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in the past week i have become very enamored of the game The Path:
http://tale-of-tales.com/ThePath/
it's a horror game based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood - there are six sisters you play as, and your objective is to...well. the game instructs you to go to Grandmother's house by staying on the forest path, but if you do this you just end up returning to the character select screen. to advance, you need to walk off the path and into the woods - and run the risk of finding wolves (of the metaphorical sort, at least).
there isn't anything in The Path that involves fighting or even puzzle solving: essentially all you do is walk around the woods, finding items that reveal different qualities of each sister, and confront their fears.
what i find most striking is how emotionally affecting the game is, especially if you're female. the 'wolves' in the game are, really, the sorts of issues that are very female-specific and rarely addressed in popular media generally and video games specifically - there's a chilling undercurrent of potential physical violence or rape in nearly every scenario, and there's just...so much of the horror comes from the empathy one feels when you are made aware of how one's inherent femaleness makes you vulnerable.
it's a very unique, somewhat terrifying, and absolutely worthwhile game to play. i'm not sure i could comfortably recommend it to everyone: there is little in the way of graphic, gruesome violence, but if you've suffered abuse in the past it may be difficult to deal with the experiences in the game. even if you haven't - the themes explored are disturbing (though not exploitative) and might not be something one would want to experience, especially in a game setting.
***
and now for something completely different.
i've been debating whether or not to purchase a paid account. the thing is, there's only one reason i want one: ICON SPACE. all the other perks - honestly, i didn't use them the last time i had a paid account, on my old journal, and i doubt i'd use them now when i am far less involved with LJ community-wise (at least at this point). ANYWAY while $25/year isn't that much in the long run, my head can't really justify spending money just to get 15 more 100x100 images. XD
the other reason in favor of going paid is to get rid of those insufferable Evony ads - i mean, i like boobs and all, but not the manner in which Evony is employing them. also i am pretty sure they will fill my computer with malware and my email with spam JUST BY LOOKING AT THEM, and Evony is a stupid sounding name that fills me with rage everytime i see it, and really, $25 just might be worth the peace of mind not seeing them on LJ will bring.
so basically it's 'ideological concepts of worth' vs. 'pretty icons and no more ads!'I SUSPECT THE LATTER WILL WIN.
ETA: 'No more ads' won, after one suggested that I 'meet my Ukrainian bride.'
No, LJ ad. i'm not.
http://tale-of-tales.com/ThePath/
it's a horror game based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood - there are six sisters you play as, and your objective is to...well. the game instructs you to go to Grandmother's house by staying on the forest path, but if you do this you just end up returning to the character select screen. to advance, you need to walk off the path and into the woods - and run the risk of finding wolves (of the metaphorical sort, at least).
there isn't anything in The Path that involves fighting or even puzzle solving: essentially all you do is walk around the woods, finding items that reveal different qualities of each sister, and confront their fears.
what i find most striking is how emotionally affecting the game is, especially if you're female. the 'wolves' in the game are, really, the sorts of issues that are very female-specific and rarely addressed in popular media generally and video games specifically - there's a chilling undercurrent of potential physical violence or rape in nearly every scenario, and there's just...so much of the horror comes from the empathy one feels when you are made aware of how one's inherent femaleness makes you vulnerable.
it's a very unique, somewhat terrifying, and absolutely worthwhile game to play. i'm not sure i could comfortably recommend it to everyone: there is little in the way of graphic, gruesome violence, but if you've suffered abuse in the past it may be difficult to deal with the experiences in the game. even if you haven't - the themes explored are disturbing (though not exploitative) and might not be something one would want to experience, especially in a game setting.
and now for something completely different.
i've been debating whether or not to purchase a paid account. the thing is, there's only one reason i want one: ICON SPACE. all the other perks - honestly, i didn't use them the last time i had a paid account, on my old journal, and i doubt i'd use them now when i am far less involved with LJ community-wise (at least at this point). ANYWAY while $25/year isn't that much in the long run, my head can't really justify spending money just to get 15 more 100x100 images. XD
the other reason in favor of going paid is to get rid of those insufferable Evony ads - i mean, i like boobs and all, but not the manner in which Evony is employing them. also i am pretty sure they will fill my computer with malware and my email with spam JUST BY LOOKING AT THEM, and Evony is a stupid sounding name that fills me with rage everytime i see it, and really, $25 just might be worth the peace of mind not seeing them on LJ will bring.
so basically it's 'ideological concepts of worth' vs. 'pretty icons and no more ads!'
ETA: 'No more ads' won, after one suggested that I 'meet my Ukrainian bride.'
No, LJ ad. i'm not.
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no subject
Date: 2009-07-25 07:15 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2009-07-26 07:30 pm (UTC)From:http://tale-of-tales.com/ThePath/downloads.html
i know some non-gaming news services mentioned it (actually, i first heard about it via NPR)...i don't check many gaming news places regularly.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-27 02:51 am (UTC)From:I remembered today where I heard about it - It was on the G4 channel, during a random segment called 'Indie Games'. >.> It caught my attention a lot when I first heard about it. I pretty much learn about new games at random. XD