Colin Simpson Leaves Employment

Started by Intense Degree, Fri 17/04/2009 08:14:33

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Stee

yeah it was definitely the res issue. Thanks for the help. :)
<Babar> do me, do me, do me! :D
<ProgZMax> I got an idea - I reached in my pocket and pulled out my Galen. <timofonic2> Maybe I'm a bit gay, enough for do multitask and being romantical

Intense Degree

Updated version now available which should fix all reported continuity/spelling bugs found so far! (Links in first post).

Dave1985

Ehh. I didn't like the puzzles at all, they consisted mainly of pixel hunts (that is, find the noticeboard that looks just like the other uninteresting noticeboards but has actual plot-advancing stuff on it), faffing about with your telephone or distracting people with idiotic tricks while you steal/plant evidence from/on them. Not exactly my thing.

The character was a hateful little bitch too, blaming his misfortunes on everyone but himself. He wonders why the boss is pissed off at him after running in late for the umpteenth time. He throws a righteous-indignation rant when the boss tells him he hasn't done any work all day. Well, excuuuuse me, but I've got little sympathy for the guy. Getting shat on by your superiors is what you get paid for at a company like this, it doesn't entitle you to poison their coffee, ditch work and generally be a cheeky bastard.

Also, actual jokes and a somewhat more epic ending would've been nice. I felt that it was a bit anti-climactic. Even a little slapstick humour would've spiced that part up; merely saying "FUCK YOU" and walking out doesn't really make you a winner.


I hope you didn't take offence and acknowledge what I've written as constructive criticism and perhaps the sequel will be a bit different in these regards.

Crimson Wizard

#23
Owww... office nightmare  ::)

Haven't finished game yet, but I already have couple of notices.

First of all, it is a bit annoying you cannot skip title cutscene and go straight to main menu and restore the game. I suggest you add an ability to skip it by pressing Esc or something.

Second thing I'd like to mention is that I could not locate the passage to last corridor section, the one with WC and Kitchen doors, until I saw how "Pierre" walked there during the cutscene. I mean, it was not quite obvious for me that there is any passage at all. Good thing is that it isn't needed for solving any puzzle before the cutscene with Pierre. Maybe it is because cupboard is standing so that it makes an impression that the way futher is unavailable.

Crimson Wizard

Okay an update :)
I found it rather non-obvious that you have to click on Sue's email to make Colin read it and understand what to do next.

Quote from: Dave1985
The character was a hateful little bitch too, blaming his misfortunes on everyone but himself. <...> Well, excuuuuse me, but I've got little sympathy for the guy.
I'd like to comment that I personally do not mind playing a bitch or an idiot :)... although sometimes I thought it would be nice if Colin had a shotgun. and enough guts to use it ;D

Intense Degree

@Dave

Quote from: Dave1985 on Thu 23/04/2009 21:11:27
Ehh. I didn't like the puzzles at all

Fair enough, it's nice to have honest opinions!

Quotethey consisted mainly of pixel hunts (that is, find the noticeboard that looks just like the other uninteresting noticeboards but has actual plot-advancing stuff on it)

To be honest I don't see how that is a pixel hunt. The noticeboard is clearly visible and labelled and in a "public" space (the kitchen) rather than by a "personal" desk.

QuoteThe character was a hateful little bitch too, blaming his misfortunes on everyone but himself. He wonders why the boss is pissed off at him after running in late for the umpteenth time. He throws a righteous-indignation rant when the boss tells him he hasn't done any work all day. Well, excuuuuse me, but I've got little sympathy for the guy. Getting shat on by your superiors is what you get paid for at a company like this, it doesn't entitle you to poison their coffee, ditch work and generally be a cheeky bastard.

Firstly, this is meant to be about someone who has had it up to here with the job generally and after a terrible weekend at home this represents the day he has finally had enough (the last straw of the cumulative effect). If that wasn't apparent from the intro and general attitudes of the characters then I apologise for the bad storytelling and characterisation on my part.

Secondly this is a short game and is supposed to be part comedy and part living out of the fantasy of packing your job in which I'm sure we have all had in rubbish jobs before! In fact Colin comes in with the intention of working that day (and has clearly been working hard for little thanks the previous week) but is prevented by doing so by circumstance (bad weekend resulting in broken alarm clock) and the ridiculous officiousness found in many work places today (i.e. password on computer that they will not give him).

QuoteAlso, actual jokes and a somewhat more epic ending would've been nice. I felt that it was a bit anti-climactic. Even a little slapstick humour would've spiced that part up; merely saying "FUCK YOU" and walking out doesn't really make you a winner.

This is intended to be a game taking a wry look at frustration in a bad job and the attitude you can get because of it. Personally I don't see how or why I could or should have put actual jokes or slapstick humour in there to be honest.

Point on the ending is taken and I concede it does end a bit suddenly. However, Colin is not necessarily supposed to be a "winner". Leaving your job as an over-reaction when you have no other job lined up is not really a winning idea and that is why most people don't do it no matter how much you may feel like it sometimes! ;) Still nice to play out the fantasy though ;D

Anyway, thanks for you opinions!

@Crimson

Thanks for the comments I will bear these sor tof things in mind for any future games.

Stee

Quote from: Intense Degree on Fri 24/04/2009 10:16:49


Point on the ending is taken and I concede it does end a bit suddenly. However, Colin is not necessarily supposed to be a "winner". Leaving your job as an over-reaction when you have no other job lined up is not really a winning idea and that is why most people don't do it no matter how much you may feel like it sometimes!
::)

I'd like to point out at this time that I am still looking for a job so if anyone wants to give me lots of money for doing nothing feel free to pm me (and I don't mean any of that "I earn upto £5,000,000 a day working from home crap. Rich princes from Nigeria requiring my bank account need not apply  :P)

<Babar> do me, do me, do me! :D
<ProgZMax> I got an idea - I reached in my pocket and pulled out my Galen. <timofonic2> Maybe I'm a bit gay, enough for do multitask and being romantical

Leon

At the end I thought Larry would give Colin a raise because of good work or something, just as Colin is about to leave. But Colin won't know that, will he?
Ultimate Game Solutions - Because there is a solution for everything

ThreeOhFour

Haha this game made me laugh and did indeed remind me a bit of my days as an office worker :D

I would have liked the ending sequence to have shown something like Colin sitting in his underwear playing the new Ben Jordan (after fixing his busted computer) at home and realising how good life is... but I guess it is your decision.

Also, the whole stationery thieving thing is accurate, which adds to the humour.

Nice work, especially for a very first game :)

Intense Degree

Quote from: Ben304 on Sat 25/04/2009 07:33:58
I would have liked the ending sequence to have shown something like Colin sitting in his underwear playing the new Ben Jordan (after fixing his busted computer) at home and realising how good life is... but I guess it is your decision.

;D I can't tell you how much I wish I had thought of this earlier! It wouldn't have fitted in with my ideas for a sequal although I don't know if that will ever be made anyway.


ThreeOhFour

Heh, well it is basically what I did after quitting my office job, so I thought it was a fitting ending  :D

Kastchey

No way! That's what *I* did after quitting *my* office job =D

Dave1985

Quote from: Intense Degree on Fri 24/04/2009 10:16:49
To be honest I don't see how that is a pixel hunt. The noticeboard is clearly visible and labelled and in a "public" space (the kitchen) rather than by a "personal" desk.
Ok, not pixel hunt then, but there were other noticeboards that looked exactly the same with no relevant info on them, thereby rendering them all unimportant in the player's eyes. Maybe if you had a note with a red cross or something on it, it would've been more logical, but having the player run around aimlessly until they accidentally come upon THE noticeboard is a little bit dodgy gameplay decision.
Quote from: Intense Degree on Fri 24/04/2009 10:16:49
Firstly, this is meant to be about someone who has had it up to here with the job generally and after a terrible weekend at home this represents the day he has finally had enough (the last straw of the cumulative effect). If that wasn't apparent from the intro and general attitudes of the characters then I apologise for the bad storytelling and characterisation on my part.
Yes, that's perfectly fine, but what was apparent to me from the intro was that the guy basically screwed up his own weekend with his negligence, and has no one to blame but himself, but I don't want to reiterate myself too much here.
Quote from: Intense Degree on Fri 24/04/2009 10:16:49
Secondly this is a short game and is supposed to be part comedy
That statement I take issue with, because overdone sarcasm doesn't really qualify as comedy.
Quote from: Intense Degree on Fri 24/04/2009 10:16:49
Anyway, thanks for you opinions!

@Crimson
Welcome anytime.

Buckethead

oh forget to post a comment here.

First I would like to say that Dave's comments make me lol. They also got me curious about the game.

I did notice the issues mentioned but they were not much of a problem. I thought it was enjoyable to wander around the office and do the puzzles. The things you had to accomplish were usually clear exept for a few times. I thought the way the 2 women in office looked so pretty hilarious. I also liked how characters moved around the office if they needed to. I do hope this game get's a sequel. Perhaps Colin will find employment in part 2 lol. But perhaps that would be too much like Sydney find employment. Anyway it was fun while it lasted. The end was indeed a bit disappointing but it does leave room for a sequel or something.

pxmm

I just played through and enjoyed the mischievous nature of the puzzles, as well as the satirical nature of the people and objects (like the computer) in the office.

I was always clear in what I needed to do but I feel a sequel could do with more variety in the puzzles rather than 'distract X to get Y', but the situations and dialogue were engaging enough that I barely noticed.

CosmoQueen

Just played it and it was a really cool game. I totally second what pxmm said about the puzzles. Any chance we'll be seeing another part to this in the future?
KPop and AGS....................that is my life.

Intense Degree

@ Cosmo.

Many thanks for the kind words. I do have an idea for a sequal (although it would be different to the first) which I am thinking about but judging by my usual work rate it will take ages to make, if it ever gets off the ground that is!

I have been playing around with a couple of ideas, but that it all they are at the moment. I also need to get a lot better at animation etc! Having said that watch this space (or the GIP space really) cos you never know!

SPNVR

How we can phone Paul? His phone always busy. After reading system administrator's letter, his phone is busy too.

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