementary state of 3D fighting systems at the time. Locking onto our foes still required a full spectrum of timing and strategy, which varied greatly depending on the enemy type. The GTA series owes a lot to Zelda's 3D targeting breakthrough. Ocarina of Time also introduced the concept of virtual day and night cycles, a feature that's become the standard montage centerpiece for nearly every contemporary tech demo. A somber trot across Hyrule Field in the midday sun was breathtaking, but things sure got scary at night. The upcoming Dying Light will undergo a similar transformation as the sun goes down - a direct mechanic translation nearly twenty years later! The repurposing of an interconnected 3D map by means of upgrading certain skills and equipment is a concept Ocarina of Time achieved vividly; a design philosophy that informs the priorities of modern gaming with perpetual influence.
Real Science Magazine called James' addiction to video games "sexually attractive." He also worked really hard and got really lucky in college and earned some awards for acting, improv and stand-up, but nobody cares about that out here in LA. So... He's starting over fresh, performing when He can. His profile picture features James as Serbian, vampire comic Dorde Mehailo with His anonymous Brother and Uncle at the Nerdmelt Showroom in West Hollywood. In James' spare time, he engages in acting, writing, athletics, hydration, hours of great pondering and generally wishing you'd like him.
