Force majeure 2: The Zone (January 5: New update available)

[simulacra]

You are the sole survivor of an unknown catastrophe, trapped in an air-raid shelter. Escaping your confinement, you face a delusional reality known only as the Zone â€" a place where your own mind is your enemy. The city is in ruins: explore a dreamy landscape through the eyes of a lone wanderer trying to piece together fragments of the past.



Force majeure II: The Zone is an audio-visual interactive story/adventure game by Leo Nordwall set in a ruined city where everything seems uncertain. The Zone is experienced from a first-person perspective and is navigated by pointing-and-clicking. Photos, drawings, 3D renderings and live video footage have been integrated into a unique visual experience. The soundtrack is over 70 minutes long and features new tracks in the tradition of electro-acoustic music, ambient and electronica.

While there are plenty of interactive works and games that entertain by providing puzzle solving, action and slapstick humour, the Zone is all about exploring the unknown territories of the mind. If you feel that issues such as philosophy, poetry, metaphysics and art is your cup of tea, the story might interest you. If not, the irreal meanderings of the Zone is best left alone.

Force majeure: The Zone is produced by Leo Nordwall in cooperation with Interacting Arts and Fabel Förlag.


Features

• Enjoy an emotional, philosophical and metaphysical experience
• Explore more than 60 locations
• Listen to over 70 minutes of soundtrack in CD-quality
• See several minutes of live video footage
• Independently produced

Game web site with demos, updates, screenshots, free music and video downloads: http://interactingarts.org/thezone/



Screenshots


First encounter


The Concrete Ziggurat


Our special place


Inside the old laboratory


Answering the phone


Rendezvous


Exploring the ruins


Printer problems


Rendezvous II


A dangerous Zone dweller

[MrColossal]

Woot, glad to see this finally done!

I saw the locked thread on the GiP forum and I was like "Oh no! Don't tell me his harddrive crashed or something!"

But lo and behold, as you know, it didn't!

Good luck!

[edmundito]

So, what exactly are the details of distribution? Looks like there is a swedish version, though I don't speak swedish. Will there be some kind of demo?

[Nikolas]

So, what exactly are the details of distribution? Looks like there is a swedish version, though I don't speak swedish. Will there be some kind of demo?

And a simmilar question: I don't see any download link. But I did notice on the site the order button. Can I assume that we can buy this game?

Edit: Forgot the most important thing:

WHAT AN AMZING GAME THIS SEEMS! Judging from the screenshots and the music this is one heck of a game!

[simulacra]

So, what exactly are the details of distribution? Looks like there is a swedish version, though I don't speak swedish. Will there be some kind of demo?

The "Swedish" version is actually an English version in a Swedish box. It is released as part of a mini-book series on storytelling. This book is representing interactive storytelling. I am also working on a downloadable version for those of you who do not want to order a CD from Sweden.

I am considering to make a mini-demo of the story. It's quite hard to do since the beginning of the storyline isn't too representative of the story as whole, but I guess I'll work something out.

[simulacra]

And a simmilar question: I don't see any download link. But I did notice on the site the order button. Can I assume that we can buy this game?

Edit: Forgot the most important thing:

WHAT AN AMZING GAME THIS SEEMS! Judging from the screenshots and the music this is one heck of a game!

Why, thanks! I put a lot of effort into this one and I hope people will like it, despite being something different.

The game is not free, unfortunately. It was not simply sustainable to spend so much time on producing this and not financing the costs somehow, being a poor graphical design/artist guy.

I am also curious too see if this model works for making games. I do not think that it will be profitable, but I'd be happy if some costs were covered. In that case, more cheap games could be produced.

[Barbarian]

The "Swedish" version is actually an English version in a Swedish box. It is released as part of a mini-book series on storytelling.

Congrats on finally completing your long-worked-on project.
I've been following your WIP thread for a while, and it caught my interest.

Perhaps a friendly comment/suggestion regarding the download page on your site, now, for me, as a mainly English speaking/reading person, when your download page only offers a version and description of "Swedish CD edition", and there is nothing to indicate that the game is presendted in an English format as well, then you're probably going to be losing tons of potential sales of any English readers to your site who, like me, do not know how to speak/read Swedish.   When I see "Swedish CD edition", then I'm inclined to think it's JUST in the Swedish language. So, you may consider putting some note there somewhere to clerify that "This version is also presented in the English language", or whatever, to let your visitors know that yes in fact your game does have English and not just Swedish.

Well, I dunno, it's just a thought.  If you clearify things more on your site, and maybe make a downloadable version (in English) available, I might go ahead and buy a copy myself. 

[simulacra]

Very good point. Thank you for commenting on this.

[Edmundo (at work)]

I am also curious too see if this model works for making games. I do not think that it will be profitable, but I'd be happy if some costs were covered. In that case, more cheap games could be produced.

You might be interested in reading some of this as well:
Part 1: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/8/3
Part 2: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/9/4

[Nikolas]

Can I ask, who's written the music?

Most interesting...

[Jhumjhum]

Hi! Congrats on making such a high class game. The screenies remind me of "I  have no mouth & I must scream".

In your order page, there is a line: "International downloadable web edition
Not yet available"

Is it going to be available soon? Is it the full downloadable english version for everyone?

Cheers!

[Candle]

Looks cool . good luck with the game selling.

[Ubel]

This looks really nice! I may even buy a copy myself later.

[simulacra]

I am also curious too see if this model works for making games. I do not think that it will be profitable, but I'd be happy if some costs were covered. In that case, more cheap games could be produced.

You might be interested in reading some of this as well:
Part 1: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/8/3
Part 2: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/9/4

Yes,  have read those. Very interesting thoughts. I am actually going to host a conference in Stockholm this friday on this subject, with over 100 people from the game industry (such as the CEO of DICE) as well as the cultural minister. Things seems to be moving!

Can I ask, who's written the music?

I wrote the music.

Hi! Congrats on making such a high class game. The screenies remind me of "I have no mouth & I must scream".

In your order page, there is a line: "International downloadable web edition
Not yet available"

Is it going to be available soon? Is it the full downloadable english version for everyone?

Why, thanks!

A downloadable version is going to available soon. There are some things to sort out first, but it should be available within a month. I'm sorry the web page isn't very clear on this point: the "Swedish version" is actually an English in a Swedish packaging.

[Goldmund]

Do you mean it's going to be available for free?
I have an utmost interest in this game.

[Ozzie]

No, it rather likely means that you are going to be able to download it.

When you've paid for it.

[simulacra]

Do you mean it's going to be available for free?
I have an utmost interest in this game.

Unfortunately not. But a free shorter demo version is in the making.

[simulacra]

Those of you who live in Finland has the opportunity to try The Zone at the Nordic art exhibition Live Herring in Jyväskylä, November 17-20. I think this is the first time an AGS game is presented at an art exhibition.

Welcome!

http://www.liveherring.org/

[Janik]

Looks nice! How much is the downloadable version going to cost?

[simulacra]

Approximately â,¬ 15-16.