Your views on...The Snowman

edited September 2009 in Games
The Snowman

Another game I haven't played. Was it any good? It looks basic, but kind'a fun. I really like the loading screen too.
I may just have to fire it up on the emu.

;-)
Post edited by CUCHULAINN on

Comments

  • edited July 2009
    Actually, I remember this game as one of those that was loaded up as a demo in WH Smiths. There was quite a queue, so I did not get chance to play it, but it looked reasonable. I seem to remember, that you did not die as such when you lost a life, but was sent to bed?! I might fire it up now for old times sake to check!:-P
  • edited July 2009
    Wooo, 'we're walking in the air'.........do do.........do do.........'we're walking in the moonlight sky'........dooo....dooo
  • edited July 2009
    I've never played this one either, and I was only vaguely aware that it existed. I'll have to five it a go.
  • edited July 2009
    Not a bad little game, once I realised you didn't need to avoid the flames on the first level unless you were carrying snow. Level two is much harder though! Only had one life left for that and lasted a matter of seconds.

    Didn't hear the famous music though, just a blast of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, which incidentally went on for a bar too long for my liking. Bloody song.
  • edited July 2009
    Yeah, It's not too bad. I had a good crack at it last night. Quite addictive. The way you use the controls to climb ladders reminds me of chuckie egg a little. I only got to the second level also. I hope there's a cut scene with the snowman flying once you've built him, but I doubt it!
  • edited July 2009
    It was quite a nice looking game at the time, but I always got the feeling that it was aimed at a younger player than myself even then, and I was only about thirteen.
  • edited July 2009
    Honestly never played it. I think at the time, it seemed a bit 'childish'..a game about Brigg's Snowman..really..yes, I know it's silly to think of it as childish, but when yer 11/12/13..and yer mum likng Aled Jones..well.

    I'll have to check it out.
    I stole it off a space ship.
  • edited August 2009
    Hey, well, I was asked a couple of weeks ago to update my details on WOS, and, checking out the forums for the first time in years, what do I see? I recent discussion on a game I wrote about 25 years ago... Knock me down with a feather.

    I can't believe that some of my more recent games (X360, PS3) don't even get a mention, yet this little program still has a life. (Indeed, it's older than my daughter that's grown up and left home!)

    A few factoids:
    1. It was based on a game called "panic mechanic" where a guy had to build cars 'n stuff - same game mechanics, different graphics.
    2. QS came to me with the Snowman licence and said "what can you do with it?" and I happened to have this game that I could re-skin.
    3. We were not allowed to show the kid dying, no "lives lost"
    4. I got to meet Raymond Briggs at the press launch - a bit of a hero of mine.
    5. We couldn't use the song "walking in the air" due to copyright.
    6. From that game came the idea of creating a Fungus the Bogeyman adventure game that was eventually canned when Quicksilva sold out to Argus press.
  • edited August 2009
    Hey, well, I was asked a couple of weeks ago to update my details on WOS, and, checking out the forums for the first time in years, what do I see? I recent discussion on a game I wrote about 25 years ago... Knock me down with a feather.

    I can't believe that some of my more recent games (X360, PS3) don't even get a mention, yet this little program still has a life. (Indeed, it's older than my daughter that's grown up and left home!)

    A few factoids:
    1. It was based on a game called "panic mechanic" where a guy had to build cars 'n stuff - same game mechanics, different graphics.
    2. QS came to me with the Snowman licence and said "what can you do with it?" and I happened to have this game that I could re-skin.
    3. We were not allowed to show the kid dying, no "lives lost"
    4. I got to meet Raymond Briggs at the press launch - a bit of a hero of mine.
    5. We couldn't use the song "walking in the air" due to copyright.
    6. From that game came the idea of creating a Fungus the Bogeyman adventure game that was eventually canned when Quicksilva sold out to Argus press.

    It's always great to hear from one of the developers on these boards, I love these insights. I hope you drop in again from time to time, Ikari Warriors is considered a bit of a Spectrum classic and the Thompson Twins has been discussed around here on more than one occasion.

    What Xbox 360 and PS3 games have you worked on?
  • edited August 2009
    A few factoids:
    1. It was based on a game called "panic mechanic" where a guy had to build cars 'n stuff - same game mechanics, different graphics.
    2. QS came to me with the Snowman licence and said "what can you do with it?" and I happened to have this game that I could re-skin.

    Do I understand this right, that you had another Spectrum game called Panic Mechanic that was never released?

    About Snowman, I liked the game, but the controls, especially with Joystick could be a bit annoying sometimes :)
  • edited August 2009
    Ikari Warriors was one of my fav games on the speccy esp. when playing with a friend. Overrunning a friend with a tank and the ensuing hilarity, curses and evil glances that ensued were priceless!
  • edited August 2009
    Wow ! Just want to say thanks a ton for Ikari Warriors. One of my top 10 favourite Speccy games, still play that a ton (Did have the high score on myspeccy.com for ages).

    When that game came out i remember there was a 1 level demo on a demo tape, might have been Crash. I played that short demo time and time again and couldnt wait for it to come out !

    Ikari Warriors was a superb conversion, much more tricker than Commando as you didnt run the same speed as the bullets !

    Played that game manyyyyyyy times back in the day and still love playing it now with emulation. Great conversion
  • edited August 2009
    3. We were not allowed to show the kid dying, no "lives lost"
    4. I got to meet Raymond Briggs at the press launch - a bit of a hero of mine.

    3. Ah.... Well that explains the going to bed thing:smile:

    4. That's really cool. I hope he liked the game. Thanks for your factoids mate!
  • edited August 2009
    Gosh, that's truly amazing for the actual author to show up.

    I wish some of the other authors would show up, so I could ask for my money back on a few games.
    I stole it off a space ship.
  • edited August 2009
    HaHa, no money back from my games, I spent it all such a long, long time ago....

    Wow, you guys like Ikari as well? I wrote the Amstrad version (in about 6 weeks) that everyone raved about at the time (I was pretty proud of it.)

    Dave Perry (yes, THE Dave Perry) was slated to do the Spectrum version, but Elite were not happy about it. I was due to go back to Uni, but got snowed in for a week, so, being bored, ported my Amstrad code over to the Speccy as a demo (that's what made the cover tape) - Elite liked what they saw, and I ended up writing the Spectrum version too. I wasn't as happy about it - mainly the small screen size and colour problems, but hey, people still have and play it... I can't believe it. (I have a copy on my PSP :)

    Yes, Panic Mechanic was never released, and no, I don't think I have a copy, more's the pity, or I'd love to hand it over.

    I'm currently on the fringes of games development now, writing on-line poker and stuff, I got a bit sick of the way the games industry was heading - jaded after 27 odd-years I guess.

    I was involved with Hellboy, Viva Pinata and some Star Wars stuff over the last few years after moving to Australia.

    Great to be involved with the good old days again!

    Dave
  • edited August 2009
    Yes, Panic Mechanic was never released, and no, I don't think I have a copy, more's the pity, or I'd love to hand it over.

    So you knew what I was fishing for LOL

    Oh well, it's always nice when games like that turnes up.

    Martijn, maybe the story of Snowman should be added on WOS?
  • edited August 2009
    WhizzBang wrote: »
    It's always great to hear from one of the developers on these boards, I love these insights. I hope you drop in again from time to time.

    Co-sign.

    Don't be a stranger. :-)
  • edited September 2009
    Great little Christmas-themed game, I used to play it a lot in the Christmas holidays. Haven't managed to complete it yet, though.
Sign In or Register to comment.