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Penny Arcade Releases Episodic PC Game

Posted by timothy on from the your-large-eyed-tolerance-may-vary dept.

CyDharttha writes "Greenhouse Interactive on Wednesday released a RPG titled 'On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One.' The title is available on Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms, as well as XBox Live Arcade. A quick look at the game shows it promises the same great humor frequently displayed at Penny Arcade, and with the help of Hothead Games, intriguing graphics, sound, dialog and game play. Demo and purchase is available online now."

18 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. And yes, it runs on Linux... by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Despite their past ambivalence to the OS and its partisans.

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    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    1. Re:And yes, it runs on Linux... by MBGMorden · · Score: 3, Informative

      For those that care, it's also on Mac :).

      The game had a simultaneous online release for: PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox 360.

      That's some nice cross-platform support.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
    2. Re:And yes, it runs on Linux... by XenoPhage · · Score: 5, Informative

      The game had a simultaneous online release for: PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox 360. Not only that, they also support using the same unlock key on all three platforms, for the same person. THAT is just awesome..

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      XenoPhage
      Technological Musings
    3. Re:And yes, it runs on Linux... by RiotingPacifist · · Score: 1, Informative

      32 bit Linux apps run on Linux 64 anyway as long as either the dependencies are packaged (what happens with most games) or installed in 32 bit form (that comes down to your package manager, but most modern distros dont have problems with sorting this out)

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      IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
    4. Re:And yes, it runs on Linux... by SoulMan007 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Correct. Only the 'PC' versions share an unlock key. The XBox version is separate.

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      - SoulMan "Drink Life As It Comes." ~ Gavin Rossdale, BUSH
  2. Looks good so far, but... by g051051 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm a fan, so I purchased it immediately. However, there's at least one terribly frustrating thing that I'm pretty shocked is there: a rather long, unskippable intro movie that plays every time you start the game. The graphics look great, and so far the writing and humor have been up to my high expectations, but this one thing makes it feel like Jerry and Mike never actually played the retail version before launch. I can't believe they wouldn't have had that fixed. I hope they release a patch to correct this.

    1. Re:Looks good so far, but... by Evangelion · · Score: 4, Informative

      Eh? I can skip it on the Mac version.

  3. It's fun, too! by Dolohov · · Score: 2, Informative

    Slightly too mouse-driven for my taste, but the demo was great fun. Lots of little asides to spread that PA humor around, good atmosphere, and (so far) pretty solid gameplay. I had probably better wait until after work to buy the full copy, though...

  4. It's great, if you enjoy their humor. by Talonius · · Score: 4, Informative

    I played for about an hour last night. It's supposed to have a duration of about 6 hours (it's episodic, remember). The graphics, sound, writing, voices are all terrific; professional, polished, flawless. The humor falls in line with what you'd expect - hilarious and sometimes subtle. (On Desperation Street make sure you look at each house and the contents of their mailbox.)

    Not a single graphics glitch or sound glitch was experienced. Game moves and loads quickly, looks good, has an extremely easy interface to learn.

    I have fundamental issues with the authorization that's required for the license - see Bioware/Mass Effect - but at least it's only one time, and it doesn't appear to be tied to your hardware. (A post on the official forums said someone could use their license key on their laptop and their desktop, different operating systems, with no problem.)

    The only problem that's annoyed me thus far is the pathfinding. It could use some work -- especially when an item falls into the path of the character.

    Still, for $20.00 for 6 hours of laughing my ass off... well worth the cash.

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    My reality check bounced.
    1. Re:It's great, if you enjoy their humor. by Kimos · · Score: 4, Informative

      I have fundamental issues with the authorization that's required for the license - see Bioware/Mass Effect - but at least it's only one time, and it doesn't appear to be tied to your hardware. (A post on the official forums said someone could use their license key on their laptop and their desktop, different operating systems, with no problem.) I emailed tech support about this. My Linux system is (clearly) not spec-ed for games. They let me know that I could use my same license key to activate the Mac version on my laptop. No hardware fingerprinting. No license limits. I can live with a system like that.
  5. Linux + Sound = BAD! by revengebomber · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you're going for the Linux version, be sure to test out the demo. I had to run it through aoss to make it work.

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    1. Re:Linux + Sound = BAD! by Chuckaluphagus · · Score: 4, Informative

      The technical support forums for the game clearly show some people having sound issues on Linux, but I managed to get away clean.

      For reference, I'm running Ubuntu 8.04 with PulseAudio on an AMD X2 using whatever integrated sound (Realtek, I think) is built into the motherboard. Sound works perfectly well, no stuttering, no lag.

  6. And yes, it runs on Linux... and Mac by Kimos · · Score: 4, Informative

    Despite their past ambivalence to the OS and its partisans. And Mac, but that's not as much of a surprise.
  7. Re:Played the demo, bought game. by illegalcortex · · Score: 4, Informative

    You might also consider their books. They have commentary on every strip which is very entertaining and sometimes illuminating. It's also fun to just sit down and read instead of having to start at the old computer.

  8. Torrents Here by corsec67 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here are the torrents for the Windows and Linux versions of the demo.

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    If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
    1. Re:Torrents Here by gknoy · · Score: 2, Informative

      I was going to rant about posting a torrent to a crack of the game, and how it was nothing but contemptible to do so.

      HOWEVER -- this isn't that. (thank god for checking the torrent link before I posted! :)) It's a torrent of the demo, apparently the same as you can download from their website. Kudos to you for posting that, then. =)

  9. Re:Blocks/Counterattacks by CrashPoint · · Score: 2, Informative

    The tutorial help mentions it only fleetingly, but the enemy's lifebar flashes right at the moment you need to block. If you hit the block button quickly enough after that (I'd guess 1/10th of a second leeway), you'll get a counterattack.

    I also found it a little easier to start by holding the button partially down, then complete the press on cue. But that was on the 360 using the triggers; it might not work as well on a keyboard.

  10. Ratings by mqduck · · Score: 4, Informative

    PC version reviews:

    GameRankings.com:
    http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/935227.asp?q=precipice

    Metacritic:
    http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/pennyarcadeadventuresepisode1?q=precipice

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    Property is theft.