Messages

Sure, poor Mary if we all loved her. But even in Wait players are rewarded for doing something, although I agree that the concept is cool.
But what about this game? Can't you feel the magic? The game is beautiful!

Funny you say my opinion is philosophical as well because in fact you're more academic than philosophical, in my opinion. (I'm sounding like the wizard from HQ). Trying to explore all the possibilities for gaming is okay and interesting and probably crucial to evolve, but striping genre games from their "classic" features is like taking the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Or worse, it's like watching modern art for more than 2 hours without laughing.

Other thing I do not agree

Spoiler

mas percebo porque és Brasileiro

[close]

is to insert love into the equation. Scientists and Programmers may not be the greatest persons to explain love. I'd say poets are but unfortunately they rarely make video games!

Some things should remain intuitive, responsive and fun. You're going too philosophical with this gaming thing. Games are just popular events with simple rules that require some kind of skill to win. Yes, there is a goal, an objective in any game.

The argument you use that "what if I don't want to win anything, I just want to linger in a virtual world", is valid to a point. The point that you just get bored.
It's like visiting a museum, you seek some particular piece and after the rewarding feeling of being there, and the time you take to study it, there's nothing else to do, really.

"The work of art is to dominate the spectator: the spectator is not to dominate the work of art."
-- Oscar Wilde

Make a game you want to make, not one you think people will play. If you conform it will just be average and boring.

+1

One thing is that games, like stories, don't actually NEED anything per se. Adventures don't really need puzzles or goals.

I really don't agree, Janos. When I decide to play a game, whatever game it is, I want to be challenged and feel capable of beating my opposition. If I'm playing football I want to win, if I'm playing cards I want to win and if I'm playing a video game I want to win. There's a certain thrill of winning or loosing.
When I read a book I'm in a different state of mind, very different from playing a video game.

This said, if you strip an adventure game from its puzzles and goals you are taking away all the risk and fun of it! You might as well read a comic book. My ideal imaginary adventure game would be a hybrid between a comic book, an adventure and a soft-platformer. Beautiful, daring design and graphics, smart dialogues and just that bit of action to keep you alert.

Gaming is beating the game. The most successful games are difficult to beat and either require fast fingers and quick reflexes or a good dose of the gray stuff! The best ones combine all this elements.
   

> call in the NEXT AUDIENCE.

+1

Mhhh, I recall Wittgenstein writing something on the matter, lemme see if I can find it... here it is (starts from paragraph number 66)!
Obviously language related/not thorough as possible, but still food for thought.

One thing indie adventures fail often, in my guilty opinion, is to deliver too much of a story and too less of gaming purpose.
And that's what I think you want discussed.
When we make adventure games, we sometimes really just want to tell a story that is somewhat fascinating for us. Everything else comes after. And everything means objectives, goals, puzzles, and so on. So, suddenly you realize that all the player is doing is talking to npc's. Or you don't.

I have been guilty of/witnessed this many times, spot on Miguel.

Bici, good read, thanks. It's funny how your signature from our loved friend makes so much sense right now.

Interesting stuff Janos,
well you already know that most people here will consider the story as the main aspect of an adventure game because the genre is based on dialogues, descriptions and good solid plots to advance in the game, instead of "levelling up" on other genres.
It is fair to say that if you rule out sport games, the best or more popular games today do have solid plots. The best FPS's contain characters that the player can relate and a set of dramatic trials that are written in order to create an illusion that not all you doing is shooting targets. The best RPG's are strongly based on the relationship between playable characters and npc's and studios can't just rely on a set of rules and cryptic text to gather players.
But you know all this.

One thing indie adventures fail often, in my guilty opinion, is to deliver too much of a story and too less of gaming purpose.
And that's what I think you want discussed.
When we make adventure games, we sometimes really just want to tell a story that is somewhat fascinating for us. Everything else comes after. And everything means objectives, goals, puzzles, and so on. So, suddenly you realize that all the player is doing is talking to npc's. Or you don't.

I was asked to do some background art and story for a point&click flash game. It all went well and I loved the experience but the man that assembled and coded the game used 10% of my original text. It's not a bad thing. A flash game is casual and although it's a point&click, it still must be a game!
There must be clear paths for the player to win it while having fun.

Adventure games are a very particular genre Janos and I think it may be hard to clarify its strengths to ludologists.

[Atelier]

How did I miss it?
Happy birthday Atelier and Monkey!

Hey! It's confession time!

Thank you

Downloading, it does look and sound interesting.
Congrats on the release!

[Give us the game!]

That's just indie beauty tossed at our faces, Mr.Baron. Give us the game!

Just voted as well. Congrats to everybody, like Selmiak said it was...diverse, but very entertaining.

It does indeed!

> Put on an heroic voice and tell the peasant that his King's men will escort him back.
> Order Lancelot to pick some men and deal with the Gobshites Goblins!

I also love the colours, Snarky. Full of ethereal drama. There's really nothing wrong with it.
I'd say the walking (in this case swimming) area is the river, yes?

Oh believe me, no robot could possibly simulate me, it would have its digital testicles deactivated.

Well, why would I post a German song from the 80's if I wasn't totally excited?
I fell asleep with her voice so many times as well...

Such fascinating culture and traditions. The game was very educational.

Stunt testicles from ages 12+, metal plates are 18+ and...Wait...you don't wear tungsten re-enforced metal plates to cover the eier-bag?

You're safe Captain, unless you're coming to Portugal in July...