Whatever you do, make it awesome.

The bad:

* Falling to your death is un-fun.

* Falling to your death happens a lot.

* Combat is occasionally irritating.

* Checkpoints instead of a proper save system? What is this, a second-rate console port? Oh wait.

* Runner vision (red = interact with me) is sometimes not implemented well. It's not always present, and sometimes it's downright misleading. For example, there's a bit where you're running away from ninjas and a wall highlights red, inviting you to wall-jump up it. I was killed by ninjas several times while trying to follow that instruction. Turns out it's a lot easier (and less lethal) to just climb onto one of the structures next to it and then jump across. The only reason to ever use that wall is if you're on a speedrun, IMO.

* Quicktime Events. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WHY? Does anyone actually like them?

(For the uninitiated, a QTE is when you're viewing a cutscene and a cue flashes up "press the button now!" and if you fail to press the button immediately - which you will, because the fact that you were watching a cutscene lulled you into a false sense of security - then you are judiciously punished by having to watch the whole boring cutscene again. Because you deserve it. So sayeth the game "designer".)

* Notable lack of pirates, despite suitable dock level.

The good:

* Striking visual design; good aesthetics and theming of environments, nice artistic uses of strong colours, realistic character design. I'll put in a special mention here for Jacknife's swaggering cutscene animations; they sell the character very effectively. (Also, in his final scene, I honestly wouldn't have remembered who he actually was if not for the animations! Seriously. I forgot who Miller was in his final appearance, and his design is fairly striking, up close at least. Though it didn't help that he'd only been seen in cartoon cutscenes before that point.)

* Parkour is fun. When you're not (A) flailing around like a moron or (B) falling to your death.

* Ninjas.

* Really nifty falling-to-your-death visual effect, and the most gruesome bone-crushing impact sound I've ever heard. (Which, although extremely well done, makes falling to your death even less fun than it would otherwise be. But I'm supposed to be talking about good things here.)

* Ninjas!

* Checkpoints are actually reasonably well-implemented, and you do get an enhanced feeling of accomplishment after beating a checkpointed stage. The roof area in the Shard chapter with the snipers comes to mind.

* I honestly applaud the AAA industry for trying something this innovative.


Total points made: 14
Total good: 7
Total bad: 7
Final score: 50%

I enjoyed it anyway. When I wasn't unbearably frustrated.

(Like my scoring system? I made it up on the spot. Hardcore.)

I mentioned this on my previous post, but I think it deserves a post of its own: Mayhem Intergalactic, the game formerly known as the BYOND game Yet Another Generic Space-Age Conquest Game, is now on Steam!

Please check it out and help this former BYONDer hit the big time with a splash. :-)

You can view the HD gameplay video or get the demo on Steam. Or, if you're not a Steam person, you can always get it direct from me.

Wage war on your friends and enemies in this simple and engaging strategy game. Easy to learn and quick to play, Mayhem Intergalactic is surprisingly strategic. Play against the computer, or duke it out with friends over the internet. The universe shall be yours!

Key features:

• This uniquely streamlined take on the classic "4X" (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) genre provides your strategy fix in minutes, not hours.
• A stirring dynamic soundtrack spurs you on to glorious victory!
• Randomly-generated and hand-crafted maps offer interesting and varied tactical situations.
• Create your own galaxies, then conquer them — or share them with friends.
• Simple rules, emergent strategy. Blitzkrieg or defense-in-depth? Power on through the front lines or sneak around the back? Attack with full strength and leave yourself open to counterattack, or split your fleet and risk total annihilation? Dozens more tactics await discovery.
• An alien wearing a monocle!

I promise not to make a habit of posting press releases, but this cracked me up a bit (emphasis added):

Emote Games will work with North America's oldest and most recognised conservation organisation to offer the most realistic online gaming experience that promotes the Boone and Crockett Club's core values of hunting and land ethics, as well as the Club's widely recognised and accepted big game scoring and records keeping program.

[...]

"It is important to the Club, and many others, that hunting video games portray the activity as the time-honored and ethical pursuit that it is," said Keith Balfourd, the Club's Director of Marketing. "Nothing will replace the lasting enjoyment of being active outdoors [...] Who knows, maybe even those 'gamers' who have not had the opportunity to hunt in real life may learn something valuable about hunting and conservation, and wish to experience hunting for themselves."

Gasp! It's all a diabolical plot to get us "gamers" out in the "fresh air" and "sunshine"! Bollocks to that, I say! To arms, gamers; you have nothing to lose but your dignity in the eyes of a bunch of outdoorsy types!

I love the way they put "gamers" in quotation marks. Doesn't it just make it sound like the guy's voice is dripping with disgust? Gamers. You know, those pimple-faced nerds still living in their mother's basements because they're too pathetic to get a real life and shoot life-forms that actually exist.

... Nerds.

Speaking of basements, Mayhem Intergalactic is due to come out on Steam within the next 12 hours or so is now on Steam! Hooray! And it's on sale for 50% off (this week only). You should totally go buy it.

(In case you're not a regular reader of my blog, Mayhem Intergalactic is a totally awesome indie game which I created all on my lonesome. And then published on Steam.)

ModDB has just announced their 2008 awards competition. If you'd like to support a BYOND alumnus striking out in the "real world", or if you've played and liked Mayhem Intergalactic, please vote for my game!

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Awesome video here about an equally awesome indie game. Check it out! I didn't fully appreciate the genius behind the game until I watched this video. There are so many subtle little touches that come together to make it all sing.

If you dig it (and you will), digg it!

(Shameless plug: If you're an artist, check out my last blog post for your chance to get $$$ and a credit in a game on Steam!)