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[ikkei]

Just finished The plan. It was a nice experience and the music was beautiful. And I found an easter egg that transformed me into a Zelda fairy

I won't be able to vote for any games since I just played a few of them. Wooden Sensei, which is good but not my cup of tea; Unepic, again, not my cup of tea but a really nice idea and execution and finally The Plan, which is a worthy 5 minute game.

 

[Weltall Zero]

It's worth pushing through. I found most of the 'comedy' in that game to be agonizingly unfunny and the menus are a little lacking. But after a few hours the quality of the gameplay shines through all its flaws. The use of light to signify explored and unexplored areas is a highlight for me.

I haven't played the English version, but from what everyone is saying, it's a word-for-word translation of the Spanish original... which is a TERRIBLE idea. As I mentioned earlier, Spanish (particularly Spain Spanish) is extremelly vulgar and has expletives interspersed as commas; seriously, your ears would bleed if you ever heard a word-by-word translation of even what's on TV serioes, or the way I talk to my GF or my boss (to say nothing of my friends). They really should have gone for a localization instead.

Also, I can't imagine half of the humour working in English, as half of it is in-jokes on either Spanish stuff or the 80's-90's Spanish roleplaying scene... and the other half is probably not as fun if the main character comes across as a gross foulmouthed jerk. :/

 

[Weltall Zero]

I'll give it another go soon, because I see greatness in it. From the disarming attitudes of the characters, to the conversations with the daughter. It's a sim that exists with good writing, and mechanics that reverberate emotionally.

Crash bugs just frustrate the hell out of me though, played for half an hour and i couldn't even get the cart.

I haven't had any crash yet, actually. Does the game generate any kind of log? If that's the case, the developer might be grateful if you can send it to him. I know I freaking hate it when my software has a bug in someone's machine that I can't reproduce on mine. :/

 

[Hofmann]

As I mentioned earlie, Spanish (particularly Spain Spanish) is extremelly vulgar and has expletives interspersed as commas; seriously, your ears would bleed if you ever heard a word-by-word translation of even what's on TV serioes, or the way I talk to my GF or my boss (to say nothing of my friends). They really should have gone for a localization instead.

That's interesting, I didn't know that's the case with Spanish. We've got a lot of expletives in Polish, but we don't use them that often.

It has to be a fun activity to listen how 5 year old Spanish girls talk.

 

[Toma]

That's interesting, I didn't know that's the case with Spanish. We've got a lot of expletives in Polish, but we don't use them that often.

It has to be a fun activity to listen how 5 year old Spanish girls talk.

Hofmann! Just for you:

I will try, but that is fairly tricky. I shall look into how I might go about that and will inform you as soon as I thought of a way to do so. Do you want a PM or should I should I put it in a post? I don't want you to miss it of course, if I think of a smart solution.

Although, you probably shouldn't put too much trust in my ability of doing so. At one point, I might have a mood for doing it, but I am actually still working and I am a bit worn out right now.

Voting is still going on until tomorrow. I'll put it up in about 24 hours. List is looking mighty good, if I am allowed to say so

Sorry about that Too bad that you couldnt find any fun in it so far.

 

[Hofmann]

Genius! From what I know it's the most frequent letter in English.

 

[One Foul Note]

I haven't played the English version, but from what everyone is saying, it's a word-for-word translation of the Spanish original... which is a TERRIBLE idea. As I mentioned earlier, Spanish (particularly Spain Spanish) is extremelly vulgar and has expletives interspersed as commas; seriously, your ears would bleed if you ever heard a word-by-word translation of even what's on TV serioes, or the way I talk to my GF or my boss (to say nothing of my friends). They really should have gone for a localization instead.

Also, I can't imagine half of the humour working in English, as half of it is in-jokes on either Spanish stuff or the 80's-90's Spanish roleplaying scene... and the other half is probably not as fun if the main character comes across as a gross foulmouthed jerk. :/

Perhaps, I must admit the language isn't what is off putting in the script. In fact I didn't really notice any major levels of swearing or vulgar language, although I am from the UK and we also use swear words as punctuation.

The stuff that I found largely tiring was the near constant referencing to sci-fi and fantasy media. The joke of 'isn't it odd that these fantasy demons don't know what Starcraft is' fell flat the first time and it really didn't need to be repeated like 20 other times. Although I have to admit the referential humour does fade away somewhat after the Mine area, making the script a little more bearable and I am actually starting to enjoy the rapport between the main dude and the ghost in his head.

 

[Weltall Zero]

Perhaps, I must admit the language isn't what is off putting in the script. In fact I didn't really notice any major levels of swearing or vulgar language, although I am from the UK and we also use swear words as punctuation.

The stuff that I found largely tiring was the near constant referencing to sci-fi and fantasy media. The joke of 'isn't it odd that these fantasy demons don't know what Starcraft is' fell flat the first time and it really didn't need to be repeated like 20 other times. Although I have to admit the referential humour does fade away somewhat after the Mine area, making the script a little more bearable and I am actually starting to enjoy the rapport between the main dude and the ghost in his head.

Oh, to be fair, I've played very little of it (I've not been having much free time lately) so I'm not even past the first save point. I can see it becoming tiring if kept up.

 

[Munin]

Is Teleglitch on Greenlight?

 

[Toma]

Is Teleglitch on Greenlight?

Apparently not yet.

 

[Raxum]

So after poking my nose back into the indie scene for the first time in a couple of weeks, I found a few interesting things. Mostly posting it now to remind myself of them when the next thread comes out. Only one of these has a playable demo, so I'll start with that one:

Build and Defend

A little survival co-op sandbox game. I have yet to spend much time with it, but it at least seems worth a look. Might end up being a little complicated though, from what I can see. Playable demo is on their site. The focus seems to be using real people to create something like Gnomoria/Towns, get a group of people together and create a thriving little town/village to survive in.

Eden Star

From the site: Eden Star is a dark, Sci-fi AAA+ take on the 'mine, create, survive' gameplay found in popular voxel-based creation games. The world of Eden boasts ultra interactive destructible environments, game-changing graphical quality, innovative combo-driven physics based combat, non-grid based creation features, all wrapped within an ever expanding universe.
Now, they say AAA+ take, but, from what I can see, their studio is quite small, and it's on indieDB so I thought I'd post it in here. Quite graphically pleasing though.

Thrive

This game looks like it promises to be everything Spore was promising to be before it came out. I'm a bit skeptical that an indie title could pull this off, but I would like to see it made, so I'll be keeping an eye on this one. They have a cell editor demo up on the indiedb page.

Expanse: First Contact
I could only find the kickstarter page for this, and it doesn't give much in the way of usable photos, but the idea of a 3D space sim with somewhat procedurally generated content is intriguing.

 

[Toma]

Raxum? Could I ask you to repost that in the may thread? I wont add anything to may anymore, and otherwise I'll forget about these games.

 

[Raxum]

Raxum? Could I ask you to repost that in the may thread? I wont add anything to may anymore, and otherwise I'll forget about these games.

I was planning to repost them next month, can't ruin the perfect numbers for the OP . Just some interesting games I saw and needed to remind myself to keep an eye on.

 

[Toma]

The selection for next month is looking really, really interesting. The ones among us that have actually time to play some Indies in may will have quite a few interesting games to play.

 

[Toma]

Anyone know how to hide/delete games from Desura? Just contacted Support about it, but its getting a tad annoying with 70 Desura games or so.

Edit: I guess I need to start using the Favorites list instead of the game list now

 

[Toma]

I just thought of something slightly crazy. What are the most basic genres you can break down these games? Action, RPG, Sim, RTS, Puzzle, Rhythm? Others?

 

[zkylon]

sorry toma, just "beat" atum and while I found it to be pretty ingenious I won't give it my lone vote of the month

 

[Raxum]

I just thought of something slightly crazy. What are the most basic genres you can break down these games? Action, RPG, Sim, RTS, Puzzle, Rhythm? Others?

Are you going to break the OT up into genres? Might be hard with Indie games. Don't forget arcade, platformer and survivalcraft

 

[zkylon]

I just thought of something slightly crazy. What are the most basic genres you can break down these games? Action, RPG, Sim, RTS, Puzzle, Rhythm? Others?

puzzle platformer

all of them

 

[MulderWasTaken]

My votes:

♦ Cook, Serve, Delicious! (Watched a review, looks very fun)
♦ Darkout (bought it at Greenlight bundle 2 after watching the trailer, looks intriguing)
♦ Marvin's Mittens (gaffer made it and gave it away to anyone who asked for it)
♦ Unepic (made by a Spanish dude, I think)
♦ Waking Mars (watched a review, looks good, no shooting, bundle bought)

 

[Krystof Koreni]

These I enjoyed:

BroForce - now available in Unity Web Player form as well as download, indicating that online multi might not be that far off
The Plan
Triad
A Nation of Wind

Are you going to break the OT up into genres? Might be hard with Indie games. Don't forget arcade, platformer and survivalcraft

Could be worth highlighting the games that are free - there were 11 for April (including Cart Life and Super House of Dead Ninjas flash ver.), a decent spread.

 

[Nillansan]

My votes:

♦ Cook, Serve, Delicious! (Watched a review, looks very fun)
♦ Darkout (bought it at Greenlight bundle 2 after watching the trailer, looks intriguing)
♦ Marvin's Mittens (gaffer made it and gave it away to anyone who asked for it)
♦ Unepic (made by a Spanish dude, I think)
♦ Waking Mars (watched a review, looks good, no shooting, bundle bought)

I think the point is to vote for the games that you have actually played.

 

[Toma]

I think the point is to vote for the games that you have actually played.

It is indeed.You dont need to play them much, but at least some experience would be appreciated.

My votes:

♦ Cook, Serve, Delicious! (Watched a review, looks very fun)
♦ Darkout (bought it at Greenlight bundle 2 after watching the trailer, looks intriguing)
♦ Marvin's Mittens (gaffer made it and gave it away to anyone who asked for it)
♦ Unepic (made by a Spanish dude, I think)
♦ Waking Mars (watched a review, looks good, no shooting, bundle bought)

You didnt play those games? No hard feelings, but then I cant add it to the votes.

 

[kafiend]

I just thought of something slightly crazy. What are the most basic genres you can break down these games? Action, RPG, Sim, RTS, Puzzle, Rhythm? Others?

The minute you start putting things in categories, we'll spend more time discussing why a game is in a that category than the game itself. Especially indie games - they sure love to mash up the genres.

 

[Noisepurge]

Haven't played much but what i have played i vote, should make for a good competitive game.

1. Super House of Dead Ninjas

 

[Spirit of Jazz]

I played quite a few indies this month but the only one I liked enough to vote for was:

Super House of Dead Ninjas

I played the hell out of the game, speed running it was so much fun.

 

[Toma]

Are you going to break the OT up into genres? Might be hard with Indie games. Don't forget arcade, platformer and survivalcraft

I am thinking about creating a small user based Database to check for other Gaffers opinions and then recommendations from that. I already got a neat little setup for an older project that wouldnt require any special preparation other than people updating a single post with their preferences, but I still need to iron out some kinks that make it unwieldy to program/handle the base database.

The minute you start putting things in categories, we'll spend more time discussing why a game is in a that category than the game itself. Especially indie games - they sure love to mash up the genres.

Yeah, I figured. I dont even want to use it for this thread actually, see above. I already did most of the leg work a few months ago, but I sort of need genre categorizations. It would also be fine if a game had more than one basic genre. A game could still be Puzzle + Platformer or RPG + Sim, but I'd need the basic genres or it wouldnt really work. Hmmm, maybe I can find a way for everyone to change it themselves and then work from a personalized set of genres. This is such a small thing, but the trickiest issue with the whole idea, goddamnit.

 

[Nillansan]

I played quite a few indies this month but the only one I liked enough to vote for was:

Super House of Dead Ninjas

I played the hell out of the game, speed running it was so much fun.

Yup it is one of the best games that I have played in a while. I haven't unlocked everything, but I feel that I have done enough to deem it completed.

Spoiler

I have beaten all the bosses in the base game and the ones in Trans-Dimensional Leakage, I have unlocked the Lightsaber and I have seen both endings.

 

[kafiend]

Yeah, I figured. I dont even want to use it for this thread actually, but I have a pretty cool idea for which I already did most of the leg work a few months ago and for which I sort of need genre categorizations. It would also be fine if a game had more than one basic genre. A game could still be Puzzle + Platformer or RPG + Sim, but I'd need the basic genres or it wouldnt really work. Hmmm, maybe I can find a way for everyone to change it themselves and then work from a personalized set of genres. This is such a small thing, but the trickiest issue with the whole idea, goddamnit.

There's always the wiki I guess - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_genres
Or places like mobygames that have been creating game databases for years - http://www.mobygames.com/glossary/genres

Whatever the idea is, I don't envy you the task

 

[Toma]

There's always the wiki I guess - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_genres
Or places like mobygames that have been creating game databases for years - http://www.mobygames.com/glossary/genres

Whatever the idea is, I don't envy you the task

I am going to use you guys as guinea pigs anyway, if I manage to get it working The Mobygames list looks good, but seems to omit genres as well. Cant see puzzle games as a genre for example. I guess it falls under Strategy for them, which also encompasses Trivia games. Weird.

Edit: The more I think about it, the better I like their system.

 

[One Foul Note]

I just thought of something slightly crazy. What are the most basic genres you can break down these games? Action, RPG, Sim, RTS, Puzzle, Rhythm? Others?

If I had to list a basic, I would go action/arcade, adventure, RPG, simulation, tactical, puzzle and misc/other. I would also be tempted to make an 'art game' category, especially in the indie game scene. Their are so many games like that Remembering I played recently that are purely expressional pieces, I think you would need a category to hold them.

 

[Toma]

If I had to list a basic, I would go action/arcade, adventure, RPG, simulation, tactical, puzzle and misc/other. I would also be tempted to make an 'art game' category, especially in the indie game scene. Their are so many games like that Remembering I played recently that are purely expressional pieces, I think you would need a category to hold them.

What is your thought on that list:
http://www.mobygames.com/glossary/genres

plus an Art game category? After reading their explanations, this seems to work rather well. I agree though that art games would need its own category, although they miiight technically fall under Adventure based on their explanation.

 

[Krystof Koreni]

Art game category, huh? Would you have a category for notgames also?

 

[Toma]

Art game category, huh? Would you have a category for notgames also?

More like the same category to me (Its the same for me anyway really). The alternative is putting both under Adventure I guess.

 

[kafiend]

More like the same category to me (Its the same for me anyway really). The alternative is putting both under Adventure I guess.

Just stick them under "Experience" that way there's more games I can insta-ignore all in one place

 

[Krystof Koreni]

Like this?

Category: Experience
Subcategories: Action | Adventure | Artgame | Educational | Racing/Driving | RPG | Simulation | Sports | Strategy

Heh, just messing around of course. Sounds like an intriguing project Toma, let us know how it goes.

 

[One Foul Note]

What is your thought on that list:
http://www.mobygames.com/glossary/genres

Looks solid, although I disagree with plonking puzzle and strategy games in the same genre. In my mind a puzzle game is simply a problem you have to solve while strategy suggests some form of opponent that you are trying to outmaneuver.

 

[Toma]

Looks solid, although I disagree with plonking puzzle and strategy games in the same genre. In my mind a puzzle game is simply a problem you have to solve while strategy suggests some form of opponent that you are trying to outmaneuver.

Yeah, its tricky. No wonder we dont have proper set genres in videogames.

 

[Hofmann]

More like the same category to me (Its the same for me anyway really). The alternative is putting both under Adventure I guess.

I would call them Notgames - the term in my opinion is very catchy - not every art/non game could fall under adventure genre. In my Steam library it's the biggest category, too bad that most of them are non-Steam games.

 

[Toma]

I would call them Notgames - the term in my opinion is very catchy - not every art/non game could fall under adventure genre. In my Steam library it's the biggest category, too bad that most of them are non-Steam games.

How about Experience/Experiential games?

 

[Hofmann]

How about Experience/Experiential games?

Every game is some sort of an experience, so I think Notgame fits better and there's even a whole Notgames community with their own festivals and such. The term doesn't really mean anything, in the classical categorization, but I find it very provocative.

 

[Weltall Zero]

Thrive

This game looks like it promises to be everything Spore was promising to be before it came out. I'm a bit skeptical that an indie title could pull this off, but I would like to see it made, so I'll be keeping an eye on this one. They have a cell editor demo up on the indiedb page.

The first impression Thrive gives me is of dishonesty, unfortunately. See here for example:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/thrive/downloads/cell-editor-prototype
Promising screenshot, isn't it? Perhaps a little familiar as well? That's because it's a screenshot of a prototype of Spore itself, back when Will Wright showed it off in a GDC. People downloading the editor report either a black screen, or a few white connected dots you move around.

A developer that begins their relationship with me by lying me to the face doesn't deserve me making their download counter on IndieDb going up, sorry. :/

 

[Toma]

The first impression Thrive gives me is of dishonesty, unfortunately. See here for example:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/thrive/downloads/cell-editor-prototype
Promising screenshot, isn't it? Perhaps a little familiar as well? That's because it's a screenshot of a prototype of Spore itself, back when Will Wright showed it off in a GDC. People downloading the editor report either a black screen, or a few white connected dots you move around.

A developer that begins their relationship with me by lying me to the face doesn't deserve me making their download counter on IndieDb going up, sorry. :/

Now that is just..
:/ Not to mention the links they provided are dead as well.

On a more positive note, new thread going up soon.

 

[Toma]

Oh my gooooooood, the current Indie Royal Bundle now also contains Micron and The Sea will claim everything for now €4,30! :-ooooooo
http://www.indieroyale.com/

 

[Toma]

Thread is now over! Every discussion is now switched to the may thread:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551216

 

[Weltall Zero]

Oh my gooooooood, the current Indie Royal Bundle now also contains Micron and The Sea will claim everything for now €4,30! :-ooooooo
http://www.indieroyale.com/

What the eff.

- Back to the Future alone is worth way more than the asking price.
- Pid + Cargo Commander + Dungeon Hearts are worth the 4€ on their own. In fact I bought the bundle for those, as I already had BttF. I've only tried Dungeon Hearts out of these; in fact I came into this thread to post that I've been playing it for two hours straight just now, and it's quite addicting.
- More stuff on top of this? Crazy!

Best non-Humble Bundle ever?