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The City of Lost Children. (I think this is the fourth time we've had it on this thread.)

Hey, I recently bought the video game adaptation of that.
It was a bit of a blind buy. I saw it, it looked interesting, it was cheap, so I figured why not.
Overall, pretty nice game... it hasn't aged well though. It's really REALLY clunky.

Dune?
(Is there a Dune movie?)

Lost in Space?

Soylent Green?

Yep, you got it.
As for what everyone else has said. I'm in the same boat. I've never really watched either, at least not all the way through (I watched the last twenty minutes I think). But I've heard it referenced countless times. Heck, those references are the only reason I even know it exists.

[imgzoom]https://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201710/11/79/f0377679_14222039.jpg[/imgzoom]
I think this is a popular film, although everytime I bring it up, people have either never heard of it, or are surprised that I have. 

It Chapter 2?

Ok, assuming you somehow still don't understand the concept. Let me reframe it, so maybe you can.

I stopped reading right here and I don't care what comes afterwards. Next time you might want to keep the condescendence in check if you want people to care about anything you might have to say.

Sorry about that.
It's not much of an excuse, but you annoyed me with how you completely glossed over the point I was trying to make earlier, because it seemed like you didn't understand something that seemed obvious to me. So I over explained it as a result.
As for what came after that part you stopped reading. It was exactly the same as before. Just repeated three times in different words. So there was no reason to read it if you already understood what I meant in that first paragraph, which I think you did. 

Also, just so you know (because you skipped it), I agreed with you.

You have to ask how many of those backers/subscribers actually end up helping with testing and how many just wanted to see an early version of the game because it makes them feel special.

That's a very good question.
I guess you could include the stipulation that "I'll ignore any bugs you point out, so you're not technically beta testers!" but that would just be stupid.
I get the feeling that most people won't actually help with the testing. Other than pointing out some game breaking bugs, I suspect everyone will just play it once, then forget about it. But I've been wrong about these kinds of things before. So only the people who does this kind of thing can actually answer that question.

In my opinion, it's a bit of a nuanced subject. I've seen some people offer a free trimmed-down early access version, usually with less content or crappier graphics. So you aren't paying to beta-test, as that's free. You're just paying for an early version. That is the only time I can say that early access isn't synonymous with paying for the privilege to beta test. But it's hardly applicable for most games.

[reward]

So *I* am supposed give *you* money for the privilege of testing your game so you can save yourself the cost of hiring beta testers? Did you go to the Tom Sawyer Business School?

Am I the only one who finds this mind-boggling (and gear-grinding)?

(Disclaimer: I don't think the dev in question is identifiable from this, but in any case this is meant to be an example of a tendency I'm seeing all over the place, and not me pointing my finger at any specific individual. In fact I actually like their games a lot.)

Well in their defence, they probably need the money just to be able to complete the game, and probably don't have anything spare to hire proper beta testers.

Then offer some actual reward to backers, which is kind of the point of Kickstarter and Patreon, and with that money, hire beta testers. Simple. But don't make them pay for the "privilege" jfc.

But the ability to play the game or games early IS the reward. I know it's hard to believe, but a lot of people for some weird reason, like to play games early (even though they're incomplete buggy messes).
Now I'm not one of those people. I like finished working games. But even I'm able to understand the very simple concept that that there are a lot of people that like playing games they're looking forward to, as early as possible.
The thing is, if you're playing a game early, you're technically a beta tester. There's no way around that. That's the entire concept behind early access, and is one of the reasons why Minecraft became as successful as it did! (I still remember a Dwarf Fortress thread where people were complaining about this new "early access" thing that an increasingly popular indie game called "Minecraft" was doing, and why it was so stupid. Little did they know everyone would start doing it.)

Ok, assuming you somehow still don't understand the concept. Let me reframe it, so maybe you can.
Let's say you have a Patreon. Ok. And you get demands that some people want a reward of having early access to an incomplete buggy version of the game. (I'm not saying that this has happened for the guy in the example you gave, but I'm sure it's happened for someone.)
Would you do it?
If you do, you're technically making them into beta testers that are paying you for the privilege to be beta testers? (The thing that grinds your gears.)
If you don't, you're not giving your patreons a reward that they're actually asking for, and you may be losing out on some extra cash flow as a result.

Now it's not that I don't agree with you. Paying for the privilege to beta test someone's game is dumb.
But people like playing games early. And while I don't agree with those people, I can at least understand that concept. So why can't you?

Now I know we're talking about Patreon, which means people aren't just paying for the privilege of being beta testers. They're paying continually for that privilege. Which let's face it, is pretty damn stupid. But even then, what I've said still kinda applies.

So *I* am supposed give *you* money for the privilege of testing your game so you can save yourself the cost of hiring beta testers? Did you go to the Tom Sawyer Business School?

Am I the only one who finds this mind-boggling (and gear-grinding)?

(Disclaimer: I don't think the dev in question is identifiable from this, but in any case this is meant to be an example of a tendency I'm seeing all over the place, and not me pointing my finger at any specific individual. In fact I actually like their games a lot.)

Well in their defence, they probably need the money just to be able to complete the game, and probably don't have anything spare to hire proper beta testers.
Besides, if it's a game you're really looking forward to, and you're going to buy it anyway, wouldn't you want to help in its creation?
Of course it depends on the game, but still.

It's when big budget AAA titles do it, that it really grinds my gears. And the problem is, all big budget AAA titles seem to do it nowadays, and everyone considers it the norm! As a matter of fact, I've had people call me out for being the weird one when I complain about it!

Hello everyone! I figured I should introduce myself here as yesterday I submitted my first ever game! I've been looking into AGS for a while since I have always loved point-and-click games, and when I saw this month's MAGS topic I had a fully-formed idea pop into my head almost instantly. So, I decided to finally buckle down and make something myself!

I have absolutely no experience when it comes to scripting, art, animation, or anything else game-making related so these forums have been extremely valuable as a reference. Between the AGS manual and the posts here I have been able to teach myself a lot! I'm really looking forward to getting to know all you lovely people (and the software!) a lot better over the coming months.

Well from just looking at the screenshots of your first game, I can safely say you've done better than I did when I first started off. I look forward to seeing more of you in the coming months. 

Welcome to the forums!

The movie "Crawl" REALLY ground my gears.

Especially because it has an 83% critics rating and 75% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes...

Here is what I wrote on their audience critic section (SPOILERS)

Spoiler

Now, I realize movies aren't supposed to be 100% realistic, but when I see someone chomped on by gators, on arms and legs, shoulder and torso, like 5 times but they can still swim and move at full speed, without any broken bones, nerve damage, torn muscles, or just body parts freezing up from the shock of the injuries, I just have to assume that their skeleton is made of adamantium and their wounds heal about as fast as Wolverine's do too.
At this point I know they are going to be just fine no matter what happens to them and all suspense is lost.
Which is a shame, because I really cared about the two characters at first, but once I realized they were indestructible, that all went out the window.
Movie, less is more.

[close]

Spoiler

Holy crap! Was that guy Jason Voorhees?
I don't expect a movie to be realistic, but there are limits, especially when it comes down to what the main characters can survive. 
(Unless it's done for comical effect of course.)

[close]

What I'll never understand is how Watership Down is rated U in Britain and a mere PG in America.
I've watched horror films that were less violent.   

And speaking of Americans and their fear of cursing. Why do they worship the word "cunt" as though it's some sort of messiah of all swear words?
Here in Britain, "cunt" is no different than saying "dick" or "git". And one of those words is so well accepted in American culture, that they named a well-known website after it. 

And what is inherently wrong with swearing anyway?
The only reason I have ever been able to figure out as to why we make certain words taboo, is so then we actually have strong words to say when we get really annoyed. If everyone says it all of the time, then it loses its punch.

Oops. I missed that post somehow. Interesting. The screenshots really look like they're from an Animal Crossing game.

Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times?

You got it. A surprisingly decent Animal Crossing clone.
And trust me, if you think it looks like Animal Crossing from just these screenshots, then keep in mind that it also sounds and plays exactly like Animal Crossing as well.

Your turn. 

Huh... I wouldn't have thought an Animal Crossing game would be that obscure. Apparently I haven't looked in this thread in over a week.
I can't say which Animal Crossing game it is, though.

You're on the right path, but as I've said before it's not a part of the Animal Crossing series.

Alright, so it seems like I've accidentally killed off this thread with too obscure of a game.
So here's a screenshot and a hint:

[imgzoom]http://twentyquidamusements.thecomicstrip.org/files/name_the_game/namethegame03.png[/imgzoom]

It was published by a game's company, that now seems more interested in selling pachinko machines than video games.

Looks like Zombieland, but Luke Wilson wasn't in that I don't think?

Close enough, it's Zombieland: Double Tap. Just came out this past October. If you liked the first one then you'll definitely like this one.

I can't argue with that, but it's nowhere near as good as the first one either, so keep your expectations in check.
I personally think that pilot episode for that Zombieland TV series was better. (I still don't understand why people hated it so much.)

Is it one of the Harvest Moon games, or its spin-offs or spiritual successors?

Nope, it's completely unrelated to Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons.

Here's another screenshot:
[imgzoom]http://twentyquidamusements.thecomicstrip.org/files/name_the_game/namethegame02.png[/imgzoom]

Animal Crossing? (judging from the resolution it's either the N64/GCN original or Wild World on DS)

Speaking of, really looking forward to the Switch one, even though I barely have any time to play. I sank a lot of hours playing (and enjoying) New Leaf during my Uni days.

Wrong. 
It's NOT Animal Crossing, or even made by Nintendo.

Alright, here's one that's a lot harder than it looks.
[imgzoom]http://twentyquidamusements.thecomicstrip.org/files/name_the_game/namethegame01.png[/imgzoom]

Also, sorry for it having taken me so long to realize it was my turn. 

Black and White 2?