| 9 NOV 2005 at 1:45pm |
CrapstormJourneyman
Posts : 829
Joined: 18 FEB 2004
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Betje (9 NOV 2005 5:08am)
WARNING!
I'm going to do a crapstorm...
Read at your own risk.
Go, baby, go!
|
| 9 NOV 2005 at 2:23pm |
MarkGuild Master
Posts : 3803
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Location: US, Georgia
Status : Offline | Betje, you did Crapstorm quite well!!
And thank you so much for the detailed synopsis. The problems and dislikes you had with And Then There Were None sounded nearly identical to the dislikes, distaste, and downright boredom I had with Still Life.
Oh! I have been so busy, I have yet to pack up Still Life and send it to Wimli as his graduation present - but I haven't forgotten about it, Wimli!
It will be shipped this week - I promise - and I am so sorry for the delay.
Darn! And I didn't even make it to you for your Birthday! :-/
I'm a big, late poop.
[img]http://www.mindspring.com/~markparrish/Mumbles.gif[/img]...but *not* an old poop. No®! Not old - you, you, little pugnacious Pop-Tarts!
"Oh! Let us play dress-up! I can be Kylie Minogue, and you can be Dawn French! What fun we shall have!!"
Please proofread your posts carefully to see if you any words out.
|
| 9 NOV 2005 at 2:57pm |
judyannSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 319
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I have played several chapters and am enjoying it. The problem is I am not sure I would if this wasn't one of my all time favorite Agatha Christi books. In other words, I am not sure the game stands on its own merits.
(The book came with my game, too. I now have 3 copies of it.)
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 7:59am |
BunnyFuFuSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 270
Joined: 11 FEB 2003
Status : Online | Finished the game, all in all it was quite nice. Great job of the writer to create a game based on a book and keep faithful to the style at the book, while at the same time expanding it.
However, there were some loose ends at the end of the game that I do not quite understand.
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 9:44am |
| Deleted User | However, there were some loose ends at the end of the game that I do not quite understand.
Isn't that what entertainment is all about? Whether it is a game, a movie or reading a book. [smiley=raise_eyebrow.gif]
You are supposed to be left wondering. Do you really expect everything to be spelled out so there is no more discussion? Life isn't like that.
Fortunately, you can play a game again (and again) or read a book or watch a movie and talk about your experience.
Don't bag a game because you didn't get the plot and can't figure out the final scene!
Play it again ... you may enjoy the experience and learn something you didn't know. :
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 2:01pm |
CrapstormJourneyman
Posts : 829
Joined: 18 FEB 2004
Status : Online | Agatha Christie never left loose ends. That was a major part of her appeal.
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 2:22pm |
BunnyFuFuSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 270
Joined: 11 FEB 2003
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Dookie (10 NOV 2005 9:44am)
Isn't that what entertainment is all about? Whether it is a game, a movie or reading a book. [smiley=raise_eyebrow.gif]
You are supposed to be left wondering. Do you really expect everything to be spelled out so there is no more discussion? Life isn't like that.
Fortunately, you can play a game again (and again) or read a book or watch a movie and talk about your experience.
Don't bag a game because you didn't get the plot and can't figure out the final scene!
Play it again ... you may enjoy the experience and learn something you didn't know. :
Did I say anything about not liking the game because I don't understand the ending? I think not.
I have no problems understanding the ending, there is no discussion possible, all clues point to the murderer. Indeed Christie did not leave loose ends.
However, some sideplots were added by the game writer to give the characters more depth, and one of those does not really make sense to me.
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 2:23pm |
AdventureManiacSpace Cadet
Posts : 102
Joined: 1 OCT 2005
Status : Online | Come on guys I think you are being unfair ,
i don't think it's that bad yeah lots of radiators and
yeah lots of copper pots but we are adventure players
we always doubt about things like this maybe the devoloppers thought that with thiis way the adventure player will interact more with the game and that he's not just playing a slide show!
afterall everyone has his own opinion
With a keen eye for detail,one truth prevails.
|
| 10 NOV 2005 at 10:20pm |
LeeSIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 26
Joined: 29 OCT 2002
Status : Online | BunnyFuFu, which subplot doesn't make sense to you?
Lee
Lee Sheldon
|
| 11 NOV 2005 at 8:28am |
BunnyFuFuSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 270
Joined: 11 FEB 2003
Status : Online | I have replayed the last few chapters now and it there was a letter I did not read the first time, so it all makes sense now.
Spoiler:
Still don't understand though how Narracott manages to push her of the landing and get her head right through the noose . I think the game is even more fun when you have read the book, because I was constantly monitoring the judge until some things started happening that are not in the book
|
| 11 NOV 2005 at 8:19pm |
LeeSIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 26
Joined: 29 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I'd say what you mention in the spoiler is less Narracott and more poetic justice.
Lee
Lee Sheldon
|
| 13 NOV 2005 at 3:18am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Betje (9 NOV 2005 5:08am)
WARNING!
I've played ATTWN for only 30-45 minutes and I already hate it with a passion
Wow you re telling us u re giving a review of a game and calling it crap with less than one hour of play ?
It s the first april once again people impressive :
Conclusion: If this little "gem" is supposed to be representative of future AGs, let's have a mercy killing
Conclusion : how can anyone on earth giving a "review" of a game by playing it.....less than one hour is beyond me .
If I was Lee Sheldon and Scott Nixon I would consider commiting suicide by reading such statement about their own work really cause that s appaling for sure .
Here is another "review" but a proper one with someone who ve played the game far more than "30 45 minutes" before judging it :
http://www.quandaryland.com/jsp/dispArticle.jsp?index=734
"And Then There Were None, is the first in what I hope will be a long series of adventure games to be based on the Agatha Christie murder mysteries. It's a great introduction, and sets a high standard. Christie fans, detective game fans, and adventure game fans won't want to miss this."
Thank GOD there s still people who are properly reviewing a game and respecting the hours and hours of tough work AWE Games and Lee spent into it without trashing it after half a hour of it
|
| 13 NOV 2005 at 10:24am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Max_Moon (13 NOV 2005 3:17am)
Wow you re telling us u re giving a review of a game and calling it crap with less than one hour of play ?
I didn't call it a "review", that was you.
I called it a "crapstorm". Something else entirely.
Yes, 30-45 minutes is enough time to form an opinion on most, but not all, aspects of the game. The looping music drove me crazy within ten minutes. I turned it off and later turned it on again to check, but no, it was still the same piece over and over and over and over again, even when characters were having conversations.
The truly substandard 3D puppets and mediocre graphics will not get better all of a sudden. If I hate the puppets after 30 minutes, the best I can expect is I'll get used to them. But I haven't after four hours. Same goes for the voiceacting, which is still wooden, awkward, unnatural. Some characters are better than others of course.
The story does get better though, which was to be expected, and I said so. I didn't bash Lee Sheldon and I also didn't venture an opinion about the *puzzles* because I hadn't seen any yet. The atmosphere gets better too when you're allowed to explore the island in later chapters. Not enough to balance the negative aspects, I don't feel in any way "immersed".
|
| 14 NOV 2005 at 1:41pm |
SKIPSTERIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 58
Joined: 9 DEC 2004
Status : Online | I played it and was doubtful at first but as the game went on it got better and better, I give it a 8.5
Just Adventure for More Adventure
|
| 15 NOV 2005 at 9:11pm |
| Deleted User | Betje I have no prob with u not enjoying a game or not getting "immersed", it s just u were saying things like if it was the truth .
And sorry but I do think it s way too early saying a game is crap when u ve played it for only half a hour .
Anyway anyone is entitled to his opinion but I think this game is far far better than a lot of people are saying right now .
As for the "puppet dolls" I was like u watching the vids at first but finally I was "hey if the gameplay and the history are entertaining and fun I ll go ahead of this prob"
That s why I dont care anymore about those "puppets" lookalike out of the characters .
I m too much attracted to this book and game for preventing me to play it after 30 minutes just because of it
And for the music well i m not a huge fan of music into games so I will play without it if it s really that annoying and will read the subtitles
Anyway this game is getting solid reviews from the "pros" for now as u can see here :
http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages4/926263.asp
If this game can end up getting as many good reviews as the Last Sherlock Holmes game, I will be more than happy
|
| 18 NOV 2005 at 2:29am |
ShadowWalkerJourneyman
Posts : 997
Joined: 27 JUL 2005
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Betje (9 NOV 2005 5:08am)
WARNING!
I'm going to do a crapstorm...
Read at your own risk.
I've played ATTWN for only 30-45 minutes and I already hate it with a passion.
Graphics: substandard, totally boring, uninteresting, bare.
3D puppets: the worst I've seen lately.
Voiceacting: matches the stiff and awkward puppets, in one word terrible.
Music: loopetyloopetyloopyloop... drove me crazy within 10 minutes.
Descriptions: if you can't think of anything to say, do me a favor and shut up, stupid game! Click on the clickable pots and pans in the kitchen and you get "Copper pots. Just as I'd expect". Click on the stove and the game replies "It's a sturdy cast-iron stove". > Anyone remember the fun we had clicking objects in for instance a Tex Murphy game?
Dialogues: so far pretty dull stuff too.
Story: don't know yet, 45 minutes is too short to tell, and I loved Lee Sheldon's previous work, so it might get much better.
Conclusion: If this little "gem" is supposed to be representative of future AGs, let's have a mercy killing.
Don't worry, its to be expected, Betje.
All you have to do is wait a little more and walla!
It will all be a great deal better!
You will wake up, get out of bed, hear a noise in the bathroom..........
You will pull the shower curtain.............
And Patrick Duffy all lathered up will say to you.
HI THERE!
And it will all be better. The nightmare that you went through will be all gone..............
Tally HO!
P.S. Whatever you do. DO NOT
I REPEAT....... O NOT PLAY THE COLONEL'S BEQUEST.
Or you will really need a therapist!
|
| 18 NOV 2005 at 4:37am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By ShadowWalker (18 NOV 2005 2:28am)
Don't worry, its to be expected, Betje.
All you have to do is wait a little more and walla!
It will all be a great deal better!
You will wake up, get out of bed, hear a noise in the bathroom..........
You will pull the shower curtain.............
And Patrick Duffy all lathered up will say to you.
HI THERE!
And it will all be better. The nightmare that you went through will be all gone..............
Tally HO!
P.S. Whatever you do. DO NOT
I REPEAT....... DO NOT PLAY THE COLONEL'S BEQUEST.
Or you will really need a therapist!
I'm flabbergasted. Most obfuscating post... what's Patrick Duffy doing in my shower...? I thought he'd gone down with Dallas.
But you're too late, I've already played the Colonel's Bequest. A truly skedaddleble game. Can I have the name of your therapist? He seems to have worked wonders with you.
I've finished moving the other Patrick around in And Then There Were None. A young whippersnapper if I ever saw one! I'll amend my crapstorm: the game really did get better, although I have a long list of complaints.
|
| 18 NOV 2005 at 6:45am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Crapstorm (10 NOV 2005 2:01pm)
Agatha Christie never left loose ends. That was a major part of her appeal.
I know that, the last page in the books summed up, very well. But .... it still left you wondering why you didn't get the "clues", didn't it?
The game does the same thing! Makes you want to go back and try different things. Well done Lee and the Crew.
|
| 21 NOV 2005 at 11:12pm |
ShadowWalkerJourneyman
Posts : 997
Joined: 27 JUL 2005
Status : Offline | Hello there!
Well.......... Where shall I begin? Ah! Betje.
I guess that I should answer your post.
Why the Dallas scene!
Because I believe that it brings up the idea that often we believe things to be a particular way, and just when we are settled in. The opposite can be the truth.
True, it was rather nebulous of me to use, but for someone who apparently is so gifted in your perceptions. Mainly the ability to appraise a game so quickly, without finishing it, much less play it for a mere fraction of its entirety, that this must certainly be the hallmark of a gifted and exemplary mind! NOT!
I believe that if a game is being put together, that one should criticize it as much as possible to see if maybe the developers might notice and possibly listen to one's gripes, before the game is finished.
Well............ Hope does spring eternal.
However, I also believe that if a game is already completed and is being reviewed by anyone, that the reviewer should show a decent amount of maturity and responsibility to wait to play it through all the way, before offering any thoughts about it, instead of having an immature knee jerk reaction, before an accurate and credible remark may be stated about it after seeing and experiencing all of its "ENTIRETY"
Why?
Because no amount of criticism will make a difference on the makers of the game. It is already finished and done for.
Your responsibility should then I believe be towards those who will read your opinion and give it consideration when it comes to possibly buy, test or play the game.
And insofar as your remark on your first post....
Let me see if I quoted you correctly!
Descriptions: if you can't think of anything to say, do me a favor and shut up, stupid game!
Let me put it to you short and sweet.
Does the term "Narcissistic personality disorder" ring a bell!
It’s a genuine psychological personality behavior!
I did not say it or exhibit it. You did!
Tally HO
|
| 22 NOV 2005 at 5:33am |
TinklePitIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 74
Joined: 31 JUL 2004
Status : Offline | Getting back to the thread...
Did it meet my expectations? Yes and no.
First, I loved the graphics. Moody and atmospheric - just right for the mood they were trying to create. The rocky landscape is beautiful and the wave swells are the best I have ever seen. I must have spent several minutes just staring at the water. The house as well was wonderfully realized and in period.
The 3d puppets were mediocre - which is about what I expect from games. You can do a better job if you have a lot more money to spend on it, but you can also do much worse. And since I just finished a game which was much worse, I wasn't that anoyed with them.
The voice acting was wonderful. This is supposed to be England just coming out of the Victorian age. People were formal (my sister was stationed in England in 1990 and couldn't get over how the farmers would wear ties and vests while working their tractors) and they knew what good mannors were. Each personality was distinct and thoroughly in line with Agatha Christie. It was apparent that the actors knew what was going on around the lines they were reading (unlike some other games which had actors read lines, but not explain what the situation was.) They have been a delight to listen to.
While I have not finished the game, I have only come across one dialog bug. There is a place where the Judge says that a prisoner "hung" himself in his cell. That is wrong. The past tence for execution by rope is "hanged." Not hung. The Judge most certainly would have known this and it is correct in the poem.
The quality of the music has exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, it is too short and loops much to often. They needed to make much more of it, or limit what little they had to fewer loops.
The story itself has been very true to Christie, but with enough change to make it a good game. on't know, yet, how the ending will hold up. I'm not sure if I could have expected any better.
The puzzles have been a mixed bag. I like the idea of removing the action hot spots and forcing you to think about what you want to do. But I will never forgive them for the secret message.
In the beginning of the game you find a coded message. Shorly after that you find the "cypher key." I took one look at it and thought, "Oh, an obvious variation on the Beal Cypher. I can solve this." I then spent the better part of an hour first trying to crack the cypher and then proving that the "key" did not have sufficient bandwidth for any message whatsoever.
Then, to my horror, I found that you aren't supposed to solve it at all. Just....and the clear text magicly appears in your journel. I am now of the opinion that the cypher is not legitimate. If someone can show me otherwise, I would very much like to know. Otherwise, this puzzle not only infuriated me, but has caused me to distrust most of the other puzzles in the game.
But all-in-all I believe that the game has exceded my expectations. Which is to say, that I wasn't expecting very much and have been pleasently surprised buy how good it actually was.
My daughter and I are enjoying it together and we would probably purchase the next one. Assuming I don't get a free copy to review :-)
Google search
|
| 22 NOV 2005 at 5:38am |
| Deleted User | I just loaded the game tonight, so I read this thread while blindfolded so as to not cheat
So far the installation exceeded my expectations - a nice piano piece started when loading disk 1 and continued uninterrupted while the dvd/cd tray opened and asked for disk 2. Neato!
|
| 22 NOV 2005 at 6:19am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By ShadowWalker (21 NOV 2005 11:12pm)
Mainly the ability to appraise a game so quickly, without finishing it, much less play it for a mere fraction of its entirety, that this must certainly be the hallmark of a gifted and exemplary mind! NOT!
Gifted and exemplary mind? No, course not. Everybody does it, no exceptions. In fact, I think it's totally IMpossible for everyone, except maybe for the very few truly enlightened indviduals who walk this earth, to NOT form an opinion on something the moment you see, hear, feel, taste, touch it.
However, I also believe that if a game is already completed and is being reviewed by anyone...
Why do people insist on turning my post into a "review"? Bullsh*t. They were my first impressions of the game and I'm sorry to say they haven't changed. I also gave *fair warning* ("read at your own risk". I'll repeat that now that I've finished the game I still think the puppets, voiceacting, music etc. were awful. The story and atmosphere got a bit better (and you conveniently ignore that I said they probalby would!). I didn't say anything about the puzzles, I could now, but somehow I'm sure you're not interested. In short, I haven't changed my mind: it's a very mediocre game with far too many flaws.
Descriptions: if you can't think of anything to say, do me a favor and shut up, stupid game!
Yeah, those non-descript descriptions were annoying. They didn't add anything to the game.
Let me put it to you short and sweet.
Does the term "Narcissistic personality disorder" ring a bell! It’s a genuine psychological personality behavior!
Yes, it is.
I did not say it or exhibit it. You did!
ROTFL! Have you been drinking again, doctor Armstrong?
|
| 22 NOV 2005 at 6:22am |
| Deleted User | So far I am not impressed. Standing on the porch at the start of the game, if I enable the Option for AntiAliasing, the quality of the 3d characters improve, being more sharply defined, but the rain turns into horizontal lines that remain static. Not good.
If I turn off Anti Aliasing, the rain is normal but the quality of the characters and the drawings degrade substantially. So it seems I am left with inferior graphics no matter which option I choose. Plus, based on the opening, it appears this is going to be one of those games where very little is left of you to do other than listen to canned conversations. I hope I am wrong as it slays me to waste $29.99 on inferior graphics and endless conversations.
|
| 22 NOV 2005 at 6:37am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By Tkamba (22 NOV 2005 6:21am)
So far I am not impressed. Standing on the porch at the start of the game, if I enable the Option for AntiAliasing, the quality of the 3d characters improve, being more sharply defined, but the rain turns into horizontal lines that remain static. Not good.
If I turn off Anti Aliasing, the rain is normal but the quality of the characters and the drawings degrade substantially. So it seems I am left with inferior graphics no matter which option I choose. Plus, based on the opening, it appears this is going to be one of those games where very little is left of you to do other than listen to canned conversations. I hope I am wrong as it slays me to waste $29.99 on inferior graphics and endless conversations.
Huuuuuuuuuu! Giving an opinion without finishing the game. Bad Tamba!
The review-police will be along shortly.
[[Yeah, there are puzzles, it's not just canned conversations. Quite a few puzzles are optional.]]
|
