pym
02-12-2006, 03:10 PM
I know it is a long post, but I hope you will see another gaming world when you finish the last line...
You've probably noticed that we are always speaking about big titles and sequels that are on the stores shelves (or soon will be).
Those titles sell thousands of copies within a short period of time.
Each of these may be advanced and graphically good looking, but sometimes, repulsively commercialized and it is getting a bit tiring playing the same story, with no innovative gameplay whatsoever.
The worst part is we, gamers, have to pay a lot of money for each one of these…
If you feel the same way as I do, I have news for you, there is a huge, amazing, innovative and FREE world to explore!
So, sometimes, late at night, when everyone's asleep (including my wife and daughter), I find myself putting those big names aside for a moment, activate my dimension sphere and walk over to the other side of PC gaming.
A world where creativity and innovation are key players.
A world full of danger and adventure.
A world that I like to call, The Alternative Gamer World, Muhahahahahahah
Exciting Adventures
The adventure genre may be dieing when looking from the commercialized games point of view.
But behind closed doors, on the net, this business is quiet blooming!
If you do a little search, you'll be able to find remakes for classic games such as King Quest 1: Quest for the Crown and Maniac Mansion Deluxe that takes up back in time to experience these classics, but with better graphics and a new gameplay.
If you want something new, you better try the brilliant flash adventure Brain Hotel.
You play the role of Ed Arnold, a hapless deliveryman who gets tangled in the annual supervillain convention at the Brain Hotel. Ed reluctantly becomes involved in a plot to defeat one of the more ruthless supervillains at the convention.
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5593/27pc.png
Brain Hotel (http://www.otterarchives.com/brainhotel/)
If, after the cancellations of Full Throttle 2 and Sam & Max 2, you miss the LucasArts adventures style, you MUST try Apprentice and Apprentice 2: The Knight’s Move.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8088/11js1.png
Apprentice (http://herculeaneffort.adventuredevelopers.com/app1.html#top)
Also, Adventure Game Studio (AGS for short) allows you to create your own point-and-click adventure games.
Here you'll find a whole lot of adventures, home made by fans and you may create your own one and share with the world, cool!
AVG (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/)
Text Games
No need to panic, Text Games do not bite (usually)!
These games have no ehhh, well, hmmm, they require us to actually to hmmmm ..... READ! there, I said it, I feel great!
Well, ok, I'll continue... ;)
Some of the most deep and amazing games in PC gaming history are text based.
Such games can be so much better than graphical ones in so many aspects. Text is a better way to describe feelings and relationships.
They activate our imaginations and creativity, just like a good book.
Text games present us with moral conflicts, hard decisions and amazing storyline.
Take Andrew Plotkin's amazing Spider and Web.
A futuristic spy story with a highly unusual structure. The bulk of the game consists of flashbacks, as you try to recreate, to the satisfaction of the man interrogating you, the events leading up to your capture. The strangest thing about this is that the protagonist knows more about what's happened than the player does.
A must, get it here:
Spider and Web (http://www.wurb.com/if/game/207)
If you liked it, try Andrew Plotkin's others as well:
Shade and So Far , which will strike you with perfect story and make you think...
If you feel like laughing a little, try these:
Pick up the Phone Booth and Die, a very nice parody for those who played a little Text Adventires.
Pick up the Phone Booth and Die (http://www.spatch.net/games/index.shtml)
Quake IT - a textual version for Quake, made especially for the first of April.
All you have to do is put on your glasses and download this small
program (http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/WindowsFrotz2002.zip) and enjoy!
Free OnlineGames
massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) are a rising star in the gaming industry's sky. Although not as good looking and fun, you still may find some good, long lasting MMORPG games for free.
Take Runescape for example, a fantasy game that had above 70,000 users.
runescape (http://www.runescape.com/)
Crossfire is another good example for this
Destroy hundreds of monsters on huge bloody maps...
Look here:
Crossfire (http://crossfire.real-time.com/)
The main thing, do not be afraid to try
The magic about The Alternative Gamer is that he has no limits.
The alternative gamer is not afraid of exploring new worlds, trying new things that he won't find in regular shelf games.
Trying the bizarre, odd, weird side of the game world.
Going to places where no gamer has been before...
This article has just a few references to some games, but the selection is just endless!!!
You may try other games, arcades, RPG chat rooms, long E-mail games, simple physics games etc.
I love the big names, the graphics and the noise, but sometimes, I like to switch to this alternate reality where the sky is the limit and I just have to choose the world I want to explore!
--Suggested by zachig:
The Breakdown
You're playing the pointy haired main character, and your objective is to get to your home town and cash the winning lottery ticket in time.
The game was developed with AGAST (Adventure Game Authoring System) made by Russell Bailey and Todd Zankich.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2179/screenshot20om.jpg
Check it out here (http://thebreakdown.adventuredevelopers.com/)
Thingavore
Thingavore is 2D, side-scrolling problem solving game. You play the role of the adorable and quirky "Thingavore" who overcomes obstacles by, as its name implies, using and most especially eating different objects. You must navigate through each level which is filled with destructible terrain, water, hazards, doors, buttons, and many different items to help you along the way.
Here's the website of the game, where you can download it:
http://www.gettagd.com/project_sites/thingavore/
--Suggested by bulwark:
It's more of a game for younger teens, but I found Maplestory pretty addictive. It's a free MMORPG, it'd 2D sde-scrolling, and the visuals are anime-like.
Check it out here (http://www.mapleglobal.com/)
Other pymArticles:
Buying Video Games - Stores vs Online Download Services (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6935&highlight=pymarticle)
Living in a virtual reality... (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7104&highlight=pymarticle)
Easter Eggs (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7218&highlight=pymarticle)
A guide to the alternative gamer (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5742&highlight=pymarticle)
Top 10 upcoming 2006 games (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6337&highlight=pymarticle)
SLI vs CrossFire, second generation (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6277&highlight=pymarticle)
- pym
You've probably noticed that we are always speaking about big titles and sequels that are on the stores shelves (or soon will be).
Those titles sell thousands of copies within a short period of time.
Each of these may be advanced and graphically good looking, but sometimes, repulsively commercialized and it is getting a bit tiring playing the same story, with no innovative gameplay whatsoever.
The worst part is we, gamers, have to pay a lot of money for each one of these…
If you feel the same way as I do, I have news for you, there is a huge, amazing, innovative and FREE world to explore!
So, sometimes, late at night, when everyone's asleep (including my wife and daughter), I find myself putting those big names aside for a moment, activate my dimension sphere and walk over to the other side of PC gaming.
A world where creativity and innovation are key players.
A world full of danger and adventure.
A world that I like to call, The Alternative Gamer World, Muhahahahahahah
Exciting Adventures
The adventure genre may be dieing when looking from the commercialized games point of view.
But behind closed doors, on the net, this business is quiet blooming!
If you do a little search, you'll be able to find remakes for classic games such as King Quest 1: Quest for the Crown and Maniac Mansion Deluxe that takes up back in time to experience these classics, but with better graphics and a new gameplay.
If you want something new, you better try the brilliant flash adventure Brain Hotel.
You play the role of Ed Arnold, a hapless deliveryman who gets tangled in the annual supervillain convention at the Brain Hotel. Ed reluctantly becomes involved in a plot to defeat one of the more ruthless supervillains at the convention.
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/5593/27pc.png
Brain Hotel (http://www.otterarchives.com/brainhotel/)
If, after the cancellations of Full Throttle 2 and Sam & Max 2, you miss the LucasArts adventures style, you MUST try Apprentice and Apprentice 2: The Knight’s Move.
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8088/11js1.png
Apprentice (http://herculeaneffort.adventuredevelopers.com/app1.html#top)
Also, Adventure Game Studio (AGS for short) allows you to create your own point-and-click adventure games.
Here you'll find a whole lot of adventures, home made by fans and you may create your own one and share with the world, cool!
AVG (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/)
Text Games
No need to panic, Text Games do not bite (usually)!
These games have no ehhh, well, hmmm, they require us to actually to hmmmm ..... READ! there, I said it, I feel great!
Well, ok, I'll continue... ;)
Some of the most deep and amazing games in PC gaming history are text based.
Such games can be so much better than graphical ones in so many aspects. Text is a better way to describe feelings and relationships.
They activate our imaginations and creativity, just like a good book.
Text games present us with moral conflicts, hard decisions and amazing storyline.
Take Andrew Plotkin's amazing Spider and Web.
A futuristic spy story with a highly unusual structure. The bulk of the game consists of flashbacks, as you try to recreate, to the satisfaction of the man interrogating you, the events leading up to your capture. The strangest thing about this is that the protagonist knows more about what's happened than the player does.
A must, get it here:
Spider and Web (http://www.wurb.com/if/game/207)
If you liked it, try Andrew Plotkin's others as well:
Shade and So Far , which will strike you with perfect story and make you think...
If you feel like laughing a little, try these:
Pick up the Phone Booth and Die, a very nice parody for those who played a little Text Adventires.
Pick up the Phone Booth and Die (http://www.spatch.net/games/index.shtml)
Quake IT - a textual version for Quake, made especially for the first of April.
All you have to do is put on your glasses and download this small
program (http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/WindowsFrotz2002.zip) and enjoy!
Free OnlineGames
massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) are a rising star in the gaming industry's sky. Although not as good looking and fun, you still may find some good, long lasting MMORPG games for free.
Take Runescape for example, a fantasy game that had above 70,000 users.
runescape (http://www.runescape.com/)
Crossfire is another good example for this
Destroy hundreds of monsters on huge bloody maps...
Look here:
Crossfire (http://crossfire.real-time.com/)
The main thing, do not be afraid to try
The magic about The Alternative Gamer is that he has no limits.
The alternative gamer is not afraid of exploring new worlds, trying new things that he won't find in regular shelf games.
Trying the bizarre, odd, weird side of the game world.
Going to places where no gamer has been before...
This article has just a few references to some games, but the selection is just endless!!!
You may try other games, arcades, RPG chat rooms, long E-mail games, simple physics games etc.
I love the big names, the graphics and the noise, but sometimes, I like to switch to this alternate reality where the sky is the limit and I just have to choose the world I want to explore!
--Suggested by zachig:
The Breakdown
You're playing the pointy haired main character, and your objective is to get to your home town and cash the winning lottery ticket in time.
The game was developed with AGAST (Adventure Game Authoring System) made by Russell Bailey and Todd Zankich.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2179/screenshot20om.jpg
Check it out here (http://thebreakdown.adventuredevelopers.com/)
Thingavore
Thingavore is 2D, side-scrolling problem solving game. You play the role of the adorable and quirky "Thingavore" who overcomes obstacles by, as its name implies, using and most especially eating different objects. You must navigate through each level which is filled with destructible terrain, water, hazards, doors, buttons, and many different items to help you along the way.
Here's the website of the game, where you can download it:
http://www.gettagd.com/project_sites/thingavore/
--Suggested by bulwark:
It's more of a game for younger teens, but I found Maplestory pretty addictive. It's a free MMORPG, it'd 2D sde-scrolling, and the visuals are anime-like.
Check it out here (http://www.mapleglobal.com/)
Other pymArticles:
Buying Video Games - Stores vs Online Download Services (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6935&highlight=pymarticle)
Living in a virtual reality... (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7104&highlight=pymarticle)
Easter Eggs (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7218&highlight=pymarticle)
A guide to the alternative gamer (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5742&highlight=pymarticle)
Top 10 upcoming 2006 games (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6337&highlight=pymarticle)
SLI vs CrossFire, second generation (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6277&highlight=pymarticle)
- pym