I’ve been wondering when some designers would start making, well, strange little digital creations instead of formulaic, level-driven video games. At the core my interest in video games has always been with the exploration and experimentation with the very fact that what I’m playing is a counterfeit world. One would think that clipping, irregular physics, and other glitches would inspire all kinds of more artistically focused games – but it’s not something I’ve seen much of.Enter Jason Rohrer whose pixelated, 5-minute game Passage does just that. The game was a submission for Kokoromi’s Gamma256 competition at the Montreal International Games Festival. It’s played at a bizarre 25:4 aspect ratio with an image size of 100 x 16. The game is truly an experience that must be played through to the end.While you’re at it, check out Jason Rohrer’s great blog Arthouse Games, which reports on similar indie artgames.
[via Kotaku]
Category Archives: Video Games
Jason Rohrer’s “Passage” – an Arthouse Video Game
Leisure Suit Artie?
Tagged as adventure games, Al Lowe, Artie Lang, computer, Leisure Suit Larry, Sierra
Any and all adventure game news gets me going, and this is certainly an unexpected story. Word over at Artie Lange’s blog is that he’ll be voicing Big Al in a new Leisure Suit Larry game. Artie’s involvement isn’t shocking so much as the shear fact that a new Leisure Suit Larry game is being made. The last Leisure Suit Larry game released did not turn a lot of profit, but there is the possibility the adventure game audience has been growing as a result of the several successful Nintendo DS “adventure games.” If you ask me, there would be nothing better than a renewed interest in the genre. Could it be people are leaning more towards good story than good graphics?
[via Joystiq]
Gray Matter
Tagged as adventure games, Gray Matter, Jane Jensen, Roberta Williams, Sierra
As we approach the beginning of 2008, the long gestating video game Gray Matter will finally be making it’s appearance. Slated to be released in Q1 of ’08, Gray Matter is the first game by renowned adventure game writer Jane Jensen since finishing up on the Gabriel Knight series back in 1999. The game has been in developement for quite some time now. Originally set to be released through The Adventure Game Company, it was eventually dropped and picked up by German developers Anaconda Games who gives us this description:
Neurobiologist Dr. David Styles is one of the game’s central characters: since losing his wife in a horrible accident some several years ago, he has become a recluse, seldom leaving Dread Hill House, his English country estate. When student and part-time street performer Samantha Everett shows up at his doorstep, she unexpectedly becomes his assistant. Hailing from America, she has been travelling through most of Europe the last couple years. Her first task: finding six test subjects at Oxford University for one of Styles’ experiments. The experiment starts off innocently enough, but then inexplicable incidents start mounting. And Styles is visited by his dear departed wife. Now it’s up to Sam to solve the mysteries of Dread Hill House.
Much like the latter two Gabriel Knight games, the player controls both Styles and Samantha on and off between chapters. From the stills, the game looks to me like Jane Jensen is traveling into Roberta Williams’ territory of the classic mystery house theme (Phantasmagoria, Mystery House, The Colonel’s Bequest). I’m extremely excited for this. It’s been too long since a genuine, well written adventure game has arrived on the scene. More pictures after the jump.
