Now I know why adventure games are not very popular

That's one way to look at it. But then, aren't most games pretty much
about pointing and clicking on something? Even shooters are pretty much
pushing a button or two when it comes down to it...
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

"Peasant" wrote

>I picked up Syberia at Walmart for ten bucks. Where's the game in this
>thing? The hardest part about it is finding all the hotspots to click your
>mouse. Last adventure game I buy, that's for sure.

Wait until you reach your first puzzle.

I'm betting you'll be looking for a 'walkthrough' five minutes later.
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Peasant wrote:
> I picked up Syberia at Walmart for ten bucks. Where's the game in this
> thing? The hardest part about it is finding all the hotspots to click
> your mouse. Last adventure game I buy, that's for sure.

It had some nice parts.. The visual beauty of the different
environments and the story were the two main points of interest for me.
Towards the end I was wishing it had been a novel instead though so I
could be immersed in the plot and storyline without the distractions of
a GUI and the slow walking/backtracking.

Syberia is not the best introductory experience for new adventurers in
my opinion. It has a more calm pacing that may not hold the interests
of former action and RTS game players. On the other hand, most of the
puzzles are easy and quick to solve. I got hung up on a couple of them
because of how *overly* easy they were! I kept on trying to do more
than was actually required (e.g. 'fixing' the music piece at the
university).

A better introduction to adventure gaming can be found in LucasArts'
Grim Fandango.

--
Best Regards, mattchu
np:
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Yeah, but Grim Fandango actually requires you to know your keyboard!

In terms of game design, I have to say that I really think Gabriel
Knight 3 was underrated by many critics. There was so much to do and so
many people and things to interact with, that you could play over and
over again and find new layers and things you missed the first time
around. In a way it was a lot like a polished version of Laura Bow 1.
Of course, the first half of the game is very slow in the action and
suspense department, and I know a lot of people just aren't interested
in the folklore and history it was trying to showcase early in the
game, unless you're a Da Vinci Code fan...
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Peasant wrote:

> I picked up Syberia at Walmart for ten bucks. Where's the game in this
> thing? The hardest part about it is finding all the hotspots to click
> your mouse. Last adventure game I buy, that's for sure.

Maybe the problem is that you would prefer use your reflexes and shoot
targets rather than your brain. I'd bet you don't enjoy reading books either.
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Mary wrote:
> <macross3 DeleteThis @excite.com> wrote in message
> news:1140993858.052307.74600@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> > Yeah, but Grim Fandango actually requires you to know your keyboard!
>
> >
> > In terms of game design, I have to say that I really think Gabriel
> > Knight 3 was underrated by many critics. There was so much to do and
> so
> > many people and things to interact with, that you could play over and
> > over again and find new layers and things you missed the first time
> > around. In a way it was a lot like a polished version of Laura Bow 1.
>
> I too thought it was underrated. I thought GK3 was very a very good
> game. Not quite as good as GK2 but just as good as GK1.

I thought each game had its strengths and weaknesses. GK2 had the
darkest and most compelling storyline of the three, but as a game it
was very simple to play. GK3 was the most tame of the three games
storywise, but had the most intricate game design. GK1 was a nice mix
of both worlds but had some dodgy plotting in some areas.

> I didn't play
> the first Laura Bow. Wasn't that "The Colonels Bequest"?

Yep!

> I played Laura
> Bow 2. I liked it. I always hoped for another Laura Bow game, as I did
> about a lot of games, but it never happened.


Jane Jensen worked on the Laura Bow games, or at least Laura Bow 2, so
I can see where she got some of her influences in terms of game design.
But anyway, Laura Bow 1 had a similar setup as GK3 where you were stuck
in a single house/hotel with a bunch of suspects, and you'd go around
trying to eavesdrop and snoop as much as you can. Playing GK3 reminded
me a lot of that (except of course there were more things to do outside
of the hotel also). Laura Bow 2 also was like that but it didn't have
the freewheeling gameplay that Laura Bow 1 and GK3 had. Also, both
Laura Bow games had this time structure where certain events occurred
at certain times and if you missed it, you missed it. In both LB1 and
GK3 you could beat the game while missing out on a lot of key scenes
and facts, but you wouldn't get full points by the end of the game if
you did.

I don't recall in Laura Bow 1 if you could get stuck forever if you
missed doing something, but you might remember that in Laura Bow 2 you
could get stuck forever if you missed picking up an item or two. That's
where I felt GK3 polished up that system by making it so that you
couldn't pass a section without doing the bare essentials that you
needed to do to beat the game.
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

<macross3.TakeThisOut@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1140993858.052307.74600@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> Yeah, but Grim Fandango actually requires you to know your keyboard!

>
> In terms of game design, I have to say that I really think Gabriel
> Knight 3 was underrated by many critics. There was so much to do and
so
> many people and things to interact with, that you could play over and
> over again and find new layers and things you missed the first time
> around. In a way it was a lot like a polished version of Laura Bow 1.

I too thought it was underrated. I thought GK3 was very a very good
game. Not quite as good as GK2 but just as good as GK1. I didn't play
the first Laura Bow. Wasn't that "The Colonels Bequest"? I played Laura
Bow 2. I liked it. I always hoped for another Laura Bow game, as I did
about a lot of games, but it never happened.

Mary
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

<macross3.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1140999978.497571.287580@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
>
> Mary wrote:
> > <macross3.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
> > news:1140993858.052307.74600@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> > > Yeah, but Grim Fandango actually requires you to know your
keyboard!
> >
> > >
> > > In terms of game design, I have to say that I really think Gabriel
> > > Knight 3 was underrated by many critics. There was so much to do
and
> > so
> > > many people and things to interact with, that you could play over
and
> > > over again and find new layers and things you missed the first
time
> > > around. In a way it was a lot like a polished version of Laura Bow
1.
> >
> > I too thought it was underrated. I thought GK3 was very a very good
> > game. Not quite as good as GK2 but just as good as GK1.
>
> I thought each game had its strengths and weaknesses. GK2 had the
> darkest and most compelling storyline of the three, but as a game it
> was very simple to play. GK3 was the most tame of the three games
> storywise, but had the most intricate game design. GK1 was a nice mix
> of both worlds but had some dodgy plotting in some areas.
>
> > I didn't play
> > the first Laura Bow. Wasn't that "The Colonels Bequest"?
>
> Yep!
>
> > I played Laura
> > Bow 2. I liked it. I always hoped for another Laura Bow game, as I
did
> > about a lot of games, but it never happened.
>
>
> Jane Jensen worked on the Laura Bow games, or at least Laura Bow 2, so
> I can see where she got some of her influences in terms of game
design.
> But anyway, Laura Bow 1 had a similar setup as GK3 where you were
stuck
> in a single house/hotel with a bunch of suspects, and you'd go around
> trying to eavesdrop and snoop as much as you can. Playing GK3 reminded
> me a lot of that (except of course there were more things to do
outside
> of the hotel also).

I never thought of the two games in that way. I guess you mean in the
museum in LB2 where she eavesdrops all the time. There were not many
parts I remember in GK3 where you eavesdropped that I can remember,
though its been a while since I played it. With Laura Bow she listened
to so many peoples conversations in the museum that eventually I got
tired of that part, but that was
how you got to know the characters in the game. I replay many of my old
games now and then but haven't played that one for quite a while. Some
games I can remember in more detail than others.

Laura Bow 2 also was like that but it didn't have
> the freewheeling gameplay that Laura Bow 1 and GK3 had. Also, both
> Laura Bow games had this time structure where certain events occurred
> at certain times and if you missed it, you missed it. In both LB1 and
> GK3 you could beat the game while missing out on a lot of key scenes
> and facts, but you wouldn't get full points by the end of the game if
> you did.

I never pay attention to points in the game. I just play the game and
trying to figure things out is enough for me. Now that you mention it, I
remember in LB2 that you had to do things at certain times such as in
the basement or that painting in the lobby and the snake if you
remember. I don't like games like that where you have to do things at
certain times or you have to go back to a saved game. I liked Laura Bow
2 game though. I like games where you have the chance to go back and do
things if you miss something. I liked Dracula Unleashed because I liked
the videos and the acting, but if you didn't do things on a certain day
you had to do the day all over again. I made sure I got a detailed
walkthrough for that game as I can't stand having to start a day all
over again. Thank goodness, now many games where you have to do that.
Darkseed was another game like that. I gave up on it half way through
having to do the same things over and over.

> I don't recall in Laura Bow 1 if you could get stuck forever if you
> missed doing something, but you might remember that in Laura Bow 2 you
> could get stuck forever if you missed picking up an item or two.

Yes I remember as I mentioned above. I probably used a walkthrough when
I found that out

That's
> where I felt GK3 polished up that system by making it so that you
> couldn't pass a section without doing the bare essentials that you
> needed to do to beat the game.

Yes, it was much better in that way. I liked the story in GK3.Some
people didn't like Tim Curry as Gabriel Knight in GK3, but I thought he
was fine. I liked all the acting. The game was a bit slow moving at
times. That was about the only thing I didn't like. I liked the acting
in GK2 the best in that series. I liked the videos and the tour of
Ludwig's castle. Some games such as that are very educational as the
castle really exists and so does Wagners museum and the streets in
Munich and other areas around Munic in the game.

Mary
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

> It had some nice parts.. The visual beauty of the different
> environments and the story were the two main points of interest for me.

The video clips in Syberia2 are the best I've ever seen in a computer
game, bar none. The developer thoughfully allows you to play them all from
the menu, which is great for experiencing the game again without the tedium
of solving all the puzzles.

rms
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Mary wrote:

>
> I never thought of the two games in that way. I guess you mean in the
> museum in LB2 where she eavesdrops all the time. There were not many
> parts I remember in GK3 where you eavesdropped that I can remember,
> though its been a while since I played it.

You didn't have to eavesdrop, but if you did you would hear some
interesting things. You were able to use the cup to listen through the
doors and you'd sneak around and snoop in people's rooms while they
were out. You could also use the tape recorder and record conversations
in different languages (and use Sydney to translate) if you caught
people at the right times. This setup reminded me a lot of LB1, where
you could eavesdrop through holes in walls and rummage through people's
rooms.


>> I never pay attention to points in the game. I just play the game and
> trying to figure things out is enough for me. Now that you mention it, I
> remember in LB2 that you had to do things at certain times such as in
> the basement or that painting in the lobby and the snake if you
> remember. I don't like games like that where you have to do things at
> certain times or you have to go back to a saved game. I liked Laura Bow
> 2 game though.

The worst was the workman's boot. If you didn't get the boot and you
used only one save spot, you wouldn't finish the game.

> I like games where you have the chance to go back and do
> things if you miss something. I liked Dracula Unleashed because I liked
> the videos and the acting, but if you didn't do things on a certain day
> you had to do the day all over again. I made sure I got a detailed
> walkthrough for that game as I can't stand having to start a day all
> over again. Thank goodness, now many games where you have to do that.
> Darkseed was another game like that. I gave up on it half way through
> having to do the same things over and over.
>

Darkseed was terribly designed. A waste of Giger's talents.


> Yes, it was much better in that way. I liked the story in GK3.Some
> people didn't like Tim Curry as Gabriel Knight in GK3, but I thought he
> was fine. I liked all the acting. The game was a bit slow moving at
> times. That was about the only thing I didn't like. I liked the acting
> in GK2 the best in that series. I liked the videos and the tour of
> Ludwig's castle. Some games such as that are very educational as the
> castle really exists and so does Wagners museum and the streets in
> Munich and other areas around Munic in the game.
>

Yeah, it's definitely something I'd see if I went to Germany someday.
Rennes-Le-Chateau was Jensen letting her fans in on a little secret in
France (at the time), and apparently it's an accurate depiction of the
real life area as well. Of course, with The Da Vinci Code hogging the
glory, everyone in America wants to go see Rennes Le Chateau now.
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

<macross3.DeleteThis@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1141144847.997708.310640@t39g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
>
> Mary wrote:
>
> >
> > I never thought of the two games in that way. I guess you mean in
the
> > museum in LB2 where she eavesdrops all the time. There were not many
> > parts I remember in GK3 where you eavesdropped that I can remember,
> > though its been a while since I played it.
>
> You didn't have to eavesdrop, but if you did you would hear some
> interesting things. You were able to use the cup to listen through the
> doors and you'd sneak around and snoop in people's rooms while they
> were out. You could also use the tape recorder and record
conversations
> in different languages (and use Sydney to translate) if you caught
> people at the right times. This setup reminded me a lot of LB1, where
> you could eavesdrop through holes in walls and rummage through
people's
> rooms.

I forgot about the cup to listen through the doors. I did that a few
times and yes, you could snoop around peoples rooms. I didn't play LB1
so didn't immediately compare the two games. I sdid play LB2 though but
its been a long time, and mainly remember all the conversations in the
museum with the glass she got at the get-together in the museum.

> >> I never pay attention to points in the game. I just play the game
and
> > trying to figure things out is enough for me. Now that you mention
it, I
> > remember in LB2 that you had to do things at certain times such as
in
> > the basement or that painting in the lobby and the snake if you
> > remember. I don't like games like that where you have to do things
at
> > certain times or you have to go back to a saved game. I liked Laura
Bow
> > 2 game though.
>
> The worst was the workman's boot. If you didn't get the boot and you
> used only one save spot, you wouldn't finish the game.

I think I will have to play the game again one of these days, where was
the workmans boot?
I don't remember if you used only one save spot, you wouldn't finish the
game. I think I played the game twice and always finished it, but as I
said that was a few years ago.

> > I like games where you have the chance to go back and do
> > things if you miss something. I liked Dracula Unleashed because I
liked
> > the videos and the acting, but if you didn't do things on a certain
day
> > you had to do the day all over again. I made sure I got a detailed
> > walkthrough for that game as I can't stand having to start a day all
> > over again. Thank goodness, now many games where you have to do
that.
> > Darkseed was another game like that. I gave up on it half way
through
> > having to do the same things over and over.
> >
>
> Darkseed was terribly designed. A waste of Giger's talents.

Yes, it didn't do very well. Darkseed was so bad, I didn't get Darkseed
2.

> > Yes, it was much better in that way. I liked the story in GK3.Some
> > people didn't like Tim Curry as Gabriel Knight in GK3, but I thought
he
> > was fine. I liked all the acting. The game was a bit slow moving at
> > times. That was about the only thing I didn't like. I liked the
acting
> > in GK2 the best in that series. I liked the videos and the tour of
> > Ludwig's castle. Some games such as that are very educational as the
> > castle really exists and so does Wagners museum and the streets in
> > Munich and other areas around Munic in the game.
> >
>
> Yeah, it's definitely something I'd see if I went to Germany someday.
> Rennes-Le-Chateau was Jensen letting her fans in on a little secret in
> France (at the time), and apparently it's an accurate depiction of the
> real life area as well. Of course, with The Da Vinci Code hogging the
> glory, everyone in America wants to go see Rennes Le Chateau now.

I must be the only person who hasn't read Da Vinci Code

Mary
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

<macross3.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:1141144847.997708.310640@t39g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Mary wrote:
> > > Yes, it was much better in that way. I liked the story in GK3.Some
> > > people didn't like Tim Curry as Gabriel Knight in GK3, but I
thought
> he
> > > was fine. I liked all the acting. The game was a bit slow moving
at
> > > times. That was about the only thing I didn't like. I liked the
> acting
> > > in GK2 the best in that series. I liked the videos and the tour of
> > > Ludwig's castle. Some games such as that are very educational as
the
> > > castle really exists and so does Wagners museum and the streets in
> > > Munich and other areas around Munic in the game.
> > >
> >
> > Yeah, it's definitely something I'd see if I went to Germany
someday.
> > Rennes-Le-Chateau was Jensen letting her fans in on a little secret
in
> > France (at the time), and apparently it's an accurate depiction of
the
> > real life area as well. Of course, with The Da Vinci Code hogging
the
> > glory, everyone in America wants to go see Rennes Le Chateau now.

Too bad there wasn't a GK4. I would have loved to see one. Jane Jensen
created some great games, especially the GK series. A very talented
woman.

Mary
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular 

Mary wrote:
> <macross3.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
> > news:1141144847.997708.310640@t39g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> > >
> > > Mary wrote:
> > > > Yes, it was much better in that way. I liked the story in GK3.Some
> > > > people didn't like Tim Curry as Gabriel Knight in GK3, but I
> thought
> > he
> > > > was fine. I liked all the acting. The game was a bit slow moving
> at
> > > > times. That was about the only thing I didn't like. I liked the
> > acting
> > > > in GK2 the best in that series. I liked the videos and the tour of
> > > > Ludwig's castle. Some games such as that are very educational as
> the
> > > > castle really exists and so does Wagners museum and the streets in
> > > > Munich and other areas around Munic in the game.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Yeah, it's definitely something I'd see if I went to Germany
> someday.
> > > Rennes-Le-Chateau was Jensen letting her fans in on a little secret
> in
> > > France (at the time), and apparently it's an accurate depiction of
> the
> > > real life area as well. Of course, with The Da Vinci Code hogging
> the
> > > glory, everyone in America wants to go see Rennes Le Chateau now.
>
> Too bad there wasn't a GK4. I would have loved to see one. Jane Jensen
> created some great games, especially the GK series. A very talented
> woman.
>


Apparently Sierra still holds the rights to the series but they don't
want to make anymore. I know Jensen wanted to make a number 4, because
she definitely didn't intend to end the series like THAT...
 >> Stay informed about: Now I know why adventure games are not very popular