It’s highly polished, completely free, and employs classic red/cyan 3D with unsettling effect. It doesn’t have to be played in 3D (normal versions are included), but there’s something unnerving about moving around a claustrophobic environment with a barrier in front of your eyes, resulting in everything appearing closer than it really is.

It’s best experienced not knowing (avoid the videos) much more.

Except a word of warning… “Please be aware that the game contains violence, blood, and slight gore.”

There doesn’t seem to be a preloader so please be patient. That’s all.

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Saying anymore would ruin it.

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Damn

How did she know?

I needed to talk to her, to catch up with her, but the faster I ran, the further she got away.

I started to imagine music playing. It would push me on, and build, and build. I became addicted to the chase.

She would drop hints, scattering them to the wind. Was it to spur me on, or divert my attention? I did not waver.

A walk became a jog. A jog a run. A run a sprint.

The world became a blur. Trees and clouds whizzed by. I leapt over rocks and blazed through the snow.

The speed was exhilarating. Super Sonic.

She became a blurred figure, and I would catch her, I could catch her, but my attention wavered.

So I stumbled. I spun out of control. Face to the ground.

I picked myself up. Expected her to be gone. The chase was over.

But there she was just standing there. Looking away. Just out of reach.

So without a thought, I walked towards her, and she began to walk away.

Time flew by but the chase continued. I would get faster, closer(?), but I would always stumble, again and again and again.

…

One day it was snowing. I saw her standing there. I could catch her, but it felt like an age, and I was so tired.

Others can chase.

I walked away.

Thanks to IndieGames for the heads up.

We’ve written about his work before and the same applies here. There are two(?) endings to discover and should only take a few minutes of your day.

The music is appropriate and affecting, the gameplay is clever, and the art is simple and well considered. I love the way the narrative unfolds and is an excellent example of how these kind of stories/poems are unique to the game/interactive medium.

Special mention must go to Daniel’s sponsorship system. Donating any amount will get you a pack which contains standalone versions of and emoticons based on his games, and soundtrack, but special sponsors at varying levels get bonuses ranging from – your name and link in the credits of his next game, to including a new ending of your choosing. A wonderful concept that keeps his games relatively free.

Thanks to IndieGames for the heads up.

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4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness by Kloonigames is an experimental art game that explores the definition of what constitutes a game.

It’s simple. Download then run the game. If no one else in the world begins playing the game during the next 4 minutes and 33 seconds, you win! If someone does begin playing, the game shuts down and you have to start your 4 minutes and 33 seconds all over again.

What does it look like? Are there sweet graphics? It starts off as an entirely black screen, and as time passes, a white bar slowly fills it from left to right. The game is a progress bar.

But wait, there is more. One of the creators has just recently put together a very appropriate addition to his game. A Google Maps visualization of the current player playing the game – where they’re located and how long they’ve been playing for. Brilliant!

So you don’t actually do anything for those 273 seconds… Well, except wait anxiously – readying yourself for an abrupt and silent shut down. Who am I kidding? It’s nerve wrecking! It may sound brain-dead boring but it’s quite compelling, and addictive – or perhaps I’m just a masochist?

But is this really a game? Some believe it isn’t, exclaiming that, “… there’s no actual game-play… You have one action (‘load the game,’) and then success or failure is determined, essentially, by chance.” but I disagree. The decision of when and how often to run the game can be quite complex. Especially if you’re into griefing other players. The game extends the play session to encompass loading the game itself.  It’s not usual, but it’s perfectly legitimate.

Is it an experimental art game? Well, it has definitely ignited many fervent discussions since its release, so it has achieved its purpose. I believe it’s as a dead simple massive multiplayer game in the purest sense.

4 Minutes and 33 Seconds of Uniqueness was created for the Nordic Game Jam for the theme, “As long as we have each other, we’ll never run out of problems”. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate game for such an interesting theme.

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The following screenshots are of my last and final playthrough, of which occurred a few weeks ago. I can’t recall how long I played this game for (reload, reload, reload – time into black hole) but I finally completed it. I count myself lucky as the more popular this game gets, the harder it will be to complete.

I’ve linked off the ending just in case you’re curious and/or at the brink of committing suicide from extreme frustration. Enjoy ;)

Click to View Ending
(opens new window)

This is how Erik Loyer describes his opertoon.

Ruben & Lullaby are lovers having their first fight, and whether they break up or make up depends on you! A new kind of entertainment called an “opertoon,” Ruben & Lullaby is part comic, part game, part musical instrument, and controlled with motions and gestures which enable you to shape the feelings of the characters.

My take. Ruben & Lullaby is an iPhone/iPod game where what happens next is determined by the gestures you make. Rub to calm, shake to anger, touch to direct and tilt to progress time. It’s ridiculously simple but the affect is anything but. It’s complex not in the, “how does this relate to the game state” sense but rather the, “what on earth am I doing playing this game?” sense.

Don’t get me wrong, the gestural controls are intuitive and suit the gameplay well, but it’s also a little… unnerving. It is as if you are some kind of unseen creepy relationship stalker-spirit that literally strokes and shakes couples at their weakest moment. The controls are similar to the Wii except more intimate. It’s like a Tamagotchi except you’re toying with humans. Stroking their faces to sooth their anger. Grasping their heads and shaking them violently until they lash out at one other. Gently poking at their eyes until they look your way. That kind of unnerving.

Ruben and Lullaby don’t say a word. You are left to imagine what they are fighting about as they stare, contemplate, snarl, purse and pout in silence. The game’s concept is interesting and innovative but from a traditional gaming standpoint it’s perhaps too challenging. It extracts the fun and replaces it with a cocktail of your mind’s ooze. Sure, the jazz track and aural gestural feedback help but the length of the game negates most of whatever mood it’s intended to create. The story of Ruben & Lullaby is the story you tell yourself without first knowing what you wish to say.

When you reach the end, you are relieved. The battle is finally over. Perhaps someone walked away? Perhaps things stayed the same? Whatever the case you swear you’re done with it but then pop up the words “Play again”. There’s no question mark, so you play it again and again and again…

Ruben & Lullaby is an interesting and innovative adult game concept. It’s worth your time but is it worth the price (US$2.99 or AUD$3.99)? It’s steep at first but it’s really only the price of a large cup of coffee, if you can give up a large cup of coffee.

In fact, I think could do with a cup of coffee right about now. A very very very strong coffee.

]]> http://if90.net/2009/01/29/ruben-lullaby/feed/ 2 http://if90.net/2009/01/21/seizuredome/ http://if90.net/2009/01/21/seizuredome/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:19:37 +0000 Yang Wong http://if90.net/?p=752 Does not induce a seizure and does not involve a dome. No… it’s SeizureDome!

A top-down shoot ‘em up by Cactus Milk where the goal is to avoid getting pushed to the sides.

Enemies? Sumo wrestlers, sumo babies, snowballs, spinning conjoined sumo twins, tanks and cars.

Unreasonably addictive and funky music.

Weapons with a primary and secondary mode of fire and powerups.

It’s really fun!

If you have fought the urge to ignore me because you thought I was lying, and you actually enjoyed it, please check out some of his other games. The Cactus Arcade is a great place to start.

Direct a flow of light through audio containers using a set of controls. The audio landscape forms as containers are filled with light.

The Auditorium demo encompasses 4 well designed Acts and from the first moment, its highly polished presentation draws you in and the quality of its web presence is a shining example of quality indie game marketing and development. They even provide a backstory for discussion.

The 4th Act, Spring, is when it is at its most playful and rewarding but unfortunately the Preview after Spring is somewhat confusing as it is over too quick. No matter, it’s still early days yet.

Auditorium is something amazing to look forward to.

]]> http://if90.net/2008/12/22/auditorium/feed/ 4 http://if90.net/2008/11/26/the-disc/ http://if90.net/2008/11/26/the-disc/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:05:57 +0000 Yang Wong http://if90.net/?p=552 The Disc is a narrative-driven mystery puzzle augmented reality game (ARG) that encourages the player to engage in unusual challenges in an attempt to solve the mystery, “What is The Disc?”

The game involves technologies such as Flash, Director and JavaScript, while also incorporating ’simpler’ media such as tactile objects and the Windows Operating System itself.

It is an offline experience. Its entire game world – within a disc, within its case…

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The game explores the extent of the term ‘multimedia’ by integrating as many forms of media as possible within a non-linear but cohesive and engaging narrative. Of all the game’s features, the use of the Windows OS as part of the game environment is the most interesting. Uncommon forms of interaction were explored through the exploitation and subversion of the Windows operating system’s functionality and metaphors.

The Disc was designed and developed by Yang Wong over a 4 month period in 2003. You can view The Disc’s entire design documentation at the following location. It is full of spoilers.

The Disc – Design Documentation

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Below is the storyboard for The Disc’s screenshot trailer. As the trailer is overlong and in desperate need of music, I felt this was a better way to present it. If you wish to view the actual trailer, you can find it at the following location.

The Disc – Trailer

Unfortunately I can’t provide the game for download as it’s quite large but if you’re interested, please send me an email and I’ll send you a copy as soon as I can.

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i have one thing to ask of you, will you listen to my tale?

this is where it all began

the mystery drew me in

the first puzzle was solved

invigorated, I searched high and low

but I didn’t realise something was watching

the trail led to virtual things

its contents I could understand

they told me they were watching, but they also asked for help

…

they led me to the answers

for reasons I could not understand

and then in a moment I figured it out, for it was not what it seemed

i was compelled to complete the Puzzle

but then it took my mind

i saw so many things that day

I learnt about the past and our future together

how we will all lose control

so I chose to break apart instead

for I knew what I had to do

to warn against what I had done

and …

to give the disc to you …

Development Summary

Roles: All (Yang Wong)
Technology: Flash 7, Director MX, JavaScript, Windows OS, HTML, CSS, Photoshop
Year: 2003

Please watch the trailer for his CD after the jump. You may like it. You may even be impressed!

Independent game development is something I strongly believe in and support because it’s important and inspiring. Some of the most fun and interesting games to have come out recently are indie (World of Goo, Braid) and many more attempt to push the boundaries of games as an expressive artistic medium.

IGN have an in-depth article on Edmund McMillen which describes his work much better than I could.

And straight from the artist.
The Independent Artistic endeavors of Edmund McMillen