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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."

14 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Let me be the first to say... by XenoPhage · · Score: 4, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new steampunk, FruitFucker overlords

    --
    XenoPhage
    Technological Musings
  2. And yes, it runs on Linux... by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 4, Informative

    Despite their past ambivalence to the OS and its partisans.

    --
    PHEM - party like it's 1997-2003!
    1. 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..

      --
      XenoPhage
      Technological Musings
  3. 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.

    2. Re:Looks good so far, but... by Evangelion · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Umm, wouldn't that have to be a response to "I can't skip it on the Mac version", in order to make sense as an old one-button joke? As it stands, I'm not sure how to respond outside of a non-sequitur polygamous sheep playdough.

      Anyway, the opening cut scene was skipped after I created my first character. I did notice that the first time I started it up, I couldn't skip it, and when I started it up after quitting without starting a game, I couldn't skip it. But once I created a game, it worked as I would expect, and I went right to the menu (I don't even remember if it started to play, or if I was hitting buttons to skip it, but I definitely remember not being annoyed or delayed when I went to restart my game).

  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.

    --
    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. 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.
  6. 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.

  7. Played the demo, bought game. by MarcoG42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm a big fan of PA, and aside from the page hits, and occasional ad click, I really haven't had much of a chance to support them. I'm not big enough of a gamer to roll out wearing shirts with D20 or WoW references on them. I probably would have bought this game even if it were merely mediocre, but it's actually very entertaining. I just bought the full version, and won't be able to play it until I get home, but there were several laugh out loud moments in the demo, which is seems very promising to me.

    I'm also very, very pleased with their decision to fully support Linux. There were a few hiccups to start off, but after changing some basic settings in the in-game menu the game ran smoothly. Their forums offer support for every OS and the HotHead staff, for the time being, seem to be on the ball with answering support questions. I give PA two thumbs up and three cheers for their efforts. I will definitely be purchasing the next installments, no questions asked.

    --
    If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.
    1. 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
  9. 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

    --
    Property is theft.