rein (PC Gamer related update)(interview)

[Darius Poyer]

Little more than two weeks ago I decided to make a game in AGS. I've wanted to do it for some time now but just had some trouble getting started and following through with my ideas. What I decided to do this time was to just come up with anything that could be an ags game, then two hours later, I had all the puzzles, setting and dialog mapped out. Now, the game is complete, I give you:

rein, to constrain or be guided by constraint, is a game about survival, escape and medical research! (mostly survival).

The game is very short, but I hope you enjoy it.

"looks cool, look forward to trying it out." - Ben Chandler
"Depressing" - SteveMcCrea
"Completely redefines short." - zorba
"Not a bad game." -isxek
"I played rein, and i can't escape the feeling that I did something wrong." -Tahnan

Download now!

Interview by Chris Evans on The Reticule
Caution! May contain information regarding the future of things.


Did you know rein reached beyond this forum and materialized in plastic? read on:

Rein recieved a strange amount of publicity. It was posted on two fairly major indie-gaming blogs (indiegames.com and jayisgames.com) however, I find that for the most part these blogs just try to keep the blogroll going by posting anything thats even remotely interesting, thats especially true about indiegaming.com, perhaps not so much when it comes to jayisgames since they decided that rein was one of four games you should be playing that week. While I don't take the publicity very seriously I cannot deny my interest, especially when the game somehow manages to become permanently imprinted on DVD's I didnt print myself.

PC GAMER and PC ZONE both come with a DVD each month and rein is included in both of them. Granted they are both published by the same company so lets count that as one DVD.


I'm writing this now because I just recived a copy of the september issue of PC GAMER UK from straydogstrut, or as I've come to know him, Dan. I can't thank you enough for sending me this DVD Dan.

I sincerely hope the publicity for rein stops here. It seems that once I get a new game out there I might actually need a personal website to act as common ground of strange attention like this.



You should all buy a copy of PC GAMER if you can and play rein, or perhaps just replay the DeFoe series again.

[Dataflashsabot]

Is this one room?
If not, the first screenshot needs to be in-game.

[Dualnames]

Is this one room?
If not, the first screenshot needs to be in-game.

not on the completed games. Unless I'm mistaken this only goes for GIP.

[ThreeOhFour]

Not for completed games threads, you can get away with one screenshot in here.

This looks cool, look forward to trying it out.

[Captain Lexington]

Just finished.
It was really short, but I'm still really impressed that you finished it in under two weeks. The animation and art was really great, and the puzzles were mostly pretty fair. I really appreciated the Continue screen instead of having to save. Can we look forward to a (perhaps  longer) sequel where

Spoiler

she must survive the desert?

[close]

EDIT: PS, that first animation was absolutely gruesome and I loved it.

EDIT2: I know words.

[markbilly]

I love the art style for this - looks great! Downloading now...

EDIT:
Just finished and loved it, thanks! Really short and left me wanting more. The sound effects were really good, btw and gave the animations real force.

[david]

this is a really atmospheric little game 
reminds me The another world which I like
good job 

[SarahLiz]

This short little game was astounding, a must-play.  I loved the opening sequence, and I'll leave it at that for the other players.    And I agree that it leaves things beautifully open for a sequel...  Good job!!


Sarah

[ddq]

Sequels, prequels, remakes, anything! Just as long as you make more. I really liked it, even though it was short, so I'd encourage you to keep going with this.

[Kweepa]

Lovely.
Depressing, but nicely made!
Thanks!

[Dualnames]

It's probably just me, I really respect you as a person, so please take this lightly. First I found the game really nice, and I found very few flaws, but nothing really spoiling it. The music on the other hand, really broke it for me. I didn't really like the renditions, with all the respect to both of you. Just something I thought it should be expressed. If the songs where in higher pitch or passed via some soundfont they would really sound greater for me. I'm not a music guy, and I just compose out of luck. Overall very short, want to see more. Sorry for being a dick.

[xenogia]

Fantastic little game,  definitely had the whole Another World thing going for it which by no means is an easy task.  I want more, MORE.. MORE

[Grim]

Wonderful game, but very short. I can totally see the whole Another World thing going on:) I hope you are working on a sequel!

[Anian]

Enjoyable, the continue system is cool. One question though:

Spoiler

Is there any way to know which tiles fall off when you step on them in the hallway, or is it trial and error?

[close]

[LRH]

Let's Play'd. If interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIfEvzE081A

[mouthuvmine]

Enjoyable, the continue system is cool. One question though:

Spoiler

Is there any way to know which tiles fall off when you step on them in the hallway, or is it trial and error?

[close]

Spoiler

The ones with the worst cracks fall.

[close]

[Darius Poyer]

I want to say thank you. The response had been great so far to say the least and I really appreciate it. Well, then... allot of you want some more and so... naturally I will have to fill that void somehow. What I can say about that right now is that it will definitely be a longer game, medium or so I hope.

The falling tiles puzzle is driven by some subtle logic, that's then broken to ensure that you will fall down at least once.

Spoiler

The rules for the first 4 rows are that tiles with crossed cracks will fall. at row 5 however, its more random, not that its reversed.

[close]

I really enjoyed the let's play Domithan. It's very interesting to see someone play that game, to see if you guided them right and gauge the difference between what I tried to guide you towards and what you where naturally guided towards.
For instance, the other dead guy in the second room, christened Henry, is something a few people might miss because he doesn't really scream for attention. All you see before you speak to him is him breathing heavily, still he is one of the more interesting parts of the game I think, at least to me. So if you haven't , play it again and see what he has to say.

Also, don't worry about it Dualnames it all good. I can see where your coming from regarding the music and when the next game reaches the music stage, I think even Macay would like to create something better.

[Leon]

Great game. I like the animations and the way things have to be solved. The time pressure at first is an added value... I agree with Dual, the music is a bit less but doesn't spoil the fun.

What I didn't like is that, because of the detailed story and graphics, things disappear without explanation: the hammer, the key... gone, just like that. Why not keep them in your inventory?

[david]

What I didn't like is that, because of the detailed story and graphics, things disappear without explanation: the hammer, the key... gone, just like that. Why not keep them in your inventory?

If I remember right they are in your inventory stored, look at the top of the screen to the right. Or did you ask anything else?  

[Leon]

When you pick them up, they are indeed. But after you've used them, they disappear.

Another strange thing: In the green hub looking at the door on the left it says: open door. But when you walk through, the door opens. So it wasn't open, it was unlocked. But how could you know from such a distance... Nevermind... it's the action that shows in the statusbar, not the object. Confusing at times. 
To make things even worse.... how come an emergency exit is locked with a padlock... So much for emergencies.. It already says it has been locked for some reason....

Found a few typos:
in the maintenance room looking at the device: used by manitenace --> maintenance
in the maintenance room looking at the hammer: to open the accecss --> access

Spoiler

after removing the padlock: I broke thorugh --> through

[close]

And debug mode is still on.