Matrix Online: Gamics: An Evolutionary Leap

Comic books have enthralled the imaginations of millions of people over the years. They reach out to the inner child in all of us, telling fantastic stories coupled with the exceptional talent of some of the most amazing artists to grace our planet. From the bi-weekly periodical to the full blown graphic novel, comics have stood the test of time and have managed to integrate themselves into many cultures across the globe.

Similarly, video gaming has quickly become the entertainment wave of the future. What began as two simple sticks bouncing a square ball back and forth across our television screens has become a full blown, multi-trillion dollar industry. The visual effects of some of the latest titles have become so realistic that society has been forced to take a hard look at the social impact certain types of video games has on our cultures. People of all genders, races, and ages can be found mesmerized in front of their televisions or computer monitors drooling on themselves in their mad dash to reach the next level, pass the next obstacle or complete the latest storyline.

It is with little surprise that the next generation of graphic storytelling would take place with a seamless integration of these two art forms. Gamics, the love-child of Nathan Ciprick, is the next evolution of the graphic novel. Gamics takes the engaging and exciting art of storytelling we have come to love in comic books and merged it with the stunning and captivating graphics of the latest video games on the market.

While there is nothing new about fans taking screenshots of their favorite video games and adding captions to them, what Gamics does is simply innovative and far more involved than that. A Gamic starts out with a story concept that is written like an actual screenplay or storyboard. Then, in the case of the MMO projects, Nathan actually goes in the game to set up each screenshot which will become a specific cell for the Gamic. The layout is then perfected as each screenshot is edited to match his specifications. Then, the text of each cell is added holding true to the spirit of the comic book genre by using text bubbles and narrative captions. The result is a truly professional, engaging presentation that is set against a backdrop of our favorite video games. Yet, he uses fresh storylines and scenes which are hauntingly familiar, yet entirely original.

Gamics is not an attempt to improve upon or outshine any of the concepts or storylines that permeate the original video games as designed and written by the producers of these titles. Nor is it an attempt to replace the comic book genre itself that has entertained us for decades. Rather, as Nathan Ciprick explains on the Gamics website, "...Gamics offers an opportunity to tell stories, with nothing but great admiration for the talented artists who create our games. Gamics seeks to tell new stories that treat the [original] material with the respect they deserve."

"Reading Gamics is inspiring and gives [me] a better sense of my own inspiration and imagination that actually improves my gameplay experience," is what one of his fans had to say. Another is quoted as saying, "Yay I love reading this comic. It's one of the few things that reminds me of how good [Star Wars Galaxies] is, since I can't play it just now..." This fan remarked, "I just love what you have done with this series. I actually sat down for a long time and read all the adventures, it even made my gameplay more 'Quest-like'." The well-deserved praise continues and there are a few central themes they all have in common. Gamics inspire roleplay and the use of our imaginations. They have the potential to rekindle our love for older games that may have fallen to the wayside. Most importantly, however, Gamics inspire us to be creative and think outside of the confines of game mechanics.

Currently, there are Gamics centered around Star Wars Galaxies, Final Fantasy XI, EverQuest II and even Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Nathan has more in development, such as The Matrix Online, which is scheduled for release in January 2005. He is also willing to publish Gamics created by others and even gives you proven tips and tricks on how to make your own strips. So, head on over to Gamics.com and experience what you've been missing!