Downfall (2009) - now FREE

[Crimson Wizard]

Although photo quality sucks  : I tried to read and translate what's written on the back side of the DVD (or is it CD? I have no idea) case:

"You definitely love pets...
But what if you'll have to slice one belly open?"

"Old people have such funny oddities...
But what if a granny will shoot her brains just in your sight?"

"Many married people tenderly love each other...
So that feed beloved one to death!"

"Ofcourse, you are real horror fan...
But are you ready to the REAL terror?"

"PS. Save often, bla bla bla"

[Grim]

markbilly- actually, the picture on the back of the cover is re-worked painted-over screen from the game!:) (when Joe reads a letter from his wife) It's funny, I remember drawing that one long time ago using my left hand for reference(then I just mirrored it so it would look like his right hand). I never thought at that point that it would appear on thousands of boxes:)

Cryxo- oh, nevermind:) I am very happy with the success of the game anyway and I hope one day I'll win something. I've won the Softpedia Award! But hey, Agnes features in Best Supporting( or is it Non-Playable?) Character category, so there's still a chance!

Ascovel- if you look closely, there's your website's name on the front of the box. And a quote ( I think it's the S.King would be proud thing:))
    Surprisingly, there are no cats in Cat Lady yet. So far there's a deer and some birds.
   
They all die.

Crimson Wizard- I was wondering what all that meant actually! Thanks for the translation! I like it, despite of it being slightly silly:)

Dual-She's not exactly Lara Croft...but I'm glad you find her sexy. You pervert.........

[auriond]

 :o  that text on the back seems to be chock full of spoilers!

[GarageGothic]

Yeah, it's a shame that Downfall didn't get more AGS Award nominations, I was really expecting it to feature in several categories. Similarly I'm surprised that tolworthy's Enter the Story games didn't get a single nomination.

Obviously there will be less people who have played the commercial games to vote for them (I think it's quite telling that Downfall is nominated for an NPCs whose almost entire role is played out in the demo). Time Gentlemen Please did get multiple nominations, but the game is dirt-cheap compared to Downfall and Enter the Story (of course being a sequel to a popular free game, and really, really good helps too).

Perhaps there should be a "Best Commercial AGS Game" category in the awards, voted on by a panel to whom commercial developers can submit review copies of the game.

[Cryxo]

Anyways, how is the cat lady going?  

More importantly, is her cat (still) alright at this point?

Quite!

Edit: Actually I can't talk. Look at the cat on my avatar  :o

[Grim]

I like the idea of the Best Commercial AGS Game, GarageGothic. It's understandable that the community will favour free games because...they are free and everyone can try them:) I wouldn't have a problem with giving a free copy to the panel, whoever that is. Wait, aren't their identity supposed to be... secret? Won't I... find out who they are when... sending them a link to the game? Either that or I'm just talking rubbish again:)

[GarageGothic]

Won't I... find out who they are when... sending them a link to the game? Either that or I'm just talking rubbish again:)

Well, I imagined simply submitting the download links to the coordinator of the awards who could then distribute them to the anonymous panel.

[Grim]

Won't I... find out who they are when... sending them a link to the game? Either that or I'm just talking rubbish again:)

Well, I imagined simply submitting the download links to the coordinator of the awards who could then distribute them to the anonymous panel.

Sounds about right. But it's too late now, I wish we'd thought of that earlier... Must do that next year! Maybe Cat Lady will be out by then and will win me an award?

PS.Who's the coordinator? Is it Bici-something fella?

[GarageGothic]

Yeah, bicilotti is the host/coordinator this year, but for the next awards it may be someone else. Not sure if SSH intends to return to the position. In any case, just mention the idea in the pre-awards discussion next year and let's see if anyone else thinks it's a good suggestion.

[Igor Hardy]

Ascovel- if you look closely, there's your website's name on the front of the box. And a quote ( I think it's the S.King would be proud thing:))

Yep, I reacted enthusiastically to this already a couple of pages ago.

This might sound strange, but Downfall brings me luck.

[Grim]

Ascovel- if you look closely, there's your website's name on the front of the box. And a quote ( I think it's the S.King would be proud thing:))

Yep, I reacted enthusiastically to this already a couple of pages ago.

This might sound strange, but Downfall brings me luck.

Oh yeah, I forgot I mentioned that:) It was one phrase worth a million:)

How does it bring you luck by the way? In what way?

[Igor Hardy]

Nothing supernatural, just brought a lot of attention to my site. This quote on the retail edition's box is a cherry on top.

[Dualnames]

Ascovel- if you look closely, there's your website's name on the front of the box. And a quote ( I think it's the S.King would be proud thing:))

Yep, I reacted enthusiastically to this already a couple of pages ago.

This might sound strange, but Downfall brings me luck.

Oh yeah, I forgot I mentioned that:) It was one phrase worth a million:)

How does it bring you luck by the way? In what way?

He says that you've met in personal in real life, and that helps him with the ladies...

[Grim]

Dual, I said it once, I'll say it again. You perv... Is it because you've only just reached puberty that you've got ladies on your mind all the time!?

And of course, you're right. Only we haven't met in person.

We did do a podcast once though! Does that count?

EDIT: Igor, that was a sweet review though:) I honestly couldn't believe someone someone felt like that about Downfall.

[Calin Leafshade]

Ok, I finally finished it.

Thoughts follow:

Spoiler

Thought 1: You're fucked up. 

Thought 2: You're fucked up. 

On a serious note I really liked it. It had a similar kind of feel to Hitchcock's Psycho. Especially in the delivery of the ending.

I liked the music for the most part although some pieces seemed a little bizarre.

I found the art to be hit and miss.. Some aspects were suitably creepy and some struck me as out of place (especially some walking animations).

The character art seemed to jump from hard edged pixel art to a kinda anti aliased resized thingy. I assume you did some of your animations using the rotate tool with some bilinear filtering or something? although i might be wrong.

The major issue I had with the game though was the scripting. It is very very rough. The character doesn't always face things he interacts with, some interactions are missing, some of the room change regions are oddly placed, the inventory system is a complete mess plus a few other things which escape me right now.

So to summarise: An excellent and compelling narrative marred by some peculiar scripting behaviour.

If I had a set of ten stars I would probably give you seven and a half of them to sew onto your blood-stained cub scout uniform.

[close]

[Grim]

Thanks Colin:) I see what you mean by the scripting issues... I won't pretend I don't realise there are technical flaws all over the game. This is one lesson I've learnt- faulty interface can really badly damage the whole gameplay. That's why I'm relying on other people's help now while making my new game (Dualnames:))and making sure it's top notch. This is one thing about this community though,you can always find people willing to give you advice(Dualnames:) x2) because it's rather impossible to shine in all areas of game making. I admit, while I learn a lot every day, my scripting still sucks...

If I could do it again, I'd change a lot. But then again, it's probably the raw nature of the first game that many people find attractive. When I make games I include things that serious game designers wouldn't agree are acceptable. But I always thought...why the fuck not? It's my game, after all. 

Interesting, being compared to Hitchcock... I actually thought I'd love to be perceived as a Hitchcock of gaming. But then I started hesitating and thought I might be actually more of a.. Rob Zombie of gaming? Either would be really cool:) I like them both. Anyway, one great day,maybe sooner or later?, I will really make Stephen King so proud, he'l knock on my door with a bottle of scotch and weep like a child.

[Dualnames]

I'm not giving any advice here! I'm making the bloody interface!! Credit me!!
Seriously, it was exactly what bugged me most too Cal. I think it's very obvious to someone that has used AGS before.

[Crimson Wizard]

Oh, yes, if you ever need beta tester for your future games, I will find so many bugs you will be fixing them as long as you were making the game. And I can work for only free copy of game 

[Cogliostro]

Finished the game yesterday...

Spoiler

1.  I completely believe you with you say you worked the graveyard shift at a mental hospital.  You definitely are using "source material" that most of us are mercifully ignorant of.  [Yes, I try to get into the developers head too.] 

2.  I get it that Ivy/Sophie/Agnes are all the same.  I would have included Reception Girl too, but I just can't see Joe being part of the psychological makeup as well.  The delusion seems to be about Joe and his wife's mental breakdown.  Ergo, every woman Joe meets in the delusion should be Ivy/Sophie/Agnes, but Joe should always be himself.

3.  Endings -- I never tried SURRENDER with PASSION and I'm assuming that will go badly, but the SURRENDER with LOYALTY combo seems weaker than the others.  Do you have trouble believing there is any redemption for Joe?  Why didn't that get a followup scene?

4. BUGS - I encountered some of the same bugs as everyone else.  The only thing new I have to contribute is that during the BOSS FIGHT, reloading the shotgun caused the game play (but not the music) to freeze for 10 seconds, which doesn't sound like much but kinda killed the dramatic moment.

5.  I never once considered listening to the laughing corpses and shooting Agnes, but WOW was that scene disturbed.

6.  Music for the blender... that really broke the mood.  Which I thought was extremely bad, but the atmosphere of the game is so critical.

7.  IF you need a voice actor or a beta tester for THE CAT LADY, I've volunteering!!!

[close]

Out of curiostiy, was anything about DOWNLFALL influenced by DARK FALL.  The name is close and both of them are set in a hotel with horrific guests/ghosts?

- Cogliostro

[Pixelton]

Wow nice artwork Grim, I'll be giving this a download and a play!