Assignment One

Gabriel Bryant

Background Information/ Figured World

(A large social structure that has specific rules and conventions for appropriate behavior. Within
a figured world, there are many communities of practice.)
Tales of Xillia is a role playing game (RPG) for the PlayStation 3 gaming console, released in
the United States in August of 2013. A role playing game is when the player takes on the role of
a character and is involved with the characters functions and adventures. Tales of Xillia is a
journey of strangers who are all brought together for a purpose greater than each others
individual will alone. I have chosen to observe the figured world of Tales of Xillia because I
enjoy the union of people of different creed, origin, age, and gender to complete a task that
ultimately can be the solution or the demise of a world of people that is defenseless against the
power that must be overtaken to restore the land they once loved. The backstory and the
significance of the articles that are found throughout the game are highly relatable to my life here
in our world which helps me form a bond with them making gameplay that much easier.
Rules and Conventions
(Principles that are set in stone, whereas conventions are a socially agreed upon staple.)
This is a game that the volume will need to be up to understand and capture the full
experience of the game. Watch every cut scene. This not only helps unfold the plot but it further
explains the relationship between events and characters. Not to mention you get trophies for
watching them. Talk to EVERYONE! This enables you to unlock side missions that give a
heads up on the upcoming events in the game. Get as strong as you can as quick as you can. The
only way to accomplish that is to fight every monster and opponent that comes your way. This
also helps you to master your spirit artes (powers) and evolve your lillium orb, a flower that
develops when a new skill or arte is learned. Although it is not required, when battling make sure
a Healer is in your party. Pick either Leia or Elize to maximize the amount of damage repair for
your party members. Open every treasure chest and bag in sight. These contain vital items that
help you along the way. Even though the game will eventually take you to every town on the
map, revisit these sites for more treasure and side missions. Remember the trophies you can earn
look awesome on your PlayStation Network profile. Take breaks in between chapters, this keeps
you from tiring yourself out or losing interest too fast. It is wise and not considered cheating that
if you have a question to look up the answer on google. A good website to refer to is IGN for
accurate and helpful answers and information. For example, here you can find the world map of
Rieze Maxia and hints of the locations of Alfreids Treasures. Constantly save your progress to
ensure that you are able to pick up where you left off.

Commented [GB1]: Gabby-Formatting with the "actor" images are a bit off; I
would recommend putting the corresponding pic with
the appropriate actor description. If you need help
with this, I would be happy to show you some different
ways of formatting this within a Word Doc.
You have excellent examples demonstrating the
"domain" and "communities of practice" within "Tales
of Xillia," but you need to also give the definition of
these terms just like you did with the other key
vocabulary.
I know what "new game plus" means, but not all of
your readers may understand this. I would suggest
you making a short vocab list at the beginning of your
observations that define certain gameplay/gamer
terms such as "new game plus", "RPG, etc.
I would like for you to include more of a summary of
the objectives of the game; you may consider listing
the main quest line titles and the side/companion
quests. This would give readers an overview of the
level of involvement a player must have.
I really enjoyed reading your observation, and I am
finding myself interested in finding out more about this
game!
(commentary by Ashlyn Walden)

Actors - A person who fulfills a specific role in the community. (The images listed below are of
the characters described in order.)
(Photos courtesy of abyssalchronicles.com)
Jude Mathis:
An aspiring doctor attending the Talym Medical School in Fennmont. He is the son is the
famous Dr. Mathis whose is known for his work with spirit fossils to heal the sick.
Leia Rolando:
A childhood friend of Judes, who is now a nurse at his familys medical clinic in his
hometown of Leronde.

Milla Maxwell:
The human form of the god like spirit Maxwell. She has come to the world to investigate
the numerous deaths of spirits. With her travels the four Great Spirits Gnome, Efreet,
Undine, and Sylph to help her on her journey and to lend her their powers.
Alvin:
A mercenary from the land of Elympios, the sister country of Rieze Maxia. He is caught
on the fence between his new group of friends and the rebel group Exodus who doesnt
want peace between the two lands. He, time after time again, betrays both groups and
eventually choses to walk the path for the greater good of the people and himself.
Elize Lutus:
A young girl with the power to heal and manifest her thoughts through her stuffed animal
booster named Teepo. She was orphaned by the slayings of her parents when she younger
so she would be able to take part in an experiment conducted to test the effectiveness of
boosters.
Sr. Rowen Ilbert:
A butler of Lord Cline and Lady Driselle in Sharilton. He is the former conductor of the
Rashugal Army and fought alongside King Nachtigal of Rashugal. His extensive training
in battle comes in handy what defeating monsters both regular and elite alike.

Artifacts -are physical objects, ideas and or emotions that have cultural relevance or significance
to a figured world and/or a specific community of practice.

Mana:
This is the amount of spiritual power that is necessary for any members of the group to
manifest Spirit Artes which can be used in combat to link with each other and make
attacks more powerful, enabling the caster to defeat the monster in a faster time.

Food:
Food consumption in this game is different from the real world. In Tales of Xillia, food is
used to increase health, decrease damage, and even avoid weak opponents. This is
significant because it does not only affect one member of the group but all for a limited
time.

Treasure Chests, Sacks, and Alfreids Treasure

These are found all across the two worlds and the Dimensional Breach in between them.
They contain valuable items inside that help the group progress in the story one by
allowing them to trade these items for stronger weapons, upgrade the shops from which
they purchase their goods, and even equip themselves with them to increase the strength
and durability of their armor.
Devil Arms:
These are six super powerful weapons that were used by monsters to increase their attack
powers. After defeating all six beasts with the devil arms Jude and his friends gathered
them and can now use them as their own. With every battle, these weapons grow stronger
and stronger because of the mystical power they behold. The Devil Arms names and
holder are as follows:
Folzex (The Grudge Bearer) Jude
Dranduo (The Howling Beast) Milla
Vicuhein (The Howler) Alvin
Tregatoria (The Bellowing Demon) Elize
Padvent (The Incantor) Leia
Melandetra (The Deathbringer) Rowen
Temporal Stones:

There are a total of four temporal stones. Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. They are found
around the Nia Khera village. The purpose for these stones are to perform Fours
Advent which is a summoning ritual for the Four Great Spirits.
Tomes:
All characters at some point in the game will find a tome or a book that allows the party
to access specific spirit artes and skills.
Weapons:
Every member of the group is equipped with a weapon that assists them in battle. These
are in the form of swords, gauntlets, staffs, poles, broad swords, and much more.

Communities of Practice The people who request help and provide help:
People who request help from Jude and his friends are located in various cities in both
countries. They have pleaded for the help of mercenaries to complete a task for them,
typically defeating a monster or locating an item, that they are not able to complete
themselves. This is significant because they are now requesting for the assistant of Jude
and company because they know that they can and will complete it and report back.
There is even a reward for doing so. Their shaded way of communicating is word of
mouth through the villages.
Gaius and The Chimeriad:
King Gaius, Wingul, Jiao, Presa, and Agria are the antiheroes of the game. They oppose
the plan of Milla Maxwell and her friends. They rally against them and get into numerous
battle with the intent to defeat Milla. Their shaded way of communication is through
verbal confrontations which can be viewed in the cut-scenes.
Practice of the Community
Defeating Monsters:
The community understands that there is a growing issue with the large number of
monsters threating the life of the villagers in the lands. The only way to stop the decrease
in spirit loss and restore the peace amongst the inhabitants is to defeat the ones who
disrupt it.
Domain A shared common goal or interest of a party and/or group. This doesnt necessarily
mean it is recognized by outsiders.
Millas Mission:

Although it is Millas sole mission to restore the spirits to the world, the problem it
addressed becomes the domain for the group. All member of the team including Teepo
fight with Milla and adopt this outlook on the situation.
Literacy Practices -Ways of communicating that are written and or spoken.

Linked Artes:
This is a simple way to communicate with your partner while fighting opponents. The
two are able to anticipate each others next move and respond in ample time to complete
a chain reaction of spirit artes. Words are spoken in battle which assist in the
effectiveness of linked artes.
The Act of Betrayal:
This is a general No-No for the community. Alvin, who struggles with this, quickly
understands that his betrayal leads to consequences not only for him but those who he
have betrayed. Fortunately the gang is understanding and forgiving, in moderation,
allowing him to rejoin them. The positive end of his betrayals is now the group knows the
next move of the enemy group Exodus.
Cut-Scenes:
The cut-scenes that take place frequently throughout the game demonstrates the essential
communication between the actors and also helps the story progress by providing clarity
to the storyline for the user.
Interview
Questions:
1. Tell me what you like about the Tales of series and do you believe with the advances in
technology and animation since the series began in 1995, Tales of Xillia reflects or
portrays realistic feature of a world?
a. The storyline and the fighting sequence are the most intriguing.
b. Yes because of the geographical features resemble those of earth but also no at the
same time because of the monsters.
2. Explain how Milla, over time, gains the trust and companionship of Jude, Alvin, Rowen,
Elize, and so many others?
a. Fighting alongside the others in combat over the course of the game showed them
that she wouldnt do anything to harm of betray them.
3. Describe what significance Rowen has in the group.
a. Rowen is a wise old man. He has the fighting ability to dispel spirits which helps
the party by reducing magical damage taken.
4. Discuss how Alvins betrayal of his friends helped and/or hindered the goal of Milla
and the others.
a. The betrayal helped Milla to understand human emotion and thoughts a bit better.
He also provided knowledge of the plans of Exodus but sadly he also revealed the
plans of Milla and the others to Exodus so they were always one step ahead.

5. Explain how and why Teepo is a Booster. In other cases, do boosters react the same for
the user?
a. Teepo helps increase the flow mana in Elize. An adverse effect of using the
booster is the reduction of the lifespan of the user. As for Elize, Teepo can also
read and express her subconscious thought and emotions.
Basic questions about the interviewee:
1. How long have you been playing RPGs similar to Tales of Xillia?
a. Since 1995, playing Sega Genesis.
2. What do you find interesting about video games that allow you to control the character?
a. I use games as an outlet. So it enables me to easily remove myself from reality
when I am the one in control.
3. How old are you?
a. 23
4. On average, how many hours a week do you play video games?
a. 56 hours if a new game is out or if Im completing a New Game Plus.
5. What type of gaming consoles do you have in your home?
a. PlayStation 3 and A Nintendo 3DS.
6. Do your friends play the same games as you?
a. Yes, most of them.
7. How competitive are you?
a. Im slightly competitive but not to a friendship ruining point.
8. How long did it take you to beat Tales of Xillia the first time through?
a. 2 days with a few stops to use the bathroom and eat.
9. How many trophies do you have for Tales of Xillia?
a. 12 and counting.
10. Would you recommend someone play Tales of Xillia or any of the Tales of series
games?
a. Yes to the entire series except for Tales of Graces because the graphics are
horrible.
11. What is your level of anticipation for the new Tales of game, Tales of Zestiria?
Im quite excited, so excited Ive already pre-ordered it for the upcoming release next month.

Observation I
The time schedule displayed is real world time of gameplay. Gameplay is beginning in a file of
New Game Plus.
0-14mins:
Jude, Milla, Elize, and Alvin arrive in the Aladhi Seahaven. They are meeting an old man
who is said to have some valuable information for them pertaining to the Devil Arms that
were previously acquired. The man explains to them that to obtain the full power that the
six Devil Arms possess, they must travel to Fezebel Marsh and go through the portal that
awaits them and defeat The One. From the Aladhi Seahaven, the group journeys to
Fennmont to purchase supplies and food from the shops in town. They are now in Xailen

Woods, the land is covered in snow and monsters are everywhere. Immediately they are
battling the monsters.
15-22 mins:
In this span of time, 32 monsters have been defeated and the user has unlocked a trophy
titled Deft Breaker stating that Alvin has activated his Breaker partner skill in battle
150 times. Milla Maxwell has leveled up and has gained items to further the growth of
her second lillium orb. They have now reached Fezebel Marsh. Into the portal they go
and they end up in Magnus Zero, an alternate depiction of their world. There are small
monsters to be defeated here too right out of the portal. After defeating all of the smaller
monsters, the four walk into an area which looks similar to Fennmont where Judes
school is located.
23-30 mins:
There are so many portals for them to go through. Each portal takes them to a different
area in the Alternate Rieze Maxia. The locations they have entered are Fezebel Marsh,
Fennmont, Arklund Quag, Kanbalar, and Nia Khera. Jude is remaining liked with Alvin
for the majority of the battles. They are all getting stronger in attack stats. Elize took
some heavy damage in the last fight against two Tundra Plants and four Snow Wolves.
The user has chosen to eat a large bowl of Creamy Beef to increase the health points (hp)
for all members of the party. This affect will last for 3 consecutive battles.

Observation II
0-10 mins:
Entering into the New Game Plus, Mill, Jude, and Alvin are in a party. They are battling
a group of Chirpees and one Toadstool Goblin. Upon defeating them, the party comes
across a treasure chest. Milla opens the chest to find a bowl of Yakisoba Noodles. In the
next battle, the user selects Jude for Milla to link with. Together, they perform a series of
linked arte chains maximizing the damage they deal to their opponent. With the power of
linked artes they party was able to defeat the monsters so fast that the battle only lasted
for 12.63 seconds. The group goes on for about 10 more battles in the Nia Khera
Spiritway. At this time the user decides to save his progress in the game at a checkpoint
book.
11-26 mins:
Milla and the group have now returned to Millas Shrine with the temporal stones found
in the village to perform a ceremony to summon the Four Great Spirits that Milla once
possessed. A cut-scene begins just as the three place the temporal stones and perform the
ritual. Ivar rushes in through the door to inquire what was happening. When he identified
it as the Fours Advent he questions Millas actions. She explains to Ivar that how the
four were captured by the Lance of Kresnik. Suddenly, Milla orders everyone to leave her

shrine on the account of missing the power she once had as the cut-scene ends. Milla then
walks toward the door to her shrine when she sees Jude. A new cut-scene starts with the
two about Milla Maxwells mission. Her plan to complete her mission is to travel to the
city of Fennmont to destroy the Lance. Although, Jude realizes that his life has and will
continue to change, he still wants assist Milla. The cut-scene ends and the two are off to
the Village of Nia Khera.
27-30 mins:
Along the way, they are facing new monsters like trents and butterflies. Unfortunately,
now the effects of the orange soup Milla ate only has one battle remaining before the
effects begin to wear off. The pair have found items like rotten bones, puff balls, and
weird fragments. Now they have made their way through the Nia Khera Spiritway and
have approached the Nia Khera Village. Here they find Alvin. Another cut-scene begins
with Milla saying that she pay off her debt to Alvin now. He interrupts her to mention
that one of the villagers were going to pay it and he was waiting on him to return. She
continued on to say that she should pay it and not the villager. Alvin replied that the
villager was so overjoyed and proud to repay the debt of Lord Maxwell and she should
better try to understand her loyal subjects and their dedication to her.

Observation III
0-9 mins:
The story continues with the party seeking the elder who was going to pay Alvin. When
they located him a cut-scene begins. The topic of origin stories is brought up. The elder
explains how he personally witnessed the birth or advent of Lord Maxwell himself, 20
years ago. He goes on to say how she never slept or hungered for food. Alvin laughed
and whispered to Jude an account when Milla fainted from hunger. The elder then
apologizes to Milla for being insolent.
10-22 mins:
After the cut-scene, Milla, Jude, and Alvin walk to the home of the elder. Here the elder
presents Alvin the gald in the sum of what Milla was in debt. He explains how the entire
village of Nia Khera pitched in to fulfill the cost. Once he accepted the money, off the
mercenary went out the door. Ivar returns in this cut-scene solely to accuse Jude of being
the reason that the Four Great Spirits were captured in the first place and insist that he is
the only one qualified to protect Lady Milla. Milla then explains to Ivar that if it were not
for Jude being there for her, she would have been killed. Resulting in her decision of
having Jude accompany her on her mission and leaving him to tend to the villagers as
part of his royal duty to Lord Maxwell.

23-30 mins:
Since Alvin is no longer joining Milla and Jude on their journey, the two embark on
Hamil. This way they can monitor what the Rashugal Army that is stationed there is
planning to do. The only way to get to Hamil is to walk from Nia Khera to the the Kijara
Seafalls West Branch. The user is aware that the monsters that will be along the route
will be stronger than those fought before. In correspondence with that notice, he has
decided to have Milla eat a bowl of Fruit Yakisoba Noodles. This will increase the
partys attack power increase by a full 30 percent for a maximum of 8 battles. 2 battles
since leaving the heart of the village of Nia Khera have been on the border of the village
and the seafalls. So far Milla and Jude have linked together to defeat 17 trents and 3
butterflies. The next battle is in the Kijara Seafalls against a group of monsters. These
monsters have been identified as Sand Crabs. There are five in this group that much be
defeated. The Sand Crabs look as if they have some form of an amour unlike any other
monster so far in the New Game Plus. Luckily they two have their activated devil arms.
After winning the battle the user runs to save the game again at another checkpoint blue
book.