Biohell Zx Spectrum Complete...

edited May 2009 in Games
and undergoing playtesting now.

Official release date is 1st May 2009.

There is also a concurrent competition- the first person to email me the solution gets a copy of my first five novels, SPIRAL, QUAKE, WARHEAD, WAR MACHINE and BIOHELL.

The next 3 solutions get a copy of the Omnibus of SPIRAL and QUAKE, as published by Orbit Books.

Now, back to correcting thuse spulloing mistooks.

Andy Rem.
Post edited by Andy Remic on

Comments

  • LCDLCD
    edited April 2009
    Is it possible to solve the game without reading the books?
  • edited April 2009
    Oh yeah, all the problems are straight (cough) logic. :-) It's pretty easy really. I'm way past the random deaths I used to impose, haha.
  • LCDLCD
    edited April 2009
    Andy Remic wrote: »
    Oh yeah, all the problems are straight (cough) logic. :-) It's pretty easy really. I'm way past the random deaths I used to impose, haha.
    Then it is great. I did not saw your books in austrian book stores...
  • edited April 2009
    Andy Remic wrote: »
    and undergoing playtesting now.

    Official release date is 1st May 2009.

    There is also a concurrent competition- the first person to email me the solution gets a copy of my first five novels, SPIRAL, QUAKE, WARHEAD, WAR MACHINE and BIOHELL.

    The next 3 solutions get a copy of the Omnibus of SPIRAL and QUAKE, as published by Orbit Books.

    Now, back to correcting thuse spulloing mistooks.

    Andy Rem.

    A completion prize is a nice idea, but may change the way the game is discussed. When a new text adventure comes out much of the fun is derrived from sharing tips and hints with others on the forum. I think it adds something for the author too. As the puzzle get unwrapped layer by layer and you get to see what parts of the adventure worked as you expected them to etc - and to offer a hint if everyone gets stuck.

    When On Reflection came out in 2007 it was played 'adventure club' style which helped keep the interest high for a few weeks. It was great sharing the game with the author Lee Tonks who was able to drop in well-pitched hints (using spolier tags so that you could choose whether or not to read them). Playing the game with the author chipping in is a nice privelege.

    Setting a prize (for completition) may limit the share play. Perhaps you could stick in a sub quest or a hidden location in the game where the prize can be found?

    Either way, I'll be looking forward to this release.
  • edited April 2009
    Hmm, interesting thoughts, I think I was just trying to offer an incentive to play, although I recognise most Speccy enthusiasts don't need that. I suppose I'd also like to expand the Spectrum arena if that's possible; I wanted to ship the game with an emulator included, and have emailed the ZX Spin guys but had no reply as of yet.

    I've finsished the game, and it's really not that difficult, although there's a complex maze (ha!). A secret room is a good idea, but adds a certain randomness which I remember was always heavily criticised in adventure games.

    It's just supposed to be a bit of fun, and written because a] it's 21 years since I wrote anything on the Speccy, and wanted to see if I could still do it (even using GAC), and b] seeing as Rockstar North didn't want to make the game of my book, I thought I'd do it myself.

    Anyway, the prizes will be snapped up pretty quick, I think- I know how resourceful game players are. Then there's no pressure and people can meander through at their own speed :-)
  • edited April 2009
    Andy Remic wrote: »
    it's 21 years since I wrote anything on the Speccy

    Surely it's less than 21 - I remember all those Psychedelic Hedgehog games on the Crash covertapes only too well ...
    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=^Andrey+John+Remic$

    By the way, just noticed when I checked a game from your softography ... these chars in Monster Munch remind me a lot of something out of Ghosts'n'Goblins and Scumball. Inspiration?
  • edited April 2009
    Actually, yes, my maths is atrocious - as my (lack of) programming skill will attest. I last touched a Spec in about 1991, which would be 16 years. Monster Munch was probably inspired more by Exolon, but I could never get close to Raf's programming skill.... haha. I spent more damn time loading and saving crappy files than programming- oh how I longed for an IBM, or even just a disk drive. Those were the days :-)
  • edited April 2009
    Why do you think I became a novelist??
  • edited April 2009
    Actally I did think that a couple of your GAC created games had the potential to be really good.

    I say 'potential' because with one of them (I'll look up the name shortly...) there was a nasty bug where you'd forgotten to add exits to one of the locations so when the player moved into it, they were trapped there :lol:

    On saying that, I did enjoy Mango Jones at the time, and a couple of the others.
  • edited April 2009
    That's very kind of you. You've got to remember I was very young at the time (about 15 when I wrote Mango Jones) and extremely crap at Maths.

    Which means, um, I've no excuses now :-) Ha!!
  • edited May 2009
    This can still be downloaded, completely free, from www.andyremic.com/ You even get a free song. And a free photo. Now, how generous is that??? I;m open to critical reviews...... they're what make the world go round :-)
  • edited May 2009
    Andy Remic wrote: »
    ...I;m open to critical reviews...... they're what make the world go round :-)

    Watch out folks - I've seen a photo of him with a huge, dirty (clean actually), great big axe. And he looks like he means to use it!
  • edited May 2009
    Damn that punctuation!?/?+=?$%%
  • edited May 2009
    Ah yes..I meant to say in another thread that although I'm crap at Text Adventure games generally, Saga of A Mad Barbarian was one of the few I completed!!! Good work!!
  • edited May 2009
    ToxieDogg wrote: »
    I say 'potential' because with one of them (I'll look up the name shortly...) there was a nasty bug where you'd forgotten to add exits to one of the locations so when the player moved into it, they were trapped there :lol:

    Was it a shadow on glass?
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • edited May 2009
    Finished it :D
    Found it really good.
    I'll type up a solutions tommorrow.
    Don't worry I won't tell anyone or publish my map until the competion is finished
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • edited May 2009
    Ha, you bugger, well done!!!
    Hope it wasn't too, err, illogical. My mind works in funny ways sometimes.
  • edited May 2009
    I've just tried this, and it is interesting. I'm not a text adventure fan, but I liked the atmosphere in the game, it's nicely implemented. Thanks for giving us this game, another quality addition to the Speccy's line up.

    I look forward to any more games from your obviously fertile mind.
  • edited May 2009
    That's very kind of you, sir :-) Biohell was great fun to write, and I'll certainly be doing another Spec game. Just trying to poke Gabe Newell into sueing me for the publicity ;-)

    On anoter note, I'm still waiting for this Biohell review of this reet bugger called Jog... Job... Jofa, of Jaffa, or something. Don't think he'll ever write it though, sob, sniffle, sob (etc etc).
  • edited May 2009
    One or both or none of these might work, I can't tell because photobucket is blocked in my arse of a library.

    ?action=view&current=roundabout.jpg

    ?action=view&current=roundabout.jpg

    http://s130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/Frobush/?action=view¤t=roundabout.jpg
  • edited May 2009
    roundabout.jpg

    Always knew you was round the bend.
  • edited May 2009
    Andy Remic wrote: »
    Ha, you bugger, well done!!!
    Hope it wasn't too, err, illogical. My mind works in funny ways sometimes.

    Nah it wasn't too illogical which I'm thankful of.
    It took me years to work out that you had to show the bomb at the end of part 1 of rigels revenge.

    I'm looking forward to the next part. Especially after having to
    Spoiler:
    to get past the
    Spoiler:
    I'm a 21st Century digital boy, I don't know how to live but I've got a lot of toys.
  • edited May 2009
    Mad Mekon is the Winner of the Biohell competition! Yay!

    And as for the mad as a mad hatter frobush............

    *****
    Take the next left. Go straight ahead for 5 miles.

    Approach the roundabout.

    Take the second exit, up Frobush's back alley.

    You have reached your destination.
  • edited May 2009
    Well done Madmekon! :-D
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