The blank stare, proceeding confused look, and growing irritation at this line of questioning is only because you have the gall to mention their proud Hungarian video game heritage without knowing the intricacies of their most prized jewel, Novotrade International's Cyborg Justice.
Novotrade began its humble Hungarian life in 1983. It was a modest start brimming with Hungarian television commercials wedged betwixt software production schedules. Things were good, the Hungarian goulash was filled with the tenderest of beans, yet a growing unrest crept upon Novotrade's senior management.
While 1992's Ecco the Dolphin had been a success, this was 1993. It was the age of cyborgs. Novotrade was not doing it justice, and its employees knew it. A thick silence hung over the entire corporation as if the waters of the Mediterranean had jumped shore and flooded inland. The figurative goulash was beginning to cool as it seemed ideas would simply not emerge from the dense mental mists encircling Novotrade's creative teams. However, winds of change would soon blow strong and true.
Years after the pivotal moment in Novotrade's history, it would set its headquarters in Palo Alto, California and change its name to Appaloosa Interactive. While this venerated company of sturdy Hungarian stock gave up the good fight around 2008, employees still relived the sudden triumph of 1993 during those final hours. Events of the heady 90's era became corporate legend as they burned deep frets into the collective company consciousness.
It was Hungarian afternoon almost 20 years prior. Snack time. A hungry Hungarian creative director sat at his desk unpacking the huge Hungarian wax pepper his wife had prepared that morning. Things seemed to be under control, but as with life itself, surprises are around every corner.
The story goes that his hand slipped, and in a fortuitous reflex squeeze, he crushed the wax pepper into a mushy ball of fire. Slippery seeds coated in flaming capsaicin death-liquid squirted into his unshielded eyes from the sudden pressure. The pain was excruciating. Later that afternoon, the Hungarian creative director regained consciousness, and as if emerging from a dream, uttered the words "cyborg justice". Had it not been for the deadly Hungarian wax pepper, the game inspiring a generation of young Hungarian children would never have launched in April 1993.
There really isn't much to Cyborg Justice. It involves equal parts action and awesome over hours of repetitive levels and cheap hits but in a nice way. The player controls a cyborg avatar who goes about wreaking laser bolt blasts and spinning morning-star-hand smashes on malicious cyborg opponents. Not only is the hand weapon interchangeable, the torso and legs can be swapped for the latest in cyborg accessories. If you decide jumping with Somersault Legs is underrated, tear off an enemy's Tank Legs. Cruise around in style on your new armored treads.
The point is there is a whole lot of limb-ripping hot-swapping going on here. Cyborgs aren't happy unless they are both knee deep in this kind of vociferous activity and programmed to enjoy it. Novotrade's cyborgs meet both criteria, which means there is an arm and a leg option available to confront the worst of murderous opponents. You like Flamethrower Arms? You're in luck. More of a Big Foot Legs guy or gal? Fantastic. They're all here.
We can draw a parallel to crafting words on a page. Words can be strung together for a laugh or a lark. Words can sting. Words can salve cuts dealt by brutal tongue lashings. If particular word choices don't work, yank letters from elsewhere and pop them into place. Like grugerblart. After all, it's all radtastic in the end.
There is a kind of power to be found in the freedom of hot swapping cyborg limbs and flowing prose. You could even say Cyborg Justice teaches us power is key to winning at writing. Each seeks a combination of pieces that will smash a quandary into tiny shards. What mechanical components will swiftly destroy a violent half-machine? Which sentences will stir the Eastern European hearts of the Hungarian people? I'd try using the bold statement "goulash is life", and if you see that in a Hungarian political campaign staged with laughing children and double rainbows, remember you read it here first.
Much like Cyborg Justice limbs, you have to be careful where you sling your words. They may just start a riot or crush a torso. If ill timed, you could even be punched in the face. Results will vary. The correct application of intertwined pieces will have a mighty effect, so be sure you know what you're getting into before you rev up that Saw Arm and shoot off a sonnet! It could mean a broken jaw if you're not careful.
The twin facets of video games from yesteryear twine readily with modern day writing craft. Together, both Cyborg Justice and writing point to today's theme:
Power.
You have set our society free. Since we can never leave this place, we will reward you with our loyalty and the right to be our leader. We, like you, were enslaved by the maniacal brain who ruled and directed our lives. We need your leadership to prevent us from being enslaved again.
