It's a matter of principle

Been a bit quiet over the past week, because I have been busy. Some time has been spent firing off abusive emails at courier companies who have spectacularly failed to process a shipment through Bangkok airport; more on that later. But most effort has been expended on that most noble of human pursuits, computer gaming.

Two culprits; least time consuming first, but only because I only discovered it yesterday.

Besiege is a physics-based game where you are given a a wide assortment of components and have to construct machines to blow up buildings and kill things. The things include troops and sheep; that latter mentioned as a game highlight in the publicity material as “combustible livestock”.

The game is still in Alpha, which is short for “very early version, still in development, could be a while before it is finished” state. The game is being built by two men in a shed, so offering a pre-release version is a way to raise funds for food until it can be formally released. For around one hundred and sixty baht you get a load of entertainment. There are only fifteen challenges currently released, but six hours in and I still have two left. Once you have finished the challenges you can use the sandbox mode to practice building whatever you want.

The problem with early release games is that they often function poorly and cause more grief than pleasure. Not so with Besiege. The game has been under development for two years and the mechanics and physics work flawlessly. Graphics are good and I have yet to experience any crashes or bugs.

Available for Linux, Mac and PC, Besiege is well worth the very small amount of money being asked for it.

My most excellent extreme sheep shearer:

The other time consumer of the week, and I think we are currently at over thirty hours, is The Talos Principle:

The player is a sentient android, dropped into a created world of puzzles, watched over by a god-like being called Elohim. The are computer terminals dotted around the world and messages in various forms scattered around. As you progress through the game you can build up background knowledge about the history of the place; or just rush around trying to solve the puzzles.

Each puzzle is in an enclosed area, usually a set of ruins set under a sunny sky with birds singing. It’s a relaxing environment which allows you to concentrate on each challenge without being diverted by any threats. Each puzzle requires you to collect an object, or sigil, which is later combined with others to unlock more features of the game. To access a sigil you manipulate objects within the world. There are jammers to open doors, boxes to climb on or operate pressure plates, and connectors to direct light beams from a source to receptor. Plus fans and platforms and stuff I probably haven’t found yet.

Some puzzles are straightforward, some are seemingly impossible and you wander around for an hour (or day) or more until a way forward presents itself. When you do finally crack a difficult puzzle it is most satisfying; even if the answer is in retrospect obvious. You feel so pleased with yourself for solving the riddle; and annoyed with yourself for not working it out sooner. Although the gameplay is very different, the intellectual challenge is reminiscent of Portal. If you liked Portal, you will love The Talos Principle.

I find it one of the more enjoyable games of the last few years and look forward to getting back to it once I have obliterated all the sheep in the remaining levels of Besiege.

Comments 🔗

2015-03-20 | Ray says

Never mind playing games. Get that “attic rubbish” firing and show us a few frames.

2015-03-20 | Grant says

Yes Ray, you’re right. He’s far too self indulgent, never thinks of us. With a bit of luck the latest from the world’s attic will have gone to Bangkok for a CLA just like those Yanks from a few decades ago… I hope it doesn’t come back with a note from the man at the camera shop saying “Very sorry sir, too far gone, we could do nothing with it so we have converted it to digital for you, much better!” I’m looking forward to further news of the stalled shipment in BKK. I have a feeling that this could betoken a de-trashing of the world’s attics on a scale hitherto unimagined…

2015-03-20 | Andrew says

You fail to realize that these games will be the “attic rubbish " in the next 5 years - Spike has already got his ads worded for e-bay…he’s just a bit ahead of the curve on this….

2015-03-21 | Spike says

You fail to realise they are acquired digitally and cannot be transferred.

2015-03-21 | Ray says

^^ Cyber Attic ?

2015-03-21 | Grant says

Cyber Attic Trash?

2015-03-22 | ChristianPFC says

The are computer terminals dotted around -> There are

2015-03-23 | Andrew says

Tell that to Edward Snowden…anything digital can be moved anywhere - especially in the direction of Maclean Virginia and Cheltenham England…

2015-03-24 | Spike says

Well of course; which is why I always sign off my mails as Nigel Semtex Jihad Al-Farage; like to keep the wankers in Cheltenham on their toes.

2015-03-24 | Andrew says

I think I know your brother…..Nigel Allahu Akbar Ammonium Nitrate Griffith-Jones