Oh, this is one of those games where you spend way too much time playing. Yup, it's normal minefield. However, it's MMO, you are playing on a giant field with other people all at once. You get points for clearing blocks and placing flags (and much larger negative points for placing incorrect flags or clearing a mine).
It's entirely HTML5, so plays right in your browser.
How many trolls are there who put up incorrect flags just to mess with people?
hardeyez Post Author
wrote on 05/08/2013 at 11:08pm
Ah, you can't. Incorrect flag placement gives you a big points deduction, just like hitting a mine. It works great. But yeah, kinda weird that you know the flags are mines.
Such a brilliant idea. After you shared this with me I promptly bookmarked it and played for much longer than I should have. Performance is even really good until you zoom out to the world view and try to scroll around. Everyone should at least give this a two minute look!
They should just blow people's mind with the CardboardBox, and make it a mighty board game experience. Keeping it real, for Microsoft, is a little out of character, though.
Ok, so I haven't bought an Indie Royale bundle in a while, but this one is great -- a set of Steam Greenlight games that are all crazy and look really fun (for < $5 the price can't be beat)
I just received the following email. Game Developer magazine is shutting down... That's the end of an era for me.
-----
Dear Subscriber,
After over 19 years of disseminating the best strategies around the art, science and business of video games, our hearts are heavy to announce that, as of July 2013, Game Developer magazine will stop printing its print and digital editions, and transition to become a section on Gamasutra.com. (We plan to gradually reprint many of the best magazine articles there, and hope to continue posting new columns from some of our regular writers.)
The final issue sent to print/digital subscribers will be the June/July 2013 issue. We plan to close the digital editions of the magazine shortly after that. But for those who enjoy reading the magazine in a digital format, previous issues of Game Developer will also be posted as .PDFs in a special section on GDC Vault, to open this summer.
Yeah, many print publications are shutting down to operating costs and such. It is sad. Nintendo Power shut down not too long ago and I was pretty bummed about it.
Awesome they are making all the old issues available for download. I would have bought a Nintendo Power issues pack digitally as PDF's if they did that. Totally worth it for historical radness alone.
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So, I've been playing 10000000 way more than I expected lately. It recently came out on steam and has been available on iOs for a while.
It's very compelling match-3 gameplay tied to a forever-run mechanic with rpg elements (upgrades, items) with old-sk00l graphics. I highly recommend you give it a try. You'll find yourself playing longer than expected mumbling "just one more run... just one more run..."
It did look good and I almost picked it up when it was on sale on steam. But I had picked up too many recently and had to pass this one over. I'll probably eventually come back to it, but good to know it is as fun as it appears.
I spent plenty of time playing PuzzleQuest on my iPod touch. Is it similar to that?
hardeyez Post Author
wrote on 02/01/2013 at 01:36am
Not really like PuzzleQuest (which I *loved*). PQ had a story that was funny and was a more traditional match-3. 10M is VERY fast paced and you can drag as far as you want left/right or up/down to make matches, so it feels quite different from a traditional match 3 (where you only swap adjacent tiles to match). 10M's rpg elements consist of "Quests" to eventually level up, 3 of which are open at any one time (and are replaced on the next run when you complete them). They are quite straightforward though, e.g. get X points in a run, collect X wood in a run, make X match-5's in a run, make X triple matches in a run, etc. The other rpg elements are upgrading, you open and upgrade several rooms to improve your character/equipment i.e. upgrade magic, sword, etc (I'd list the rest but it's slightly spoilerish).
So you complete quests to level up, get resources to improve your character, and just get better at playing to get better scores for each run.
Oh, and by run, I'm being literal -- your character runs across the top of the screen and encounters random things you have to kill/unlock by doing matches.
The goal is to hit 10 million points in a single run. I'm now up to where I've hit 4.5 million in one run (and have maxed most of the stuff possible, and I think I have just one more level to go)
Not sure what happens then (i.e. if you get to continue or what) there are several steam achievements that would suggest you get to...
So the premise of this idea is Domination style play (my favorite Unreal Tournament game type http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unreal_Tournament under 'Game Types'). That is, two teams compete trying to control points on the map. The big kicker here is the map is the real world.
I've played through the tutorial now and have gone for a walk to collect XM (the energy currency in the game), and I enjoy it. I just wish there was more to do (or that I could walk to some control points).
Thoughts so far:
* the tutorial gets you to walk outside which is nice, but makes it very hard to hear what you are supposed to do (bring headphones, or stare close at the screen to read the tiny text). * the text is small on the game, and the controls for the interface are rough (I had a problem getting through one of the tutorial missions just because I couldn't select two different control points correctly -- I'm sure there must be better ways to do it, but it wasn't obvious). * the game also just dumps you in after the tutorial missions w/o much guidance. You just need to go find some control points in a blank map (I had to get on my computer to realize there weren't any within a couple miles of my house... ugh). * want moar control points!!! Supposedly you can take pictures of other pieces of art (geo-tagged) and ask for them to be added to the game. I haven't figured out how to yet. Once I do, I'll try to get some closer ones in a couple parks that are nearby. * needs more direction... most games have this down. They need to direct you in what you can do next... always. * also, they asked you to pick a side without much introduction to either (and you can only ask to switch once after that first pick)... Not sure it really matters. But I was glad I went to my computer before picking. Thus I picked the currently loosing side in my area (much more fun to attack the enemy and rally from behind).
Looking forward to when it comes to iPhone. Or I switch to Android, whenever that will be.
Can you play it on an Android tablet... Well I guess GPS and 3G is kind of a requirement...
beansmyname Supporter
wrote on 01/12/2013 at 04:43am
I got into the beta about a month ago and, sadly, have not had much of an opportunity to jump in (weather, work, time constraints).
Are you finding it difficult to participate as a late-comer? I'm curious because I'm still level 1 after a month and have been dreading having to grind for a week or two.
hardeyez Post Author
wrote on 01/22/2013 at 05:13pm
I'm finding it more difficult to participate because the control points are so far away :( I really need to figure out how to snap pics of some close statues/art and get them added to the game. I'd play more if I could just walk over to some of them instead of having to drive somewhere (which I don't want to burn gas on a game...)
Atlus tends to publish some great and crazy games (a lot of imports, etc.) I just got an email about this new one that, again, looks fun and crazy. Here's their summary:
Do you like running? How about gunning? What if special abilities are thrown into the mix? Upgradable weapons? Let's say there're dozens of on-screen enemies to unleash this firepower on, and as your reward for dispatching them you get experience and gold to collect that can be used for character customization and new equipment--all the while playing alongside friends in 4-player cooperative play! If you like the sound of all this, then you'll love God Mode.
Retro shooter action and RPG elements are combined in this new downloadable third-person shooter. God Mode combines non-linear gameplay, fast and frantic shooting, hordes of on-screen enemies, a fully functional online coop mode, and features visuals and gameplay that rival that of a full-priced boxed title. Matches rarely--if ever--play out the same, as dozens of in-game modifiers can significantly alter the gameplay on the fly. Characters are fully customizable, both in appearance and equipment, which continually evolve. Gold and experience are constantly accrued and used to unlock new and satisfying weaponry and unique powerful abilities, both of which can be further upgraded.
Available Early 2013 for PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade, and Steam.
Large in part why this site exists really. Companies can be sustainable but its now about the quest for whatever brings in the most amount of cash.
I read the guys article and whereas I don't agree with it all, it was a critique the industry should be able to handle. Having him cut out so fast just shows how deep the problem goes.
Now days I spend almost no time on the big "game journalism" sites. They just don't speak to me. Plus buying a game off one of their recommends seems like a really bad idea.
I still browse game journalism sites to keep up with on really important gaming news. I'm always the one who has to share with all my friends all the new things in gaming. Saying that, I don't particularly value their opinions more of just like to take in the fact based information they deliver.
I received an email today from introversion (makers of Uplink, Darwinia, and DEFCON) announcing alpha access to their newest game. It really sound interesting and I have enjoyed all of their other games... (I just wish they followed the Minecraft alpha pricing model where it's much cheaper to buy the alpha instead of the kickstarter model where you pay full price and more to help fund it)...
Here's the full text of the short email:
Now in Alpha!
The creators of Uplink, Darwinia and DEFCON, Introversion Software, proudly present the world's first lock 'em up. Inspired by Dwarf Fortress, Theme Hospital and Dungeon Keeper comes a bulfrog style prison management game.
Access Alpha Build
Get immediate access to the alpha download, or choose from one of our specialist tiers to Digital-Immorto-Criminalize yourself by naming a prisoner, having our artists draw your likeness into the game or secure access to a truck load of cool PA merchandise.
Ya, great Dev (did you guys ever nuke Santa in Uplink?). The name sounds a bit Facebook Gamey, but with Introversion doing it it will probably be pretty good.
Defcon, sorry. Wrong game. Ya, if you have a game that takes place on 12/25 you can nuke santa. It was part of the whole "Steam Christmas" thing last year.
NextBox stream tomorrow, ill for sure be watching the PS4 E3 showing for sure.