Yes, he does.

An array could be a stack of cubes with physics properties!

Same thing, a array serves a purpose to something. It's all about the context.

Not necessarily. Perhaps the array is used in a general sorting algorithm that should be applicable in any context, for any purpose. Sometimes you're going to need abstraction.

We're currently stuck on the make-the-monster-angry-on-purpose level

I haven't played it myself (don't have a PS3) but that seems very odd to me. If keeping the symbolism consistent, wouldn't that mean getting your dad drunk on purpose being necessary to progress?

The review in the newspaper said essentially the same thing as you, that the gameplay keeps distracting from the story and meaning of the work.

[Aftermath]

There is no win state in 09801, and I didn't intend for it to be the kind of game you replay to get different endings or story branches. The "story branches" are there to make the characters' reactions to your input (type/not type) feel more natural and believable. I suppose searching for victory conditions comes naturally, especially if you notice that the nature of the "story branches" which are rather traditional and similar to visual novels, etc. (A more advanced AI would be a massive undertaking and completely unfeasible given the time constraints.) Perhaps there would be a way to more clearly communicate this so players don't waste their time.

Remnants is not for me. I love the music of Swans but I don't like this kind of narrative.

Whereas I also admire Swans, Remnants is more inspired by Gira's solo works and writings. By "this kind of narrative" I suppose you mean the content moreso than the presentation (or both)?


Thanks everyone for your thoughts and impressions.


I've also made two new short games, one in 3 hours and one in ~8 (although for a 72 hour jam). One turned out quite like I expected (although lacking in audio); the other, not so much.

Aftermath - Download

A collection of thoughts regarding her, or a final explanation and apology - Postmortem - Download - Text
Postmortem recommended rather than the game (although I suppose it could be good to have played it when reading the postmortem).

We can't access the video unless specifically invited. What you want is not a private video, it's an unlisted one.

[72 hour game]

72 hour game

Download

The most dangerous myth of modern times is the one that says we are all heroes!

Yes, instead we should all know are place as cogs in the machine, worthless, rotting hunks of meat. You're right, that is much better! Why aspire to be anything better when we can be nothing at all.

I think your POV is dangerous. Simply awful.

I think the black-or-white POV that either you're a hero or you're a "worthless, rotting hunk of meat" seems far more dangerous...

It is literally impossible not to use that energy. It is, as said, the building principles of our universe.

Speaking of which, the gameB-page says Q4, not Q3, so that should probably be fixed. 

Are you suggesting that open trade between individuals was the cause of this demolition, rather than Stuttgart's apparently uncaring (and presumably elected) city council?

Surely both are to blame?

The point, I presume, was that capitalism is inherently amoral. And... well... capitalism kinda does kill people. :p

Money and trade are not exclusive to capitalism.

Those things are 'spela' in Swedish.

It doesn't matter how high or low-level you go in programming. It's still only a collection of pre-made blocks. There's no reason a visual approach or similar could not be Turing complete.

Even more evidence that the market is starving for some non-game content!

Ok, so I've now been to the Arabic Game Jam with both some positive experiences and some big disappointments. I thought it was going to be more about developing a game and less about pitching an unfinished game concept... (with questions from the jury like "so, can you win?", "what about multiplayer?" and "what's the business model?") and with talks about creating games for the arabic speaking market rather than the arabic speaking world.

The biggest surprise was Josef Fares, renowned Swedish film maker and currently game developer. He ranted against metacritic and all the preconceptions about what games have to be. He also talked about how much of the medium is still undiscovered, using an analogy about some kid in a candy store that now eludes me. I didn't get to talk to him about notgames, though, as I was stressed, hadn't slept much and was in the middle of developing a game. Still, it was very nice to hear that I'm not alone, with some people on the Internet I've never met, in this struggle.

For anyone interested in our game, here it is.