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I have honestly forgotten how long ago I first saw the trailer to this movie; it's been long enough that friends and I had started to joke that it would be coming out the same day as Duke Nuke'Em Forever (game geek reference alert: that title was hyped and subsequently delayed so many times, over so many years, that it's practically an urban legend). Unlike the late, lamented Duke, though, “Fanboys” finally debuted last year at a big comic book convention and I've been waiting like a twitching, rabid... well, fangirl, really, for its big-screen release. So when I heard it was going to be at the Cinerama, well, I was doomed to break my newfound determination.
Sometimes, let me tell you, a little weakness of character is well worth the results. I don't know if you were a “Star Wars” fan when the original movies came out, and I certainly don't know whether you camped in line for the second or third film, or had a six-foot-high poster of Darth Vader in your dorm room or a bumper sticker on your first car that read "my other car is a landspeeder", but I was and I did. And “Fanboys”, with its over-the-top, lighthearted digs at diehard sci-fi fans of all varieties, made me giggle like nothing I've seen in years. Half of geek Hollywood seemed to be involved in the film, as well; the sheer number of actor cameos was impressive.
It just goes to show that even big-name folks have a special place in their heart for the mother of all modern sci-fi flicks. Oh, and if the last line of the movie doesn't set you off laughing and whooping at the same time, you're just not a true “Star Wars” fan.
Murder? For me?
Okay, and remember that other firm statement I made last time? The one about not playing any more hidden-picture games for a while, since I'd gone through so many in a row? That went out the window about as quickly as the movie resolution, and for an equally good reason: I managed to snag a preview copy of Women's Murder Club 2: A Darker Shade of Grey! Yes, this is one of the big, exciting releases I've been hinting at in the past couple of Coffee Breaks, and I've been itching to play it since about five minutes after I finished the first game, Death in Scarlet. (Not that I knew there'd be another game, but I sure was hoping!)
If anything, this game is even more engrossing than the first one. Once again, you will accompany all the main characters from James Patterson’s “Women’s Murder Club” books as they attempt to solve a grisly murder… or maybe more than one… or possibly merely a coincidental pair of suicides? Of course, investigation is never easy, particularly when the victims were students at an elite military school and none of the cadets are talking. But through intuition, perseverance, and the occasional exercise in keen eyesight, you’ll be able to unravel the truth behind the wall of silence.
Much like the first WMC title, some levels are standard hidden-object hunts, but overall A Darker Shade of Grey feels more like a traditional adventure game, with inventory objects that must be used at the right time to properly investigate a crime scene or solve a particularly tricky puzzle. You’ll be bagging evidence, using chemicals to analyze blood samples, and generally doing all sorts of things you usually only see on “CSI.” If that doesn’t rock, honestly, I don’t know what does. (But then, I’ve grown rather addicted to “CSI”…)
Oh, and if you haven’t played Death in Scarlet, this would be a great time to give it a try. To celebrate the launch of the second game, we’ve reduced the price on the first one to a mere $11.95. That’s pretty hard to pass up.
If you are completely unfamiliar with the popular “Women’s Murder Club” stories on which these games are based, well, then why not read a WMC novella by James Patterson? Of course, you don’t need to know a thing about the books in order to play the games, but hey, free novella!
Westward, ho, all over again
The other game that has eaten much of my time recently is Westward III, the latest in the frontier-themed strategy series. It’s another reference-laden romp through the Old West, complete with hungry wolves, gold mines, gunslingers, log cabins, and crusty old prospectors. As one of three cheerfully stereotypical Western characters, you’ll build a series of desert towns and keep them safe from marauding bandits, swindlers, and the occasional natural disaster.
If you played the previous two games in the series, you’ll have a good idea what to expect. Westward III adds as many improvements and additions to II as II did to I, and the interface is definitely slicker. As usual, though, the early levels act as tutorials, so you’ll learn how to use all the new stuff. One note, though: if you’re playing on a laptop or an older computer, you may need to update your video drivers before the game will run. Luckily, it’s well worth the few minutes of effort!
Now, since the writer of this installment is an old buddy of mine, I finally had the opportunity to ask a question that has itched in my brain since the first Westward game (and the first Tradewinds game I ever played, from the same developer): is there such a thing as a pop-culture reference too “out there” to be used in one of these titles? Apparently there is; it turns out that Bryan is a little sad because he couldn’t fit a Simpsons’ “forbidden donut” reference into the game. D’oh!
A few more quick questions and answers with the man I will now be referring to as “Ol’ Six-Shooter” Bryan:
Moxie: Which pop culture reference are you happiest that you DID manage to sneak into the game?
Bryan: I haven't verified that it did make it in, but I did get the Rolling Stones line in: "Pleased to meet you, hope you've guessed my name."
Moxie: Niiiice. Tough to go wrong with the Stones. So, this is the first time you've written a whole game, right? Was it tough?
Bryan: It certainly challenged me in ways I'd never thought of. Writing dozens (or hundreds) of ways to say the same thing over and over (such as 'Command Accept' and 'Command Deny' and 'Attack' lines spoken by the characters) without being too repetitive wasn't always easy.
Moxie: Would you call it a fun process? Or more like "real work"? (Heh.)
Bryan: It was definitely fun, but it still felt like work sometimes. It's the first time I got to really be creative, and craft a story around a game.
Moxie: Okay, one more. Who would you say is the perfect audience for this game?
Bryan: The perfect audience would be anyone who enjoys casual real time strategy with some puzzle-elements and lots of 'hidden' things to unlock and find. The game does require patience, however, and it can be tougher to play than it looks. Any 'core' gamer that goes into thinking it will be easy might be in for a shock!
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