What's the word on Jane Jensen's Booby Trap?

[Sanjuro2]

I'm really looking forward to this game. I heard it's coming in September, is that still the case? Thanks.

[Stinger]

As of early this month, Jane told us "It will be out by September" which probably means by the end of September.

Couldn't agree more with your excitement, by the way--it's 3rd on my personal Hype-O-Meter behind only Fahrenheit and Dreamfall.

[fov]

heh heh... you said "booby"

I want to like this game... I really do. I was just so disappointed about the announcement that her other one had been put "on hold." I hope Booby Trap turns out to be a great game.

At the very least, it should give me something to do during my long hours in a cubicle...

-emily

[Sanjuro2]

Hey Evan. Sounds good, I hope it's not delayed. I wasn't aware that you were a very big fan of Jane's work? I mean, granted you have Gabriel Knight in your Top 5 as I recall, but if The Beast Within isn't a Top 20 adventure game then I'm the love child of Buster Keaton and a female rhinoceros. :-P

Anyway, in all seriousness, you did very nice work on that list. I hope to find out in a few weeks that you enjoy the plot and characters better in Silver Earring than in Serrated Scalpel (it's really no contest). Also, mucho props for having King's Quest VI and The Last Express in solid spots on that list. Last Express is #4 on my personal list, and Day of the Tentacle is #3, so it appears our tastes are fairly close. :-)

My own current Hype-O-Meter goes something like this:

1. Still Life
2. Booby Trap
3. Fahrenheit
4. Dreamfall
5. Call of Cthulhu


By the way emily, I agree about the disappointment when Jensen's Gray Matter got put on hold. I hope it comes back to life soon. It sounds excellent.

[Captain Blondebeard]

I personally enjoyed the Sherlock holmes "serrated scapple" game. The Mummy game was utter shite if you ask me.

[Sanjuro2]

I agree Blondebeard. Totally.

[Captain Blondebeard]

Yeah, I really dont care for first person adventures but the Curse Of The Mummy game was just a train wreck. I doubt I will even check out the new Silver Earing game for the same fear.

[timcclayton]

I also won't be buying the Silver Earring, thanks to the review here on AG. I HATE timed sequences and I especially HATE mazes - there is nothing worse than reloading the game for the fiftieth time and wondering whether the money you shelled out for it was supposed to be for enjoyment and entertainment purposes or just to anger and frustrate me.

With games I'm not sure I'll like, I normally wait a few months then buy it for half price so that I don't feel ripped off as this has happened too many times, but with a game with these sorts of annoying "features" I doubt I'll bother (I too was stung by the Mystery of the Mummy).

[Sanjuro2]

Blondebeard, Silver Earring isn't a first person game. And it destroys Mummy. Either of you would do well to read another person's opinion on the very same game, just to give a more thorough perspective. I very much enjoyed the game. To dismiss a game based on a single review (as opposed to the Rotten Tomatoes style of putting all the available reviews together and seeing what the majority says) is rather sad in my view. But then, that is only MY view. Oh wait, forgot where I was for a moment, I'm in a place where a single person's views hold all the answers...

By the way...that "dreaded maze" portion of the game took me less than 20 minutes. I didn't even know that it was a "maze" until the Adventure Gamers review informed me. And as for the "God's punishment on mankind timed sequence" I passed it on my first attempt, and even Jack Allin, the Adventure Gamers critic, told me on another thread that he passed it on his second or third try.

[Kirk]

But then, that is only MY view. Oh wait, forgot where I was for a moment, I'm in a place where a single person's views hold all the answers...

Sanjuro2, I beg to disagree. While some members may be overly attached to the reviews of the site (at times), Adventure Gamers emphasizes the importance of multiple perspective.

Jack Allin, the game reviewer for the site, even clearly states in his personal bio the following: "Besides, I'd rather discuss ideas, compare perspectives, share opinions, touch lives. So consider this an invitation to dialogue. Anything I write should only be the start of a topic, not the end of it. You'll know what I think, but no one will know what you think unless you offer it, and that's all I can hope to inspire. Whether it's an email, in the forums, or just at home with your family and friends, your voice is just as important as mine, so don't be shy about expressing yourself."

If that isn't an invitation to open up the review for discussion, I don't know what is.

But maybe I digress. Maybe you simply meant "being in a WORLD where one person's views is treated as gold." Then I must agree with you slightly here. We always tend to adhere to a solitary voice, espcially in the United States, while some more collectivistic cultures emphasize the entire community. Yet, I do believe there are intelligent and empathic citizens in this country who also understand the importance of being collectivistic (so not everyone adheres to the SINGLE person's point of view).

I'd like to think that Adventure Gamers is a site dedicated to community, the adventure gaming community. Every review, as objective as the writer may desire it to be, will exude forms of subjectiveness. Even supposed objective news reporting (as you most likely know) attempts to hide its tinges of subjectiveness. I have never met a team of more collective, caring and inviting writers and thinkers. And they value others' opinions. One thing I always must remind myself as a teacher, teaching among others with teaching misconceptions, not every opinion is grounded in research or fact or maturity. Some is just engrained and now sits in someone's brain as an assumption or personal desire.

As reviewers, we cannot be swayed in our review by the assumptions of others. We can take this collectivistic view into account and report it objectively; and Jack, I think...no, I know...succeeded in this.

Well, Sanjuro2, maybe I took this way off topic (although I hope not), but I enjoyed expressing my thoughts. So thanks for opening this door. ;)

Kirk

[Sanjuro2]

"Sanjuro2, I beg to disagree. While some members may be overly attached to the reviews of the site (at times), Adventure Gamers emphasizes the importance of multiple perspective."

It is those members I am referring to. No one else. I am well aware of Jack's views because I read his profile days ago, and I loved it. That is why I felt he wouldn't mind if I referenced his review for Silver Earring within my own. Sure enough, he was very respectful of my views. As I am of his. His opinions on the game are valid, they may even perfectly fit the opinions of others who play this game. Indeed, there may be people who think he was TOO kind. Hopefully, there will be some who are in my shoes, and find themselves really loving the game despite the "rough spots" that even I readily admit in my assessment.

My point is, some people (at least one, and surely others) are taking Mr. Allin's perfectly fine review, and turning it into gospel. My stance is simply this: Mr. Allin's review is great, but there are certainly other opinions. For instance, the member on this very thread who said he's going to give Silver Earring a pass now, based his opinion on two things. The maze and timed sequence spoken of in Mr. Allin's review. I feel very strongly that this won't be an issue for many gamers. Mr. Allin was doing his duty, he knows (as every respectable adventure gamer does) that mazes and timed sequences are much despised in the genre. However, to my mind, this portion of Silver Earring was very brief and even, I dare say, quite easy. And that's all we have. Two opinions on the exact same issue. I just feel that for someone to pass on this game based on something that can be viewed in two drastically different ways, is unfortunate.

Perhaps he won't enjoy Silver Earring at all, and that's fine. Once someone experiences something for oneself, it is out of everyone else's hands, and they must come to their own conclusions. But one must also see, at this point, that Mr. Allin is just one man who has come to a conclusion. I am another who has done the same. And as time passes, there will be many more. To pluck ONE of these conclusions up and say, "Well damn, that does it...this guy says it's no good so I'll save my money," is unfair, I believe.

There is much to be gained from seeking multiple opinions, and perhaps at the end of that road some people will still choose to pass on Silver Earring or whatever other game is the current flavor of the month. I believe you when you say that Adventure Gamers is dedicated to community and everyone's opinions are respected. I believe that 100%. And Jack Allin is awesome, he fits his own profile for sure. My beef is with the individual members who DON'T understand what this site is dedicated to.

[Kirk]

Thanks for the clarification, Sanjuro2.

I simply saw a more GENERAL implication in the original quote: "Oh wait, forgot where I was for a moment, I'm in a place where a single person's views hold all the answers..."

I merely saw this as a reference to the place, as you stated, and not a comment directly to the individual. But now your clarification more than clears things up. I am glad you enjoyed Jack's review.

And I only hope most people understand to try games out on their own, espcially after viewing several opinions on the game. If they don't, well, they might miss out...or they might waste their time with a dud. You never know, do you?

Thanks, again, Sanjuro2.

Kirk

[Sanjuro2]

My original quote really was rather general wasn't it? Heh. I was never referring to this website, but I suppose I was the only one who could have known that given the way it was written. :-)

[Kirk]

No prob, Sanjuro2.

But now to pull this all back on track.

Jane Jensen's Booby Trap doesn't appeal to me. I hear the name and cringe. Why? Because I am imagining the story-designer being ripped away from what certainly would have been a monster title: Gray Matter.

I truly believe without any PERSONAL doubt that Gabriel Knight 3 is the best adventure game ever created (especially since I too have deep appreciation for Renne Le Chateau and have researched it for years before playing the game). So, I would love to see a game that does the Dan Brown thing: research a topic and integrate this research into a fictionalized, quasi-supernatural story. Booby Trap won't really do this.

Arg.

Kirk

[Sanjuro2]

Kirk, I hear ya. That was devastating. I had been following Gray Matter for a long time, and I was really looking forward to it. However, I believe it will still come out. I have confidence that it truly is simply on hold. I believe that once she gets it made, it will mark the beginning of the next series that could possibly be compared favorably to Gabriel Knight. Jane Jensen is, without a doubt, my personal favorite adventure game designer though, so I have high hopes for Booby Trap. It looks like the original Gabriel Knight in the conversation scenes. It instantly reminded me of it.

Anyway, I'm so pleased that you rate Gabriel Knight 3 so highly. You see, that's what I'm talking about. Some people are just going to love games for reasons beyond what other people can see...personal reasons. You love the whole Rennes-le-Chateau mystery, so the game was possibly closer to you than others. Additionally, the Mosely costume puzzle with that insane cat hair bit (which Jane has since admitted she would take out of the game if she had it to do over) has been complained about by several critics. Does that affect your opinion? No. Nor should it.

By the way, Gabriel Knight 3 is #8 on my personal adventure game list. All of the Gabriel Knight games make my Top 10 I'm afraid, as I refuse to be a slave to the "rules" that say "one game per series, in fairness". I choose to instead place games in my Top 10 that I truly believe to be the best, and all of the Gabriel Knight games somehow succeed in being masterpieces. I'm thrilled that you love GK3 so much. I felt that it was generally underrated when it first came out, but it is now getting the respect it deserves.

[Jackal]

Eek. Booby Trap, indeed! No one warned me there was a Silver Earring controversy buried in here. :D

I'd actually feel better if someone started a thread in Site Feedback to discuss the Sherlock game, but I'll just quickly address the concerns mentioned here.

First of all, my review certainly is NOT gospel. I absolutely like people to discuss, compare, critique, etc. I try to find a balance, and give people enough information to decide for themselves. Though I feel I succeed to a point, of course I would encourage seeking out alternative views on the same game.

The timed maze. I'm not horrible at mazes (or timed sequences), and it took me 5 tries, I believe, two of which because of bad pathfinding (game mechanics, not personal ability). Sanjuro breezed through and expressed a wish for it to be MORE challenging, with no pathfinding difficulties. But there are many people with horrible sense of direction and a low panic threshold that will likely have more difficulty than either of us. So if the timed maze is a potential deal-breaker for buying the game, then by all means wait for some opinions of other people who dislike mazes, and see how they fared.

I question the design decision to include a sequence that so many people are known to dislike (along with the stealth sequence), but my overall impression of the game was still fairly good.

Anyway, carry on. Booby Trap. :)

[Sanjuro2]

Hey Jackal, I feel that I only need say this: we agree ENTIRELY on the stealth sequence. I believe I spoke of it as "the one truly awful sequence in the game." Ha ha. Twenty-five reloads for me I think. :-)

[Erwin_Br]

Jane Jensen is, without a doubt, my personal favorite adventure game designer though, so I have high hopes for Booby Trap. It looks like the original Gabriel Knight in the conversation scenes.

Yes, but I'm afraid that's where the similarities end. From what I've seen and read, Booby Trap's only an expanded minesweeper game with a story.

--Erwin

[DomStLeger]

You're forgetting the game has two modes of play, one is a minesweeper style Booby Trap game. Hence the un-adventury name. The other mode is an adventure mode, with a proper plot, characters etc.

I know the names not great for an adventure, but in the end it has to first and foremost be an attractive proposition to casual gamers who bought games like Inspector Parker. They will try the game and be drawn into the adventure mode (hopefully). Thats the impression I get from everything we've heard from Jane so far.

I think it will most likely be a very good adventure game too, you just have to give it a chance. Don't forget who we're talking about here; Jane Jensen - the queen of adventure. She's not made a bad adventure game yet, in fact she's been involved in 4 games that are generally rated very highly (GK1-3, and of course KQ6).

So please! Don't dismiss what could potentially be one of the best adventure games of the year. Sure, it doesn't have world beating graphics etc, but it does have one hell of a designer.

[Kolzig]

I think it will most likely be a very good adventure game too, you just have to give it a chance. Don't forget who we're talking about here; Jane Jensen - the queen of adventure. She's not made a bad adventure game yet, in fact she's been involved in 4 games that are generally rated very highly (GK1-3, and of course KQ6).

You're forgetting the great children's adventure game Ecoquest: The Search for Cetus where Jane worked as a designer. ;)

[DomStLeger]

Nah, I just don't rate it highly :D

[Stinger]

Yes, but I'm afraid that's where the similarities end. From what I've seen and read, Booby Trap's only an expanded minesweeper game with a story.

--Erwin

What you've seen and read, eh... (http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,380) :shifty:

[VoodooFX]

Sanjuro2, so sorry but i have to ask this. How did you get Silver Earring so fast? Are you involved with some gaming site, magazine maybe? Because, i see you're from Texas, and we know Silver Earring is not due for a release another 3 weeks or so in the States.

I just want to hear you didn't... ahem... download the game... so i can sleep calmly tonight.

Not accusing you of anything, just asking. Hope you don't mind.

[fov]

Sanjuro2, so sorry but i have to ask this. How did you get Silver Earring so fast? Are you involved with some gaming site, magazine maybe? Because, i see you're from Texas, and we know Silver Earring is not due for a release another 3 weeks or so in the States.

I just want to hear you didn't... ahem... download the game... so i can sleep calmly tonight.

Not accusing you of anything, just asking. Hope you don't mind.
http://forums.adventuregamers.com/showthread.php?t=4484

:D

[VoodooFX]

Ah, thanks fov, and sorry Sanjuro2.

Now excuse me, while i go :pan: myself

[Sanjuro2]

VoodooFX...piracy isn't my thing. I was one of the people who was absolutely furious when Doom 3 was being pirated by hundreds of thousands. Id Software, the makers of Doom 3, are located about 20 miles from my house so that made it even more maddening for me. I didn't even like Doom 3 after I finished it, but I still own it and I have no regrets.

For Silver Earring, I want to see Frogwares do WELL with this game, just as I want to see any good adventure game become a success. That's precisely why I refuse to buy the American release and support the publisher here, Ubisoft. Ubisoft is NOT helping adventure games in my view. Sure, they publish them, but they bury them under every other release and do no advertising for them. Compare that to Digital Jesters with all their attempts to expose people to the game and give away pipes and what not. I appreciate that far more than I appreciate Ubisoft's pitiful "bury the game" attitude.

Having said that, I ordered the game directly from Digital Jesters on about the 13th of this month. I received a Royal Mail parcel at my home about three days prior to the official U.K. release of the game.

So sleep well tonight. And I understand that you didn't know what kind of person I was, so it was within good taste to wonder if I had pirated the game. But now that you understand the kind of person I am, please never ask me such things again. Because it makes me think of the people that do that as well, and I want to go on a rampage. :-P


MY EDIT: I see that Emily backed me up. Heh. It's no problem VoodooFX. I understand. :-)

[VoodooFX]

Because it makes me think of the people that do that as well, and I want to go on a rampage. :-P
Call me if you ever go on that rampage of yours... i'll watch your back! I'll be the second rampager and i'll operate from the grassy knoll. :D

[Sanjuro2]

LOL. Awesome Voodoo. You're on. I'll call you first thing when I'm ready to rumble with evil pirates... :-)

[Captain Blondebeard]

Thanks for the clarification, Sanjuro2.

I simply saw a more GENERAL implication in the original quote: "Oh wait, forgot where I was for a moment, I'm in a place where a single person's views hold all the answers..."

I merely saw this as a reference to the place, as you stated, and not a comment directly to the individual. But now your clarification more than clears things up. I am glad you enjoyed Jack's review.

And I only hope most people understand to try games out on their own, espcially after viewing several opinions on the game. If they don't, well, they might miss out...or they might waste their time with a dud. You never know, do you?

Thanks, again, Sanjuro2.

Kirk
He meant everyone. I dont see how myself and another users opinion can be described as speaking for everyone on the board. Funny stuff.

Anyhow, I am aware that it is third person but like I said originally they made the Mummy game so bad that I fear much the same. If you pulled anything else out of my post I suggest you reread or maybe invest in a tutor that can teach comprehention of the English language.

Please understand, I hold you to the highest expectations. :)

[Sanjuro2]

"If you pulled anything else out of my post I suggest you reread or maybe invest in a tutor that can teach comprehention of the English language."


In all truth, my problem is that I comprehend the English language too well for my own good. And that would be "comprehension" genius, but I'm not going to insist that you invest in a tutor for spelling.

Furthermore, I tried admirably to pull meaning out of your posts, but your English is far too advanced. Your use of such poetic two word diatribes as "utter shite" consistently amaze, and your introduction of a game that, as far as I know, doesn't even exist called, "serrated scapple", took me by surprise. Before this very moment I didn't know that a "scapple" could even be serrated... I'm rendered so terribly slow in the face of your prose.

Additionally, what was I thinking when I read this incorrectly? Your fine sentence structure, evidenced by the example: "I really dont care for first person adventures but the Curse Of The Mummy game was just a train wreck." So what you are saying is "I don't like first person adventures but this first person adventure was a train wreck."

One never knows where they will run into superior life forms in this world, but I never expected to meet one at Adventure Gamers. Wow.

[Captain Blondebeard]

"If you pulled anything else out of my post I suggest you reread or maybe invest in a tutor that can teach comprehention of the English language."


In all truth, my problem is that I comprehend the English language too well for my own good. And that would be "comprehension" genius, but I'm not going to insist that you invest in a tutor for spelling.

Furthermore, I tried admirably to pull meaning out of your posts, but your English is far too advanced. Your use of such poetic two word diatribes as "utter shite" consistently amaze, and your introduction of a game that, as far as I know, doesn't even exist called, "serrated scapple", took me by surprise. Before this very moment I didn't know that a "scapple" could even be serrated... I'm rendered so terribly slow in the face of your prose.

Additionally, what was I thinking when I read this incorrectly? Your fine sentence structure, evidenced by the example: "I really dont care for first person adventures but the Curse Of The Mummy game was just a train wreck." So what you are saying is "I don't like first person adventures but this first person adventure was a train wreck."

One never knows where they will run into superior life forms in this world, but I never expected to meet one at Adventure Gamers. Wow.
Bravo. 9.5. Allow me to pat you on the back.

Im so stupid. I guess I shouldnt have skipped 2 grades in school and maybe I shouldnt have graduated high school at age 15 with honors. Its a shame my stupidity has me living in 5 bedroom house and driving a mercedes at the age of 23. It must be my personality that has my company representing 4 bands that have sold over 400,000 records. /end sarcasm

Anyhow, I found your original post quite offensive but I was overjoyed to see you completely abandoning what you said as you backtracked with your tail between your legs. By the way, good strategy using kind words to pull your foot out of your mouth.

Like I said, I hold you to the highest esteem since you are a self proclamed movie buff and and gamer. I eagerly await your response. Let me guess..... Touche? No your much smarter than that. I am rubber you are glue?

[Sanjuro2]

"Bravo. 9.5. Allow me to pat you on the back."

Well, if you really want to. Personally I wasn't nearly as impressed as you seem to be. It was a simple matter of you insulting my understanding of the English language, and me going back and picking apart your very own horrendous writing skills. There was no actual brain work involved, but if I impress you, I can't complain.


"Im so stupid."

Nicely put. And I actually commend your writing in this case, seeing as how I couldn't have said it any better myself.


"I guess I shouldnt have skipped 2 grades in school and maybe I shouldnt have graduated high school at age 15 with honors."

What?! What kind of special education school allows their students to skip grades? And what is your disability by the way? Using Corky from Life Goes On as a gauge of sorts, would you say you are more challenged than that? Or less?


"Its a shame my stupidity has me living in 5 bedroom house and driving a mercedes at the age of 23. It must be my personality that has my company representing 4 bands that have sold over 400,000 records."

Yikes. That sounds like a lot of work. And now for a little bit about me... I refuse to brag so openly as yourself, so in case anyone else reads this I'll offer them a choice of whether or not to hear such stupid crap...


While you are working hard, I do whatever I want WHENEVER I want, and the money rolls in. Ever heard of a trust fund? I'm 24, and I also live in a 5 bedroom house with 4515 square feet. Whoopee, so what?! I drive a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 as well. Who cares man? Hopefully no one... You shouldn't measure the worth of people by their material possessions, it's one of the many things that make you look a bit pathetic. I wouldn't have mentioned any of this had I not been responding to your childish antics. I despise braggarts as a general rule...


"Anyhow, I found your original post quite offensive but I was overjoyed to see you completely abandoning what you said as you backtracked with your tail between your legs. By the way, good strategy using kind words to pull your foot out of your mouth."

I assure that I have no tail and my foot is nowhere near my mouth. Reality is not a videogame, you need to lay off them for a while perhaps. It would be kind of cool to have a tail though I guess...



"Like I said, I hold you to the highest esteem since you are a self proclamed movie buff and and gamer."

And again, I have no idea what I've done to command such respect from you...but it's like they say about ugly goals in hockey, "I'll take it."

[BacardiJim]

Like I said, I hold you to the highest esteem since you are a self proclamed movie buff and and gamer.
I think you meant "self-proclaimed." Apparently, the two grades you skipped in school were the grades where basic spelling and punctuation rules were taught.

And there are a lot of professional athletes who have ten times your self-professed income and material wealth. However, it is apparent to even the casual observer that they haven't the brains that God gave a can of soup. The one has no relationship to the other.

[Captain Blondebeard]

Battle of wit. I love it. I can tell we can go back all knight.

You have quickly gone from the most despised poster in my eyes to my favorite.

Well done.

[Captain Blondebeard]

I think you meant "self-proclaimed." Apparently, the two grades you skipped in school were the grades where basic spelling and punctuation rules were taught.

And there are a lot of professional athletes who have ten times your self-professed income and material wealth. However, it is apparent to even the casual observer that they haven't the brains that God gave a can of soup. The one has no relationship to the other.
This is an adventure thread, not a doctoral thesis. I didnt know every punctuation was important in discussing how Leisure Suit Larry get Patty into bed.

[Sanjuro2]

"Battle of wit. I love it. I can tell we can go back all knight.

You have quickly gone from the most despised poster in my eyes to my favorite.

Well done."



Indeed. So are we done now? :-)

[Captain Blondebeard]

And there are a lot of professional athletes who have ten times your self-professed income and material wealth. However, it is apparent to even the casual observer that they haven't the brains that God gave a can of soup. The one has no relationship to the other.

Do I really need to explain this one?

Brains gets people into quality schools.

Quality schools places people in quality careers.

Ones experiance in his career gives him the ability to handle his own business.


I understand how I probably crossed the line mixing real life into a message board and looking back I would like to take a mullegan but I stand by my original defense. He went out of his way to single me out. Everythings cool but if you really want to drag it out I guess I can pour a cup of coffee. :)

[Captain Blondebeard]

"Battle of wit. I love it. I can tell we can go back all knight.

You have quickly gone from the most despised poster in my eyes to my favorite.

Well done."



Indeed. So are we done now? :-)
Touche :) Just kidding. :devil:

[BacardiJim]

Brains gets people into quality schools.

Quality schools places people in quality careers.

Ones experiance in his career gives him the ability to handle his own business.
Brains allow one to correctly match singular and plural cases of nouns with verbs. Brains allow one to know when one should use an apostrophe to indicate possession. Brains give one enough experience with their native language to know that there is no such word as "experiance."

I frankly doubt that you actually have the capacity to "explain" anything to me, even should you actually have some innate skill (like the aforementioned dumb-but-rich athlete) to pass on to others. You surely don't have the ability to do so via the written word.

[VoodooFX]

Ok, knock it off, all three of you and stick to the topic!

[Kirk]

Thanks, Voodoo!

I like a good intellectual battle, but this thread is not meant to be devoted to two or three individuals' continuing debate.

Please, for the sake of all that is holy, jump back on topic, or take your very intelligent comments into the private realm where they will be appreciated even more.

Here is my attempt to pull it back on. Remember Goonies? The Movie? The movie about the pirate One-Eyed Willie? A Short scene:

Data: Booby Traps?

Sean Astin: Did you say Booby Traps?

Data: Yeah. Booby Traps.

(Expressions of confusion soon fade.)

The simple phrase Booby Traps has a unique conotation. It sounds a little dirty. It references dangerous and (many times) deadly contraptions. It is also a very overused phrase. Having its roots in Spanish, Booby comes from Bobo (meaning idiot). It was first used in casual jokes during the 1850s.

Now, knowing Jane Jensen's extensive research and her very particular and well-thought-out decisions, why choose the title Booby Trap. For one, I can't stand hearing it. And two, of all the other more creative names to choose, why one so simple. Is this a selling tactic (the casual game bent)?

What do you think?

(Thanks, by the way, for staying on the topic!)

Kirk

[BacardiJim]

I assume that the title references the fact that the game is essentially nothing more than Minesweeper. You click the wrong square, you get blown up by a booby trap. Inane, but logical.

[Sanjuro2]

You know Kirk, I agree about the title being...well...less than interesting. But then, isn't the goal of Oberon Media and Jane's current games (Inspector Parker and now this...) to find a more "mainstream" level of success so as to then be able to do Gray Matter? That's what I was assuming, but perhaps I am wrong. Like Inspector Parker, Booby Trap will still be marketed to "casual gamers" (otherwise known as women over the age of 35) as a puzzle game of sorts. The cheesy title fits the mainstream portion of the product. Like BacardiJim said...you can think Minesweeper. Not just in terms of the way the game is, but the simple title itself. "Booby Trap" just sounds like a free download game that my grandmother would play... A game you can mess around with for a few minutes here and there.

The treat for veteran adventure gamers is that it's still Jane Jensen at the helm, and this time she's giving us a 20 hour adventure game along with the mainstream puzzle game. She promises a real story and developed characters. She compares it to a Laura Bow game, both of which I enjoyed. I, for one, have faith that this could really be a very good game. And, in fact, her first real adventure game since Gabriel Knight 3. Besides, where can we go wrong supporting her if it does, finally, lead to Gray Matter?

[Erwin_Br]

What you've seen and read, eh... (http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,380) :shifty:

What are you trying to say? That I didn't read that article? I've read all the AG e3 articles for crying out loud! :frusty:

Anyway, your article couldn't get me exited about it, to be honest. I mean, what's so great about this game?

The great thing about a game like Booby Trap is the incredibly low cost. Oberon's first game Inspector Parker (developed by Jensen) was made for a budget well under $100,000, all of which was recouped within the first quarter of release.

Ooo, it didn't cost much! Yeah, now I really want to play this game! :shifty:

I *do* expect a good story and great dialog, but it seems to be a mere shell around this game as the basics remain the same: you taking your character across a tiled floor and disarming various creative traps around the room. In other words: Minesweeper with a story and characters.

I'll reserve my final judgment until it's out, of course. I'm not saying that I already know it's going to be a disappointment (how would I know at this point?). All I can say is that I'm not really excited about it.

The fact that I didn't like Inspector Parker AT ALL, may be of influence too.

--Erwin

[nordic_guy]

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but apart from the story and the fact that the game features characters, I would hardly call this a great adventure game. Besided, I already have minesweeper on my computer, so I think I'll give this one a pass.
How anyone can rate this above Dreamfall or Fahrenheit, based on what we have seen so far, on their hype-o-meter is beyond me.
But I guess we'll see when it comes out, maybe I'll have to give it a go.

[bigjko]

I read that as What's the word on Jane Jensen's Booby.. :shifty:

Need. Coffee.

[DomStLeger]

I don't get why it's so difficult to understand - the Mindsweeper mode is entirely seperate from the Adventure mode. Or perhaps I'm the one who has misunderstood this fundamental part of the game? You won't be travelling across a mindsweeper style grid to get to talk to characters, you'll either be playing a casual little minesweeper style game OR playing an adventure style game that just shares the graphics. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[bigjko]

I don't get why it's so difficult to understand - the Mindsweeper mode is entirely seperate from the Adventure mode. Or perhaps I'm the one who has misunderstood this fundamental part of the game? You won't be travelling across a mindsweeper style grid to get to talk to characters, you'll either be playing a casual little minesweeper style game OR playing an adventure style game that just shares the graphics. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, that's how I understood it. There's minesweeper, and then there's detective mystery game. All of this has been said before.

[nordic_guy]

I don't get why it's so difficult to understand - the Mindsweeper mode is entirely seperate from the Adventure mode. Or perhaps I'm the one who has misunderstood this fundamental part of the game? You won't be travelling across a mindsweeper style grid to get to talk to characters, you'll either be playing a casual little minesweeper style game OR playing an adventure style game that just shares the graphics. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Huh? If that's the case, then I have misunderstood this completely. I thought that you had the coice between playing a plain mindsweeper game, or a mindsweeper game with characters and a story.

...I thought it was a bit difficult to get hold on what exactly the adventure game mode meant by reading the Adventuregamers preview of it. The decription was a bit vague. My mistake.

[Sanjuro2]

nordic guy, in short, Booby Trap is #2 on my most wanted adventure game list because that's how much respect I have for Jane Jensen. You see, people may not judge things in the same way that I do, but in my 24 years I have discovered that track records mean nearly everything. For example, let's say I've seen a movie trailer and the movie looks like it could be very good, but then I see who the director is...and it's Michael Bay or Joel Schumacher or something... Then I see a trailer that doesn't look so great, but the director is Zhang Yimou. I'll take the Zhang Yimou picture as my "Must See" any day of the week in that comparison, despite the trailer not being as good. Why? Because those other directors have made CRAP their entire lives, and Yimou has made great films.

Same thing with games. Fahrenheit makes my list purely on hype alone, thus it isn't as high on the list. I don't know much about the designers. I read about some of their past games and I was thoroughly unimpressed, however. As for Dreamfall, it looks great so I place it in the Top 5, but I've got some reservations about it since The Longest Journey was far too talky and boring at many points, while great at others (about an 8/10 from me overall). I'm worried that Ragnar Tornquist will again feel that gamers must be beaten over the head with useless info over and over before they understand something that frankly isn't all that complex to begin with.

On the other hand, Still Life combines the Syberia and Post Mortem teams (Syberia I think is the best adventure game since Grim Fandango, in my opinion), and I love the idea of the separate cases, one in the present and one in the past, both being linked. As for Booby Trap, my anticipation is based purely on the fact that Jane Jensen wrote and designed it. Her Gabriel Knight series is probably my favorite game series.

And that's all there is to that. :-)

[nordic_guy]

^So in other words, any game from Jane Jensen would be number one on your list, regardless of the game itself?
I'm sorry, but I find that slightly shallow (and it doesn't really answer my question), plus, there's too many faults in the track-record idea to choose from. Great directors and such in the past has stumbled a few times in their career, despite delievering classics earlier (I'm not saying that's the case here).

[Erwin_Br]

nordic guy, in short, Booby Trap is #2 on my most wanted adventure game list because that's how much respect I have for Jane Jensen. You see, people may not judge things in the same way that I do, but in my 24 years I have discovered that track records mean nearly everything.

One name: John Romero.

I don't get why it's so difficult to understand - the Mindsweeper mode is entirely seperate from the Adventure mode. Or perhaps I'm the one who has misunderstood this fundamental part of the game? You won't be travelling across a mindsweeper style grid to get to talk to characters, you'll either be playing a casual little minesweeper style game OR playing an adventure style game that just shares the graphics. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Please direct me to an article that mentions this explicitly, because I obviously missed it.

Based on what I've read, the tiled rooms are still there and you still have to fix traps. The only differences are that the rooms are not randomized, there are characters to talk to (giving clues?) and there's a story behind it.

I quote Evan's preview:

You all want to hear about the adventure mode of the game. And I promise you'll be amazed at how intricate it is. The story takes place in the same setting as the puzzle mode—a 50-room mansion circa 1930's—and focuses on the story of a missing jewel in true Hound of the Baskervilles mystery story fashion.
...
Jensen said she estimates twenty hours of playing time for the average adventure gamer from the game, and promises that in adventure mode there will be none of the "puzzle" elements (i.e. no randomization of room layout, etc.)

The article doesn't say there's no 'minesweeping' involved, and it also doesn't define puzzle elements (except the rooms are not randomized). You can look at it from various angles.

--Erwin

[DomStLeger]

Hmm, Now I'm confused.

“You can play the game as a puzzle game, like Inspector Parker. But in addition it will feature an adventure game mode set in 50 castle rooms and featuring thirteen different characters. In each room you solve puzzles unique to that room and pick up clues to the overall mystery. For example, the gamer will be able to overhear conversations between characters, find notes or physical evidence. The mystery itself is a real mind-twister.”
(http://www.justadventure.com/articles/JaneJensenNews/JaneJensenNews.shtm)

I took that to mean it was going to be seperate from the mindsweeper style puzzle game, and instead be a game with adventure style puzzles in each room?

I can see why there is confusion now, I've re-read everything we've been told and there is no unequivocal statement as to how the game is going to play, so now I'm confused too...

[Erwin_Br]

Yeah, I think I read that JA preview before Evan's one. Anyway, both give away too little information to be completely sure what it's going to be. I still believe the adventure mode's nothing more than an enhanced puzzle mode, which means the same 'minesweeper' gamplay with the addition of characters, dialogue and story.

It could also be some kind of 7th Guest style game, only in a top-down view. In that case, I guess, you could call it an adventure.

--Erwin

[Sanjuro2]

So in other words, any game from Jane Jensen would be number one on your list, regardless of the game itself?
I'm sorry, but I find that slightly shallow (and it doesn't really answer my question), plus, there's too many faults in the track-record idea to choose from. Great directors and such in the past has stumbled a few times in their career, despite delievering classics earlier (I'm not saying that's the case here).


Your first sentence would be sound, were it not for one huge problem... Still Life is #1 on my list, not Booby Trap. :-) And as I said, some people may not agree with the way I gauge my excitement over games, but it has consistently worked for me far better than looking at hot looking previews and pictures and being swarmed by the hype machine...then being disappointed. You are right about great directors stumbling, though not in all cases. And when they do, it's a simple matter of understanding they are on a down trend, and working that into how excited or otherwise that you are for their next project.

The fact of the matter is, I will play all of those games on my list and I can't judge the FULL games until I do. So does a Hype-O-Meter even matter that much? It's not worth arguing about. If Booby Trap turns out bad and Dreamfall is great, I'll admit it. But how can a person really measure their excitement? In my view people have writers they respect, painters whose works impresses them, musicians whose work they enjoy, directors they appreciate, or DESIGNERS that they like. Why is considering the creator of a work "shallow"? On the contrary I believe it's extremely sound.

A lot of pretty pictures and talk of how a game will be wonderful is certainly going to take a hit in my estimation if the lead designer is announced as Charles Manson... In short, Jane Jensen is hot right now. Her last real adventure game was Gabriel Knight 3. Prior to that she worked on three other amazing games. Her career has no real weak points yet, so how can I not put her game at #2 in anticipation when I have liked 100% of her games in the past (yes, even Inspector Parker provided me with some hours of fun).


NOTE TO Erwin Br: I always thought John Carmack was the better half of those two. Romero's ego was too massive. Carmack still has a great career even though I'm not personally a very big fan.

[crabapple]

JA just posted a new article on it - now it's going to be called BeTrapped! instead of Booby Trap.

http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/Aug29_04Trapped.shtm

[Sanjuro2]

Excellent. Wow, they are playing it... I'm jealous.

[Stinger]

I really thought my preview had made it clear...if not I apologize.

The Adventure Mode of the game has nothing to do with the Puzzle Mode. Nothing at all, not a darn thing. It takes place in the same castle and has the same characters, but that's it. There is no "minesweeping" of any sort. It has set rooms, set traps, and inventory items. It is exactly, please let me stress that, like an old Sierra adventure--except it looks, only looks, like a grid puzzle game.

Your character will walk around this large mansion, talking to other characters, using inventory items, learning clues to the mystery, etc. It is basically exactly like the Laura Bow games--except the floor looks like a grid.

I really apologize if I did not get that across very clearly in the preview. Dom and I apparently are beating our head against the same wall.

If you like adventures, you can totally ignore the Puzzle Mode and never play a bit of Minesweeper-esque gameplay. Likewise, if you're way into grid puzzle games, you never have to do anything adventure-y. This is two games, totally different styles of gameplay, that share a setting and use the same graphics set.

I hope that answers your question, Erwin--your assumptions about the adventure mode have been very wrong and I apologize if I had a hand in that.

Of course, all of this information comes from our conversation with Jane, we didn't actually get to see the adventure mode in action...so maybe she's changed it all anyway and I'll be totally wrong. :rolleyes:

[Erwin_Br]

I really thought my preview had made it clear...if not I apologize.

Oh, I've read more previews about this game and they aren't that specific about the adventure mode either. ;)

Anyway, thanks for clearing it up now, Evan :)

--Erwin

[Sanjuro2]

Evan, I personally found your preview quite clear, but yeah apparently a lot of people don't agree so... Who knows? Heh.

[DomStLeger]

Thanks for clearing that up Stinger, I was worried for a second I was going to have to chuck out my entire hype list :)

Btw, I was interested to read at the site that "originally announced exclusively by Just Adventure" Booby Trapped, is exclusively going to be given an exclusive new name, "Betrapped". I exclusively agree that this this exclusive new name is much better than the old exclusive name. Thanks for that interesting link that you exclusively posted Crabapple.

[ADVENTURE-RAIDER]

I red that Jane Jensen's new game "BOOBY TRAP" was renamed to "BE TRAPPED"!!!
Read it at:
http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/Aug29_04Trapped.shtm

:D

[Erwin_Br]

I red that Jane Jensen's new game "BOOBY TRAP" was renamed to "BE TRAPPED"!!!
Read it at:
http://www.justadventure.com/Press_Releases/Aug29_04Trapped.shtm

:D

And when will you rename your nickname? :D

--Erwin