tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.comments2024-03-19T20:31:42.165+11:00The Adventurers GuildThe Tricksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01419316208187255801noreply@blogger.comBlogger27798125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-74682511141865392832024-03-19T20:31:42.165+11:002024-03-19T20:31:42.165+11:00I just want to leave something! hhI just want to leave something! hhbmghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02954318622980279742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-36496372555154153062024-03-19T12:29:03.637+11:002024-03-19T12:29:03.637+11:00I can think of a few examples, mostly in the late ...I can think of a few examples, mostly in the late 90s, where non-linear plots were probably a cover for the underlying engine having dodgy-to-non-existent state tracking.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09703211229982182936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-58171971611901335822024-03-19T11:49:03.997+11:002024-03-19T11:49:03.997+11:00Hmm. So, how do you feel about the first two King...Hmm. So, how do you feel about the first two King's Quest games? The first was 48 map screens (6x8), most of which were accessible early, and the second had 49 (7x7).<br /><br />I find those games better in some ways than, say, the first Kyrandia, that had 19 screens in the first section, yet felt much tougher because it was more linear at that point in the game. (And I say this being a fan of the game and series).Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-15533232564131262642024-03-19T11:44:04.650+11:002024-03-19T11:44:04.650+11:00See, I'd argue the "botched" rating ...See, I'd argue the "botched" rating for Zak. First, the early Lucas games had the "What Is" verb which functioned as "Look" for many things, and as a result often eliminated pixel hunts. While not strictly non-linear, it felt it at times, and often, if one puzzle was stumping you, you could switch to another character and work on a different one instead.<br /><br />A perfect game? Far from it. But certainly a lot better than some others that would come later.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-90532953653511058212024-03-19T02:42:22.426+11:002024-03-19T02:42:22.426+11:00If you felt up to it, I think now would be the bes...If you felt up to it, I think now would be the best time to write that. :) I certainly wouldn't wait for Blade Runner, that's another franchise and also probably years away from blogging,.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-77941409579055519402024-03-19T02:28:27.807+11:002024-03-19T02:28:27.807+11:00Yes, that kind of stuff would be great! Now I am e...Yes, that kind of stuff would be great! Now I am excited for the epic Jim Walls roundup...LeftHanded Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356100685489177887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-9721894472529017792024-03-19T02:15:29.006+11:002024-03-19T02:15:29.006+11:00I think it's a great idea that you were brains...I think it's a great idea that you were brainstorming. It could vary a little bit based on the game series. For example, if the series had different authors for the different games, a question of who handled the storyline or characters better. For a series where the author stays the same, maybe just a conversation about the growth of those characters emotionally. Did the technological changes help or hurt the series as it went forward. we aren't there yet, but when the time comes to finish out the Gabriel Knight series, there is certainly a big difference between the three games, and that would be a question we could have a debate over.<br /><br />Since I brought up Maniac Mansion, an example might be whether or not the second game is really a sequel, and if so, did they handle it right.<br /><br />I think this will be even more interesting, because if a game has had multiple different reviewers for the different installments, one unifying voice with their opinion might be the same or different than comments made in the reviews. The series I just mentioned, for example, was reviewed by two different people.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-3910281226531764832024-03-19T02:15:15.854+11:002024-03-19T02:15:15.854+11:00I agree, I think I'd also be a bit rubbish at ...I agree, I think I'd also be a bit rubbish at writing up playthroughs here. While I have written reviews and features for a professional website in the past, I don't think I've ever managed to get through an adventure game without resorting to heavy use of hints and guides when properly stuck! (Believe me, I try my best!)LeftHanded Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356100685489177887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-62831799685056448962024-03-19T02:08:47.497+11:002024-03-19T02:08:47.497+11:00I was just brainstorming so didn't have any sp...I was just brainstorming so didn't have any specific ideas. Perhaps some kind of overall series roundup. Compare the games to each other, how did technology change in between them, did they evolve or stay the same? A review of the series as a whole, pick stand out moments or real lows. Is there room for the story to continue? What would you like to see if a hypothetical new entry was ever made?LeftHanded Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356100685489177887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-69686965857283054122024-03-19T01:53:25.301+11:002024-03-19T01:53:25.301+11:00Missed classics aren't really assigned as much...Missed classics aren't really assigned as much as whoever is playing them picks them out of a hat. The next two mainline games that I think we could easily assign to anyone are Myst (which is kind of important) and Cosmic Spacehead. (which wouldn't be fair, because it's nasty to play) Looking at the suggest a missed classic spreadsheet, Kadath, a Lovecraftian CYOA game, an Indiana Jones text adventure, Omnicrom Conspiracy and Chrono Quest. (There's also that one German game I believe you suggested)MorpheusKitamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16591271981112642781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-41149201378031198802024-03-18T23:58:52.662+11:002024-03-18T23:58:52.662+11:00I personally prefer a non linear approach, but I a...I personally prefer a non linear approach, but I am also convinced that it potentially expose the developers to many more trappings and to a greater risk of completely destroying the game.<br />As counter-intuitive as it may sounds, I think that, for working from a gameplay point of view, the non linear approach requires a much stronger plot and narrative...prowess than the linear one. Otherwise, the feeling for the player of being overwhelmed and lost prevails on the sense of wonder of being given free rein in the game world: think "Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness", where a sense of purpose is always present even during "What the hell should I do now?" moments, against "Ripley's Believe It or Not: The Riddle of Master Lu" (which I am playing right now) where what the non linear approach brings is the always lingering thought of "Have I just softlocked myself out of the game?". Another game that in my opinion botched the non-linear approach is Zak McKracken, the "vagueness" of the whole plot being exacerbated by the lack of the "look" command and consequently of any commentary from the main character (and by the very real possibility of getting locked out of the game!). It has to be said that the game failed by being overambitious, more than by the opposite, but a failure (albeit a specacular one) it remains in my book.Rikkprohttps://www.twitch.tv/rikkpronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-80908198360292530002024-03-18T20:39:33.883+11:002024-03-18T20:39:33.883+11:00I like it very much!!!I like it very much!!!bmghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02954318622980279742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-6519131948032192362024-03-18T17:53:29.863+11:002024-03-18T17:53:29.863+11:00I agree some Top X lists would be great, doesn'...I agree some Top X lists would be great, doesn't need to be of all time, but maybe of the year when we finish it? Or say the top 5 Sci-Fi games from the last 5 years etc.<br /><br />I love reading the blog but am very skeptical of my own ability to play an adventure game from so long ago, I struggled as a kid with the quest games so I know they're not my strong point. Maybe for those willing to give it a shot you can post 5 or so games planned in the near future but not yet assigned? Then we can try them out, if we see we can get it done we can write them up otherwise we don't waste anyone's time with an abandoned game. You can even post a few sleepers (games started but that don't look like they will be completed) that we can give a try. They don't need to be big titles (I feel the mainline games should be left to more experienced reviewers) just something for us to test our mettle with maybe.ShaddamIVthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02024540172370536692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-22367467061357147432024-03-18T06:39:17.166+11:002024-03-18T06:39:17.166+11:00Adventure games on the whole don't have the ga...Adventure games on the whole don't have the game systems that other games have. They have the interface, and that's about it. While arcade minigames are usually out-of-place in an adventure game, sometimes they can help establish the systems that adventure games lack. For example, while police quest 1's driving system is difficult to get a grip on, it gives the game a unique flavor. Players quickly grow to know what to expect while driving and that establishes the feel of the game. Similarly, Quest For Glory has a battle system as well as a stat system that establishes the expectations for the game (borrowed from the RPG genre).Bluddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11231523810503270962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-68109364783080667342024-03-18T05:23:09.645+11:002024-03-18T05:23:09.645+11:00And I put up a new post on my blog just minutes af...And I put up a new post on my blog just minutes after you posted this. Perfect timing. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-52234317193789206042024-03-18T03:52:47.748+11:002024-03-18T03:52:47.748+11:00Also, I would love to see a poll of the Top 5 Adve...Also, I would love to see a poll of the Top 5 Adventure Games of all time, although we are still in 1993Leo Vellésnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-88186729819532174492024-03-18T03:50:40.477+11:002024-03-18T03:50:40.477+11:00I love the blog and I am very grateful to the admi...I love the blog and I am very grateful to the admins & reviewers for taking some of their personal time to do this. The comeback of the discussion points is very welcome and maybe a good idea to spice things up is doing regular polls: which is the best Monkey Island or Space Quest? Best villain in adventure games? Best murder mystery? More expected but dissapointing sequel? Just my two cents. (Also, great to see Michaels own blog back!)Leo Vellésnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-72027578260265214522024-03-18T03:33:44.063+11:002024-03-18T03:33:44.063+11:00Arcade sequences in an adventure game may not be t...Arcade sequences in an adventure game may not be terrible in principle, but in practice, they are inevitably designed by people whose talents are not in arcade game design, and implemented in a game engine that isn't able to handle it. Often, they're also written by people who have active contempt for arcade games. Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09703211229982182936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-505546839103007722024-03-18T01:15:14.222+11:002024-03-18T01:15:14.222+11:00I think that was the best thing to happen to this ...<i>I think that was the best thing to happen to this blog, when it wasn't just one voice, Trickster's, but rather a variety.</i><br /><br />For anyone reading that, let me clarify: not a dig at Trickster. I wish he was still one of the voices here. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-91738338209537995752024-03-18T01:02:42.335+11:002024-03-18T01:02:42.335+11:00As for the other types of posts, it's worth a ...As for the other types of posts, it's worth a discussion. While we haven't finished a whole lot of series, we have finished some. What was your idea with that? For example, we finished the Spellcasting series last gaming year, and this gaming year we finished the Maniac Mansion series (if we can call 2 games a series). What would you suggest the next post be?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-27270923894950672712024-03-18T00:58:09.126+11:002024-03-18T00:58:09.126+11:00As a latecomer to the admin team and the review st...As a latecomer to the admin team and the review staff, I can't speak for the past except as a reader. I also, a few years back, read the blog cover-to-cover to catch up, and finished just in time to put the winning score guess in for Indy 4, so I started off on the right foot. <br /><br />The volunteer side is the problem. Don't get me wrong, I love writing the reviews and posts that I do, but I also enjoy reading them, and we have lost a handful of our past reviewers. Most of them, it's just that life changed and they don't have the time anymore. Both of the games I've reviewed so far, it was because the original dedicated reviewer wasn't able. Part of that is because of how long the posts have been taking to come out -- the reviewers for games being played now were originally chosen about 6 years ago. <br /><br />So I guess this is my personal plea to the readers, hidden in a comment, for people to join the review staff. I think that was the best thing to happen to this blog, when it wasn't just one voice, Trickster's, but rather a variety. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240427925874212338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-67657236816656903982024-03-17T19:41:21.238+11:002024-03-17T19:41:21.238+11:00Just want to let you all know how much I enjoy thi...Just want to let you all know how much I enjoy this blog. I read it through more or less start-to-finish beginning in 2022 and now it's great to be following in real time. It's gotten me revisiting games from my youth as well as playing ones I missed along the way. Plus the chronological nature of it really appeals to my organised side!<br /><br />The volunteer side of it all obviously means it's down to the time and effort given freely by the writing folks here, and that's much appreciated. A more consistent posting schedule would be lovely but I don't feel like I could complain if we have sparse months.<br /><br />Maybe some other kinds of posts here that would be fun to see would be opinion pieces, personal gaming memories, alternate viewpoint reviews/roundups, franchise features for when a series of games is complete. LeftHanded Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356100685489177887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-91396096163091729992024-03-17T18:04:52.680+11:002024-03-17T18:04:52.680+11:00Obviously, Quest for Glory is highly non-linear. W...Obviously, Quest for Glory is highly non-linear. We have a few linear sequences, such as escaping from the cave at the start of Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness.<br /><br />Lori's Mixed-Up Fairy Tales is open-ended in a different way. Players can wander around and explore, but they're generally on a quest that can only be solved in one place. So it's really linear with an illusion of freedom.<br /><br />My Castle of Dr. Brain is almost purely linear. You have a series of puzzles that unlock the path to the next game area. You generally have a choice of which puzzle to solve first, but you need to complete all of them to advance. This seemed appropriate for an "edutainment" game that purports to teach some academic skills. (But is mostly for fun.)<br /><br />Getting stuck on a puzzle in a linear game can be frustrating, but it's much better than becoming a "dead man walking" later in the game because you didn't finish an earlier puzzle.Corey Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16772474266362396768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-89257080662218866742024-03-17T07:44:23.970+11:002024-03-17T07:44:23.970+11:00https://mixnmojo.com/news/Limited-Run-Games-quietl...https://mixnmojo.com/news/Limited-Run-Games-quietly-enacts-Loom-reparationsLaukkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258625692586860655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-15550524168672783332024-03-16T17:15:40.034+11:002024-03-16T17:15:40.034+11:00I think either is valid as long as it's well e...I think either is valid as long as it's well executed. Most adventure games necessarily have some degree of linearity, but open out at times - the Monkey Island series, for example generally works with fairly open areas for each act, but there's still a linear structure of act to act. <br /><br />I find an open world that is too big just gets confusing, for the most part. Struggling to think off too many games that are that open.bigfluffylemonnoreply@blogger.com