WadjetEye Games 50% off everything! This weekend only!

[ThunderPeel2001]

Somehow I missed this, or it hasn't happened yet...? But at some point in time the excellent Shivah was/will be FREE for one weekend.

Hmph

Linky

[ThunderPeel2001]

Well this actually seems to be the closest thing we've got to a Blackwell thread, and what with them being Remastered now and everything, I thought I'd start playing through them again.

Got to say; I've only played the beginning of Blackwell Legacy Remastered so far (and I think the changes are pretty minor -- new voice acting being the biggest change) but I love these games so much. The word and the characters are wonderful.

BBX recently brought up to me that he thought the puzzles were terrible in the first game, or at least up until where he'd played, and I couldn't remember what I thought about them. Playing through it again I couldn't complain, I guess I'm a sucker for well-drawn characters, but listening to the new commentary from Dave Gilbert he goes into quite a bit of detail about why the early puzzles suck.

When it's explained to you, you can really see that it's not the best way to introduce someone to a game. He apologises profusely for the mistakes he made as a beginner, but it's funny that they didn't bother me.

Yes, at one point you're asked to read 25 pages of letters (there's only a paragraph or less on each page so it doesn't take long -- but I can see it's not very user friendly) and yes, there's a conversation with a doctor at the beginning that's absurdly long for a new player (this was made easier for me, second time around, because I knew what was coming I could absorb it better), but I guess I'm quite forgiving because I never really noticed until they were pointed them out to me.

The characters are wonderfully drawn, though. Totally consistent and real. A real breath of fresh air after the bland non-characters of Gemini Rue (although that game is still worth playing, if only for the awesome atmosphere).

So anyways, I'm looking forward to playing through them all again. And in case you missed it: The Remastered versions will be made available to all previous owners in Jan. They're also available now as part of the Indie Royale Bundle.

[miffy495]

I picked up the Indie Royale bundle and am looking to check these out. What order are they in? This always bothers me when games have subtitles but no numbers. Classy, yes. Awkward for a newcomer, also yes.

[Tanukitsune]

The site has the order in the bundle.

[ThunderPeel2001]

I picked up the Indie Royale bundle and am looking to check these out. What order are they in? This always bothers me when games have subtitles but no numbers. Classy, yes. Awkward for a newcomer, also yes.

Here ya go:

1: The Blackwell Legacy

2: Blackwell Unbound

3: Blackwell Convergence

[Noyb]

The Blackwell games are available straight from Steam now. If you had bought them previously direct from Wadjet Eye Games, you can forward your order info to their email to get a Steam activation code.

[juv3nal]

Here ya go:

1: The Blackwell Legacy

2: Blackwell Unbound

3: Blackwell Convergence

Thanks for that. I picked up the bundle on steam and was similarly befuddled.

It doesn't help that the word "legacy" seems to imply that it follows on from something so it is kind of counterintuitive that it is the first one.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Yeah, it's worth noting that they redid the voice acting in the first game, and used the actress from the other games. The first person they used had a really whiny delivery in hindsight, so if that irked you (like I know it irked Ben), getting the new Steam version is probably preferable.

Also, there's new commentary in the Steam version where you can hear Ron Gilbert point out all the mistakes he made with the game. It's quite interesting.

[pabosher]

Yeah, it's worth noting that they redid the voice acting in the first game, and used the actress from the other games. The first person they used had a really whiny delivery in hindsight, so if that irked you (like I know it irked Ben), getting the new Steam version is probably preferable.

Also, there's new commentary in the Steam version where you can hear Ron Gilbert point out all the mistakes he made with the game. It's quite interesting.

You mean Dave Schafer.

[juv3nal]

You mean Dave Schafer.

Not Tim Grossman?

[juv3nal]

So I burned through the first 3 over the weekend and am some way into the fourth, Deception. The first three are kind of short so I can definitely see how you might be cheezed off if you paid for them individually at the $15 per (I think it was) that he was originally asking. As a bundle of all 4 for $20, it's good value. The puzzles tend to be on the easy side and you can pick various nits about the visual presentation over the course of the series, but the consistently strong voice work and the skillful weaving of real-world locations, people, and events into the story are what make this series stand out for me.

[pabosher]

So later today I am interviewing Dave Gilbert for my Buried in the Credits thing; does anyone have any questions in particular they'd like asked?

[Ben X]

Ask him when he's going to make AGS work on iOS, XBox etc, so he can sell his AGS games on there (and so can I).

[toblix]

So later today I am interviewing Dave Gilbert for my Buried in the Credits thing; does anyone have any questions in particular they'd like asked?

Ask him: "What is the secret of Monkey Island?" lol he'll be so angry!

[ThunderPeel2001]

Ask him: "What is the secret of Monkey Island?" lol he'll be so angry!

Yeah, he already said in the Monkey Island commentary that he's never going to reveal it.

[ThunderPeel2001]

So later today I am interviewing Dave Gilbert for my Buried in the Credits thing; does anyone have any questions in particular they'd like asked?

I do LOVE his stuff. Where does he see the future of Wadjet Eye games? Are they going to stick with AGS indie games, or will they ever move to bigger budget titles?

Also:

How many more chapters of the Blackwell Legacy will there be? Does he have an overarching plan?

[Tanukitsune]

How hilarious and/or awesome is it that a burlesque performer does the voice of Rosangela Blackwell and how hilarious/disastrous do you think Rosnagela would do is she had to do the voice actress' job?

How was it making a game for Playfirst? Would you make one with them or their engine again?

I know AGS works better with pixel art, but would you ever think of switching to hand drawn animation? Or would you want to do something more experimental like the paper craft in Lume?

[toblix]

Ask him when he's going to make AGS work on iOS, XBox etc, so he can sell his AGS games on there (and so can I).

Wouldn't that a question better aimed at Chris Jones? I'm guessing it's already in the works, since they're doing another Tex Murphy kickstarter this summer.

[brkl]

Compare that to the Two Guys From Andromeda video...

[Tanukitsune]

Wait, is this the same Chris Jones? The internet says they're are two different people.

[pabosher]

Interview complete: I'll be posting it Friday at 6pm BST. I hope you guys like it. I'm really not sure as to how it came out yet - it's the most nervous I've yet been for an interview - so hopefully you guys won't hate it =)

[ThunderPeel2001]

You were less nervous interviewing Chet Faliszek. Also: YOU INTERVIEWED CHET FALISZEK??

[pabosher]

You were less nervous interviewing Chet Faliszek. Also: YOU INTERVIEWED CHET FALISZEK??

I did, yeah. Also, that was horrifically awkward so I'll concede there.

But I just enjoy interviewing in person because you can see body language, get a rapport etc. On Skype all you have is my awful voice trying to be serious and stuff.

[pabosher]

If any of you are interested in listening to the interview, it's available here.

[brkl]

Wait, is this the same Chris Jones? The internet says they're are two different people.

toblix'd.