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I think I'd prefer shades of grey
Nov. 3rd, 2006 06:14 pmBack in the day, I once played Myst at a friend's house, and I was simultaneously bored silly and frustrated beyond belief. I just don't think my brain is wired up the right way for computer games. Anything more complicated than Solitaire is beyond me; seriously, I have a very nifty-looking retro version of Pacman, in which I have never - not once - made it past the first level.
Anyway, a few years ago, a game called Black & White came into my possession (it came in a software bundle, where it was cheaper to buy Quicken - or whatever it was I wanted - bundled with the game than by itself). My computer at the time didn't have the right sort of video card so the game has sat at the back of a cupboard all this time, until I saw it the other day and thought, well, I've got a new computer now - I wonder...
It does work, as it turns out, and I have relived all my Myst-based frustrations. The point of Black & White is that I, the player, am a god, represented by a giant hand. I have to tend my little flock of worshipful island villagers - and that's dandy. I was good at that. If I could just teach them to fish and miraculously provide wood, why, then I'd be happy and they'd be happy and everything would be jolly.
There's a fly in the ointment though, a worm in the apple - a snake in this Eden, if you will - and that is this: there comes a point, sadly quite early on in the game, where you can't advance until you choose your physical representative on the island, which is your Creature. There was a choice of three Creatures: a cow, a monkey or a tiger. I chose the tiger, and the other two cried (that upset me; I don't want to make cows and monkeys cry).
How I hate this stupid Creature! I have to look after him all the time. I left him alone for a second so I could go and look at something somewhere else on the island, and he ate some villagers. I showed him how to add food to the village store to gain belief from the villagers, and he threw a villager in. I told him to rescue a drowning villager, and he plucked him out of the water... and ate him. And he was still hungry! I've stroked him for being good, I've smacked him for being naughty, and I resent him more than I ever thought it would be possible to resent a group of pixels.
The final straw came when I discovered there is a "Creature Cave", whose walls are covered with the Creature's thoughts, including "My deity has not paid me much attention". If giant hands could splutter with indignation, I would have. Not paid him much attention - I haven't done anything but! What an ungrateful little swine. So I uninstalled the game. That'll teach him.
Anyway, a few years ago, a game called Black & White came into my possession (it came in a software bundle, where it was cheaper to buy Quicken - or whatever it was I wanted - bundled with the game than by itself). My computer at the time didn't have the right sort of video card so the game has sat at the back of a cupboard all this time, until I saw it the other day and thought, well, I've got a new computer now - I wonder...
It does work, as it turns out, and I have relived all my Myst-based frustrations. The point of Black & White is that I, the player, am a god, represented by a giant hand. I have to tend my little flock of worshipful island villagers - and that's dandy. I was good at that. If I could just teach them to fish and miraculously provide wood, why, then I'd be happy and they'd be happy and everything would be jolly.
There's a fly in the ointment though, a worm in the apple - a snake in this Eden, if you will - and that is this: there comes a point, sadly quite early on in the game, where you can't advance until you choose your physical representative on the island, which is your Creature. There was a choice of three Creatures: a cow, a monkey or a tiger. I chose the tiger, and the other two cried (that upset me; I don't want to make cows and monkeys cry).
How I hate this stupid Creature! I have to look after him all the time. I left him alone for a second so I could go and look at something somewhere else on the island, and he ate some villagers. I showed him how to add food to the village store to gain belief from the villagers, and he threw a villager in. I told him to rescue a drowning villager, and he plucked him out of the water... and ate him. And he was still hungry! I've stroked him for being good, I've smacked him for being naughty, and I resent him more than I ever thought it would be possible to resent a group of pixels.
The final straw came when I discovered there is a "Creature Cave", whose walls are covered with the Creature's thoughts, including "My deity has not paid me much attention". If giant hands could splutter with indignation, I would have. Not paid him much attention - I haven't done anything but! What an ungrateful little swine. So I uninstalled the game. That'll teach him.
