What games should I play?
September 7, 2012 1:05 PM Subscribe
Recommend me free (experimental?) interactive fiction-type computer games like Facade, Restaurant Game, and especially Prom Week?
It's pretty hard for me to find a game that I can play for long amounts of time without getting bored. I don't like games where you just find coins or score useless points or shoot things or whatever. I think I finally found a type of game I can play, but it's hard to find "interactive fiction" that's not completely text-based. I really don't want a text-based game. But maybe there's some new games out there I don't know about.
Can you recommend me any interesting, original games that are just flashy enough for my short attention span? I really like Prom Week because it has some strategy, although I also like Facade because of the back story that gradually comes out each game. I'm mostly entertained by the "choose your own adventure," "different every time" element. It doesn't necessarily have to be the "interactive fiction" genre, as long as it can hold my attention.
Are there any more downloadable or online games out there like that for me? I could consider other genres of games too; even dumb games like Hollywood High are fun with another person, but I'd like games for one player or multiple online players, which I think the Restaurant Game is, although the piece of crap wouldn't "connect to my server."
It's pretty hard for me to find a game that I can play for long amounts of time without getting bored. I don't like games where you just find coins or score useless points or shoot things or whatever. I think I finally found a type of game I can play, but it's hard to find "interactive fiction" that's not completely text-based. I really don't want a text-based game. But maybe there's some new games out there I don't know about.
Can you recommend me any interesting, original games that are just flashy enough for my short attention span? I really like Prom Week because it has some strategy, although I also like Facade because of the back story that gradually comes out each game. I'm mostly entertained by the "choose your own adventure," "different every time" element. It doesn't necessarily have to be the "interactive fiction" genre, as long as it can hold my attention.
Are there any more downloadable or online games out there like that for me? I could consider other genres of games too; even dumb games like Hollywood High are fun with another person, but I'd like games for one player or multiple online players, which I think the Restaurant Game is, although the piece of crap wouldn't "connect to my server."
Umm, on the blue awhile back, there was a choose your own adventure type thing set in a high school; you play the teacher. It is gorgeously animated in an anime/manga style. Like you I don't normally go in for this sort of thing but I loved whatever that was. I can't remember what it was called or anything else about it except that it was done by a woman and she was western. It was a long thread, I bet someone else will remember.
See also: Choice of Broadsides, which isn't really what you asked for but MeFi loves it.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:46 PM on September 7, 2012
See also: Choice of Broadsides, which isn't really what you asked for but MeFi loves it.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:46 PM on September 7, 2012
Best answer: Gravity Bone and the sequel: Thirty flights of loving. They're both really short but very very good.
posted by hellojed at 4:25 PM on September 7, 2012
posted by hellojed at 4:25 PM on September 7, 2012
Best answer: The game DarlingBri is referring to is Don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story by Christine Love.
The same author has a structurally similar, critically-acclaimed prior release: Digital: A Love Story.
Both might be the sort of thing you're looking for.
posted by value of information at 6:41 PM on September 7, 2012
The same author has a structurally similar, critically-acclaimed prior release: Digital: A Love Story.
Both might be the sort of thing you're looking for.
posted by value of information at 6:41 PM on September 7, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Express, a murder-mystery game that takes place on a train "in real time", which makes it absolutely fascinating and a lot of fun. I heard about it here on the green too, I think.
It's a bit tricky to track down, but it should run on Windows 7 and the like if you find it. (I think I found it on Pirate Bay, but ymmv.)
The real time component makes for great replay value, since you can be in different parts of the train as different travelers are having conversations you might not have heard the first time around. I really like that aspect of things... I hate the normal RPG construct where you're encouraged to exhaust every possible resource in an area for tips and back story. This is much more realistic and a lot more fun.
posted by disillusioned at 4:06 AM on September 8, 2012
It's a bit tricky to track down, but it should run on Windows 7 and the like if you find it. (I think I found it on Pirate Bay, but ymmv.)
The real time component makes for great replay value, since you can be in different parts of the train as different travelers are having conversations you might not have heard the first time around. I really like that aspect of things... I hate the normal RPG construct where you're encouraged to exhaust every possible resource in an area for tips and back story. This is much more realistic and a lot more fun.
posted by disillusioned at 4:06 AM on September 8, 2012
Response by poster: Don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story by Christine Love.
I just played it and wow, I've never seen an author/adult use txtspeak so well! :D
I will play the other ones soon...I don't really know how to use torrents but I'm trying to figure it out.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 11:24 AM on September 8, 2012
I just played it and wow, I've never seen an author/adult use txtspeak so well! :D
I will play the other ones soon...I don't really know how to use torrents but I'm trying to figure it out.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 11:24 AM on September 8, 2012
Oh wow, they have it on Gog.com: The Last Express for $5.99
That's actually awesome and totally worth it, trust me.
posted by disillusioned at 5:14 PM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
That's actually awesome and totally worth it, trust me.
posted by disillusioned at 5:14 PM on September 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
FWIW I loved Don't Take It Personally (thanks , Value of Information for reminding me of the name), did not like Digital, and have high hopes for Last Express.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:48 AM on September 9, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 6:48 AM on September 9, 2012
Response by poster: ooo, I found a similar DOS game, if anyone's still reading this thread.
Alter Ego
Gets kinda repetitive if you play it more than once, but basically you go through your life cycle and make different decisions. For instance, if you ignore a chain letter, your fish will die of constipation. I like it cause it lectures you if you make a bad decision. Like, if you don't make friends with the foreign girl at school, it will scold you and say "You could have learnt so much from her!"
Oh, and I died three times. Once, when I was 72 on the operating table getting a surgery that "almost everyone recovers from;" once when I was 13 for OD'ing on drugs when I was suicidal; and once in my 20's for getting into a car chase with an "emotionally disturbed person."
Pretty cool game.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 8:36 PM on September 11, 2012
Alter Ego
Gets kinda repetitive if you play it more than once, but basically you go through your life cycle and make different decisions. For instance, if you ignore a chain letter, your fish will die of constipation. I like it cause it lectures you if you make a bad decision. Like, if you don't make friends with the foreign girl at school, it will scold you and say "You could have learnt so much from her!"
Oh, and I died three times. Once, when I was 72 on the operating table getting a surgery that "almost everyone recovers from;" once when I was 13 for OD'ing on drugs when I was suicidal; and once in my 20's for getting into a car chase with an "emotionally disturbed person."
Pretty cool game.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 8:36 PM on September 11, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
The player avatar is himself imperfect; before the game begins he nearly died from a heart attack despite being just a teenager. After he spent several months in a hospital recovering, he was transferred to a special high school for the disabled, which is where he meets all the girls.
It's handled seriously, with sensitivity; it isn't exploitative. And the girls aren't about their handicaps; they are distinct personalities and there's more to them than just that.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:35 PM on September 7, 2012