cobaltnine | IFComp 2008 - NerdQuest (Reply)

As one would say in Nethack-land, the RNG hates me. Hates me a lot. What do I randomly pull this time but another homebrew, this time Java. Another game where I can't 'x' anything. In fact, I can't even 'examine' now. I have to 'look at' everything.

The Java takes two forms: on his own server which kept resized my window and timing out, and on my own computer, which is 1: someone's java thing, with all the security wincing that might induce and 2: not colored well, such that the spacing and the words all blend together into one ugly b&w lump.

When I finished playing the b&w version (the timeouts were pissing me off), the end message disappeared with the auto-closing windowy window. Aw, I missed something witty.

As for the game itself, this was a stupid waste of my time. The prose needed a native English beta, and I don't mean that in a mean way. His English is loads better than my Dutch, but if I were to write a game in German (my best language other than English) I'd be uncomfortable and definitely find a native speaker to check me out. In fact, I write in my native language and I still like to have people go over it to make sure the sentences flow well.

Plot: none. There was a basic puzzle and generic, 1999-era OS nonsense. Also, what is a beamer? What was its use? I at first assumed there was a car there, as 'beamer' means 'BMW' to my American ears. I think it was a projector. And then I didn't know what the hell its use was - I don't think it had one. I solved the puzzle before I could bother going back and caring.

Rating: 2. I just don't care.