Quick update on the Sesame Street/Aniboom thing: We’re currently standing at #16, which is fine. I’m still excited to be up there as far as we are. We could always use more votes, but then again, I think it’s still totally awesome that NPH could actually see our video. And he might like it!
Onward.
I’ve recently discovered “Sleep is Death” by independant game developer/musician Jason Rorher. Rorher’s focus on emotional gameplay is still here, only it’s not longer up to him to provide it to the player. Instead, SiD tasks Player One with enjoying a storyline, setting and characters completely written and controlled by none other than Player 2.
Yes, that’s right; It’s a point-and-click adventure that’s played different each and every time you play it, because both players are crafting the game as they go. It’s a game-maker, of sorts, with a heavy emphasis on storytelling. Yes, people have been doing this for years with D&D, writing their own campaigns, setting up traps, being absolutely develish or angelic to the unsuspecting player, but to take the idea of that, and apply it to a 2-player-only point-and-click game introduces an element that may be sorely lacking in today’s big budget titles: excitement.
Since learning of SiD’s existence and checking out the card chest of completed stories (these pages are created once a game is finished, and you can sign-up and upload your own to the site), my mind has been aflutter with all of the weird little (or big) stories. Murder mysteries, sci-fi comedies, post-apocalyptic tales of danger and excitement. And yes, I know what the game looks like. Just by looking at it makes me want to recreate some of the amazing adventure games that Sierra used to make (Police Quest, King’s Quest, Space Quest… other quests).
So, if anyone reading this wants to have a go at it, let me know! Leave a comment or email me (jordan _at_ robotcousin.com) and we’ll share a story. It’ll be weird, irreverant, bizarre, and perhaps moving… or I’ll try and kill you with every step you take.
