Frozen Synapse

[Jason]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbsSLeINhg

No, it's not the agonizing result of attempting to swallow an entire ice lolly in one go, it's a rather intriguing top-down tactical shooter/RTS hybrid. It's got both single-player and multiplayer options, and multiple game modes.

It's by indie developers Mode7 (http://www.mode7games.com/content/), and is being worked on for a late 2010 release, with the developers apparently in discussions with Valve about a Steam Release as well.

Mode 7 also worked on 2007's slightly insane third person hack-and-slasher Determinance, where you engage in swordfights where your mouse DIRECTLY controls your sword arm. Oh, and did I mention you can fly?

Yeah... you can fly too. Here's a trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG0WIIAVlS0

Anyway, Frozen Synapse looks like being a whole bag of tactical turn-based win, and the Beta is open NOW for pre-orders. Even better, if you order now, not only do you get a second code so a friend can take part in the beta, you also get a second copy of the FULL GAME to give to said friend when the launch arrives.

For the curious, here's the official site: Frozen Synapse (http://www.frozensynapse.com/)

[MyNameDidntFit]

Intriguing... I may purchase this.

[Lance]

Not even a may for me, I'm definitely getting it :D

If you guys are too, maybe we can set up a game or two

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well, I bought it. Downloading. If you get it tonight, give me a yell on Steam, MSN, Skype or all of the above.

[Konrad]

Ill wait for a confirmed or denied Steam release, but ill also be getting this. Looks awesome.

Also I kind of wanna play the flying sword game...

[MyNameDidntFit]

You can get it in a package with the pre-order :p

[Jason]

Ah, I'm glad you guys are as excited about this one as I am. I love the concept, and as soon as I get paid (just over a week) I'm getting this.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Alright. So I bought it, downloaded (installer is only ~60MB), created my free second account for Archangel and we played a few games. It's certainly a bunch of fun. There's a whole lot of depth in it that we're yet to unearth, though.

It's a game that looks like it will get funner and funner the more you play it as you begin to fully comprehend what you can and cant do with what units in what situations. There's a level editor that I have no idea how it works, and there is pretty much unending advanced set-up for matches if you want to spend the time tweaking it.

Now, I'm still at about .05% knowledge of how the heck you do the whole editing business, -- or most of the advanced setup, if I'm honest -- but I plan to make an effort to learn it, and learn it good.



Oh, and it's also a perfect game for MGers: due to the turn based mechanism, you can plan your move, upload it to the system and then leave. The game will be saved and you can come back when your opponent has made their move, check the outcome, and start plan your next one. Basically, games can take five minutes, or five days. And you can be engaged in multiple games at once.

[Jason]

Yeah, that's the concept that intrigues me most - the kind of bridge between real-time and turn-based. I guess the best way of describing it is 'simultaneous turn-based'.

I can't wait till next week when I can get my hands on this.

[Lance]

Yus, should be fantastic - and you're right MNDF, it does suit us perfectly :D

[dimples]

That didn't look the least bit interesting :D I'll pass

[MyNameDidntFit]

Yus, should be fantastic - and you're right MNDF, it does suit us perfectly :D

What's your account name? I shall friend you, and then challenge you :p

[Konrad]

Every challenge along the way

With courage I can face

I will battle everyday

To claim my rightful place

Come with me the time is right

There's no better team

Arm in arm we'll win the fight

It's always been our dream

Pokemon!





I'm this close to buying this thing but I'd like to hold out until the steam release. Is there any sort of account system that this game comes with, or do they just let you download it from their page?

[MyNameDidntFit]

Download it from their page, create an account in the game with key given, do stuff.

[Jason]

I'm not sure, not owning it yet, but they do make a big point on the site about having no restrictive DRM or anything of the sort. I guess you probably download the files direct from the site and create an account in-game.

Also, you *should* be able to use it on Steam once it goes through, I would think.

[MyNameDidntFit]

The only DRM to speak of would be that I assume each key is tied to an account. Otherwise you're free to do what you want with it within the bounds of your local laws regarding sexual relations.

[Lance]

Jase - I bought it, want me to set you up with the free account?

[Jason]

Ah, that'd be awesome if you've not got anyone wanting it. I'll swing you 50% of the price once I get paid. :)

[Lance]

Nah, dun worry about it - my shout for running the site

Well - I got well owned by MNDF quite a few times this evening.

Including a nice move where I managed to bounce a grenade off a wall and kill myself

[Jason]

Ah, that's the sign of a good game. It allows you the freedom to completely and utterly make a fool of yourself.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Oh, the explosives in this game are a recipe for anything from amazingly skilled pieces of epicissity to the most utter fails you've ever seen.

[Konrad]

God damnit if you're all buying this, ill buy it too. If anyone wants to split the costs with me, speak up.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Excellent.

[Lance]

Gimmie a little time to catch up with the Steam games I bought and my responsibilities over at RPA and I'll be all over this like an elephant in heat :D

[Konrad]

Most of you probably noticed this by now, but this game is available on Steam now which i'm only going to assume means one thing: Finished.

So... Are you folks still playing this, or has it been forgotten?

[MyNameDidntFit]

I'd mostly forgotten about it. Remembered it when I got an email saying I should activate it on steam. If you want to play ill be up for a game tomorrow or the day after, depending when they let me out of this fightless hellhole of a hospital.

[Konrad]

Well, I never did get around to buying it. But I do remember you guys being quite fond of the game so I was simply wondering if this is still the case, and more so: Is it much better than it was back then.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I have no idea. I may play it some time in the next week or two and, if I do, I'll let you know.

[Jason]

Currently downloading again. I'll let you know. Also, MNDF - if you fancy a scrap, I'm game.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Sounds good. I'll let you know when I'm out of ye old hospital and we can start something.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Well, Jassiecakes and I played a handful of rounds last night and had a fething blast. At one point I was doubled over in pain from laughing too hard because Jason didn't realise that he had to watch the hostages--turns out I can control them >:D--and left all his guys looking the other way.


Anyway, after five games we had two wins each and a draw. Definitely looking forward to skewing that ratio a bit more in my favour with a couple more games.

[fantanoice]

This is kinda like a real-time, turn-based strategy. Whoda thunk it?

Anyway, my friend bought it and sent me the extra copy he got on Steam. I went to play it yesterday and felt a little overwhelmed. Just going through the tutorial was a head spin. They don't seem to have put much effort into actually teaching people how to play it and frankly, I think this game would do well with a few Portal-like first levels instead of the tutorial they actually have.

So, at the moment I'm not sure how I feel towards it. Maybe things will pick up once it starts making a bit more sense and I have a few multiplayer games.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Aye, it is a bit of a "hey, welcome to our gam- HAHA WE THREW YOU IN THE DEEP END!" kind of game, but you get used to it. A bit. I still suck. Any semblance of skill that showed up in the few games I played with Jason recently was 50% luck, 25% chance and 25% the will of the Chaos gods...

>.> still fun though. There are a good few times when it had me laughing hysterically... which was bad as I had just had an appendectomy at the time.

[Jason]

My favourite bit of this was at the end of a particularly tense battle me and MNDF were having. We were locked at 2-2 (although I maintain that the 'hostage' loss was never my fault - the bastards got up and ran off, and I lost for shooting them!), and were down to one man each in very close proximity in the deciding game. After about four moves each of nervous cat-and-mouse, one of us finally made a mistake.
I had guessed that MNDF would double back in an attempt to flank me, so decided that a risky strategy of crossing a small open area would potentially allow me to get the drop on him. If I was right, it would drop me in right behind him, leaving him with no chance.

However, as I clicked play, I realised with horror I'd got it wrong- as my guy started creeping across the gap, MNDF's guy appeared over the top of a waist-high wall, the grin on his face almost visible from the top-down view. Basically, I was dead. He had cover, a stable base, and he was already aiming right at me. I closed my eyes, bracing for the stacatto burst that would signify the start of Australian celebrations...

...and the round ended.

MATCH DRAWN.

[iebo]

I should say that I don't care for turn based tactical games, although when I play Total War I tend to pause the game a lot so I can give orders. Then there's also Rainbow 6 where you basically give orders ahead of time. Not a big fan of the simplistic graphics.

[Konrad]

I hope you guys are still playing it, cause I'm about to. :]

Frozen Synapse is now... well... pay what you want.
http://www.humblebundle.com/

[Jason]

I have it installed, so any time you fancy a game, give me ten minutes' notice to re-learn the controls, and I'm game.

[MyNameDidntFit]

^ditto the above, but minus the 10 minutes because it's funnier when you don't know them.