Games

So much to blog about and instead of buckling down to do my good web citizen duty, I find one of the coolest Flash games I've played in a while. In fact, it's probably the coolest Flash game I've played since finding Samorost2 a couple years ago. No surprise that it's by the same creators, Amanita Design. The game in question is an educational adventure game commissioned by the BBC called Questionaut. Follow that link and click the orange Go button for a taste of what a truly imaginative, artistic adventure game can look and feel like. I love the visual design, the music, the puzzle design, and more. The sense of humor displayed in the characters is delightful, and I can't help but think of The Little Prince as I fly from world to world to meet them. The game targets an elementary school audience and drills you on trivia ranging from probability to grammar. I didn't have much trouble with the questions (aren't you proud, mom and dad?), though I was stumped for a few minutes on the stage 6 puzzle. There's honestly nothing here to ruin the gaming experience, and much more to commend. Try it out. Enjoy yourself. Don't blame me when you're totally captivated. 8) I highly recommend the Samorost games, and while writing up this post I was encouraged to find that they have a full scale adventure game in the works with the same incredible style called machinarium. Guess what I'll be buying when it's available... ;) Check it out:
Machinarium Preview from Amanita Design on Vimeo.

Well, for the last several weeks, there has been a FreeBASIC game programming competition in the forums at FB.net (view thread). I pleaded with my wife and was allowed to work on and submit an entry. I've sacrificed plenty of sleep to work on the project after she's gone to bed and ended up with what I feel is a solid, enjoyable arcade game with enough bonuses and gameplay strategies to provide some replay value. The title is SECTOR SHOCK, and it is your next favorite pasttime.