The Short Game

This episode we’re discussing short-game touchpoint Thirty Flights of Loving by Blendo Games. Thirty Flights has cast a wide influence over the five years since its release and employs film-like smash cuts and non-sequential storytelling to great effect. We have discussed it in brief on past episodes, but it’s time to talk about it in depth. Thirty Flights of Loving is available on Steam and the Humble Store for $5.00, and includes the prequel Gravity Bone. It takes about 15 minutes to complete, though you’ll likely want to play through it multiple times. Links for this episode: 96: Quadrilateral Cowboy – The Short Game 109: Virginia – The Short Game 68: Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and the Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist – The Short Game BLENDO Games You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash

Continuing our coverage of IFComp 2017, we’ve played a dozen more games. Check out past two episodes for an intro to IFComp and our first batch of this year’s games. Let us know what caught your attention from this year’s competition! Games covered: 00:01:26 Insignificant Little Vermin by Filip Hracek egamebook 00:11:16 Domestic Elementalism by fireisnormal 00:17:24 Salt by Gareth Damian Martin 00:25:22 Unit 322 (Disambiguation) by Jonny Muir 00:31:42 The Wand by Arthur DiBianca 00:40:39 Deshaun Steven’s Ship Log by Marie L. Vibbert More games by Marie L. Vibbert 00:46:49 Hexteria Skaxis Qiameth by Gabriel Floriano Linguistic Relativity, Sapir–Whorf hypothesis – Wikipedia 00:52:57 Measureless to Man by Ivan R. 01:00:29 Transient Skies by dgtziea 01:08:06 Swigian by Rainbus North 01:11:51 Nyna Lives by Sarah Rhiannon Nowack 01:15:29 The Dragon Will Tell You Your Future Now by Newsreparter 01:21:11 Outro Also discussed: Sorcery! series Hadean Lands Reader’s Block by David Markson Superluminal Vagrant Twin You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Laura Nash – @laurajnash Nate Heininger – @natestl Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane (00:00) - Intro (01:26) - Insignificant Little Vermin by Filip Hracek (11:16) - Domestic Elementalism by fireisnormal (17:24) - Salt by Gareth Damian Martin (25:22) - Unit 322 (Disambiguation) by Jonny Muir (31:42) - The Wand by Arthur DiBianca (40:39) - Deshaun Steven's Ship Log by Marie L. Vibbert (46:49) - Hexteria Skaxis Qiameth by Gabriel Floriano (52:57) - Measureless to Man by Ivan R. (01:00:29) - Transient Skies by dgtziea (01:08:06) - Swigian by Rainbus North (01:11:51) - Nyna Lives by Sarah Rhiannon Nowack (01:15:29) - The Dragon Will Tell You Your Future Now by Newsreparter (01:21:11) - Outro

Our coverage of IFComp 2017 finally begins in earnest, with impressions of a dozen of the incredible 79 games entered this year. If you’re new to IFComp or interactive fiction, check out our previous episode for an introduction. Games covered: 00:03:06 Eat Me by Chandler Groover Games by Chandler Groover on IFDB 00:11:50 a partial list of things for which i am grateful by Devon Guinn 00:14:01 The Unofficial Sea-Monkey(R) Simulation by B.J. Best Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod 00:20:42 The Owl Consults by Thomas Mack, Nick Mathewson, and Cidney Hamilton 00:27:40 The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson 00:37:47 Harmonia by Liza Daly 00:39:14 Will Not Let Me Go by Stephen Granade 00:47:14 1958: Dancing With Fear by Victor Ojuel 00:53:02 10pm by litrouke 00:56:40 The Living Puppet by Liu Zian 01:01:47 Grue. by Charles Mangin 01:03:13 Tuuli by Daurmith and Ruber Eaglenest IntFiction Forum A Hyperabundant Comp Season | These Heterogenous Tasks IF Comp 2017, Belatedly | Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash (00:00) - Intro (03:06) - Eat Me by Chandler Groover (11:50) - a partial list of things for which i am grateful by Devon Guinn (14:01) - The Unofficial Sea-Monkey(R) Simulation by B.J. Best (20:42) - The Owl Consults by Thomas Mack, Nick Mathewson, and Cidney Hamilton (27:40) - The Wizard Sniffer by Buster Hudson (37:47) - Harmonia by Liza Daly (39:14) - Will Not LetMe Go by Stephen Granade (47:14) - 1958: Dancing With Fear by Victor Ojuel (53:02) - 10pm by litrouke (56:40) - The Living Puppet by Liu Zian (01:01:47) - True. by Charles Mangin (01:03:13) - Tuuli by Daurmith and Ruber Eaglenest (01:06:36) - Outro

In this short episode we’re introducing our upcoming coverage of IFComp 2017 with an introduction to the competition and to interactive fiction for new players. We covered IFComp in both 2015 and 2016, and this year we’re preparing for the best and biggest year the competition has ever had. Join us on our next episode for reviews and reactions to some of the games of 2017. Want to learn more? Here are a few of our past episodes on IF: IF Comp 2015: Episode 61, Episode 63 IF Comp 2016: Episodes 102, 104, 107 The Short Game | 31: Interactive Fiction The Short Game | 45: Spring Thing 2015 – Interactive Fiction Festival The Short Game | 59: Porpentine: Eczema Angel Orifice https://www.theshortgame.net/36-80-days/ 80 days Guides for IF Beginners: How to Play Interactive Fiction (An Entire Strategy on a Postcard) Emily Short’s Guide to Interactive Fiction (PDF) IFComp – About IF History of the Festival http://ifwiki.org/index.php/Mathbrush The twine invasion of 2012 (most interesting moment in the recent history of the comp) http://www.intfiction.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=22855 You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Laura Nash – @laurajnash

Nex Machina is an arcade shooter with an incredible pedigree. Super Stardust developer Housemarque teamed up with video game legend Eugene Jarvis, creator of games like Defender, Robotron 2048, and Smash TV to create a modern dual-stick shooter with obvious arcade influences. Shane and Raygan discuss the game, their history with the dual stick shooter genre, and a few other notable games to check out if you like arcade shooters. Nex Machina is available on Steam and PS4 for $19.99. It has an arcade structure designed around frequent re-plays and high scores. Expect it to take about two hours to complete a play through, though this will vary widely by difficulty level and ability. You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane

Gotta go fast! This episode we’re talking about Sonic Mania, the first Sonic the Hedgehog game in years to recapture the feeling of the original 2D Sonic games. We discuss our history as Sonic fans, the fascinating development story behind the game, and how Sonic Mania measures up as part of the Sonic series. [00:00:00] The Short Game The Hedgehog [00:02:25] Sonic Memories [00:12:47] Sonic Mania Development Story [00:53:14] Wrap up and Outro “___ the Hedgehog” Google Image Results: Raygan the Hedgehog: Shane the Hedgehog: Nate the Hedgehog:   You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl (00:00) - The Short Game The Hedgehog (02:25) - Sonic Memories (12:47) - Sonic Mania Development Story (53:14) - Wrap up and Outro

Fullbright’s followup to Gone Home finally arrived last month, and we’re floating in to investigate. Tacoma is a sci-fi exploration/narrative storytelling game set aboard a moon-orbiting space station 70 years in the future. You play a contractor sent to investigate a disaster aboard the station, learning what happened through environmental detail and AR surveillance recordings. Uncover the events personal stories of the six crewmembers who made Tacoma home, and discover how they responded to the disaster that threatened their lives. Tacoma is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux (via Itch.io, Steam, and GOG) and on the Xbox One. Expect it to take 2-4 hours to complete. Our spoiler break for this episode is at [00:37:42] Links for this episode: The Short Game episode 1 – Gone Home Sleep No More (2011 play) Tacoma – Fullbright (Links to purchase/download) You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash (00:00) - Intro & Pre-Spoiler Discussion (37:42) - Spoiler Break

Bithell Beyonce-ed us! Mike Bithell, creator of Short Game favorites Thomas Was Alone and Volume, surprised us with an unexpected release, and it’s incredibly up our alley. Subsurface Circular is a two-hour text adventure game (with beautiful accompanying graphics) about a robot detective, solving a missing person’s case on the subsurface circular, a robots only subway system. Before the (early) spoiler break at [00:13:50] we discuss the surprise release and what Mike Bithell’s new “Bithell Shorts” label means for short games. After the spoiler break we discuss some of our favorite moments from the game, and its shocking conclusion. Subsurface Circular is available on Steam for $5.99. Expect it to take about 2-3 hours to complete, with a developer commentary available on a second play through. You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash Raygan Kelly – @raygank (00:00) - No Spoilers (13:50) - Spoiler Break

This episode originally went live with out-of-sync audio. If you got that version please delete and re-download. Sorry! Supergiant’s third game is finally here, and it’s… a sports game? In Pyre, you lead a band of exiles competing in a mystical tournament to win their freedom from the beautiful but dangerous Downside. Through a visual-novel-like RPG story you’ll form bonds with your tribe of exiles, then put them to the test in exceptional 3-on-3 sports-like “rites”. Transistor, Supergiant’s last game, was The Short Game’s Game of the Year for 2014. Pyre measures up to, and in some ways exceeds, that high bar. We discuss the world building and lore, the artistry, and of course, the MONSTER DUNKS. Pyre is available for Steam for Windows and Mac and on the Playstation 4 for $19.99. Expect it to take roughly ten hours to complete. Eyvind Earle – Wikiart 13: Transistor – The Short Game @postbuttwave: Religion, criminals, and MONSTER DUNKS. What’s not to love? Eyvind Earle landscape vs. Pyre landscape Who wore it better? You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash (00:00) - Start (01:06:03) - Spoiler Break (01:27:39) - Wrap up and Outro

Laura and Nate discuss a category of games near and dear to them both, board games that have made their way to digital platforms, especially iOS. Huge link dump for this episode: Board Game Ports We Mentioned: Catan on the App Store Catan for Android | Catan.com Carcassonne on the App Store Splendor on the App Store Splendor – Android Apps on Google Play Ticket to Ride on the App Store Ticket to Ride – Android Apps on Google Play Small World 2 on the App Store Small World 2 – Android Apps on Google Play Agricola on the App Store D&D Lords of Waterdeep on the App Store Star Realms | Deck-Building Game Triple Agent! Coup on the App Store Coup – Android Apps on Google Play Pandemic: The Board Game on the App Store Pandemic: The Board Game – Android Apps on Google Play Twilight Struggle on the App Store Apps As Assistants To Games We Mentioned: Authority Life Counter for Star Realms on the App Store First Player on the App Store Fifth Edition Character Sheet on the App Store Fifth Edition Character Sheet – Android Apps on Google Play Physical Board Games We Mentioned: A Game of Thrones: The Board Game Second Edition Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization « Czech Games Edition | Boardgame Publisher AVALON HILL | Betrayal at House on the Hill | Avalon Hill Other Stuff We Mentioned: BoardGameTables.com | Custom Built Game Tables The Morning News You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Like the show? Support us by writing a review on iTunes! Your hosts this week were: Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash