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I just finished a game called Casebook: Episode 0, The Missing Urn by a company called Areo. They call their creations cinematic games. They are a combination of FMV (which I love), their patented Areograph technology, with a bit of hidden object thrown in. You can read an interview with one of the Areo principals conducted by someone named Igor Hardy (heard the name before, hmmm...) here:
http://www.adventureclassicgam.....views/452/
Episode 0 is available as a free download for PC from the developer's web site here:
http://areo.areograph.com/node/1
Casebook: Episode 1, Kidnapped is downloadable for $10 from the developer's site, or $6.99 from Big Fish Games.
Episode 2, The Watcher is $15 from the developer and £9.99 ($16.45) from gamesplanet.com, downloads all, and might be available from other sources, but not BFG.
Episode 3, Snake in the Grass is in production. The article states that there are 3 more episodes (4, 5, & 6) yet to come.
The freebie Episode 0 was enjoyable. I meant to keep track of my time, but forgot. 0 was short, probably not more than 2 hours, but then it is meant as a teaser, not a full length game.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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I tried out Episode 0 a few weeks ago and got a tiny bit annoyed with the game. For me, it was more hidden object (of which I'm heartily tired) masquerading as adventure, but I did like the FMV... and those wacky older aunts. They cracked me up!
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The actors were pretty damned good, weren't they? I've seen far, far worse in games from the biggies, produced with big $$$. I did however get a bit tired of separating DNA. The realism of these games goes a long way to making up for the hidden object bits. Besides, aren't most games about finding the stuff that is hard to find? The Basement was too small of a game world for me, but I read that the you-buy-'em episodes have more locations. I'm thinkin' on it. I bought 2 games this weekend, and no books, so the equilibrium of my universe is upset.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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I too tried Casebook 0 with such high hopes (love FMV no matter what anyone says). Between the crowded basement & van-based (tedious) tests, I decided $20 or so per episode was more than I would pay even if I could watch FMV while being bored & frustrated.
Yoomurjak's Ring = [Image Can Not Be Found]
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True, hidden object is not that far removed from the pixel hunt. It's entirely possible the cause of my irritation had to do with the lack of locations and those evil, evil DNA strands. Who does that in the back of a van? [Image Can Not Be Found]
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At $6.99 I'll buy Episode 1 from Big Fish. Longer, more locations than 0. If I love that, being the sucker for FMV that I am, I'll cough up the $15.00 for 2 from the developer - unless it ends up at BFG in the meantime for $6.99.
Now that I think back on it, I bought 2 games last weekend as well, and no books. I gotta get on that.
Yapette! I have been waiting for Yoomurjak. I've been hesitating buying the download becasue of the price, and the fact that with no hard copy I can't loan it or trade it. But I have been so drooling.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Spike, you'll have to let us know about Episode 1. Dropping $7 is easy.
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True, Spike, no loaning or trading.
Yoomurjak was a Mother's Day present. From me, to me.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. [Image Can Not Be Found]
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I've always believed that one should give oneself gifts often, but a hard copy of a game is the gift that keeps on giving. But as Toger said, $7 is easy.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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I am downloading Casebook Episode 1: Kidnapped as I write. I'll let you FMV fans know what I think after I've played for a couple of days.
BFG @$6.99.
I have a feeling that this game is guaranteed 100% arachnid free, but I'll let you know for sure.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Hey Yap, tell me about Yoomurjak... I didn't realize it was FMV (which I love). I see that AG gave it 3.5 stars, but I need to hear from someone who knows the kinds of games I play. 😀
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Knowing that I hate to grade stuff due to different strokes & all….I liked it very much. Black Dahlia is an A in my pantheon, thus Yoomurjak would be a strong B+, possibly A-. Quite long & involved, pro actor leading man who never got boring, leading lady who wasn't an annoying prat - in fact, most actors are obviously pros. As I'll probably never get to Hungary, I liked wandering locations & especially the way the game taught me about the area's Turkish past by incorporating things still there.
About FMV foreign locations, you must understand that I find more joy in studying what's on shelves & piled in corners, signs of daily living more than following a storyline. In that respect, the game was a treat cuz it didn't look like non-obvious clutter was tidied up before filming. I have two favs. One, heating systems like nothing I've ever seen - giant ceramic “things” in rooms, big as boilers & even finding them on display in a museum (I think, looked like HUGE trophy/loving cup/wedding cakes…calling Meho…). Two, walking back & forth, comparing my kilim carpets to the ones on the floor of an npc who also apparently collected…he liked what I like. [Image Can Not Be Found] Stuff like that.
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You've made this sound a lot like Byzantine, which I loved. I'll proably never get to Turkey, so it was a true joy to wander the city and see the Bosphorous, "touch" the gorgeous Arabic tiles in the Sofia...
My outlook for getting to Hungary is on a par with Turkey... perhaps another gift to me is in order. [Image Can Not Be Found]
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Yes, like Byzantine, forgot about that one. In that case I was distracted by comparing what I'd seen on three RL trips to how limited the impact when players see only bits & pieces. That being better than seeing nothing at all, of course.
Btw, I highly recommend Turkey if you ever have a chance to go. I'm hoping to return yet again, visiting Istanbul never gets old (pun, joke, [Image Can Not Be Found]).
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Grabbed Yoomurjak last night and watched the opening cinematic...
:swoon:
I need popcorn and a large drink! [Image Can Not Be Found]
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He's a sweetie, ain't he? And he stays that way... forever an earnest, wide-eyed with curiosity sweetums.
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I am sooooo jealous, Toger. After about 6 weeks of buying games, but no books, I bought 15 books on Thursday. Most new, a few used. I love Amazon and half.com So no games for me for at least a couple of weeks. Besides, I'm saving some pennies just in case I fall in love with the 3rd gen Touch that will be released in September. Yoomurjak is at the tippy-tip-top of my wanted list - eventhough it is still a download and not physical.
Have fun. I'll be thinking of you.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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According to the confirming email from The Adventure Shop, you can burn the files to CD/DVD for safe-keeping. I'd do it, but those 4 files amount to 4G of data and I've only got a CD burner... how many CDs is that? A million? [Image Can Not Be Found] So, the files will just sit on my hard drive in its own special subdirectory until I get the inclination to burn 'em.
I'm trying to decide if I want to upgrade to the iPhone GS or stick with my Touch... in September.
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Well then, I could burn it to a DVD, or dual-layer if necessary. Couldn't trade it, of course. That wouldn't be right. But I could loan it to a friend.
Yep, no expensive tech purchases until September. (Apple, please give me an early xmas present.) I've never been itching so badly for a particular date to arrive since I was a kid waiting for christmas.
Just an aside: we are living in what was supposed to be a paperless society by now. I have more paper and things made out of paper than ever before. And although computers are great, they are just like children - always in need of something else. Wireless. Ext. hard drive. New cable. More memory. Upgrade this and upgrade that. It's a never-ending-story, and yet I'm loving every minute of it. And I think I've got more things plugged into more surge protectors and electrical outlets just in the area surrounding my desk and printer cabinet than my parents had in their whole house in the 1950's-1960's. Let's not even mention the living room. TV. DVD player. Cable boxes. Etc. I should have bought utilities stock 20 years ago.
"…you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake."
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Oh, you haven't seen wire soup until you've lived in a place where each room has only one (1) electrical outlet. Okay, a couple of rooms have two - kitchen, bathroom, utility room off the kitchen - all the others, only one. And most are not grounded... except those same three rooms with more than one outlet. Did I mention my place still has fuses... that can blow if we plug in a space heater.
Modern living in a city with 100+ year old infrastructure and housing. My love of quaint Victorians has waned. I adore SF, but what I wouldn't give for 2 bathrooms and modern wiring... and reasonable rent. [Image Can Not Be Found]
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