Sleep Is Death

[Adam Blue]

Pretty interesting game. Two-player only, taking turns creating a story. Possibly good for roll-playing? The link (http://sleepisdeath.net/) shows all.

EDIT: I really butchered the roleplaying spelling. Some days my homophone meter is off...

[Hawkzombie]

I dunno about roleplaying, but it certainly seems to have a bit of charm. If anyone picks this up, I'll be their player 1 :p

[axion]

This does look interesting, maybe I'll pre-order, specially since our dollar is strong right now :p.

[Hawkzombie]

Oh hey, did you hear in the next few days it's actually going to eclipse the US dollar? I can't wait to still be paying Canadian prices for things.

[axion]

Buy online :p.

[Hawkzombie]

Even online! But then you gotta pay stupid shipping charges. I just can't win!

[axion]

Online from the States then :p. No tax that way either.

[Panthera]

Online from the States then :p. No tax that way either.

Then you get retarded shipping rates and hope to hell they don't use something like UPS that reams you with its brokerage fees.

[axion]

BTW it's $9 for two copies until Friday, not a bad deal really.

[Drayven]

Some days my homophone meter is off...

Does that mean Civil doesn't get cell reception?

I'll be here all week

[Hawkzombie]

Then you get retarded shipping rates and hope to hell they don't use something like UPS that reams you with its brokerage fees.

Oh GOD. I fucking hate UPS. Worst shipping company I've ever had to deal with.

[destoo]

Jason Rohrer.. Oh, Passage!
http://hcsoftware.sourceforge.net/jason-rohrer/


Here's a game by The99th and Jason.
http://playthisthing.com/sleep-death-flipbook

[destoo]

I'd preorder, but I don't know who I'll play with.
Never mind. Ordered. This is a no brainer.
http://sleepisdeath.net/slideShow/index.php?frame=1

[J Arcane]

So, he discovered DM mode. Whoopie.

I don't get "indie" guys sometimes, I really don't. Passage was pretentious crap.

[crazyD]

I'm looking forward to this one! Looks like it could be a lot of fun.

[Exodus]

I'm looking forward to this one! Looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Yeah, I'm going to try the demo out at least.

[Ravenlock]

I really don't know what I think about this. I was one of the guys who really liked Passage, and am a fan of Jason Rohrer in general (through interviews, etc), and this sounds like it could be amazing under the right circumstances.

I just wonder a little bit how wide those circumstances actually are. It seems like it could also be really, really lame a lot of the time. Curious to see the implementation. But maybe not curious enough to preorder.

[MagGnome]

Hmmm, that's very interesting. It's not an original idea, but of course not much is. It still looks pretty cool though.

[axion]

Anyone get their email yet?

[Jeffool]

Just got mine; anyone up for toying around?

The aim is looffej, the gTalk is jeffool at gmail.com

[crazyD]

I got mine! Played around with it a little at work, but can't connect from here. Kind of awkward UI, but pretty powerful.

[BigJonno]

The more I read about this, the more I don't get it. I understand what it is, I just don't understand what the fuss is about. It's two player tabletop role-playing, but on a computer. With graphics from an ancient point and click adventure. And much more effort required on the part of the GM.

I get that the detachment is what makes the difference, fair enough, but are there really enough people out there willing and able to create and run these little stories?

Now if someone gave me a way to run a tabletop RPG for a group of people online, with a decent graphical interface and built in dice rolling and stuff, I'd be there like a shot. When you see the quality of mods that people produce in their spare time, I see no reason why something like this needs to be half-arsed.

[destoo]

Hmmm.. I can't see my pre-order.. And looking at my paypal history, there's nothing there either. Maybe because I paid with Canadian money? Anyway.. Too bad. I'll wait a few weeks to see how the game is popular, then decide if it's worth 15$.

[Trihex]

Now if someone gave me a way to run a tabletop RPG for a group of people online, with a decent graphical interface and built in dice rolling and stuff, I'd be there like a shot.

You mean something like this: Fantasy Grounds (http://www.fantasygrounds.com/)

[crazyD]

The more I read about this, the more I don't get it. I understand what it is, I just don't understand what the fuss is about. It's two player tabletop role-playing, but on a computer. With graphics from an ancient point and click adventure. And much more effort required on the part of the GM.

I get that the detachment is what makes the difference, fair enough, but are there really enough people out there willing and able to create and run these little stories?

Now if someone gave me a way to run a tabletop RPG for a group of people online, with a decent graphical interface and built in dice rolling and stuff, I'd be there like a shot. When you see the quality of mods that people produce in their spare time, I see no reason why something like this needs to be half-arsed.

I see it more as a text based adventure game where you can do anything than a role playing game.

[Ravenlock]

Except it isn't text, which is what weirds me out a bit. I mean, I get that the UI is supposed to be super intuitive, but it seems to me that you need to be pretty super-great at both improvising a story and manipulating the program to be able to respond to the player, come up with the next plot bits, and plug the graphics in for whatever you want to have happen, all in 30 seconds.

I just feel like the number of people who are actually good at this and capable of making it fun for a player is going to be really tiny compared to the number of people who will start stories and then have them fall completely to pieces the moment a player does something unexpected. It's actually worse than the classic DM problem - which is hard enough - because you don't just have to come up with what happens, you have to make it appear on screen, in half a minute. Magic if you can pull it off, maybe, but reallllly lame otherwise.

I suspect it has demo'd well to the folks who have written about it precisely because the programmer himself was running the show.

[MagGnome]

The 30 second time limit is arbitrary, and it seems like a detriment to the game.

[Hawkzombie]

I see this as a cash grab. Something some people will (as Raven pointed out) excell at, but that will be such a small number, than the majoritiy are going to purchase this in the hopes they could do this and one of three things will happen:

1. They'll lose their 'audience' eventually, as people will grow bored of it after a while, and even then, the longest I can imagine a play session lasting is an hour or two of contained story-telling. Is there even an option to continue where you left off?
2. They won't be very good at it to begin with, thus losing their audience.
3. Their audience won't do what they are really hoping they will. Let's say they set up a really neat walk to town, and the person instead wants to go to the forest. Thinking on your feet is one thing. Doing it in 30 seconds is insane.

So yeah, most people will buy this, and won't use it much after that initial purchase.

[axion]

It's not an "online" game though. It's two people over ethernet cable or connected by typing in IP address as for as I can tell. So you won't get "random" people and struggle with an audience. You have to pick someone to play with, which should eliminate some of the issues. On the other hand, if you read the previews, a lot of the fun of the game is trying to fuck with the other person and see what happens.

EDIT: Still unclear about online part of the game, seems like maybe it will allow you to connect with randoms...

Edit 2: Installed it and yes indeed you need the other person's address to join a game.

[MagGnome]

My main problem is with the 30 second time limit. Then again I hate time limits in games in general.

[axion]

It's put in place so that you can't do whatever you want to necessarily, forcing you to think on your feet. It would take away a lot of the fun I imagine waiting minutes in between and allow for a more "perfect" gameplay.

[crazyD]

The 30 second time limit is arbitrary, and it seems like a detriment to the game.

The time limit can be changed. I set mine at 60 secs.

[MagGnome]

That's good to know!

I'd like to see some impressions from those who have bought this. I have way too much on my plate to play anything else right now, but I think this game is very interesting.

[crazyD]

I'm really digging it. I had a really fun run through as a player, and I love that you get the FlipBook afterward to view. It's some pretty funny stuff! I've just spent a long time setting up a zombie campaign that I'm gonna have someone test soon.

[Hawkzombie]

I'd love to be the player for someone, to try it out. Especially if you get a flip book :p

[destoo]

I'm really digging it. I had a really fun run through as a player, and I love that you get the FlipBook afterward to view. It's some pretty funny stuff! I've just spent a long time setting up a zombie campaign that I'm gonna have someone test soon.
Can you publish the flipbook in HTML?

[crazyD]

Can you publish the flipbook in HTML?

If anyone knows of a decent host that allows me to post these 70+ pages sequentially, I totally could. I just mass uploaded the PNGs to my facebook for the only version I now have online.

Got through my first plays as the controller on my zombie stage! Fun stuff, but I'm still testing, and only have one environment complete. 10 or so zombies, though, with death sprites, and a bunch of sprites for the main character and his wife.

[Hawkzombie]

If anyone knows of a decent host that allows me to post these 70+ pages sequentially, I totally could. I just mass uploaded the PNGs to my facebook for the only version I now have online.

Got through my first plays as the controller on my zombie stage! Fun stuff, but I'm still testing, and only have one environment complete. 10 or so zombies, though, with death sprites, and a bunch of sprites for the main character and his wife.

Oooo...you have to let me play when you're done!!

[crazyD]

Will do!

By the way, if anyone isn't using it yet, sidtube.com is awesome for meeting up with people to play with. And they just set up a Resources section, where you can download people's sprites. I have my zombie sprites up there now (http://sidtube.com/resources/2/).

[Jeffool]

If anyone knows of a decent host that allows me to post these 70+ pages sequentially, I totally could. I just mass uploaded the PNGs to my facebook for the only version I now have online.

Got through my first plays as the controller on my zombie stage! Fun stuff, but I'm still testing, and only have one environment complete. 10 or so zombies, though, with death sprites, and a bunch of sprites for the main character and his wife.I'd love to run through it, for what that's worth. Also, you could zip the folder and upload it to rs or mu and just let people download that. Then just flip through the png's themselves.

[crazyD]

I'd love to run through it, for what that's worth. Also, you could zip the folder and upload it to rs or mu and just let people download that. Then just flip through the png's themselves.

That works. You can scope it here (http://rapidshare.com/files/374835040/images.rar.html).

[Hawkzombie]

That works. You can scope it here (http://rapidshare.com/files/374835040/images.rar.html).

....YOu make me want to actually get this game. Thing is I SUCK at sprites. Or any artwork :p

[Jeffool]

....YOu make me want to actually get this game. Thing is I SUCK at sprites. Or any artwork :pPlenty are included, and masterpieces aren't expected.

And D's play there? Awesome.

[MagGnome]

I feel like a doofus, but what do I do with the images.rar file?

[Jeffool]

I feel like a doofus, but what do I do with the images.rar file?Open with a program such as 7zip, or WinRar. (A rar file is just like a zip file, only, better.)

[Hawkzombie]

Yeah, RAR is a better compression than ZIP. 7z and GZ (I think, can't recall if it's actually GZ or not as the file extension) can be even better compression methods, if not CPU intensive during the archival.

Winrar and 7Zip are free to use, however. Winrar is a trial, but the only thing is after the trial period it gives you a small dialog box reminding you to buy it whenever you open an archive. Directly extracting or doing anything with the right click (if you enable the context menu options) isn't limited at all.

[Spectre-7]

Shouldn't make too much difference whether you use ZIP or RAR in this case. If all of your files are PNG, they're already using deflate compression (the same type of compression used in ZIP), and compounding one lossless compression on top of another isn't likely to net you much... ya know, other than conveniently packaging the files together.

[Hawkzombie]

Honestly, I use rar for everything, and only default to zip if I'm planning on sending it to someone i KNOW doesn't use Winrar or 7Zip.

[crazyD]

Yes, the only reason I RARed it was because that is my default compression method, and compressing is a convenient way to get them under a single file.

[MagGnome]

Ah, I had forgotten about WinRAR. Thanks guys.

[crazyD]

Apparently, I fucked up with posting my last zombie pack, so if anyone actually wants the zombies, and a few more I created (including a zombie nun!), you can get them here (http://sidtube.com/resources/33/).

[muddi900]

By the way, the best way to watch those images sequntially is to opne that rar file in Cdisplay.

[crazyD]

Actually, I was just made aware of a site for hosting the stories. You can view it sequentially online here (http://thecardchest.com/sid/viewStory.php?storyID=360).

[MagGnome]

I just clicked through that whole story. It looks like you had a fun time! I laughed at least a few times myself. :)

[Hawkzombie]

I think playing these would be a LOT more fun than hosting.

[Jeffool]

"Fun?" Sure. But there's something to be said for the creative fulfillment of artistry, and I can absolutely see how this could be an outlet for people.

[Arphahat]

LOL! crazyD, that was hilarious! Now I want this stupid "game." Were you playing with someone you knew, or someone random?

[crazyD]

LOL! crazyD, that was hilarious! Now I want this stupid "game." Were you playing with someone you knew, or someone random?

Random guy.

[destoo]

Fuck paypal.

"We were unable to complete the payment, it did not pass our security model pattern"

Failure notice? "the option for failure notification was not enabled on your account".
WTF? I got a confirmation number and all, and you're telling me that later on, you just erased it? And the girl even tells me that the problem was not on my card, or bank, but on the receiving side.. Calisse.
Did it ever happen to anyone else?
I'm just pissed because I missed the preorder window.

[agentgray]

Oh, man. This game is great. crazyd, your zombie pack is ranked 2nd on the site.

Love it.

EDIT: the futurama pak is superb.

[Jeffool]

I have yet to see a single open game on SIDtube. I take it everyone's watching the page like hawks, taking games the moment they appear?

/edit: I gotta say, it's awesome watching how two different people handle a similar situation:

http://sidtube.com/gallery/288/

http://sidtube.com/gallery/290/

Some people just don't get it, some people do.

[Jeffool]

Note to anyone interested: Yes, people are watching like hawks. New games are announced in the site's IRC room, and jumped on within seconds. I finally got a game, and two minutes later the guy said he had to leave. :\

[Hawkzombie]

Both those you linked were awesome.

[crazyD]

Yeah, everyone wants to play, no one wants to host. I hope this will change after some time passes, and more people have stories ready.

[agentgray]

Yeah, everyone wants to play, no one wants to host. I hope this will change after some time passes, and more people have stories ready.

I'm finding that it's taken me a lot of time to get a framework in place. I should just use some assets that the game offers, but I want to do something a little more original.

With those assets I've created, will the player need them or does he get a copy when he connects to play?

[Jeffool]

They'll get a copy auto-magically.

[J Arcane]

Yeah, everyone wants to play, no one wants to host. I hope this will change after some time passes, and more people have stories ready.

I'm finding that it's taken me a lot of time to get a framework in place. I should just use some assets that the game offers, but I want to do something a little more original.

With those assets I've created, will the player need them or does he get a copy when he connects to play?

Welcome to the problems of GMing.

[crazyD]

Yeah, and they can use them in their stories after connecting.

I'm thinking of starting work on a new story with all new assets. I like my zombie story, and want to build up on it, but it is too serious with the way I am going, and want something more light hearted and fun.

[MagGnome]

You can design the sets beforehand, right? I was under the impression that EVERYTHING had to be done within the 30 second time limit, hence my earlier skepticism. That sounds foolish, but I guess that's how I thought it worked.

[crazyD]

You can design the sets beforehand, right? I was under the impression that EVERYTHING had to be done within the 30 second time limit, hence my earlier skepticism. That sounds foolish, but I guess that's how I thought it worked.

Yeah, you can totally prep in advance. And the game has an ini file that allows you to change the turn limit for when you are in a game.

[MagGnome]

That's good to know!

Do you have a storyboard uploaded of someone going through your zombie game?

[crazyD]

I don't unfortunately. Kind of lame, but the player is the only one that gets the flipbook files at the end of the game, and no one I've hosted has ever posted it anywhere that I know of.

[MagGnome]

That is lame!

[Hawkzombie]

Huh, that's weird...you'd think you both would get copies.

[crazyD]

Yeah, don't know why you don't. I wish I had a copy of the last game I controlled. It was actually a little touching.

None of that shit with the new story I'm making, though. Bring on the poop jokes.

[crazyD]

http://i.imgur.com/jID95.png

http://i.imgur.com/zagwh.png

My current work in progress for my day in the life superhero comedy thing. I'm done with the interior of the bar, still working on the outside. Particularly proud of the flying man neon lights on the exterior, each with multiple layers to simulate animation between turns! I'm also pretty proud of the dart board. I almost gave up on that a half dozen times, but got it looking fairly decent, if I do say so myself.

99% custom sprites.

[agentgray]

http://i.imgur.com/jID95.png

http://i.imgur.com/zagwh.png

My current work in progress for my day in the life superhero comedy thing. I'm done with the interior of the bar, still working on the outside. Particularly proud of the flying man neon lights on the exterior, each with multiple layers to simulate animation between turns! I'm also pretty proud of the dart board. I almost gave up on that a half dozen times, but got it looking fairly decent, if I do say so myself.

99% custom sprites.
Dave, that is some great stuff. I hope you share the content. :D

I have some great ideas for some supes-comedy.

[crazyD]

For sure! I'll throw it up on SiDtube when I'm done.

[Hawkzombie]

Nice! I really like what you've done.

[Spigot]

I really need to get this game...

[MagGnome]

They should really ban smoking in that bar.

/cross thread reference

[crazyD]

They should really ban smoking in that bar.

/cross thread reference

Actually, that's kind of a joke I'm gonna work into the story. The entire objective of the game is gonna be to get a cigarette for the main character. He is excited to see the smokey bar, but it turns out that it is a no smoking place, and the smoke is due to a Human Torch-esque character who was drinking there earlier.

[MagGnome]

Ha, that sounds great!

[destoo]

Actually, that's kind of a joke I'm gonna work into the story. The entire objective of the game is gonna be to get a cigarette for the main character. He is excited to see the smokey bar, but it turns out that it is a no smoking place, and the smoke is due to a Human Torch-esque character who was drinking there earlier.
Spoiler alert!!

I need to order the game too. I was kind of bummed at the paypal fail, but I guess it happens.

[crazyD]

http://i.imgur.com/kUVqT.png

Today's efforts so far. I like it so much, I think I'll have to redo my other pages to get them looking as nice. It's a fucking shame, because this took fucking forever.

[Jeffool]

Dude, don't work yourself to the point where you no longer into it, y'know?

[crazyD]

Thing is, I get most of this done during slow times at work, so it's not so bad! I really dig making characters, but environments can be a bit tedious. Still, a little touch up, and 2 more and I'm done on that front. I hope to have the game at least slightly playable sometime this weekend.

[MagGnome]

Do you make the environments and characters in the game, or do you make them in a drawing program and then import them?

[crazyD]

I make them in game, which probably makes it way harder than it should be.

[crazyD]

Panorama time!

http://i.imgur.com/E5fC5.png

You can grab this pack here. (http://sidtube.com/resources/217/)

Not quite done with my story, but getting there. Also, the fucked brickwork in the far right scene is fixed in the actual pack. I'm just too lazy to fix the SS.

[agentgray]

Panorama time!

http://i.imgur.com/E5fC5.png

You can grab this pack here. (http://sidtube.com/resources/217/)

Not quite done with my story, but getting there. Also, the fucked brickwork in the far right scene is fixed in the actual pack. I'm just too lazy to fix the SS.

Getting this.

Also you guys see that EXCELLENT animation made with the creator tools?

Czf4nvI-jTQ

[crazyD]

Man, bet that was hard to make! Impressive.

[Hawkzombie]

Yeah, that was pretty neat.

[BigJonno]

I has it! Anyone still playing this and wanting to run games? I'm definitely planning on running games myself, but won't have time for another month.

[crazyD]

I've been slacking like crazy, and haven't touched my campaign since I decided at one point to redesign all my character sprites.

In case anyone missed it, this game is doing a pay what you want event (http://sleepisdeath.net/?paywhatyouwant).

[BigJonno]

That's how I picked it up. I started a thread and everything.

[Ravenlock]

I also have paid for it that way, Jonno, though I haven't downloaded it yet. I'll go get on that, though, and maybe try it out. I have a lot of stuff to do tonight though. We'll see. :)

[crazyD]

I'll see if I can get off my ass and finish the campaign since we got new people interested.

[BigJonno]

Hosting may be a problem for me at this point. I can't remember my router PW and resetting would cause much wailing and gnashing of teeth. I'll have to remember to do it when no-one is on t'internet, which is a pretty rare occurrence 'round these parts (at least it is at times when I'm awake enough to do technical stuff.)

[crazyD]

Maybe some time this weekend I can run someone through my kind of half assed Zombie campaign.

[BigJonno]

I'd love to give it a shot.

[agentgray]

I've been bust creating, but I did get to play some games. Some of the people who hosted for me were brilliant.

Sleep is Death roulette.

[MagGnome]

I decided to jump on the "Pay what you want!" deal before it disappeared.

I put in $5 and began filling out my payment information. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with guilt, hit the back button, and paid $10 instead.

I have the game now. :)

[Spigot]

Is it still Pay What You Want or is that just for a limited time? I've spent too much money on games this week but I'll probably grab this in a week after I get paid again.

[Ravenlock]

It's still going on now, Spigot, but I don't see anything on their site (http://www.sleepisdeath.net) mentioning how long they're going to run the offer.

[MagGnome]

What do I do with the .pak files once I download them?

[crazyD]

Put them in the loadingBay folder, then restart the game.

[MagGnome]

Thanks! I couldn't figure it out.

New question - is there an easy way to run the game in a window?

Sorry I'm such a n00b. :o

[crazyD]

Thanks! I couldn't figure it out.

New question - is there an easy way to run the game in a window?

Sorry I'm such a n00b. :o

Sort of easy. All the options are handled through .ini files in the Settings folder. Open fullscreen.ini and change the text to 0 to open in a window. You can also change the time limit and resolution from the Settings folder.

[MagGnome]

I got it, thanks!

[kyrieee]

There was an (almost) full page review of this in Sweden's biggest newspaper today! They compared it to improvisational theatre and seemed to like it quite a bit. Meanwhile Lost Planet 2 got a 4 sentence blurb (yay! =D)

[Ravenlock]

Improv theatre is pretty much exactly the right comparison, yes.

[MagGnome]

Have you played it yet, Eric?

[Ravenlock]

Not beyond just messing with the interface a bit, yet, nope.

[destoo]

Installed.. now I need a friend.

[MagGnome]

I bought this ages ago, but I have yet to play it. Are any COGers still doing it?

[crazyD]

I haven't in a while... kind of gave up on my campaign. I started remaking my characters in a new art style that looked way better, but got tired of the monotony of pixel art. Plus, my work load picked up, so I had less time to fuck around there. I dunno, though, maybe I can give someone a run through my mini zombie campaign sometime.

[Ravenlock]

Mags, I have yet to do this, but let's you and I try to set up a time to give it a whirl. Who knows what we'll come up with - but hey, that's the point. ;)

[MagGnome]

Ha, sounds good. I haven't even opened the game yet, so that should be interesting. Terrible, and interesting. :D

[destoo]

New game (http://insideastarfilledsky.net/) by Jason Rohrer is out.
Inside a Star-filled Sky-- my eighth game. An infinite, recursive, tactical shooter for one player. Available now.

[MagGnome]

I never did play this. Can I have my twenty dollars back? :(

[destoo]

I never did play this. Can I have my twenty dollars back? :(

Just get his next game and pay the minimum for it. It will even out.
I'm pretty sure a lot of us will appreciate it.

[MagGnome]

A lot of us will appreciate what?

[destoo]

A lot of us will appreciate what?

sorry. should have been another paragraph.
A lot of cogger will appreciate the open endedness of the game. I wanted to say "almost autistic" but Dwarf Fortress already scratches that itch.

I'm kinda stuck right now, and I don't see a "reset button", but I will probably play another two hours tonight.