World of Goo

[Emperor Leo]

Has anyone else played World of Goo yet? It's really fun! The free demo is available on Steam and it's only a 39Mb download. It's addictive, too. It's like someone has given Lemmings a 21st Century, Tim Burton make-over. Give it a go!

[Neb]

It's a modern day lemmings! It's great.

you'd think physics puzzles would get boring after a while, but they always manage to be fresh with an added twist every level.

-Neb

[Emperor Leo]

It's strangely atmospheric and adorable, too. I felt bad for the gooballs that I have to leave behind. They sacrificed themselves to save the rest! lol

I get a Lemmings meets Abe's Odyssey meets Tim Burton vibe from the game, but in the most simplistic way possible.

you'd think physics puzzles would get boring after a while

I kept thinking that it would start to get infuriating at any moment, but I just had to keep trying!

Do you have the full game? I've only played the demo (which is suprisingly long).

[Admiral Nelson]

The game is awesome. I'd recommend the full version in a heartbeat.

[Neb]

I've got the full game aswell, and I have no regrets. I'm only about half way through the second chapter, but so far each puzzle has introduced something new to the mix. Each puzzle is clever enough that I'm left with a "how did they think of that" feeling.

The best part about it is that the execution so far seems to only get mildly difficult, while actually designing the solution is where the difficulty lies. Puzzle games that are easy to figure out and hard to execute are the ones that get frustrating.

-Neb

[Emperor Leo]

I also like the fact that the puzzles very rarely boil down to sheer luck. Other casual puzzlers like Peggle and Zuma rely on the luck of the draw. Also, in the Chapter 1 puzzle where you build out of the giant frog's mouth, if you click on the sign it says something about the "other tadpoles growing up to shoot coloured gems out of their mouths". Is this a nod to Zuma?

[xxax]

There are a lot of nods to puzzle games. Like the level "ode to bridge builder" or something like that...

[Cyrus the Virus]

Tried demo today and it's definitively fun, resembles Bridge Builder.

Gameplay seems to be quite long for a demo. I don't mind.

[Stalins Ghost]

I can't recommend this game enough. Easily one of the games of the year. Hopefully got an interview with the developers up on the Reticule soon

[The Librarian]

This game deserves more recognition, so to gather some interest, here's my little preview:

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World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle game, and for me it's the best puzzle game since Portal. You build crazy structures out of goo, the main substance in the game. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore -- but they don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. Drag and drop living, squirming, talking, globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues so that you can direct the Goo Balls to their goal on the other end of the stage. The subtle humor and fantastic music all add to the atmosphere, and you'll find yourself playing for hours and hours. But don't take my word for it, just read some reviews:

IGN: 9.0

World of Goo is an amazing downloadable PC game that you simply must buy. It's packed full of brilliant, challenging levels. It's gorgeous. It's got beautiful music. And it controls really well. So if you value any or all of these qualities, and hopefully you do, you should not hesitate to add it to your My Games List via Steam.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/921/921831p1.html

Gamespy: 5/5

World of Goo's mix of ingenious physics-based puzzles and witty, colorful presentation make it a game almost everyone should check out. It goes by fast -- you can get through most of the puzzles in 5-6 hours -- but for $20, there's little excuse not to check out this World.

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/world-of-goo/921366p1.html

"The comedy is implemented in bucket-loads, parodying the power of cynical marketing and the corrupt exploits of major corporations... and at this point I struggle to find a way to put into words how a puzzle game can explore so many themes. It's just incredible."

"This isn’t just the small matter of being one of the best games of the year, it’s also the emergence of a stellar new talent in gaming... a game that constantly reinvents itself, reimagining the possibilities, evolving and throwing out surprise after surprise."

"A game so utterly charming, so pregnant with charisma, and so simple in concept, that it belongs in another era."

You can find the main site here: http://2dboy.com/games.php
There you can try a demo, watch some trailers and buy the game. Because that's what you should do: buy this game .

To conclude, some images:







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You can also download the amazing soundtrack for free (click the image):



Official message:

Thanks to everyone who wrote in asking about a soundtrack! I probably never would have put this together otherwise. I spent this weekend pulling together all the audio, reconstructing some of the older songs, and “remastering” them all like they do to Snow White DVD’s. The final soundtrack is about 49 minutes long, and all free here. (another mirror is here) Hope you like it! Kyle

[Xen]

Their publisher went out of business.

90 percent pirate rate LOL.

[Stalins Ghost]

Their publisher went out of business.

90 percent pirate rate LOL.

Meh, I bought direct of the boys themselves. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

The pirates can burn. Absolutely sickening statistics in all honesty. There's absolutely zero justification (if you can call it that) with WoG considering they gave you a whole chapter for the demo, had zero DRM etc. Absolutely sickening that so many people refused to pay for what was clearly the best game of 2008.

[xxax]

Their publisher went out of business.

90 percent pirate rate LOL.

Really? I heard it sold really well... What's your source?

[Cyrus the Virus]

Really? I heard it sold really well... What's your source?

Written at their blog on the homepage, somewhere.
Though the numbers should be taken lightly upon as described by them there and as well by other people. They're basing their suspicion on a non accurate thing.

[Pious Agnost]

How'd they work out how many had pirated it? :hmmm:

I was sold as soon as someone said Abe's Oddysey and Lemmings in the same sentence, hell, sold as soon as Lemmings was mentioned

[The Librarian]

Yes, their publisher, not them. It didn't cost them anything to make, so it's not a disaster. They can always find another publisher.

[Stalins Ghost]

It's had an extremely good critical reaction, but it seems PC Gamers are of the habit in being scumbags. The boys themselves did the math - http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/

It's for this reason that I can not condone piracy in anyway. Before I was sitting on the fence, neither really agreeing nor disagreeing with either side - but the WoG stats pushed me over the edge. I have zero respect for mothering pirates.

[Stalins Ghost]

They explained their statistic here: http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/

Yes, their publisher, not them. It didn't cost them anything to make, so it's not a disaster. They can always find another publisher.

Don't be quite so sure. The indie developer, while not having to necessarily have an office besides the wifi-coffee shop they choose on any given day, they do have stuff like rent to pay, and equipment to buy. There's numerous overheads while developing, and very little income to back them up.

Edmund McMillen, who we interviewed at The Reticule offers some interesting perspectives on the life of the indie developer here: http://thereticule.com/2009/01/31/le...mund-mcmillen/

[Emperor Leo]

You can also download the amazing soundtrack for free

Excellent! The soundtrack was superb! The music really gave the game another layer!

[The Librarian]

Don't be quite so sure. The indie developer, while not having to necessarily have an office besides the wifi-coffee shop they choose on any given day, they do have stuff like rent to pay, and equipment to buy. There's numerous overheads while developing, and very little income to back them up./[/url]

I'm just basing myself on an interview with one of the two makers where they said that it practically cost them nothing. But you're right, I won't deny that =).