tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post751712255461625777..comments2024-03-28T18:43:06.423+11:00Comments on The Adventurers Guild: The Year That Was...1989The Tricksterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01419316208187255801noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-40649570018322871372022-07-04T20:09:20.951+10:002022-07-04T20:09:20.951+10:00A good summing up of a strong year for adventure g...A good summing up of a strong year for adventure games. I'm actually quite sad to discover that I really struggle to return to this era of gaming, despite playing and loving several of these as a kid. It mostly comes down to the interfaces, especially with a game like Last Crusade in which the standard SCUMM interface wasn't as refined as it would become (the inability to highlight hotspots easily with the mouse, and even small things like the dialogue not appearing over the speaking character just make this feel like I'm fighting the game). And somehow I have just lost the will to engage with text parsers! I know, it's a shame. I'm sure the early Sierra games were the best instructor I had for learning to type quickly.<br /><br />Thanks for the great journey through the '80s so far, though! The '90s are definitely what I consider more "my" era, where the adventure genre will evolve to exactly the kind of thing I love.LeftHanded Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09356100685489177887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-62830686191732724472021-01-07T15:09:00.878+11:002021-01-07T15:09:00.878+11:00It turned out that Trickster is a quitter, he aban...It turned out that Trickster is a quitter, he abandoned his great quest and I lost all respect I had for him.Bogdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00955481223266463633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-67945040230484689102016-09-16T17:59:13.000+10:002016-09-16T17:59:13.000+10:00Hey, Ilmari, thanks for the comment. I am trying t...Hey, Ilmari, thanks for the comment. I am trying to catch up with this blog but it will take a while if ever. I have decided to play all the games from this site consecutively which I didn’t play before and there are a lot of them. After reading 34 games I see many social-related and review approach changes which definitely enrich the blog. It is nice to know that the site evolves in the good direction. I hope that someday I will play along with you, guys, and enter into ongoing discussions.qwertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747798871196421602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-51380073411686597052016-09-16T16:52:00.310+10:002016-09-16T16:52:00.310+10:00It's pretty difficult to answer on behalf of T...It's pretty difficult to answer on behalf of Trickster, since he had his own unique look, when he was in sole charge of the blog. I could point out the obvious that it was Emmanuelle that Trickster chose as the worst game of the year, not Chamber of etc., but perhaps you didn't like even taking the latter as a candidate.<br /><br />As a representative of the "new order" of TAG (which you will come to know, if you ever reach the final few games of 1990 and which really took to to its own at the beginning of 1991), I can at least say that we have now at least more varied approach to adventure games, because of our multiple viewpoints. We do still have reviewers who despise all things French, but also reviewers like myself, who are at least curious about them (and as I hope my recent Missed Classic -review of an older Coktel Vision -game, Mewilo, shows, I'll try to give the credit to a French game, when and where it deserves this).<br /><br />As for the design choice of how difficult puzzles should be, I have a hunch we may just have to agree to disagree (we'll see when you come to the community reviewer time). We are not trying to play and score the games as adventure game experts or highly perceptive gamers who can see all the hints lying around, but more like Average Janes and Joes with less than stellar mental abilities. I am especially curious to see what you will think of my review of Maupiti Island - the game has what might perhaps be called fair puzzles, which still require the player to go through so incredible amount of abductive loops that I just felt the need to detract the game some points on that account. But you'll still have a long way to get there.Ilmari Jauhiainenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01655841880034965950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-9785499026699888112016-09-16T06:28:03.653+10:002016-09-16T06:28:03.653+10:00Agree with the above comment. Giving the reward fo...Agree with the above comment. Giving the reward for the best adventure of the year to the repetitive mechanics and a stack of mazes is ridiculous. However, it seems that games played by you before (in childhood, I suppose) receive better ratings. Ah, nostalgia…<br /><br />Some other disagreements below:<br />1) I have written about this in the comments section of the Larry 3 but want to repeat it. You are not very perceptive player. When magic maker starts to be pick-able it shines/flickers/whatever for a moment after entering the location. How could you miss that?<br />2) Maybe Chamber of the SCI-Mutant Priestess is not the best game of the year but I wouldn’t place it as the worst. It leaves comfortable story-wise area and goes its own way. It’s experimental, it’s unique, it’s French. I am afraid of your future ratings of French productions. They differ too much from EN/US games for some Players. Well, I suggest playing the Amiga version, it has much better graphics.<br />qwertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747798871196421602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-27648437055574130512016-09-16T05:58:57.922+10:002016-09-16T05:58:57.922+10:00Yeah, I wonder why Trickster didn't restore th...Yeah, I wonder why Trickster didn't restore the game when he realized that giving bone to dog at Act I does not achieve anything. It puzzles me even more as he played many adventures with possible dead-ends so far and should be sensitive to such situations. We will never know...<br /><br />The Player won’t have to know about the necklace. I think it is obvious what should be done with a bone. If feeding the dog gives no results, the action should be performed later. The best time is when the dog changes its location. During the whole Act II the animal is in his doghouse and trying to give him the bone results actually in fetching sequence. Laura throws the bone and the dog leaves his comfy kennel. What the real adventurer is doing in this situation? Of course one is searching the new “room”. Then, showing jewelry to Celie or Lillian who is in the same location results in cook’s appreciation. At the same time she is changing mood towards your character which will pay dividends later.<br />qwertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747798871196421602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-7912004212353906622013-09-17T10:46:50.075+10:002013-09-17T10:46:50.075+10:00I probably run in a close second after you then. B...I probably run in a close second after you then. Because I my stick figures also sports boobs and dicks.<br /><br />Okay, jokes aside, as long as your game has an intuitive and user-friendly interface, I would personally try it out even if Trix isn't gonan touch it.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-7662597309679464112013-09-17T09:51:55.822+10:002013-09-17T09:51:55.822+10:00Whoops! Guess who voted for it? XPWhoops! Guess who voted for it? XPKenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-83411338376379082572013-09-17T09:51:18.443+10:002013-09-17T09:51:18.443+10:00Because DLCs?Because DLCs?Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-33744392407796937232013-09-16T16:28:37.618+10:002013-09-16T16:28:37.618+10:00I like the idea of making games smaller and thus c...I like the idea of making games smaller and thus cheaper to make, so that studios have to invest a bit less money before getting some return on there investment. <br /><br />Honestly I think companies need to chill out and make a few games with each engine before moving on (We got THREE out of the Oblivion Engine, all of which were great. Why did we only get one out of Skyrim?)Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-34360280606311131392013-09-16T16:19:30.743+10:002013-09-16T16:19:30.743+10:00Thre is a line when you just feel the pain and it ...Thre is a line when you just feel the pain and it stops being funny. Also, I'm not sure a game I drew with stick figures would be playable, as I'm about the worlds worst artist. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-4019128938462787472013-09-16T15:26:07.360+10:002013-09-16T15:26:07.360+10:00Kyrandia has got to be one of the best thought-out...Kyrandia has got to be one of the best thought-out fantasy worlds for an adventure game.<br /><br />As for Cognition... I personally dislike having games being chopped up and sold in seasons like a TV show.<br /><br />I usually wait till they finished the entire thing before I'll buy it. Like the Walking Dead series.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-89819678274021317722013-09-16T12:53:31.282+10:002013-09-16T12:53:31.282+10:00Since when are you averse from subjecting him to p...Since when are you averse from subjecting him to play games that he would hate? XDKenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-7233618093753153702013-09-16T06:33:06.139+10:002013-09-16T06:33:06.139+10:00I am *never* going to live that down. I am *never* going to live that down. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-82014535663660850582013-09-16T05:16:59.733+10:002013-09-16T05:16:59.733+10:00No one has dared to vote any of the nominees for t...No one has dared to vote any of the nominees for the Worst Game Category...Ilmari Jauhiainenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01655841880034965950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-61712089791286968092013-09-15T21:36:14.782+10:002013-09-15T21:36:14.782+10:00I played Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade just r...I played Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade just recently and I have very mixed feelings about it. I really enjoyed the game up until reaching the castle, at which point I found it immensely tedious. Basically the only way to solve puzzles was: try all dialogue options with all possible costumes, and reload if a fight starts (going through fights is not really an option, since you'll soon or later find yourself in an unwinnable state). The zeppelin maze was also very frustrating. Plus, I couldn't actually finish the game, since I missed the Grail picture in the castle, the books in the library, and the inscription in the catacombs, and trying all the cups didn't work. I had to watch a video of the ending on youtube. That's a shame, because I really loved the graphics, the puzzles, the humor and the general tone. It could have been a perfect game!gboukenshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106689617071459570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-68146826023469720362013-09-15T14:56:02.517+10:002013-09-15T14:56:02.517+10:00@Zenic- Like what Mr. Cole said, quite a handful o...@Zenic- Like what Mr. Cole said, quite a handful of Sierra heavyweights were involved in the making. Totally worth it to check it out. Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-61475948573297161162013-09-15T14:52:53.388+10:002013-09-15T14:52:53.388+10:00Damn... I was going to vote for Emanuelle for 1989...Damn... I was going to vote for Emanuelle for 1989. XDKenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-74414031236506463892013-09-14T14:01:30.185+10:002013-09-14T14:01:30.185+10:00There are some good ideas here! I'm going to t...There are some good ideas here! I'm going to test out the Reader's Choice TAG by doing a survey. It will be interesting to see how the results differ from my own.The Tricksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419316208187255801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-25577146226682918672013-09-14T08:01:13.353+10:002013-09-14T08:01:13.353+10:00@Kenny: my comment was supposed to refer to the Sp...@Kenny: my comment was supposed to refer to the Spellcasting series, but got pushed down because I took too long to respond. I'm not familiar at all with the Callahan games.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-86017666673016037092013-09-14T07:05:31.993+10:002013-09-14T07:05:31.993+10:00And let's not forget that the lead designer/wr...And let's not forget that the lead designer/writer of the Callahan's game was Josh Mandel, formerly in Sierra (and lived next door to Lori and me for a while). Josh also collaborated with Al Lowe on Freddy Pharkas and Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded. He wrote a lot of the incidental text in Shannara. And generally funny guy!Corey Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16772474266362396768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-55345807351221513252013-09-13T20:29:52.401+10:002013-09-13T20:29:52.401+10:00Year 3245 AD...
Schools are teaching young chldre...Year 3245 AD...<br /><br />Schools are teaching young chldren in their history lessons about how over a thousand years earlier, Canageek forced Trickster to play the dreaded Emmanuelle, one of the worst games in existence.Laukkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258625692586860655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-56715886918002527742013-09-13T20:23:23.694+10:002013-09-13T20:23:23.694+10:00What!? KYRANDIA'S ON GOG!?! Awesome! :-D
I al...What!? KYRANDIA'S ON GOG!?! Awesome! :-D<br /><br />I already have it (in real floppies! But the 4th floppy has some corrupted data unfortunately), but it's great that it's finally legally available for everybody. One of the little gems from the early 90's. The sequels however are not there yet, it seems...Laukkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258625692586860655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-14452586741228112172013-09-13T19:45:28.160+10:002013-09-13T19:45:28.160+10:00That's a new release actually, which is cool. ...That's a new release actually, which is cool. Even more exciting to me is that GOG has released The Legend of Kyrandia, a game I'll definitely be playing when we reach 1992.The Tricksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419316208187255801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3387495443226852794.post-74230763167082738472013-09-13T19:23:56.587+10:002013-09-13T19:23:56.587+10:00@Zenic - Oh, and it totally is a graphical adventu...@Zenic - Oh, and it totally is a graphical adventure.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callahan%27s_Crosstime_Saloon#Other_versions<br /><br />Which makes it even more mysterious that it was missing from the list.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.com