World of Goo

[Maguspk]

Didn't see a thread for this but it's definitely an amazingly well done game. I played it for the first time at a friend's house tonight and I was very impressed. The music, gameplay and the story are all great and when you consider it was a 2 man team, it's even more of an accomplishment.

There are free demos on their website, and it's available on the Wii, PC and Mac so there's really no excuse not to get this game. The downloads are region and DRM free so I'm sure getting an illegal download is easy, but really you should support the developers because the game is worth the 20 bucks.

2D Boy: Games

[Norellicus]

I played the demo, it's cute enough, but they want you to think way too abstractly for some of the puzzles in my opinion, especially when they're applying some real physics to it.

[Maxxthepenguin]

I played the demo, it's cute enough, but they want you to think way too abstractly for some of the puzzles in my opinion, especially when they're applying some real physics to it.

Well, I wouldn't say the physics are real. It does require some abstract thinking, but most puzzles have a distinct solution (though most can be solved multiple ways.)

This game is fucking amazing though. It has everything, from one of the best soundtracks in recent memory, to the most charming graphics, to some of the most amazing concepts, to the best puzzles. I'm stunned by the game. I was going to make a thread, but when I do I tend to sound like that crazy guy who likes shit nobody else does.

This game though...it's beyond amazing. Polished to a level beyond what you expect from mainstream games. Every single level (EVERY SINGLE LEVEL) is completely different. Unlike almost every puzzle game out there, which just iterates its own puzzles over and over again in increasing difficulty, it reinvents itself all the time. Some levels make nods to previous levels, but the solutions are always completely different. The first world does do some of the standard iteration, but that's just to teach you the fundamentals. If you play the demo, recognize the game is more like the later levels in world 1 than the earlier ones. Overall though, this is a game you shouldn't miss.

And yes, I think this game is better than Braid. Indie game of the year for sure, for me. Up there in overall game of the year too. It's just so impressive.

Game is 20 bucks on PC/Mac or 1500 wii points (15 bucks).

Trailer: Dailymotion - World of Goo Trailer 2 Director's Cut, a video from 2dboy. world, goo, trailer, physics, wiiware

Oh and through some voodoo jesus satanic magic, this game was made by 2 people. I have no fucking clue how.

[Hyan]

Amazing, must buy

[Lordwafik]

Hope it's out on Wii for PAL, I've been looking forward to this for a while.

[Waef]

Played through the demo now, working on all the OCD awards now. Only got like 5 at the moment. Anyone have any tips to build good bridges? It seems like I have to use way too many goos to make any sort of bridge that can just barely cross gaps.

Also what's with it saying the high score in building a tower is like 79000 meters? I'm guessing it's some sort of glitch, because if you somehow managed to make a perfectly straight tower that would still be well over 100k goos, and I doubt you can get THAT many extra.

[Maxxthepenguin]

Every level is just too different to give general tips, but generally, play with reusable (IE Green) blobs. Be efficient. Be quick.

And if you're working toward the OCDs, just go all the way and get the game lol

[Waef]

But the level only gives me the black blobs. Also how do you do that whistle thing?

[Maguspk]

But the level only gives me the black blobs. Also how do you do that whistle thing?

Just hold the mouse down without selecting a goo and it'll whistle and goo will be attracted to you. The level I think you're talking about is the dark one where you have to bridge the gap with the non-reusable goo. For that one I just build a truss on the left and then build slightly up and across and use the torque on the unfinished bridge to allow me to "fling" the rest of the bridge up onto the ledge and save some goo balls trying to connect up. I didn't get OCD but I'm sure it'd be possible if you went quickly and were precise with the buildings/placement of the goo.

[Waef]

Bleh whistle wasn't working when I tried that. =/

Although I managed to get OCD on the bridge level finally, took a bunch of tries because I kept getting 37 instead of 38.

[Maxxthepenguin]

The whistle is a bit spotty, thank god its not really necessary

[Norellicus]

Well, I wouldn't say the physics are real. It does require some abstract thinking, but most puzzles have a distinct solution (though most can be solved multiple ways.)

I don't remember how far into the demo it was, but one of the levels had you starting on a little ledge under an elongated precipice that held the vacuum for the goal; the way the precipice stuck out, I couldn't figure a way to get my entire structure out there without it all toppling over into the empty chasm next to it; no feasible way to weight the structure to make it stable that I could see. Although, when I played the demo, it was on a whim after finishing Portal Prelude, so I was already outside-the-box'd out.

The whole "be quick" thing you mention is kind of a turnoff too, I'd much rather take my time with puzzles. Some of portal (and moreover portal prelude) got on my nerves for this same reason.

[Maguspk]

I don't remember how far into the demo it was, but one of the levels had you starting on a little ledge under an elongated precipice that held the vacuum for the goal; the way the precipice stuck out, I couldn't figure a way to get my entire structure out there without it all toppling over into the empty chasm next to it; no feasible way to weight the structure to make it stable that I could see. Although, when I played the demo, it was on a whim after finishing Portal Prelude, so I was already outside-the-box'd out.

The whole "be quick" thing you mention is kind of a turnoff too, I'd much rather take my time with puzzles. Some of portal (and moreover portal prelude) got on my nerves for this same reason.

To get OCD you have to be quick sometimes.

You don't counterweight the structure you just give it supports, of course if you build out horizontally so far the torque due to gravity will tip the entire thing, but if you build it in such a way that it has support of trusses, it works fine and doesn't wobble at all. The game is pretty simple especially the first chapter (demo).

[Maxxthepenguin]

The whole "be quick" thing you mention is kind of a turnoff too, I'd much rather take my time with puzzles. Some of portal (and moreover portal prelude) got on my nerves for this same reason.

The "be quick" only mainly applies to OCD (Obsessive Completion Distinction). You don't need to do them at all, they're extras to try to push you if you want to be pushed. I haven't done any extra Portal levels, but I'd say the level of quickness is no more than Portal's main levels. The main thing you have to do quick in World of Goo is fix swaying towers so they don't topple and, anyways, you can usually use time bugs to move a few moves back in time.


Anyways, good news and bad news. Good news is Euro release. Bad news is that they have approximated a 90% piracy rate based on unique IP hits on their leaderboard compared to PC copies sold (though I bet that method overestimates the numbers.)

Both from World Of Goo(d News): Euro Release Imminent | Rock, Paper, Shotgun
The piracy stuff is in the comments.

[Maxxthepenguin]

http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/

The piracy rate is more like 82%. I would bet that no DRM helped them, though. The cost of DRM would not have translated to enough sales, if any.