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Wendy Moon
Just a few notes on a few games from the IF Comp. And some suggestions
for alternative entertainment for those weary of the whole thing.
Mortality
---------
I'm almost immediately put off by this one. The guide seems to leave
me with nothing to discover about the plot or characters. Or the game,
really, as it includes a full transcript in the walkthrough. Why play?
The language and the magic twist were just too much for me.
Interesting premise - skip the game and see it done much better in
Double Indemnity.
Mix Tape
--------
Had problems running this one at first. The blurb in the readme got
me, though, relating a mix tape to poetry. I found myself taking the
time to upgrade my interpreter to play. Only to be disappointed. Just
didn't feel emotionally involved in this. Wasn't completely sure I got
what went wrong and didn't like what was supposed to make it better.
For a better way to purge those breakup emotions, I suggest making your
own mix tape. Include "your" song to get the tears flowing, then
something more powerful to make you feel in control (may I suggest
There U Go by Pink or I Will Survive, Cake version). Be sure to also
include something meaningful by some band no one else has ever heard of
to reassure yourself that you are indeed unique and special and that
someday someone will understand and appreciate that.
Vespers
-------
Well, this is cheerful. I couldn't get very far in this one, only
because it was really depressing me. I'm all for serious works with
something to say. But I want to have some fun, too. The time and
effort put into this definitely showed; it was well-written, detailed,
atmospheric. I'd like to know where this all ends up but I just can't
take it. Step away from the computer, get out into the sunshine, look
at some pretty flowers, be glad you aren't living this game.
Hello Sword
-----------
This seems to have a lot of enthusiasm behind it but I just can't play
it. To be fair, I couldn't write a game in Italian that would be
nearly so good. But, yeah, I wouldn't try. Read the intro, then rent
Life is Beautiful instead.
Beyond
------
Interesting story happening here. Enjoyed doing some investigating but
didn't get too far. Never quite got back to it yet. Too lazy to play
like me? Veg out to some Law and Order reruns.
Tough Beans
-----------
Yay, I get to play a blond girl named Wendy! Yeah, I have some
problems, too. This game definitely stood out to me, and was one of
the few that sucked me in right away. I had more fun at the beginning
- later I resorted to the walkthrough to see what else I was supposed
to be doing. (Some things made more sense than others.) Never scored
higher than an 8, and the endings I found weren't completely
satisfying. Also was frustrated by not being able to do more to the
car. But overall, a fun and refreshing game. Make it a theme night:
watch Legally Blonde, play Tough Beans, get empowered.
aph...@altavista.com
Can I use that for late night transvestite parties?
ChrisM...@hotmail.com
tell the guy who made it isnt religious...
ChrisM...@hotmail.com
Oh really. Well ok lets put omnipresence aside then...
Kevin Venzke
<ChrisM...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132454990....@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> It's like "God isnt here now"
>
> Oh really. Well ok lets put omnipresence aside then...
Our hero isn't omniscient, so I take this comment as his impression.
Surely he knows that God is omnipresent. But having a ready quip
about that isn't going to help whatever he actually perceives.
(Remember that he's sick, and losing it.)
Kevin Venzke
dwh...@gmail.com
Wendy Moon wrote:
>
>
> Mortality
> ---------
> I'm almost immediately put off by this one. The guide seems to leave
> me with nothing to discover about the plot or characters.
The guide was just intended as that: a guide. You could read it or not,
depending on whether you felt the need. But yes, it probably shouldn't
have said *quite* so much about some of the characters in the game.
> Or the game,
> really, as it includes a full transcript in the walkthrough.
Player like walkthroughs to be included in the games, and they tend to
complain (cough*Chancellor*cough) when there isn't one.
> Why play?
Why watch a film when you know the good guys are going to win in the
end anyway?
> The language and the magic twist were just too much for me.
> Interesting premise - skip the game and see it done much better in
> Double Indemnity.
>
Double Indemnity?
Roger Firth
news:1132479426.9...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
> Wendy Moon wrote:
>>
>> Mortality
>> ---------
>> Interesting premise - skip the game and see it done much better in
>> Double Indemnity.
>>
>
> Double Indemnity?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036775/
Cheers, Roger
--
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You'll find all my IF pages at http://www.firthworks.com/roger
WARNING: aggressive spam deletion -- use a meaningful Subject!
ChrisM...@hotmail.com
> Surely he knows that God is omnipresent. But having a ready quip
> about that isn't going to help whatever he actually perceives.
> (Remember that he's sick, and losing it.)
That may be so but it would seem that any faith the brothers had (if
indeed they ever did have any) was of a particularly weak brand. I mean
yes, sure, they are sick and suffering and that is certainly going to
test and even destroy faith. But ALL of it? Every last drop? Not even a
glimmer of it to be found in any character? I suppose this could
explain why the Devil lady went to them but goodness, it's dark...
I think I would have enjoyed the game more if there were alternative
paths through it, maybe explored through interaction with God (via
praying, asking etc).
Hahah has that ever been done? God as a NPC?
Kevin Venzke
<dwh...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132479426.9...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> The guide was just intended as that: a guide. You could read it or not,
> depending on whether you felt the need. But yes, it probably shouldn't
> have said *quite* so much about some of the characters in the game.
I think it was more an issue of organization. Nearly everything is
revealed under "General Advice," right after a paragraph labeled
"Examining Your Surroundings," and just before the section
"About Mortality" which introduces the game.
I still felt able to explore the game myself, because I happened to
forget whether the guide said I should help or hinder the woman.
Kevin Venzke
Kevin Venzke
<ChrisM...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132490394.7...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> Our hero isn't omniscient, so I take this comment as his impression.
>> Surely he knows that God is omnipresent. But having a ready quip
>> about that isn't going to help whatever he actually perceives.
>> (Remember that he's sick, and losing it.)
>
> That may be so but it would seem that any faith the brothers had (if
> indeed they ever did have any) was of a particularly weak brand. I mean
> yes, sure, they are sick and suffering and that is certainly going to
> test and even destroy faith. But ALL of it? Every last drop? Not even a
> glimmer of it to be found in any character? I suppose this could
> explain why the Devil lady went to them but goodness, it's dark...
Well, our hero isn't obligated to pray to Cecilia.
I think a major point of the story is how "faith" and normal
principles are destroyed in this kind of situation (i.e., this plague
killing everyone and making them insane).
If the story leaves you with the feeling that the "faith the brothers
had was of a paricularly weak brand," I guess this means that
the plague needed to be more severe or more evident in the
story. I can't see that there's an interesting story in the brothers'
faith surviving!
> I think I would have enjoyed the game more if there were alternative
> paths through it, maybe explored through interaction with God (via
> praying, asking etc).
>
> Hahah has that ever been done? God as a NPC?
I think the mysterious BOOMING voice that assists you in
Adventureland is either God or Scott Adams.
Kevin Venzke
Raymond Martineau
>
>Wendy Moon wrote:
>
>> Or the game,
>> really, as it includes a full transcript in the walkthrough.
>
>Player like walkthroughs to be included in the games, and they tend to
>complain (cough*Chancellor*cough) when there isn't one.
Actually, it's a recommendation in the competition to include a
walkthrough. If there is no walkthrough, competitors can and will think
your game is broken. (I didn't spot problems in this year's comp, but
there were at least two comp games in 2004 which could not be solved
without being forced to look at externalized hints or walkthroughs.)
>
>> Why play?
>
>Why watch a film when you know the good guys are going to win in the
>end anyway?
>
For the humour. :)
juri...@hushmail.com
ChrisM...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> That may be so but it would seem that any faith the brothers had (if
> indeed they ever did have any) was of a particularly weak brand. I mean
> yes, sure, they are sick and suffering and that is certainly going to
> test and even destroy faith. But ALL of it? Every last drop? Not even a
> glimmer of it to be found in any character? I suppose this could
> explain why the Devil lady went to them but goodness, it's dark...
>
> I think I would have enjoyed the game more if there were alternative
> paths through it, maybe explored through interaction with God (via
> praying, asking etc).
>
> Hahah has that ever been done? God as a NPC?
* Spoilers *
My only problem with the story in Vespers was the ending. The
"metaphysics" of the game world up to that point have been a kind of
medieval Catholicsm, but then we find out that God doesn't want people
to make choices. I think yr average 14th century Abbot would have seen
this as deeply heretical.
More to the point, hell is definitely the real
eternal-unspeakable-punishment deal, but heaven is an insipid
nothingness, rather than a state of transcendent & ever-increasing joy.
I think it would make a stronger ending to have heaven be actually
heavenly - a stronger contrast to the preceding bleakness, a point to
the Abbott's repentance, a justification for the suffering etc etc etc.
It would have been more "medieval".
I actually thought the total separation from God which the PC and the
other monks undergo was suitably medieval & it worked fine for me, as
far as it went. But I think you need some light to balance the
darkness, for it to work properly.