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Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

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Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#41
post #2

Although it's tempting, this is a game you really don't want any spoilers about (if you are ever going to play it). Vi Hart, who has been playtesting the game for months, said: > Tips for playing The Witness: give yourself a week or two, no hints, no reviews. Sleep on it. Take breaks. It's a big game. Nothing like it. > If you can't spend all day every day playing The Witness, give yourself months. Engage deeply with…

Anyone who wants to avoid spoilers: you should avoid this thread too, including replies to sp332's comment.

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#42
I'm a few hours in and have already had so many moments of pure euphoria. It is a full sensory game. It uses my whole brain. Aesthetically, intellectually, even spiritually.

A quote in one of the audio logs is so exquisite that I just have to share.

One nature perfect and pervading circulates in all natures

One reality, all comprehensive, contains within itself all realities

The one Moon reflects itself wherever there is a sheet of water

And all the moons in the waters are embraced within the one moon

The Dharma body [the Absolute] of all Buddhas enters into my own being

And my own being is found in union with theirs

The Inner Light is beyond praise and blame

Like space it knows no boundaries

Yet it is even here, within us, ever retaining its serenity and fullness

It is only when you hunt for it that you lose it

You cannot take hold of it, but equally you cannot get rid of it

And while you can do neither, it goes on its own way

You remain silent and it speaks, you speak and it is dumb

The great gate of charity is wide open, with no obstacles before it.

- Yung-Chia Ta-Shih

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#43
post #20

Windows and PS4 huh? As the exclusive owner of Macs and an Xbox One, that's little irritating. I'd at least imagine a Windows to Xbox One port to be reasonable.

Well, I was about to add it to my Steam wish list until I read this. My only non-work computer is a Mac, so I guess I won't be playing it until it's released there.

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#44
post #3

Is that the guy who was unable to install Ubuntu properly, so he declared that supporting Linux versions of his game is not worth the effort? Color me disinterested. "No Tux, no bucks."

This is going to be one of the most popular games of 2016, and is releasing for Windows and PS4. Compared to those platforms, do you think that the time it would take to get a Linux version up and running would be cost-effective? There are some Linux sales figures kicking around [1] and they generally show that the Linux share is under 3%. [1] https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/sales-statistics-for-...

Anyone tried running it under WINE yet?

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#45
And it is wonderful.

It's one of those games that manages to push buttons in your brain you never knew you had, and make you feel like a genius when something finally clicks.

And it does all this without ever needing to explain anything.

Jonathan Blow's enigma variations. A meandering meditation on the means by which humans gain knowledge and understanding of the world, by standing on the shoulders of a hacking minigame.

Also it's gorgeous.

Did I mention it's BRILLIANT?

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#47
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...this is a game you really don't want any spoilers about... I couldn't possibly agree more. But, just so others don't end up making (or not making!) a blind purchase, I present a spoiler-free summary: It's a puzzle game. I'm likely not nearly done with the game and the puzzles have ranged from trivial to really, really, rather hard. The guy who made Braid is the designer of and one of the programmers of this game…

Do you think it will be possible to turn it into a mobile game?

Apparently it's coming to iOS some time in the future.

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#48
post #39

It is interesting that the game's rating is very positive but no one recommends it if I read the reviews. It seems that this game is not like Myst but a sterile puzzle collection without a story. Did I miss something?

That's perfectly normal.

If you don't like something, you are much more likely to vent than when you like it. Besides, it's a new release, so those who like it are still busy playing it.

Re: Jonathan Blow's new game, The Witness, is out

#50
post #45

And it is wonderful . It's one of those games that manages to push buttons in your brain you never knew you had, and make you feel like a genius when something finally clicks. And it does all this without ever needing to explain anything. Jonathan Blow's enigma variations. A meandering meditation on the means by which humans gain knowledge and understanding of the world, by standing on the shoulders of a hacking mini…

Isn't it like those ill-defined puzzles where you need to say what number comes next? Any number can come next.
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