Redshirt

[cupogoodness]

I've spent a good chunk of what should have been sleeping playing this game last night. I'm... still not sure if I dig it. It's certainly addicting and Star Trek-themed Facebook parody is up my alley, but either the game itself or my style of play is leading things to get pretty unmanageable (maybe that's the point?).

I'm still not sure if I buy into how the relationship system works, and some of the UI feels clusmy -- but that sort of fits the social network simulation in some ways. Also the away missions are an incredibly interesting twist on things. Guess I can't decide if the game is brilliant, or just decent with a few issues that could use patching.

Would be curious to hear what others think. I have more in-depth thoughts on the game, but don't want to spoil things for those who plan on playing it this weekend.

[Cyborg]

I do not like social networking. Certainly wouldn't play a game about it or pay to play one.

[Aklyon]

I know Grimith did a playthrough of the beta Redshirt, but other than that I can't say it looked like something I'd play.

[keith.lamothe]

To borrow Tycho's phrase, "I do not book face".

That said I find the gameplay idea interesting enough to play a demo and/or maybe pick up a copy for $2 or $3 down the road.  $20 sounds very high given the scope of the game and the climate of the market, but I know Cliff likes to aim high in terms of list-price and it hasn't done badly by him at all.

[Cyborg]

To borrow Tycho's phrase, "I do not book face".

That said I find the gameplay idea interesting enough to play a demo and/or maybe pick up a copy for $2 or $3 down the road.  $20 sounds very high given the scope of the game and the climate of the market, but I know Cliff likes to aim high in terms of list-price and it hasn't done badly by him at all.

I can honestly say, I don't like a single game that guy has made.


This is an excerpt from the promo from his website [size=78%]http://www.redshirtgame.com/[/size]
"[/size][/size]Redshirt is the comedy sci-fi sim about social networking aboard a space station, starring the station's most ambitious low-ranking peon: you! Navigate the professional and interpersonal politics of the ubiquitous "Spacebook"..."[/size]
[/size]You can stop reading right about there. [/size][/font]

[keith.lamothe]

I can honestly say, I don't like a single game that guy has made.

Yea, I like some of them as interesting diversions but most (well, all, I think) scream "this idea had way more potential".  And for some people the unrealized potential can take away even the fun that is there.

That said, I think positech is in substantially better financial condition than Arcen, and I think he's a lot better at lining up games with target audiences/markets, so I can't say his way of doing things is necessarily worse... but I rather prefer the outcome of our approach, in the games themselves.

[cupogoodness]

I do not like social networking. Certainly wouldn't play a game about it or pay to play one.

Sociology has always been one of my interests. Once I heard the general premise, I was interested in what approach Mitu Khandaker (who developed the game, not Cliff) would take with it. And while it's presented otherwise, the only real thing the game has in common with Facebook is the interface. I can't imagine social networking teenagers would be more into the game than the type of gamer that enjoys simulation titles. Redshirt's just a management sim where you attempt to balance your work, sleep, eating, social time, alone time, and romantic engagement (should you choose to pursue it) through real-life simulations and online interaction. All on a space station housing the neediest crew in existence.

I doubt that sells it to anyone, but hey, my brain enjoys a spinning plate act every now and then. My real concern is that I don't know if there's a point to all of it, haven't played that deep. Also, speaking from my own experience with social networks, I'd say somewhere in my transition from early to mid-20's I became apathetic to all that stuff (speaking personally, not about Arcen's pages) -- though I do recall Facebook wasn't terrible in the early stages when it was just a college-exclusive network.

[Histidine]

I tried (and kinda liked) Depression Quest just because Isaac Schankler did the soundtrack. But here? Well, suffice to say... Facebook can go to hell.

[cupogoodness]

Facebook can go to hell.

From what I've experienced, that might be the underlying message of this game.

[tigersfan]

Facebook can go to hell.

From what I've experienced, that might be the underlying message of this game.

Agreed.

But, for the record, Cliff at Positech didn't actually make this game. He's publishing it, meaning that it's going to get his unique style of marketing, but, he didn't actually make the game. It was made by a first time, one-woman studio known as Tiniest Shark.

[Cyborg]

His marketing is part of my gripe with his entire business. I don't think I will ever forget- nor forgive- his trailers for gratuitous space battles. I was so excited to play that game. I purchased it thinking it was giant space battles you get to play in, and I thought I just didn't know the controls to pilot the ships. Turns out, it was a configuration game! You didn't actually get to pilot the ships! I was so angry, I have never wanted my money back so bad. I don't know the current state of the game, but that's a dealbreaker for me. Completely misled.