Competition

Babbling at the Counter #34 – Game Theory

Competition

Join us next week for a special review. All thanks to Dazzling March!

Short thought today. As you may know, I’m a big fan of Pen and Paper RPGs. And when I play a video game with multiplayer options, it’s usually co-op.

Why? Well, I just don’t like to play against other people. Mostly because I suck. Big time.

Still, I realize that competition is a healthy part of games. I may not enjoy having to spend hours to master a game in order to stay competitive, but simple ones that are easily learned can be a blast.

I offered both Uberleben and 0Space, which are competitive video games, but even in pen ands paper you can have that.

While playing BADASS, some characters started trying to up-stage each other. Soon, it devolved into a semi fight between them. Even though they all wanted the same thing (recover a MacGuffin for the party) two players started spending Badass Points to surpass their teammate’s roll and make the other look bad. Fun times were had.

Healthy competition is great. I find it hard to foster at a gaming table, and it can be hard to make a competitive and casual game, but it’s worth the try nonetheless. It’s been done before, you know?

- The Storeman

0Space, Zero-Gravity Deathmatch!

Review #34 – Free Video Game

0Space, Zero-Gravity Deathmatch!

Join us next week for a special review. All thanks to Dazzling March!

Blasters, proton grenades and laser swords. 2 to 4 players trapped in a confined arena. Who will walk out?

The setup is pretty simple. 0Space is a free-for-all combat. Killing someone earns you a point, dying takes one from you (as you can die without being killed by another player, this is an important rule). If you are hit, you die. No lifebar, no shields, no nothing. There really isn’t much else to add, at least rules wise.

The signature feature of 0Space is the low gravity environment. You may use it to your advantage, or find yourself drifting off into space (and dying) if you are not careful. And of course, how to bounce grenades on the walls is another nifty skill to acquire while playing.

The game is really easy to learn, and each match is really quick (at least with the four/five rounds I usually use). The only thing that might prove problematic is that only two-players can share a keyboard, to play with more you need controllers.

And don’t get to mad if things don’t go your way. Each round, a player gets to choose all the stages that will be used, so you will get you vengeance sooner or later.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Link: http://teknopants.com/2012/04/0space/

Action Fist! He stole from you. No one steals from you.

Review #30 – Free Video Game

Action Fist! He stole from you. No one steals from you.

From the creator of Uberleben comes another great gem. Clearly inspired by old classics, Action Fist! is both familiar and new. You’ll find yourself comfortable with the controls in a snap, like in old arcades. It’s all gunfire and mayhem from this point on!

Action Fist! is a co-op, and I highly recommend playing it like that.

The power up system is also a fun feature. You have both straight power ups like multi shot or rapid fire, sure. Now, in a world color coded for your convenience, picking up a color for your gun helps you deal extra damage to enemies of the same color. As you can only have two different weapons and there are three colors, you can see why a partner to provide that extra color can save you.

On difficulty, there are a lot of options. I’m sure one will suit your needs.

Last note, but an important one. There’s a level with rain in the background. It caused a fair share of lag in my computer. Don’t worry though, it’s only one level. You should be able to play through it.

Give adventure a try! And if you are looking for a setting to play BADASS, look no further!

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Link: http://teknopants.com/2010/05/action-fist/

Party Games

Babbling at the Counter #25 – Video Games

Party Games

This overlooked category has a lot of room for development. What do I call a “party game”? Well, and example would be Uberleben, from last week. A simple short game, that can accommodate multiple players and with great replay value.

Let’s see each one of this points and why they are important:

Multiplayer: This one is obvious. In a party, there will be more than 2 players, so a game that can be played by more people at the same time is good.

Replay value: This ties to the “short” part of the definition. You won’t play this game once, but multiple times with multiple people. And it should be fun to play even after you have seen someone else do it.

Short: If the game can’t handle more than two people, you will want turns to rotate fast. And even if it does have room for three or more people, it’s best if each game round is short. So everyone gets a turn, mainly.

Simple: Up to this point, lots of games would qualify for a party game. What sets them apart is this very idea. Fighting games, for example, are multiplayer (two people), with short rounds and with replay value. But they are so complex that an experienced player can go around undefeated and that’s not fun. When designing a party game, keep an eye on this one.

This may be one of the most rambling babbles I have ever written. Some time I could try and organize it better. We will see.

- The Storeman

Uberleben, which means “Parachute Race” (no, not really)

Review #25 – Free Video Game

Uberleben, which means “Parachute Race” (no, not really)

For those at home keeping score, Uberleben means “survival” (source: internet search for “uberleben translation”). Why? Well, this game is a savage free-for-all between you and up to six friends while falling down through the air and dodging obstacles.

Uberleben is a really, really simple game. You sit everyone together and each player only needs four directional buttons. That’s it, try to survive. If by some weird coincidence all of you have lighting like reflexes, you can add some challenge with the camera spin. Completely random is for pros only.

Now, if you try this game alone, you are missing out on the real idea behind it. Put a few friends in front of this and I promise you, you’ll lose at least an hour before you all notice. It’s like Dungeons of Fayte, both are simple games that can keep even your non-gaming friends hooked.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Link: http://teknopants.com/2010/01/uberleben/

Dungeons of Fayte

Review #01 – Free Video Game

Dungeons of Fayte

Hi, as a first review, I’d like to talk about Dungeons of Fayte. This little game was the one that made me realize that there are a lot of well done free games out there. It’s a bit glitchy, but completely playable.

Created during one of the contest held at TIGSource, it’s a Co-op RPG with training options a la Princess Maker and some humor. It can be played by up to four players, using the keyboard and mouse, or controllers if you have them.

Now, I have to say this: this game is easy. I mean, if all you want to do is to have some fun with a few friends and clear this game once, have at it, it’s not going to take more than an hour. Hour and a half, tops.

So, am I saying this game offers no challenge? No, sir/madam, that’s not what I’m saying. If you want a challenge, you have a great survival mode in the Hall of Legends to test your abilities (both when training your character and playing it) and unlock a few extras.

And the best of all is that this game is short and full of options, so it can be played again and again. I mean, it has 4 different dungeons and you play only three each game. There are lots of unique classes and events to trigger. There are multiple endings that take into account your class, stats and whether you defeated or were defeated by the final boss. You won’t be able to play it just once.

Bottom line: an excellent game, with replayability, with multiplayer fun, and both casual and hardcore appeal. Next time you have a couple of geeky friends with a sense of humor give this bad boy a try.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Link: http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=10372.0