Messages

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General / Re: 10 Indies Games that Matter

« on: August 05, 2009, 10:30:26 pm »

Aye, the thing I liked a lot about Myst was that everything worked together really well. Like the puzzles were all really well thought out in terms of how they fit into the world, and there was so much detail in how everything operated that you felt like you were really there. The music and sound effects also helped sell the atmosphere. It was fun to just wander around in those worlds.

The Myst books are also really great, its a really fleshed out and interesting universe.

I still would get retardedly stuck on the puzzles though, lol.

Lol. Your not the only one that would be stick on those things.

Oh yeah, definately... its great when gameplay mechanics mesh well with the atmosphere... like if your messing with a crystal puzzle in a magical area setting instead of a computer, which shouldn't be there.. or with music... they arent playing bluegrass in that area xD they are playing mystical (no pun intended) sounding music. :p

Things meshing together to create atmosphere really helps a game out.. and goes a long long way to really immerse people in a game. Its one of the reasons i plan on becoming a game creator in the near future.

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General / Re: 10 Indies Games that Matter

« on: August 05, 2009, 09:41:58 pm »

Well the thing with Myst wasn't that it just looked pretty, it was that it represented a detailed and atmospheric world.

A lot of modern pretty games are pretty shallow.

Exactly! Just as an example, I play Mmorpgs, and those compared to some done in the past.. well there's just no comparison.  A lot in the past have been pretty well designed graphically wise, they had hand done scenery, etc. It was just really immersive. There would be times i would stop all questing with friends just to stare at and listen to a waterfall it was so well done.

Now days, you have game companies just copy and pasting the same graphic all over the place, just in a certain configuration. Now... don't get me wrong, i know some of that is unavoidable but when that's something that jumps at me and hits me in the face when i'm trying to get immersed.. yeah.. there's a difference between artistically doing it and just spamming it all over a town.  I mean, its obvious... in your game i don't think I've seen one cave that looked the same shape wise or what plants you had where. In other mmorpgs, I've seen them use the exact same cave over and over for quests, so much that i know where the end of a cave is going to be when i enter it.

 It's funny too, some parts in aquaria repeat the use of a texture (rocks and what not).. but the thing is.. I DON'T NOTICE IT (unless i truly look around for it). And i stay immersed via the beautiful graphics, the music, name it... You really love games like this that pay attention to detail and just blend things with perfection.

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General / Re: 10 Indies Games that Matter

« on: August 05, 2009, 02:19:35 am »

I didn't played Myst, it's not my kind, but Riven was amazing, the entire game was a giga-puzzle, not just the little puzzles you find everywhere, sometimes you need tips from distant places in the game to solve puzzles in other places. It pretty similar to Aquaria in that aspect but in a bigger scale

I was always more into the worlds of Myst/Riven rather than the puzzles. The puzzles confused the heck out of me.

Yeah. I wasn't much into the puzzles and backtracking myself. But I loved the environments. So immersive.

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General / Re: Aquaria 2?

« on: August 05, 2009, 02:15:17 am »

I think we all clamber for a sequel...but it should definitely be kept small.  Preferably the original team(just Alec and Derek) doing the sequel...but I just worry for Aquaria's future.  A game this great...ends with a cliffhanger?  C'mon that's not fair!  Well, maybe like the fifth or tenth anniversary of Aquaria's release Bit Blot will reform and start on a sequel(i'd wait for it.)

I agree. Its sad that it just ended like that. Was a deep ending but definitely made you want to play a sequel and make things right again.

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General / Re: Aquaria 2?

« on: August 05, 2009, 02:12:53 am »

Actually, Alec, you're not truely alone in this thing, you have the community here to support you. Heck, perhaps we could throw together our own efforts with you and make the sequel all together ourselves.

Actually, that's not a half bad idea. I'm sure between all of us there's bound to be people skilled in each needed area. In addition to alex's superb skill of course

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General / Re: So whens the sequel? :p

« on: March 06, 2009, 04:29:28 am »

I don't know, it was worth it to me personally on some level, but not as much as I wanted it to be.

Hmm, I guess I could see it your way. You really didn't think you accomplished much? Was it due to the numbers of sales? Probably not, but let me tell ya something bro. A good number of the gamers nowadays (sorry if this is a generalization) are a bit more into the violence games (which is ok, but there should be a nice balance) than deep thought story telling games like Aquaria. And that's a sad observation(fact?) in my opinion.

 At first glance this game "may" look a bit kiddish, but it really isn't. It talks about life. It talks about peoples mistakes and the outcome of them. This game really has a deep deep level of thinking if you sit down and think about it. And to me that's a rare gem in the swamp infested game industry these days.

You know I may be spinning wheel or rehashing things many have said. But for what its worth, you guys did great with this game. I would gladly take it over any of the first person shooters coming out there.

My question to you overall is: What "is" worth it?

Oh and good luck with those other games i've read about. I'll keep an eye out for them.

Mt two cents.

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General / Re: End game song lyric discussion (spoiler warning)

« on: February 11, 2009, 11:52:19 pm »

Some times i wish i had some sheet music to look at from the games music.

I love the music.

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General / End game song lyric discussion (spoiler warning)

« on: January 31, 2009, 08:09:15 pm »

Lost to the waves:

"Lost at the heart of sea
Memories drift away
The past but a shade
Lost to the waves

My journey here
A lifetime ago
And all that I was
Was lost to the waves"

So i was listening to this song in the jukebox over and over and i was thinking upon the numberous translations it could have:

1. She could be talking about her childhood memories and how they were swept away..

2. She could be also talking about her transition from just being peaceful in the cave to wondering searching for answers.

3. Or this could even be her singing this in her mind after the ending (the one with all the memories) happens.

In my mind I'm convinced it is number 3, but what do you think?

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General / Re: Aquaria fanart [spoilers]

« on: January 31, 2009, 06:07:19 pm »

Very very good pictures from everyone. Makes me wish I stayed in "Art" after finishing school. 

Arch, that comic made me laugh. I can't wait to see more.

Vetehinen, WOW... that pencil and paper drawing was .. wow.. breathtaking and full of hidden depth (i liked the word "glory" too).  From what I read Vetehinen, you haven't seen the ending that you get when you collect all the memories? Do me a huge favor would you? When/if you do see that ending would you send me a PM or tell me in this thread? I may have a pencil sketch idea that you would like.

Man... now i'm going to have to try and doodle something. What an inspiring thread...

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General / Re: So whens the sequel? :p

« on: January 30, 2009, 02:56:50 am »

And one more thing... is the music cd out yet? i would like to buy it to support you guys.

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General / Re: So whens the sequel? :p

« on: January 30, 2009, 02:36:20 am »

Oi.. i hope they are planning on making one. Would be a travesty for them not to at this point. Such a masterpiece without closure would be bad.

Heres to hopeing.

Ah, and Alec.. would you all be willing to take more people for this project or is it simply a duo?

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General / So whens the sequel? :p

« on: January 30, 2009, 01:49:07 am »

Sorry if this has been asked a million times and what not. Played and finished the game and can honestly says its probably one of the best (if not THE) game i have ever played. Not to mention alot of depth and meaning if you dig a bit.

So the only thing I wish to know is: When is the sequel? A game this good, i hope will be given its closure.

Anyway, first post. Nice to meet you all.