Comments on: Big Universes and Tiny Games http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/ Creativity x Technology Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:09:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jon F http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2763 Jon F Thu, 18 May 2006 07:10:08 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2763 TINIEST. BUTTONS. EVER. You're right, I couldn't stop after one game, but it didn't take much willpower to uninstall after four. It doesn't invalidate your point, and my addiction to Slant ( http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/ ) rages on. TINIEST. BUTTONS. EVER. You’re right, I couldn’t stop after one game, but it didn’t take much willpower to uninstall after four.

It doesn’t invalidate your point, and my addiction to Slant ( http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/ ) rages on.

]]> By: Ferrous Buller http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2762 Ferrous Buller Wed, 17 May 2006 19:54:20 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2762 I really like Weird Worlds too, but I don't think of it as a 4X game at all. 4X games are all about building up your space empire and conquering the known universe; WW is just about exploring known space in your ship and trying to rack up a high score. Kinda like Diablo crossed with Star Trek; your Nethack analogy works better, IMHO. :-) Some people complain about the randomness of WW, but that's like complaining about having to shuffle the deck before a card game: the element of chance is a huge part of the game mechanics. Next you'll hear people complain that you can't quicksave Tetris... :-) I really like Weird Worlds too, but I don’t think of it as a 4X game at all. 4X games are all about building up your space empire and conquering the known universe; WW is just about exploring known space in your ship and trying to rack up a high score. Kinda like Diablo crossed with Star Trek; your Nethack analogy works better, IMHO. :-)

Some people complain about the randomness of WW, but that’s like complaining about having to shuffle the deck before a card game: the element of chance is a huge part of the game mechanics. Next you’ll hear people complain that you can’t quicksave Tetris… :-)

]]> By: psu http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2761 psu Fri, 05 May 2006 11:37:11 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2761 >Put that in your Xbox 360 and smoke it. Pah. I can get more playtime out of Madden on my PSP than Oblivion and this game *combined*. I know, I'm beyond hope. >Put that in your Xbox 360 and smoke it.

Pah. I can get more playtime out of Madden on my PSP than Oblivion and this game *combined*.

I know, I’m beyond hope.

]]> By: Adam Rixey http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2760 Adam Rixey Fri, 05 May 2006 11:35:46 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2760 I'm currently addicted to a puzzle/logic game called Loopical. You've mentioned Everett Kaser games before, if you like those you should probably check this one out too. http://kpixgames.com/LOOPical/index.htm (And Xbox Live Arcade could definitely use a good strategy game like Weird Worlds. Hell, they could make a killing on microtransactions for more stuff.) I’m currently addicted to a puzzle/logic game called Loopical. You’ve mentioned Everett Kaser games before, if you like those you should probably check this one out too. http://kpixgames.com/LOOPical/index.htm

(And Xbox Live Arcade could definitely use a good strategy game like Weird Worlds. Hell, they could make a killing on microtransactions for more stuff.)

]]> By: peterb http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2759 peterb Fri, 05 May 2006 11:05:12 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2759 I considered saying something in this article along the lines of "Unlike most casual games, it is not marketed at women." Which, really, is what the _marketing_ definition of "casual" game has become. But I decided that it wasn't really true. Marketing aside, I think SAIS is arguably the finest example (Oasis comes close) of how a casual game can be more than a Bejeweled clone. I considered saying something in this article along the lines of “Unlike most casual games, it is not marketed at women.” Which, really, is what the _marketing_ definition of “casual” game has become. But I decided that it wasn’t really true.

Marketing aside, I think SAIS is arguably the finest example (Oasis comes close) of how a casual game can be more than a Bejeweled clone.

]]> By: Chris http://tleaves.com/2006/05/04/big-universes-and-tiny-games/comment-page-1/#comment-2758 Chris Fri, 05 May 2006 07:24:07 +0000 http://tleaves.com/?p=613#comment-2758 I adored Strange Adventures, which I got given for free at GDC a couple of years ago. I'm really looking forward to playing Weird Worlds at some point soon. I don't think it's a very casual game though (strangely) - although I haven't really seen WW yet, to be fair. SAIS was just a little too... urm... what's the word... a little too abstract, perhaps, for a wide audience. Not enough people are working on games that support really short play sessions. I doff my hat to Digital Eel! I adored Strange Adventures, which I got given for free at GDC a couple of years ago. I’m really looking forward to playing Weird Worlds at some point soon.

I don’t think it’s a very casual game though (strangely) – although I haven’t really seen WW yet, to be fair. SAIS was just a little too… urm… what’s the word… a little too abstract, perhaps, for a wide audience.

Not enough people are working on games that support really short play sessions. I doff my hat to Digital Eel!

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