'7 Days a Skeptic' by Yahtzee

[Isegrim]

I didn't question the usefulness of the pods themselves, I was just thinking that if there is, say a reactor meltdown, you would hardly have time to fuel those damn things up, would you?

Except you meant that such a situation is highly suited for drama purpose (Got my irony detector turned off, so sorry if I misinterpreted you...

[JayWolf1985]

- Dr. William's last name is Taylor, and he has very blonde hair. He is a descendant of Simone Taylor from the first game.

He is a descendant? I thought she died from the ghost? It said so in the letter...

that doesn't mean she couldn't have had a child in that two-year span or he descended from a sibling in her family tree.  You have to look at the whole picture there.

[GarageGothic]

Awesome game, once again. When I first read that it took place on a spaceship, I was a bit turned off, but as soon as I got into the game, it felt very much like 5 Days A Stranger, despite the setting. I still have an issue with the graphics being so colorful (almost EGA-ish), because it works against the horror theme. But I'm amazed how much content Yahtzee managed to cram into that minimal download. I mean, most 4-room demos around here are larger than that. Respect, man! It was fun playing Enclosure and this game within just a few weeks of eachother - so similar yet so different.

I still can't work out how "6 Days A Sassin" fits into the series though

[Barbarian]

I still can't work out how "6 Days A Sassin" fits into the series though

"6 Day Assassin" is a game made by a different author (I think Mr Colosal was it?).

I think it was called 6 Day Assassin because that's about how many days working on it took him to program the whole game?

So, as far as I know, it's is not a part of the "5 Days a Stranger" or "7 Days a Skeptic" series (game author Yahtzee).

[Kweepa]

Congratulations!
You win the "4 Days a Dumbass" award!

[EDIT] Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[Sam.]

HA! just read that! rofl

[Moox]

Rotfl, He knew that barbarian

[BerserkerTails]

About the easter eggs... I noticed the references to 2001: A Space Oddesy and to Halloween. I haven't seen the original "Ringu" (Despite my brother owning it), or have I seen Event Horizon. However, now we need to figure out which day is special to Yahtzee.

What about the day that he left the AGS Forums. I'm not quite sure what happened that caused him to leave, but I know there was something... Perhaps someone who was around at that time could help?

It also could be the release dates of any of his games (Rob Black 1-3, Kent, 5 days)

Or perhaps his brithday. That would fit in with the puzzle about the Captain's birthday.

[Anym]

However, now we need to figure out which day is special to Yahtzee.

What about the day that he left the AGS Forums. I'm not quite sure what happened that caused him to leave, but I know there was something... Perhaps someone who was around at that time could help?

It also could be the release dates of any of his games (Rob Black 1-3, Kent, 5 days)

Or perhaps his brithday. That would fit in with the puzzle about the Captain's birthday.

Spoiler

It is his birthday.

[close]

[Al_Ninio]

Anym...

Spoiler

When IS his birthday?

[close]

[Phemar]

On a special day

I'd be interested to know how he ripped the sounds from HL. I've been trying to do it for ages ... (which is an indefinate measure of time).

[Gord10]

Zor, I know how to rip sounds (or other files) from Half-Life. You need the program called QPed or PakExplorer. You must open the pak0.pak file in the "/valve" folder.
http://www.planethalflife.com/hlprogramming/old/files.htm
But I wonder something: Isn't it illegal to use the sound files for our freeware games without permission? I want to use them for my game, too. Hope it is legal...

[InCreator]

Strange.
Here's what I think.

First - what's so special about this game anyway?
Fact that Yahtzee made it, it's a sequel to a cool game or is it about game itsself?

First thing, like for us - human beings, is visual contact. There's nothing too special about game graphics, but it's nicely done and pretty detailed. I'd use a phrase "functional and a bit more". Isn't it?
It has absolutely statisfactionary "critical adventure game graphical elements (hardware)" such as believeable walkcycle,talking animations and non-default GUI gfx. A working plot, some rooms and characters. And some puzzles too.

Now this is all elementary. Game that fails with these should have something really special about it to get so much feedback. This - and everything else - will rely on viewpoint of an average AGSer and AGS game, of course. For commercial games, standards are usually much more higher.

We have now an average game here.

Yahtzee added more things to his game. He added graphical & scripted intro, sounds and background music.
This makes now a fine game.

From this point, things get strange. Strange enough to make me write this crap here, thinking what's so special about it anyway.

Puzzles -- there isn't much puzzles really. And some of them are pretty obivious.
He was ignorant/un-careful/brave enough to include things that may (and usually do) bring players' fun down, such as dying, timed puzzle(s), illogical ones, running through whole gameworld all the time while triggering events located at the edges of the world.
Like many others (almost every adventure game), it had it's "argh! where's walkthrough?!" puzzle too. Too bad that It was also the timed one, and could make character die (you know which one I'm talking about). This makes the problem bigger.

Graphics isn't  that good too. As a "resident" of Critics Lounge, I've seen unskilled people starting with line-box-fill MSPainting and making better gfx after few weeks of heavy practice. And come on, Yahtzee draws pretty well. It all seems just rushed or lazy, because previous game looked much better.

He also tried to script something quite original and made this chase-sequence. It was maybe a nice idea, but he pretty much failed, because this somewhat brave step led to numerous bugs, which are worst things about this (and any other) game at all. And there was not a line anywhere explaining the teleporting skill of the welder...

Plot takes us to the future, and outer space. Does this idea need any comments? Ah. And people start to die. And man starts to investigate. And gets chased by murderer.
Two overused plots in one. Not only in games... turn on TV or pick up a random book.

Plus, he totally screws up the plot with the "twist" IMO and with not providing easily understandable information what's going on, especially to ones who haven't played previous game (or didn't realize what's going on). Unclear is the word.

Despite that my whole overview was based on my logical thinking and may have sounded very critical towards the game, I must confess that I liked this game alot.

Yahtzee's trick was the way he presented the situation and atmosphere in game. How characters actually had a character, though plot's logic was a bit messy.
It's pretty short game, but if it was 2-3 times longer, bugfree and had more "game" content, I mean - things player could control and not the numerous cutscenes only - It would be one of the best amateur adventures I've played.

P.S. This "Dream" sequence/cutscene rules!!!11!!1!

This is my opinion.
Amen.

[SGK]

LOL i think that since the previous game was in 1900 or something, and this one is 2300 or something, the next one will probably be like in the "2001: space odyssey" movie, and the apes find the black locker partially buried in the ground, in vertical position, as the monolith!! Yak yak, and the monolith posseses the monkeys and make them kill each other!

8)cool game wouldnt it be?

[edit: the movie name was wrong:p)

[Babar]

the previous game was not in 1900 anything. It was in modern times. There was a TV in the living room for one thing..

[JayWolf1985]

I still can't work out how "6 Days A Sassin" fits into the series though

"6 Day Assassin" is a game made by a different author (I think Mr Colosal was it?).

I think it was called 6 Day Assassin because that's about how many days working on it took him to program the whole game?

So, as far as I know, it's is not a part of the "5 Days a Stranger" or "7 Days a Skeptic" series (game author Yahtzee).

ROTFLMFTOÃ, 

Obviously someone does not realize what a joke is when it's right in front of their noses.

P.S.  I don't mean this in harm.

[SGK]

click here for a little joke for the ones that finished the game alreadyÃ, 


---
[edit] btw, does anyone know why that room with games was used for?? was it all just scenario?

[Phemar]

Yes I numerously wondered that as well. It frustrated me walking in and out there...

Spoiler

If Adam was John's best friend, wouldn't he have known he was a phony?

[close]

[SGK]

Zor_©:

Spoiler

well, several times john commented his strange attitude to the others, and even threatened adam once i think, so i think thats enough.... probably...

[close]

[Barbarian]

ROTFLMFTOÃ, 

Obviously someone does not realize what a joke is when it's right in front of their noses.

P.S.Ã,  I don't mean this in harm.

   Maybe I knew it was a joke, but I was "playing along" with it 
Also, perhaps there really may have been some peoples who thought that 5 Days..., 6 Day..., and 7 Days... were a part of the same series.
   
    Anyways, I think I'll make a game called "9 Days to Sarcasm!" heheh.