I've settled on using the peace, long combo and double pink boosts as my go-tos; I think if I swapped out the peace boost for either the dog or the cat I could probably take my baseline score up to the next level
also I play this game compulsively
― Ima R.A.E.D. (DJP), Thursday, 14 February 2013 18:52 (eleven years ago) link
how do you "afford" to use the boosts though? seems like you'd only be able to use them once every few games, and the rest of the time save up money
― Nhex, Thursday, 14 February 2013 18:53 (eleven years ago) link
My money management strategy for the first 30 "levels" of the game was to only use the peace boost and to avoid events until I had over 10,000 gold; then I added another cheap boost and kept playing until I could reliably make 1000 gold per game, at which point I added a third cheap boost. I would also take whatever free boost I won on the wheel.
So, for a while until I built up my bank, I only played with peace, yellow, and +10 multiplier and would regularly end the game with 1000+ gold, which when added to the incidental gold you make during the game and the bonus gold you can win on the wheel, meant that I was always coming out positive in the coins. I recently switched to long combo/peace/double pink, which is 2000 gold, and have been reliably scoring 1800-2100 gold at the end of the game which has kept me at about the break even point while I work on figuring out how to get to the trillion mark. If I get too low in funds due to a string of bad games, I just go back down to the peace boost and play some games to get my bank back up.
― Ima R.A.E.D. (DJP), Thursday, 14 February 2013 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
in mamc i always am held back by not wanting to feed my bronze/silver/gold/etc to the monsters because i want to build more of them
― zero dark (s1ocki), Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:34 (eleven years ago) link
its like i kinda keep refusing to play it correctly
haha yeah, I understand that; the realization that I could make more points by feeding bronzes to blue rather than hoarding them was a long time coming, mostly because in the original MAMC blue was useless except for in very specific situations where I was likely to not even have him swapped in
― Ima R.A.E.D. (DJP), Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:40 (eleven years ago) link
doesnt the blue do the same thing?
― zero dark (s1ocki), Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:45 (eleven years ago) link
keep the tower straight no matter what?
in the original, blue keeps the tower from falling and that's itin super MAMC, blue keeps the tower from falling AND doubles any time bonus, coin bonus or multiplier bonus you get from matching pink condos
he basically went from being the least useful monster to the most useful IMO; he's the only one that radically boosts your ability to extend the time limit on the game, giving you more of an opportunity to score points
― Ima R.A.E.D. (DJP), Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:47 (eleven years ago) link
ohhhhhhh
― zero dark (s1ocki), Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:50 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/rTFDA1m.gif#32: Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland – PS3 – 20 pts - 1 vote - 1 top game votes
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6842904475_d3a60afdb9_z.jpg
Official Game Site
Metacritic
Gameplay Video
http://m5.paperblog.com/i/24/240244/ss-reviews-atelier-meruru-the-apprentice-of-a-L-V1SRlK.jpeg
Localization Interview
RPGamer
Coming to Vita
http://d1vr6n66ssr06c.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Atelier-Meruru-Apprentice-of-Arland-gallery-01.jpg
zappi: If you can get past the ubertwee cutesy graphics (and switch off the English dub, ugh nobody needs to hear that garbage) there is a really fun worldbuilding JPRG underneath. Oh and half the game is spent tooling around in menus combining items to create new ones through alchemy.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:19 (eleven years ago) link
that was the worst gif, right there
― Z S, Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:22 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/evELBtU.gif#30 (Tie): Far Cry 3 – PS3, X360, PC – 20 pts – 2 votes
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02413/Far-Cry-3-cover_2413312b.jpg
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18at7esoy8pp7jpg/xlarge.jpg
Zero Punctuation
Quarter to Three
I Broke Far Cry 3
California Literary Review
Author Interview
Producer Interview
YouTube Soundtrack Playlist
http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Farcry-3-Story-Trailer-Screenshot-01-600x336.png
The Crysis/Far Cry/Crytek-in-general thread
Jordan: The best hang-gliding sim of the year.
jjjusten: YES THE STORY IS STUPID PROBABLY. NO I DIDN'T ASK FOR A GAME WHERE MY PROGRESS IS MEASURED BY A TRIBAL TATTOO. Okay, now that that's out of the way, FC3 a much more enjoyable followup to FC2, with the nice changes as listed here:1. Your character might be a jerk, but he isn't actually an inherently evil and terrible person. 2. Sound and visual design is as good as it gets. Seriously. 3. Respawning murderous animals makes a lot more sense than respawning guard posts, probably. 4. Lots of diversity in mission design. 5. Great use of vertical space. In a lot of ways, the map feels like Just Cause 2, but with less abject stupidity (dont get me wrong, love that game but wow is it dumb).
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:24 (eleven years ago) link
serious questoin: is the tribal tattoo/progress bar symmetrical and located directly above the butt?
― Z S, Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:25 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/xPpkicz.gif#30 (Tie): Wargames: WOPR – iOS – 20 pts – 2 votes
http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/230127-WOPR-Header.jpg
http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/files/2012/12/wargames.jpg
Developer Interview
A Brief History of Match Three
http://www.pixelitis.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/wargames_wopr.jpg
S. Clover: Wargames certainly profited from a retro tie-in, officially franchised no less! But the story is mainly confined to some clips and dialogue between levels. The rpg-puzzling itself is where the action is at. More than other draw-a-line matchers, there's both scarcity and time constraints in the wargames world. The field is basically littered with ticking bombs, and against a sufficiently powerful opponent you'll always, eventually lose. So play is strategic, but also over quickly. And unlike the steady grind of some other similar games, you can just jump into a level of your choice.
Forksclovetofu: Late to the game on this one but I think it's not unfair to say this is nearly as good as 10000000. http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-colbert.gif
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:27 (eleven years ago) link
tribal tattoo is on the arm because main character IS A TOUGH GUY MAN GODDAMNIT
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:31 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/maOKvlY.gif#29: Fairway Solitaire – iOS – 21 pts – 3 votes
http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/10%20more%20free%20iPhone%20games%20and%20edits/25-freeway-solitaire-580-90.jpg
http://blog.swagbucks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/fairway-solitaire-2.jpg
Play Free Online
Dev Interview, Part One
Dev Interview, Part Two
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmaH7-jeWzM/Tz8iEX3HFYI/AAAAAAAABJc/-0dc7ypf7T4/s640/FairwaySolitaireCheat.png
EZSnappin: Loved the PC version, but the iOS one is better. Once they added the daily challenges I was hooked. Worth that 5 minutes of play each day.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:32 (eleven years ago) link
ok to be fair, the game is actually weirdly good at defeating that same mythos as much as celebrating it, but still, dudertown tribal armband thing is dumb as shit
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:32 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/BjEqiCd.gif#27 (Tie): I Am Alive – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote
http://static9.cdn.ubi.com/en-US/images/IAA_Screenshot_12_620x350tcm1932369.jpg
http://thecontrolleronline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/i-am-alive-trailer.png
Rock Paper Shotgun
Dev Interview
”Development Disaster”
Soundtrack on Spotify
http://media.t3.com/img/resized/i_/xl_I_Am_Alive_4_624.jpg
come anticipate a TS w/me: infamous Vs. prototype Vs. I am alive
Jordan: I am the only person alive who liked this game. It worked within its limitations so well that it always felt bigger than it was.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:34 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/Hv0bt6L.gif#27 (Tie): Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote
http://cdn.pocket-lint.com/images/4S5W/pes-2013-pro-evolution-soccer-2013-review-1.jpg?20120923-193438
http://www.ubergizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pes-ps3.jpg
Dev Video Interview
”Brand Manager” Interview
http://screenshots.nl.sftcdn.net/nl/scrn/3342000/3342271/pro-evolution-soccer-2013-02-700x393.png
EZSnappin: The best soccer game got better, primarily through better AI. Remember when we all wanted some of the processing power to go towards better AI? At least one group of developers got the message.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:35 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/Fgj9cLp.gif#26: Puzzle Craft – iOS – 26 pts – 2 votes
http://quickman.gameological.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/120905_sawbuck_puzzlecraft_featured.jpg
http://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/images/feature/180102/PUZZLECRAFTFINAL.jpg
Gamasutra: The Evolution of Puzzle Craft
”Good At Killing Time, Not Good At Usability”
http://www.hookshotinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Puzzle-Craft-1.jpg
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:37 (eleven years ago) link
Top 25 to come.Can a fella hear a little enthusiasm?
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:38 (eleven years ago) link
I know nothing about video games of the 21st century, but I am v much enjoying the rollout and imagining in my head what the games might be.
― brogue element (seandalai), Thursday, 14 February 2013 23:40 (eleven years ago) link
are any of these games available for free in browser or are all those types of games only on iOS now
― Alice 2 Chainz - "I Luv Dem Bones" (zachlyon), Friday, 15 February 2013 00:03 (eleven years ago) link
Rebuild, Burrito Bison, Infectonator, Fairway Solitaire - all definitely available for free in browser. I played them all as browser games first, but I think most/all were last year or before, hence it being iOS versions that are in this poll.
― emil.y, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:06 (eleven years ago) link
I cannot even comprehend what would compel anyone to vote for these community sim games. Like, fine, waste your precious hours playing them, I get it. Life is meaningless. But to recommend that practice to others is cruel.
― pun lovin criminal (polyphonic), Friday, 15 February 2013 00:06 (eleven years ago) link
oh thanks xp. i noticed there were a lot more iOS games this year, and i usually use these threads to find new distractions. played Rebuild a while ago, was a fun hour or two.
― Alice 2 Chainz - "I Luv Dem Bones" (zachlyon), Friday, 15 February 2013 00:20 (eleven years ago) link
puzzle craft is another one that i probably would've voted for w/ a bigger ballot but just too small and inconsequential to feel like one of the 10 best games of the year. the 'puzzle' element is practically non-existent too.
― Mordy, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:23 (eleven years ago) link
I just started far cry 3. Probably would have voted for it if I had played it earlier.
― Jeff, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:25 (eleven years ago) link
the first truly millennial video game! or so some idiot game reviewer told me
― Mordy, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:27 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/12/behold-the-first-video-game-about-the-millennials/266039/#
atlantic game coverage is truly horrific
― Mordy, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:28 (eleven years ago) link
xpost i think i remember that idiot reviewer! where was that?
― Z S, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:28 (eleven years ago) link
whoops, you already posted it before i could ask :)
i think fairway solitaire is another game that has shown up on c+p a few times from different systems
i just started it too, and i think it's really solid so far.
yes its "the beach" + "red dawn" story elements are pretty bad, but fwiw still a notch above most shooters
― goole, Friday, 15 February 2013 00:30 (eleven years ago) link
xps it meaning FC3
ha goole i was plowing through max payne 3 so i could rack in some more time on fc3 and then loan it to you!
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Friday, 15 February 2013 00:53 (eleven years ago) link
#27 (Tie): I Am Alive – PS3 – 25 pts – 1 vote
as it should be
― keef qua keef (Jordan), Friday, 15 February 2013 01:55 (eleven years ago) link
If i'd started playing fairway earlier, it totally would have made my ballot. I've three-starred all the levels except for the bonus ones now. so yeah, its pretty much just down to the one daily level, but at this rate it'll take me forever to unlock any of the remaining stuff. the monetization on this is also sort of ridiculous (12$ IAP? seriously? who does that?).
― s.clover, Friday, 15 February 2013 03:20 (eleven years ago) link
fairway solitaire is the first video game about the millenials
― zero dark (s1ocki), Friday, 15 February 2013 15:47 (eleven years ago) link
... sit on the bench man, you on a cold streak
― Nhex, Friday, 15 February 2013 15:49 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/zXVW885.gif#25: Botanicula – PC – 30 pts – 2 votes - 1 top game vote
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/11/dec/bot1.jpg
http://images.pcworld.com/reviews/graphics/products/uploaded/software_manufacturer_botanicula_1199324_g4.jpg
Experience Points
Play the Demo Free Online
Soundtrack
Composer Interview
http://amanita-design.net/img/games/botanicula-02.jpg
CraigG: I'm never entirely sure that I'm solving the puzzles in this - I'm mostly wandering my little crew aimlessly about, but I seem to keep getting a little further each time. I found Samorost, Machinarium, and games like that really passifying in the past, and this is no exception. Plus, the audio and overall style are lovely.
Zora: This was one of the most original and (I hate to say it but-) charming games I've ever played. It was hard at times because it required an insane amount of lateral thinking, but the upside of course is that it both surprises and satisfies. And it's more affordable than a meal cooked by Heston Blumenthal.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 15:57 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/LsxTDxS.gif#24: Diablo III – PC, Mac – 30 pts – 3 votes
http://images.pcworld.com/images/article/2011/11/diablo-3-5235391.jpg
http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Diablo-iii-auction-house-trouble.jpg
Hey, remember that slow start? Good times.
Brainy Gamer: A Comfy Conditioning Chamber
Diablo Is Kind of a Dick
Gamasutra: Diablo III - Lead Director Interview
Gay Gamer
That Game’s(UX)
http://www.diablo3classes.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Diablo3_creaft.jpg
Diablo III
EZSnappin: Bought this to play with a friend. Had a blast but haven't played it since that first month. Still, it was worth it.
Forksclovetofu: Bought this to play by myself. Had a blast but haven’t played it since that first month. May have been worth it? I’m just glad this lacked the opiate power of it’s predecessor. I still refer to Diablo II as one of the main reasons I don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:01 (eleven years ago) link
are we wrapping up today?
― Mordy, Friday, 15 February 2013 16:01 (eleven years ago) link
Nope. Likely gonna go on a bit longer. Prior appointments.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:03 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/RudSDGE.gif#22 (Tie): Magic: The Gathering 2013 - Duels of the Planeswalkers – iOS, PC – 31 pts – 3 votes
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7411999038_a3449b28be_z.jpg
http://www.maclife.com/files/u325188/2012/06/magic_screen.jpg
Gamasutra: What Can Magic Teach Us
http://cultofmac.cultofmaccom.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/E13-Challenge-Gameplay.jpg
Magic: The Gathering C/D
EZSnappin: I hadn't played the card game since the Ice Age expansion, but this got me interested again. I have no desire to get into the collectable bullshit part of it again, but this was fun.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:04 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/rhaNRT5.gif#22 (Tie): Max Payne 3 – PS3, X360 – 31 pts – 3 votes
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-content/gallery/maxpayne3/max-payne-3-12.jpg
http://media.rockstargames.com/rockstargames/img/global/news/upload/maxpayne3_screenshots_03012012_0005.jpg
I Broke Max Payne 3
Errant Signal
Voice Actor Interview
Nightmare Mode
”Max Payne 3 Soundtrack Should Be A Model For The Future”
Pitchfork Soundtrack Review
http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3/img/global/screens/maxpayne3-weapon-smgs-01-640.jpg
What about Max Payne 3 already
CraigG: I got this in the July Steam Sale, and alternated between playing this and playing Skyrim in bursts, though both games tended to distract me to the point where 'bursts' become '3-4 hours'. It's definitely just as good as Max Payne 1/2 were, the story is interesting enough to keep it trundling along, but really - as with the first two - it all just comes down to how badass a shootout is with well-implemented (by the developers) and well-executed (by you, the player) Bullet-Time. There are even some great set-pieces that show that real-time-events don't have to be frantically tapping the 'x' button to wrestle with someone, or pushing a joystick one direction at exactly the right moment, they can just be more badass bullet-time!It does suffer for crappy vehicle missions (I've never enjoyed vehicle missions in games like this, GoW, Halo, etc), so I just drop the difficulty to get those over and done with, then get back on with the shooting.
jjjusten: Haven't finished this yet, so I reserve the right to yank my vote if there's one of those skull-fucking crying baby blood trail levels, but they haven't showed up so far. Thankfully Rockstar also managed to dodge the pitfall of doing another dark shadow noir take on this one, keeping the vibe but splashing color all over the place. Obv being who they are, it's clear that they were throwing buckets of money all over the place for this one, and it shows, from the interstitial cut-scenes to the splashy environments. You learn pretty quickly to take the world-weary max schtick with a grain of salt, and if you hone into the humor it's actually pretty well planned out. I've got some qulams about the controls at times, too many moments where you end up inadvertently shoot dodging for no reason, but it never seems to end up with cheap death scenarios so it's a minor quibble at best. Some not-quite-quicktime events that didn't need to be there arise, but not enough to be all that frustrating, and as a dude that thinks that 90% of cover shooters are rank bullshit, this one actually seems to work (again, level design in a cover system needs to be basically perfect or that shit just doesn't work.) I hear there is multiplayer, so hey, hooray for people that care about that sort of thing.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:05 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/84YdyL8.gif#21: Mass Effect 3 – PS3, X360 – 32 pts – 4 votes
http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2012/03/10/mass-effect-3-allies_r640x400.jpg?5f283927f7404204a81e453b153d50eb7d86d89b
http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/293725_S/mass-effect-3-multiplayer-guide-a-simple-strategy-to-survive.jpg
PopMatters
Gamasutra: Mass Effect 3’s Creative Challenges
Pixelogic Interview
Writer Interview
http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/electronic-arts2012/bioware/masseffect3/MassEffect3GOTY610.jpg
Mass Effect
diamonddave85: As stupid as the ending really was (WHY WAS SETH GREEN RUNNING AWAY FROM THE BATTLE??), as weak as the storyline was, and as much as I hated the protagonist (Shepard looks exactly like this loud jock bro that lived above me at the time), I have a soft spot for space action/adventure games and enjoyed the battle system quite a bit.
WillM: The best thing about Mass Effect 3 is that I'm done with Mass Effect now. I love love love the first game -- it so perfectly captured the essence of space loneliness during those quiet, irrelevant Mako treks on barren planets and moons -- that the shootered up, voice-forever-in-ear Crank 2 High Voltage little brother in Mass Effect 2 could do nothing but disappoint. Mass Effect 3 spends its entirety, from the first five minutes to the last fade out, that HEY USER, THIS IS THE END. Which works for it at times (the Geth/Quarian missions) and not so much others (any time you are reminded of your "galactic readiness" it's just wearying and so so so lame). I was so insanely hyped for 2, and, honestly, 3 too... I'm just glad that it's "over" and that I'll never really be hyped for another one of these. The multiplayer was shockingly competent, which definitely didn't hurt.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
mass effect 3 was my disappointment of the year. after playing the first 2 (multiple times) i just could not get into the third one. it's not you, mass effect, it's me. i'm sure. i no longer want to watch 4 hour space opera cutscene dialogues in my video games. i want to play them.
― Mordy, Friday, 15 February 2013 16:13 (eleven years ago) link
http://i.imgur.com/t13IVUc.gif#20: Quantum Conundrum – PS3 – 34 pts – 2 votes
http://www.gev.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/quantum-conundrum.jpg
http://i1.cdnds.net/12/25/618x347/gaming_quantum_conundrum_8.jpg
Gamasutra: Quantum Conundrum’s Kim Swift
http://cdn2.gamefront.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/quantum-conundrum.jpg?cda6c1
Jordan: Terrible writing (the jokes were not jokes) but some of the puzzle mechanics were great. This is 2012's game that my girlfriend played all the way through with me.
if: Quantum Conundrum is not exactly based on the same mechanics as Portal, but the common creator shows through in a very similar approach and the game play being just as ingenious, even as the story and other design elements all fall a bit flat. Turns out that the puzzles are indeed the single most important part.
― Even by Zales standards, that's sad. (forksclovetofu), Friday, 15 February 2013 16:16 (eleven years ago) link