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There are actually two CD versions. One is printed in Sweden by Fabel Förlag and has Swedish packaging (though the Zone is in English) and the other is printed in the US by Lulu. I just have to finish design work for two books, then there'll be a US/International CD version as well.

And thank you for the response. Warms my heart to know that all the effort was not in vain.

Two demo versions have been released! A regular demo and a demo with some features disabled to reduce download size.

Check it out:
http://interactingarts.org/thezone/downloads.html

These are quite short, but should give you an idea of the atmosphere of the Zone. The demo is quite linear (though the Zone is not) and has a different ending than the full game.

... and please tell me if there are any problems with the demo version. Thank you.

Yes, I meant "monkey". Sorry.

How about a three-headed money printed on the back?

It's great to hear that you are interested in the project. You are absolutely right, a demo is necessary and in the making. I'm also working on the CD designs - there will be covers and such, of course.

The downloadable web edition has been released and is available on the game web site and on the Zone Lulu Store. Soon, a CD version for the North American region will be available as well. Also updated the game web site with user responses and other goodies.

Right on!   

Approximately â,¬ 15-16.

Unfortunately, I cannot afford going to the exhibition, but if I'll come to Lapaset I'll bring the game. Sometimes it sucks being an artist.

I made a game using photos since some kids made me think I couldn't draw in 7th grade. Perhaps it could serve as inspiration for a "photo-styled" game:

http://interactingarts.org/thezone/screenshots.html

If you happen to live near Jyväskylä has the opportunity to try Force majeure II: The Zone at the Nordic art exhibition Live Herring in Jyväskylä, November 17-20.

Welcome!

http://www.liveherring.org/

Those of you who live in Finland has the opportunity to try The Zone at the Nordic art exhibition Live Herring in Jyväskylä, November 17-20. I think this is the first time an AGS game is presented at an art exhibition.

Welcome!

http://www.liveherring.org/

Do you mean it's going to be available for free?
I have an utmost interest in this game.

Unfortunately not. But a free shorter demo version is in the making.

I think you should have a separatate sub-forum for this sort of thing, with auto-pruning in six months or so. That way, people can ask questions to posters.

I am also curious too see if this model works for making games. I do not think that it will be profitable, but I'd be happy if some costs were covered. In that case, more cheap games could be produced.

You might be interested in reading some of this as well:
Part 1: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/8/3
Part 2: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/9/4

Yes,  have read those. Very interesting thoughts. I am actually going to host a conference in Stockholm this friday on this subject, with over 100 people from the game industry (such as the CEO of DICE) as well as the cultural minister. Things seems to be moving!

Can I ask, who's written the music?

I wrote the music.

Hi! Congrats on making such a high class game. The screenies remind me of "I have no mouth & I must scream".

In your order page, there is a line: "International downloadable web edition
Not yet available"

Is it going to be available soon? Is it the full downloadable english version for everyone?

Why, thanks!

A downloadable version is going to available soon. There are some things to sort out first, but it should be available within a month. I'm sorry the web page isn't very clear on this point: the "Swedish version" is actually an English in a Swedish packaging.

Very good point. Thank you for commenting on this.

Well, I'd actually rather have a smoothly running game than not. But couldn't such features be disabled on a DOS version? Maybe that's more work than it's worth.

And a simmilar question: I don't see any download link. But I did notice on the site the order button. Can I assume that we can buy this game?

Edit: Forgot the most important thing:

WHAT AN AMZING GAME THIS SEEMS! Judging from the screenshots and the music this is one heck of a game!

Why, thanks! I put a lot of effort into this one and I hope people will like it, despite being something different.

The game is not free, unfortunately. It was not simply sustainable to spend so much time on producing this and not financing the costs somehow, being a poor graphical design/artist guy.

I am also curious too see if this model works for making games. I do not think that it will be profitable, but I'd be happy if some costs were covered. In that case, more cheap games could be produced.

So, what exactly are the details of distribution? Looks like there is a swedish version, though I don't speak swedish. Will there be some kind of demo?

The "Swedish" version is actually an English version in a Swedish box. It is released as part of a mini-book series on storytelling. This book is representing interactive storytelling. I am also working on a downloadable version for those of you who do not want to order a CD from Sweden.

I am considering to make a mini-demo of the story. It's quite hard to do since the beginning of the storyline isn't too representative of the story as whole, but I guess I'll work something out.

Well, the project has been released!

Have a look at the brand new web site: http://interactingarts.org/thezone/

Is the DOS engine scrapped permanently? I miss it!  :'(