The Random Adventure Game News Thread

[Infinitron]

To be honest, Infocom's days were numbered despite the acquisition by Activision, solely because of Infocom operating on a business model that would not be sustainable for much longer. Even if they had the money to operate past 1987 on their own they'd still have gone under.

While this artcicle is a nice bit of history and research, in the end it just feels like a "OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD" article in a regional newspaper.

Of course.

What they needed was a CEO with vision who could basically turn them into what Legend Entertainment tried to become, but early enough to be able to leverage their earlier successes and survive.

Instead they got Al Vezza and Activision.

 

[Alex]

To be honest, Infocom's days were numbered despite the acquisition by Activision, solely because of Infocom operating on a business model that would not be sustainable for much longer. Even if they had the money to operate past 1987 on their own they'd still have gone under.

While this artcicle is a nice bit of history and research, in the end it just feels like a "OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD" article in a regional newspaper.

If we could still have had a few more games, that would still have been worth it.

Also, it is a freaking ugly cloud and I hope it rains.

 

[LESS T_T]

Back in 1995, a low-poly "PS/SS generation" mystery adventure by Japanese indie developer. Coming to Steam this winter.

 

[Venser]

From the trailer it looks more like a survival horror.

 

[Athelas]

Looks like it's faithfully recreating both the primitive low-poly graphics and horrible voice acting of that era...

...but not the clunky tank controls.

 

[ghostdog]

It seems like the Jap developer did the voice himself.

 

[Jaesun]

It seems like the Jap developer did the voice himself.

I know. It was VERY Deus Ex Hong Kong.

 

[MRY]

I really don't know what to make about the fact that a year that at one time was far enough in the future to barely antedate Judgment Day is now far enough in the past to justify a game like this. I feel old.

 

[Venser]

Albino Lullaby is a first person "psychological horror" adventure game. It looks interesting, but unfortunately it's episodic and "VR compatible" which might mean it's too gimmicky:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/355860/

This looks amazing. Love the way the city looks and the illusion of scale. There's something about this game that reminds me of the movie Dark City.

 

[A user named cat]

I know I'm very late on this but I can't find any topics or anything about it, maybe I'm just blind or search is broken. Just came across Layers of Fear tonight. Watched some gameplay and it appears a bit railroaded but pretty crazy. Seems promising for early access. Every retarded LPer on Youtube seems to have a video of it, so obviously it's not very obscure.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/391720

I seriously hate Youtube. This is what you're bombarded with when just trying to look up gameplay nowadays. Wish I could punch every one of their stupid, unoriginal faces.

Spoiler

 

[LESS T_T]

Jon Blow's Myst-inspired The Witness will be released in January 26, 2016.



http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4pc-the-witness-release-date-announced-average-p/1100-6430658/

In addition to confirming the release date, Blow shed some light on how long the game will take you to complete. He tells GameSpot that most people will need about 20-25 hours to beat the game's 667 puzzles. However, completionists could spend closer to 100 hours before they're done, he said.

The Witness, which places players on a mysterious island filled with physical puzzles and riddles, was first revealed in August 2009. In February 2013, Blow took the stage at Sony's PlayStation 4 reveal event to announce that the project would be a launch title for the new console, but that didn't happen.

On PS4, The Witness runs at 1080p/60fps. Meanwhile, the PC edition will support virtual reality.

The game is also coming to iOS, though a release date for that version has not been announced. Versions for "other platforms," according to the game's official website, will come "a bit later."

 

[ghostdog]

Witness the Super Theme-park island.

 

[MRY]

I'm confused -- is it just a walking simulator with line-drawing puzzles?

 

[LESS T_T]

AFAIK, those puzzles are mechanically tied into devices, traps, doors and things around the island.

 

[MRY]

But are those puzzles the only kind of puzzles? (They're the only kind shown in the video.) I'm not especially familiar with Myst-like games, but my understanding is that they typically have a wide variety of puzzle types that are more integrated into the environment: not like, "here's a puzzle attached to this machine" but like "the machine is the puzzle."

 

[Jaesun]

IF all the puzzles are organically integrated into the "world" (like Myst), this might be kinda cool. But if they are just adding hundreds of puzzles just for the sake of adding hundreds of puzzles then no thanks.

 

[tuluse]

But are those puzzles the only kind of puzzles? (They're the only kind shown in the video.) I'm not especially familiar with Myst-like games, but my understanding is that they typically have a wide variety of puzzle types that are more integrated into the environment: not like, "here's a puzzle attached to this machine" but like "the machine is the puzzle."

I don't know about this game, but Braid was actually pretty creative with it's time mechanics.

 

[Redlands]

I don't know about this game, but Braid was actually pretty creative with it's time mechanics.

While I agree (at least, in my very limited knowledge of puzzle platformers), a Myst-like's somewhat different.

Honestly, I'd imagine it'd be pretty hard showing off a puzzle-heavy game gameplay-wise unless there was a lot of random elements involved: you're at risk of spoiling the solution to the puzzle, or at least tipping players off on what to do and undermining your work a little. Unless you come up with a puzzle that's not used in the main game at all: but then, you're wasting precious puzzle resources on something only for use in trailers/demos.

 

[Venser]

 

[ghostdog]

Hipstery mindfuck! hacking, life simulation, adventure game has just been released :

ELSE HEART.BREAK()

About: Sebastian has just landed his first job in the distant city of Dorisburg. He moves there to start his adult life and figure out who he really wants to be. Among a strange collection of people, hackers and activists he finds some true friends – perhaps even love. But can they stop the terrible deeds of the people ruling the city? And who will get their heart broken in the end? Else Heart.Break() is a reimagination of the adventure game – a fantastic story set in a fully dynamic and interactive world. Instead of rigid puzzles you will learn (with the help from other characters in the game) how the reality of the game can be changed through programming and how any problem can be solved in whatever way you find suitable. From the creators of Blueberry Garden, Clairvoyance and Kometen, a new and unforgettable adventure!

• An expansive 3D world, begging to be explored.
• Many hours of engaging story, set in a meticulously simulated city, with people that feel truly alive.
• A challenging game where your actions matter and nothing can ever be unsaid or undone.
• Tons of every-day objects and computers that work and can be modified.
• A laid-back experience where you can just go to the café and have a coffee whenever things get too hectic.
• A delicious soundtrack with over 50 songs.
• No previous hacking skills required.

17 bucks at gog : http://af.gog.com/game/else_heartbreak?as=1649904300

 

[Saduj]

Has anyone played Else Heart.Break()? Is it any good and is it an RPG?

Steam has it in the RPG section and one of the steam reviews refers to it as a "hardcore RPG" but from what I can gather it is an adventure game.

 

[ghostdog]

Someone reviewed it on youtube. The character doesn't seem to have any stats and hacking is the main mechanic of the game so "RPG" is slapped probably because it has sidequests and a sandbox world.

synopsis:

+ Game is Non-linear.
+ Sandbox with many side-quests
+ The world is composed by bits so you can do almost anything with hacking
+ Problems/quests can be approached with many different ways depending on what/how you hack.
+ It's up to you to discover what commands to chose

- Slow paced (at least for the reviewer it was negative)
- Boring characters and dialogue (Though the reviewer's a bethesda fanboy, so you can take that as you will)
- Forced romantic interest
- Not very engaging main story
- Hipstery (this one's from me)

 

[Astral Rag]

This is coming from someone who is massively excited for a game like Fallout 4 and has every achievement in Skyrim

 

[Infinitron]

From the Codex inbox:

Hmmm, this is on Kickstarter now: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1502497016/the-dark-inside-me



There's a demo.

 

[ghostdog]

Drama, Gore,
Violence, SEX