| 11 JAN 2009 at 10:11am |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By aurora (2 NOV 2007 12:05am)
Ahhhhh, I can't wait for it to come out already.
I'm sorry, but I have HUGE expectations
Oh, Tomer. Didn't know you at the time this was posted. Funny. I thought you said you never posted on the JA boards?
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| 11 JAN 2009 at 7:48pm |
avatar_58Private Detective
Posts : 403
Joined: 27 MAY 2008
Status : Online | Originally Posted By TC (10 JAN 2009 10:27pm)
This year is the year, it may take some months, maybe not until the fourth quarter, but it has to be 2009. Otherwise, I'm seriously going to forget about it, wipe it off my mind, permanently. :-/
But, as long as it's still '09, I'm hopeful.
Why does it matter? Once it's released the long development cycle won't even be a concern. When you are playing the game all you care about is the quality, so why not take their time getting there?
Sure they could just slap a 'finished' sticker on and call it day like many other games do, but 3 years from now when you look back what will you remember - the long dev cycle or the actual game's quality?
Personally when I look at games like Stalker I wish they took MORE time developing it, even despite how everyone complained about the delays. The delays mean nothing to me years later, all I remember are the bugs and unfinished gameplay elements. I say jane and wizarbox should take all the time in the world to finish even if that means missing the 2009 release date.
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| 11 JAN 2009 at 9:16pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Ah, I guess you're right, avatar. But still, it's not easy to ignore all that staggering anticipation. It makes it so much harder to wait, and though I have great, almost blind trust in Jane - I'm worried that the finished product won't justify the enormous wait, that's all.
Again - every second that is dedicated to perfecting the game is a blessed second, and I'm all for it.
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| 12 JAN 2009 at 4:18am |
avatar_58Private Detective
Posts : 403
Joined: 27 MAY 2008
Status : Online | Originally Posted By TC (11 JAN 2009 9:16pm)
But still, it's not easy to ignore all that staggering anticipation. It makes it so much harder to wait, and though I have great, almost blind trust in Jane - I'm worried that the finished product won't justify the enormous wait, that's all.
Don't worry I feel the same way. It's very hard to just ignore it and treat it like any other adventure. I keep expecting some masterpiece when I know that just isn't the case 9 times out of 10 with anticipated games.
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 12:09pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Revived!
So now we're in the final days before the big day, as Jane Jensen's Gray Matter will be in store shelves in a mere few days from now (November 11th to be exact). A lot, and I mean A LOT has changed since I opened this thread more than three years ago (three years and eight months to be exact!), but I'm still into adventure games and I'm still going to get Gray Matter no matter what. Though it's quite hard what with all the varying release info. Right now I'm happy that my location is closer to Europe than to America though, as it seems America is slipping more and more away from Adventure games. :-/
It's quite surreal seeing the earlier pages of this thread, with members who are no longer active on these forums. Quite plaintive even.
So, now that it's almost here (yes I know the official English version is due in Feb. of next year, but reliable sources confirm an English version coupled with the German one about 4 days from now), what do you guys say? Going to buy? Given up because of the atrocious publication and release issues? Biting nails?
For those who are interested, there's a very good review that was written in mid-October in a French magazine (probably a special reviewer version) in the next post verbatim copy translated by a nice member from the Cort-X site.
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 12:11pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Gray Matter
I think, therefore I click
There are trends in video games. For example, for a few years now, the traditional loading progress bars have been replaced by small circles that spin the way circles know so well how to. Is it the triumph of a Buddhist view of computers, which sees drive access as a cyclical phenomenon? Is it a polite way for the developers to tell us we haven't finished waiting for the game to start? Probably.
Besides, to help us waiting, they now systematically include small "tips" in the loading screens. Small gems like "Press the 'attack' button to attack." Brilliant! And so, during the first loading screen for Gray Matter, a tip showed up: "The first studies connecting the mind with the morphology of the brain were performed in 1861." That's when I immediately knew that I was in front of a different game. Because Gray Matter is an author's game. Not one of those arrogant authors who write their name in large letters followed by a pedantic possessive, like "Peter Molyneux's" or "American McGee's", no. A talented, discreet author, an honest craftsman who does what he knows, and does it well. Hidden behind Gray Matter is Jane Jensen, brilliant video game creator to whom we notably owe the Gabriel Knights, legendary point&clicks from the 90s mixing esoterical elements with police investigation. These themes return in Gray Matter, spiced with a pinch of philosophical reflection for taste. What? In a video game? That's a reason to be afraid indeed. The souffle risks letting out the rancid smell of self-importance, or falling flat. And yet...
Adrenalin. "Adrenalin is a hormone from the family of catecholamines. It is secreted in response to a stressful situation, leading to an acceleration of the cardiac rhythm and a dilation of the bronchial tubes. It responds to a need for energy, for example to face a dangerous situation."
Hunger, cold, everything that threatens our survival, push us to take quick, careless decisions. That's how Samantha found herself Dr. Styles' assistant. Penniless, young street magician gone to London to learn more about the Daedalus, a magicians order with a pronounced taste for discretion, she sees her trip suddenly interrupted in the Oxford countryside by a motorcycle flat tire. Desperate, she decides to enter the first house she finds, where she is received with open arms. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that she spent the night in Dr. Styles' "Center for Cognitive Abnormality Research" and that, even if the center hasn't received patients for a long time, the neurologist keeps working on his experiments. In exchange for a salary she can't refuse, plus food and shelter, she is assigned her first task: go to the local campus to try and find a few young people crazy enough to participate in one of his experiments. Of course, all the local students run away as soon as Sam brings up Styles' name, and the heroin, who quickly shows herself machiavellic enough, decides to try her chances with the first-year students, poor lambs who should be oblivious enough to be fooled.
Norepinephrine. "Norepinephrine is a neuromediator that plays the role of adrenergic hormone. It is mainly secreted by the nervous fibers of the orthosympathic nervous system and functions as a neurotransmitter at the level of effector organs."
Samantha is as manipulative and witty as she is nimble with her fingers, which comes in handy to someone who wants to be a magician. On several occasions through the adventure, the player will have to use magic tricks to make progress. Whether you need to misdirect the attention of a troublemaker, or to steal an object, you can be certain that the little book Sam carries with her contains a useful recipe for the current situation. When an object or a character requires a little sleight of hand, the cursor changes, inviting the player to choose the adequate trick. A series of steps must then be followed (sliding the object up her left sleeve, transferring it to her right hand...) within a special interface. Most of the time, the actions to do are very simple, but the magic system is well put together and is a welcome change from the never-ending object combinations point&clicks have accustomed us to. So Samantha is crafty and manipulative, and when, soon enough, Dr. Styles takes a bigger role in the story, even being at some points controllable by the player, the similarity between the two protagonists will be evident. Both of them have a goal, an obsessive quest. She searches for Daedalus, he desperately tries to contact his cruelly departed wife. But he has tipped over into madness, ready to do anything just to regain his lost paradise for a moment. And, following a professional bias that we can imagine among neurologists, he ends up believing that solipsists could have been right, that reality is nothing more than what the mind makes of it, and that it could be sculpted.
Dopamine. "opamine is a neurotransmitter from the family of catecholamines and thus secreted by the tyrosine aminoacid. It was noticed that an increase in the concentration of the melanine neuro-receptors in the animal brain was coupled with an increase in its curiosity."
Of course, for someone who wants to nitpick, not everything is perfect in Gray Matter. Despite a scenario of a rare intelligence and a hardboiled execution, the game suffers from a few problems. The graphics are luxurious, certainly, but the animations are at times...
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 12:12pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | [continued]
rigid, fragmented, not lively enough. The player has to deal with a few unclear puzzles and a few situations that require examination of the slightest objects in the environment before being able to progress in the adventure; we'd have preferred a less constraining way to encourage the player to be an observer. The loading screens that systematically appear at each change of scene become tiring. But, finally, it's most regretful that a game showing such intellectual ambition, searching to delve into complex subjects without falling into pedantry, is confined to such a classical format. Gray Matter is a brilliant point&click, one of the best in recent years, but one that remains traditional, despite a few original ideas. However, video games are not art, and if we can only criticize the format of an otherwise impeccable title, in the end that means we don't have much to reproach.
- Louis-Ferdinand Sebum
Our opinion: Constantly intelligent without making a show of its intelligence, brilliantly written without being verbose, technically flawless, avoiding the abominable pitfall of the "tricky enigma" typical of the genre, Gray Matter represents the return of the ambitious adventure game, the one that gives food for thought while entertaining you. It certainly reminds us of the Gabriel Knights, but we could also think of Shadow of the Comet or Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. With a bit more daring format and without a few shortfalls, it would have been perfect. Score: 8/10.
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 2:12pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | Can't wait to play the hell out of this game. Thanks for posting new info and the review!
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 4:14pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By TC (7 NOV 2010 12:08pm)
Revived!
So now we're in the final days before the big day, as Jane Jensen's Gray Matter will be in store shelves in a mere few days from now (October 11th to be exact).
I'm assuming you meant November 11 and not October 11 since it is already November 7th. :
Also, evidently you missed the JA front page news from October 11 saying that Grey Matter has been delayed until Feb 25, 2011.
http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/GrayMatterDelayed_Oct11_10.shtm
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 4:31pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Ivinia (7 NOV 2010 4:13pm)
Originally Posted By TC (7 NOV 2010 12:08pm)
Revived!
So now we're in the final days before the big day, as Jane Jensen's Gray Matter will be in store shelves in a mere few days from now (October 11th to be exact).
I'm assuming you meant November 11 and not October 11 since it is already November 7th. :
Also, evidently you missed the JA front page news from October 11 saying that Grey Matter has been delayed until Feb 25, 2011.
http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/GrayMatterDelayed_Oct11_10.shtm
No actually, it is going to be released on November 11th, just not internationally. I'm not sure about North America, but in the UK it will be published by Lace Mamba in Feb. of next year, like I noted in my post.
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 5:56pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Is it really going to be relased this month in Europe??!!
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 10:19pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Inesrocks (7 NOV 2010 5:56pm)
Is it really going to be relased this month in Europe??!!
Yes indeed, and I'm shocked but not surprised that yet another fan of JJ (I assume?) does not know such an important fact! *SIGH* All you have to know is here - http://cort-x.fwheel.net/
I'm telling you, dtp is going to go down in gaming history as one of the companies with the worst publishing/marketing/PR ineptitudes. :
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| 7 NOV 2010 at 11:43pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | wow, thanks for the info TC! I was indeed clueless, and after reading so much about this game I really thought it was going to be released only next year. I'm so happy, I've been looking forward to this game for long
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 8 NOV 2010 at 12:36pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Inesrocks (7 NOV 2010 11:43pm)
wow, thanks for the info TC! I was indeed clueless, and after reading so much about this game I really thought it was going to be released only next year. I'm so happy, I've been looking forward to this game for long
And of course I made a slight mistake, as it's the 12th, not 11th.
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| 8 NOV 2010 at 7:27pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | Wow, I had given up on this one.
Is it actually going to be released soon.
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| 8 NOV 2010 at 9:09pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Ok, I think some things need to get cleared up here.
First off, the Nov 12th release is in Germany which I will assume also means it will be in German. TC, mind explaining your "reliable sources" that say it will be coupled with an English version?
If that's the case, then it would seem likely that most would opt to order the game from Germany rather than wait 3 months. This seems odd that a publisher who is waiting to release it elsewhere would risk less sales by holding it back 3 months - since, as you say, there is an English version ready to go.
For the rest of us not in Germany - it's currently Feb 25, 2011.
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| 8 NOV 2010 at 9:27pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Ivinia (8 NOV 2010 9:09pm)
Ok, I think some things need to get cleared up here.
First off, the Nov 12th release is in Germany which I will assume also means it will be in German. TC, mind explaining your "reliable sources" that say it will be coupled with an English version?
If that's the case, then it would seem likely that most would opt to order the game from Germany rather than wait 3 months. This seems odd that a publisher who is waiting to release it elsewhere would risk less sales by holding it back 3 months - since, as you say, there is an English version ready to go.
For the rest of us not in Germany - it's currently Feb 25, 2011.
Here - http://forum.dtp-entertainment.com/viewtopic.php?f=120&t=17028
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| 9 NOV 2010 at 12:10am |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (8 NOV 2010 9:09pm)
Ok, I think some things need to get cleared up here.
First off, the Nov 12th release is in Germany which I will assume also means it will be in German. TC, mind explaining your "reliable sources" that say it will be coupled with an English version?
If that's the case, then it would seem likely that most would opt to order the game from Germany rather than wait 3 months. This seems odd that a publisher who is waiting to release it elsewhere would risk less sales by holding it back 3 months - since, as you say, there is an English version ready to go.
For the rest of us not in Germany - it's currently Feb 25, 2011.
What people are saying is that the game will also be released in Poland so the it must be in English...
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 9 NOV 2010 at 6:57pm |
jalexSchattenjger
Posts : 2503
Joined: 5 MAR 2003
Status : Offline | It seems to me to be that all the good games are in Europe and have been for a few years. They must play a lot more adventure games over there than here in the USA. I don't mind ordering them from there but I can only read English.
I can think of many that I wanted that are still only available over there.
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| 10 NOV 2010 at 2:04am |
| Deleted User | So, in essence my understanding if correct is that the German speaking people are going to get a three month head start on the majority of us and during that said time the game will be thoroughly reviewed and so forth. For once that may not be such a bad thing, since I will know for sure whether or not if it truly is a stellar mindbender before I commit to the current retail pre-order of 50+ USD :-/ or just sit and wait.
Obviously you can tell that I never did well in understanding marketing strategy.
Originally Posted By jalex (9 NOV 2010 6:56pm)
I can think of many that I wanted that are still only available over there.
Hear you there. I've made a few subtle suggestions now and then as to why AGs do not make it to retailers, even large on-line sites here in the States and have to go to European sellers.
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| 10 NOV 2010 at 2:58pm |
AshokIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 1
Joined: 10 NOV 2010
Status : Online | I am absolutely buying this game and am not trying to condone piracy. That being said, the PAL version of Gray Matter just leaked on-line for the XBOX360 and is confirmed to be ENGLISH.
Edit: Looks like the PC version just leaked as well.
I think it's safe to say that in 2 days, an English version will be in stores in Germany!
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| 11 NOV 2010 at 12:20am |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | Y-yeah. I got curious. Here are the official system requirements:
Minimum
Windows® XP/Vista/7 with .Net Framework 2.0
1.4 GHz Pentium® 4 or comparable processor
512 MB RAM (XP) / 1 GB RAM (Vista/7)
128 MB DirectX® 9 compatible graphics card (Shader 2.0)
- at least ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, Nvidia Geforce 6200TC and Intel GMA X3200
16 bit DirectX® 9 compatible sound card
6.5 GB Hard disk space
DVD-ROM drive
Mouse, keyboard
Recommended
Windows® XP/Vista/7 with .Net Framework 2.0
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or comparable processor
1 GB RAM (XP) / 2GB RAM (Vista/7)
256 MB DirectX® 9 compatible video card (Shader 3.0)
– at least ATI Radeon 2xxx and Nvidia Geforce 8xxx
16 bit DirectX® 9 compatible sound card
6.5 GB Hard disk space
DVD-ROM drive
Mouse, keyboard
*NET Framework comes with the game
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| 11 NOV 2010 at 10:18pm |
TCPrivate Detective
Posts : 688
Joined: 14 NOV 2005
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Donna (11 NOV 2010 12:20am)
Y-yeah. I got curious. Here are the official system requirements:
Minimum
Windows® XP/Vista/7 with .Net Framework 2.0
1.4 GHz Pentium® 4 or comparable processor
512 MB RAM (XP) / 1 GB RAM (Vista/7)
128 MB DirectX® 9 compatible graphics card (Shader 2.0)
- at least ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, Nvidia Geforce 6200TC and Intel GMA X3200
16 bit DirectX® 9 compatible sound card
6.5 GB Hard disk space
DVD-ROM drive
Mouse, keyboard
Recommended
Windows® XP/Vista/7 with .Net Framework 2.0
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or comparable processor
1 GB RAM (XP) / 2GB RAM (Vista/7)
256 MB DirectX® 9 compatible video card (Shader 3.0)
– at least ATI Radeon 2xxx and Nvidia Geforce 8xxx
16 bit DirectX® 9 compatible sound card
6.5 GB Hard disk space
DVD-ROM drive
Mouse, keyboard
*NET Framework comes with the game
Thanks Dona!
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| 13 NOV 2010 at 4:09pm |
Simo Sakari AaltonenSpace Cadet
Posts : 130
Joined: 23 APR 2004
Status : Offline | Gray Matter was indeed released in German-speaking countries on 12 November 2010. Both German and English versions are included. The box and manual are in German, but setting the language to English means exactly that: everything in the game will be in English, including voiceovers.
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