Latest Puzzle Quest News

[magerette]

Puzzle Quest is one of the games I've been keeping my eye on for awhile for any news of the PC version. For those who haven't played it, it's a puzzle/rpg hybrid--which sounds weird but is extremely addictive. Til now it's only been available for PSP and DS.

This little article at Gamespot doesn't really say too much about the PC, but apparently it's set to go for XBox Live. At least they are still talking about "when" the PC version will be out, not "if" :) There's a lot of info on what they've done to the game since it came out for handhelds, and other stuff they are working on.

Anyway, for those interested, here's the link (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/puzzlequestchallenge/news.html?sid=6180450&mode=all) to the article.

[NFLed]

Puzzle/rpg might be an interesting combo. I've been enjoying an XBox racing game (Forza) which have rpg elements -- well, not true rpg elements but you earn money by winning races and go up levels which gives you discounts and you can buy all sort of upgrades to your cars boosting easily recognizable stats such as speed and braking -- and having something like this with puzzles might be fun.

[magerette]

It's a lots of fun, and it's sounds similar to what you're describing, NFLed --only with the fantasy touch--druids and such.
There's a PC demo over at GamersHell- (http://www.gamershell.com/download_18354.shtml)-but I warn you, it's a real time sink. ;)

[dteowner]

I have no idea what the hold up is on this game. After losing a week to the demo (which can be largely completed in under an hour), I've got my eyes open. I've heard a few silly console conspiracy theories, but it makes no sense why there's not even a sniff of a PC release date yet. Supposedly, the game was developed for the PC originally and ported to the consoles even though the PC release is 6 months behind the handhelds and counting.

[txa1265]

I don't know either ... all I know is that at this point I won't be getting it. The PSP game still travels everywhere with me and I have completely lost the DS copy to the kids ... and I have logged so many hours into it ...

[magerette]

I just want to get past level 7! Still playing the demo after four months or so--but this article talks about a lot of features the demo doesn't have, like item creation? Anyway, I can't believe you have time to play it at all, Mike--though it's pretty easy to fit it in for short sessions.

I think this would be a great game for kids--my daughter-in-law would love to have a game her boys could play for hours(she has 5 under 8 years old o_o and they are...quite active!)

[dteowner]

You can do item creation in the demo, magerette. Have you been visiting your citadel? By building all the structures, you can do item creation, capture cities, learn spells, and capture a mount. Of course, it takes quite a while to generate the money to build those structures and you'll have to be insanely lucky on a few of the battles, but it can be done if you're obsessive enough.

5 kids under 8? Gawd, that's even worse than me. That woman needs a vacation. I don't even know her and I know she needs a vacation.

[magerette]

Ah, the Citadel! No, I've been mostly doing the Instant Action death matches since I figured I couldn't advance any further. I'll have to check it out.

Yes, my DIL should be decorated for bravery under fire and given a vacation--or at least a portal into an alternate universe where she could slip away occasionally. ;) They came here last summer when there were only 4 of them, and after 6 hours, I was looking for a vacation!

[dteowner]

Each city you control produces money on a regular basis. You'll see a little gold flash on the city and hear a "cha-ching". Note that you get no extra if you take too long--the main city gives you 100gp every dozen or so moves. If you take 30 moves to get back to the main city, you still only collect 100gp. You can rack up money by running back and forth between the cities if you can manage the patience.

[magerette]

Alright !! Eurogamer has a bigger article on the XBL announcement, in which they state :
Meanwhile, a post on the developer's website reveals that the PC version is due out in the US on 22nd October.

Here's (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84874)the info.

[dteowner]

And there was much rejoicing!

Getting to be too many games in my queue and that's only going to get worse with Christmas on the horizon.

[txa1265]

Alright !! Eurogamer has a bigger article on the XBL announcement, in which they state :


Here's (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84874)the info.

Yeah, who am I kidding ... I'll be all over it!

[magerette]

I play the demo nightly before bed when I don't want to play a more involved game that will keep me up--(yeah right--125 showdowns later, the neighbor's rooster is raising cain and the schoolbus brakes recall me to reality. ;) )

[Jaz]

Just found out it'll be available for PS2 in late November. I'll get that unless it's preceded by a PC version that's not download only.

[magerette]

I wouldn't mind the download, but apparently they're having some problems with it atm so I'm waiting for awhile. I'm not going to buy a game that won't install.

Edit: Just checked the Inifinite Interactive forums and there's supposed to be a physical release of the game on CD next week, can be preordered from amazon. Also, they're working on a patch for the GG DL--apparently Gamers Gate chucked the installer program the devs included and used their own, thusly messing up some files.
Edit #2: Contrary to what the forums above had to say, it's not listed on amazon or anywhere else that I can locate, but the ps2 is definitely there, Jaz.

Edit#3:I spend waaaay too much time on the internet--here's a link--finally--to the amazon preorder of the boxed copy (http://www.amazon.com/Valuesoft-Puzzle-Quest/dp/B000VRH6UE/ref=pd_rhf_p_1/103-4936789-7963045)---PC, but for U.S. only.

[fatBastard()]

I had seen, in passing, the buzz about the game here at the Watch so when I saw it on Xbox Live I just HAD to download it to see what it was all about.

3 hours later I unlocked the full version and have aligning skulls ever since. This game is REALLY addictive, and the music is surprisingly good for a "low budget" game.

[Jaz]

Ordered the PS2 version last night. It's my currently most used gaming rig, anyway.

[Dhruin]

The official site is rather uninformative. Can I buy this online for download somewhere?

[Shagnak]

From GamersGate (US$19.95)

http://www.gamersgate.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=15&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=231&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14

[magerette]

The official site is rather uninformative. Can I buy this online for download somewhere?

Apparently, the Gamer'sGate people removed infinite interactive's installer and replaced it with their own; in the process they left out some dll files. This results in black screen iinstalls for some people(quite a few) hence the patch. (http://www.infinite-interactive.com/puzzlequest/patches.php) If you have problems during or after download, this thread (http://forums.infinite-interactive.com/showthread.php?t=544)is helpful.

[txa1265]

I got my installer details for my review copy ... will be interesting to see how that all goes.

[magerette]

Hope it goes well. I'm holding out for the boxed copy--should be out next week sometime.

[dteowner]

I ordered my boxed copy tonight. Strange that this doesn't show up in anyone else's store (no EBGames, no Walmart, no Best Buy, no Target). I guess this is an Amazon exclusive since they show it "in stock".

[magerette]

Yeah, from what I've gathered lurking the I2 forums, the distributor is Valuesoft(THQ) and they're not doing much to push the game. I'd really rather purchase through a dedicated gaming retailer(Amazon has enough money) but it doesn't look like any of them will have it anytime soon.

Edit: I sent an email to gogamer CS--they are checking into it.

[dteowner]

Well, I'm a bit puzzled now, so to speak. Amazon showed the game "in stock" but now that item of my order is shown as not shipping for another week.

[Lucky Day]

Whoever recommended this I'm going to eat their children!

*fails History 10*

[txa1265]

I ordered my boxed copy tonight. Strange that this doesn't show up in anyone else's store (no EBGames, no Walmart, no Best Buy, no Target). I guess this is an Amazon exclusive since they show it "in stock".

I can't stand that stuff ... I still don't have the DS Chibi Robo game as it is Walmart exclusive and there is no marketing (and therefore no review copies).

Oh well, my experience with GamersGate continues along wonderfully!

[dteowner]

Whoever recommended this I'm going to eat their children!

*fails History 10*I don't know if Arma has kids, but that's your target. It all began here. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1019)

[magerette]

dte I've discovered my citadel--and capturing critters to steal..er, research their spells, and searching for runes, forging helpful items, etc. Thanks for the tips. Now I can stay up even later...or is that earlier...

If I ever hear back from gogamer I'll post----my request to buy the game from them instead of amazon has been passed up the chain of bureaucracy to the purchasing people in some galaxy far away.

[dteowner]

Well, Amazon shipped my order complete last night. Evidently, their inventory system doesn't talk to their shipping system very well. So some time next week, I should be seeing boards of colored tiles in my sleep (and listening to a couple -hopefully- good cds).

[txa1265]

I am loving the GamersGate version ... but honestly it will never replace the DS / PSP version for me. I think that the game just *screams* play-on-the-go!

[Alrik Fassbauer]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2007/20070328.jpg

[magerette]

Good one. Alrik. :)

[Arma]

As I was saying all this time - the game is a blast, though I have much more on my hands currently to properly enjoy it.

[magerette]

Good to see you Arma, and thanks for making me 'waste' hours and hours of my life ;)

I'm still waiting on buying the PC version, but its not a problem atm since I'm fully occupied with The Witcher.

[Arma]

Don't shoot the messenger! Blame Steve Fawkner fot thinking of and actually making such a charming (and time consuming) game :)

[Lucky Day]

Its arma I must kill then

Speaking of which (not) I wonder if we should do something of expanded coverage of this game. For example, strategies and what not about getting a multiplayer going with this game.

Team Corwin watch out...

[dteowner]

Well, I've completely lost 2 days of my life to it so far. I finally decided to come up for air to hit the boards and prepare for the Cowboys game coming up. I'm about level 20 now (warrior). I might have to join Lucky's "Blame Arma" club...

[Lucky Day]

One thing I've noticed is sometimes the AI isn't overly talented. It won't take an obvious attack or it will take a 3 of a kind over a 4 kind. It more often than not doesn't cast spells when it could. This is probably good otherwise I wouldn't survive long.

It doesn't seem to vary according to the type of creature your fighting either. I would think there might be routines in a more cunning creature that would make it play slower so it can find better moves but they appear the same.

Taking on a human component could be very messy. I imagine there's some very, very good players out there.

[dteowner]

Have you noticed, though, how often the AI seems to know what tiles are going to drop next? If you've got only a few choices and you pick the one the AI suggests, 9 times out of 10 it will drop new tiles that give the AI a 4-in-a-row of +5 skulls. Perhaps the "poor play" is designed to offset the dirty rotten cheating. >:(

[Jaz]

Taking on a human component could be very messy. I imagine there's some very, very good players out there.Mortal Kombat VI (MK Deception) had this PVP 'columns' clone where you could pick different characters with different abilities. THAT was very, very intense. I have yet to win a single game! :lol: No, I certainly prefer an AI of about my level of general clumsiness to a human enemy...

[enodenroH]

Holy crap Jaz!!!

It's a good thing your Avatar can't get anymore inflated than he already is 'cause otherwise he'd literally explode!

Ego problems anyone??? ;)

What the hell is it anyway??? A 21st century Bhudda???

[Jaz]

The big guy is a rather unimportant extra from a game. But I agree, whoever designed this guy and his enormous gut definitely thought of Pu Tai/Hotei.

[dteowner]

Looking for a spoiler here. Don't know if anyone's in the right place in the game (odds aren't good) or has an incredible memory, but I can't for the life of me figure out the Lich capture board. It's getting really annoying. Not so much because of wanting the spells, but the option to "avoid" is getting more and more valuable. I'm very interested in the story line (just talked to the High Elves about their 2 forts), but I'm starting to burn out at bit on battling annoying wandering monsters.

[dteowner]

No takers, eh? I knew that was a long shot since most of you are probably beyond that point.

[txa1265]

OK, I had to get to the point of capturing another one ... it is actually easy. You have a block of red skulls at the start? Move the right one to the right. Then the left one to the left, then the same block you moved the first time - move it to the right again. That is it!

[Lucky Day]

I finish those so fast I couldn't possibly remember them. I'm betting there's more than one way to finish those capture puzzles.

hmm..not only should we do multiplayer we should have a tournament. I got three people at work addicted to this now.

[dteowner]

I'm the same way most of the time, which is why I figured any help would have to come from someone at the right point in the game to actually do the puzzle. Naturally, there aren't any wandering liches on my board right now. o_O

No multiplayer for me. I have a hard enough time maintaining the concentration to beat the AI. I've got my character built up to the point where I don't generally have to be too careful, but that certainly wouldn't be the case against a real person.

Did uncover a fun wrinkle this morning. Got a wandering arboleth. His chaos skin (heals 5 with every enemy spell) forced me to completely change my standard approach. Bonus points to Puzzle Quest.

[Lucky Day]

you certainly have to watch out for those creatures and castles with counterspell options. If they gain mana (or even skills) from you casting a spell then have a bonus to damage based on their mana it can be quick disaster. I'm getting more and more of those so you have to concentrate on attacks (Skulls).

Speaking of which I've picked up one of those Lich skull crowns that generate a Skull 50% of the time when I start my turn. I kick rear with the thing to the point where every supposedly high end up is worthless compared to it. Boosts to my damage help too.

I've noticed that Spell Resistance is far more effective than what is listed. For example, with 1% green mana resistance I stopped my enemy's spells twice in one session. I don't know if its just me but 20-30% resistance seems more like 50% and 40% seems like 60-75%. When my enemy has this much resistance I avoid using those types of spells.

Also, yellow mana so far seems for more important than any other in terms of combat, followed closely by red mana. Does anyone else get this impression?

So far I use a druid with these types of spells - A heal spell for emergencies, a calm spell to wipe spells bonuses/curses, an attack spell, a spell to destroy a column, a spell to destroy a row, and my spider gives me a web spell to hold my enemy. I try other combinations by I end up coming back to these. None of the other mounts so far give me as effective a spell.

[dteowner]

I use a fair bit of green mana, too. Let's see if I can remember my spell list...
Cleave (R,Y) - damage equal to yellow gems on the board, destroys all yellow gems
??? (G,R) - damage equal to skulls on the board +3
Regen (B) - +4HP
Headbutt (G,R) - enemy loses turns based on red gems on board, red gems destroyed
Death Dive (Y,R) - from Griffin mount - damage equal to yellows on the board + 3
Bloodlust (G,Y,B) - +12 red mana
Revenant? (just picked up the warrior level 50 spell, so I don't remember much about it other than it doubles your battle skill for the duration of the fight)

Picked up my 9th companion last night, so I had to pick one to drop. Ended up dropping Sunspear based on the bonuses. I'm wondering if this will change available quests. I remember a white quest where Sunspear wanted to watch me tackle an arboleth. I haven't noticed if that quest is still there.

Since I generally play one game at a time, I usually put the cd in the drive and forget it. Was ripping a music cd and discovered that PQ is not a "disk in the drive" game. Just thought I'd share in case someone else is as retarded as me.

There's a level cap at level 50. Boooooo! With 237HP, I can be pretty lackadaisical in almost all my battles now (all the more reason not to get schooled with multiplayer). I've got a backlog of a dozen or so spells to research, which is probably the biggest challenge remaining in the game for me right now. The monsters seem to be taking a step up recently (doing Bane's 3 generals right now), so there might be new challenges on the horizon.

[Oriz0r]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/03/28

:)

[magerette]

Finally found the PC version available at Target (online only) with cheap 24 hr shipping. Yes! Something now awaits me in the vast gaming desert looming ahead after I finish the Witcher. :)

[dteowner]

Prepare for some late nights. It's addictively simple and the demo really only scratched the surface.

[magerette]

Yes, I gathered that from some of the posts here. It was a great surprise when I got into my citadel and the different puzzles began emerging. This is a very cool little game, and mine is shipping today, so the caffiene supply is getting double-checked and the spouse has been warned he's in survival mode on his own. ;)

[dteowner]

The final battle is a real pain. I think it took me about 20 legit attempts (a few times, the boss conveniently was handed about a 70 point skull drop, so I'd throw the battle to try again) to get thru him. Fire Bomb ("borrowed" from a Dark Dwarf) was the equalizer for me.

Geez, at least heat up a Totinos for the poor guy... ;) (for you non-Imperialists, that's a dirt-cheap frozen pizza here in the States)

[magerette]

Nonsense--I am woman--he still gets meals, just has to live with being abandoned afterwards. Fortunately, he has great inner resources--and the remote. :)

[Jaz]

Muahahaha. When I'll start playing this gem for good, not much will change - hubby will still be responsible for cooking. But he won't be able to play FIFA for a while unless he buys a second TV set.

[Lucky Day]

The hard drive went down and took my 50th level Druid with it last week.

Because of it my homework is caught up and I'm slightly bored as he didn't give us the take home quiz he promised us.

[dteowner]

Well that blows, Lucky. I thought I had lost mine when I uninstalled the demo after installing the real version. The game sort of lost track of my character, but somehow (I don't remember exactly) I twiddled things and my warrior survived. If the character files are still there, it might not be a lost cause.

[magerette]

It's obviously a message telling Lucky Day to upgrade--but still painful. :(

I must say I'm breaking out the gutter vocabulary over this game--tried to capture a Harpy last night for over an hour--had it all worked out except for one red gem...but there's a lot going on fortunately so I pulled my foaming at the mouth warrior toon away and went on to destroy a few other nasties. I really like the structure of this game--like Depths of Peril--you can pick it up and lay it down with no need to rack your memory(for those who still have one) about which foozle you had to get for Answap the Barkeep before you battle the evil wizard in the lonely haunted tower.

[dteowner]

There's a key to every one of the capture puzzles. Either a small handful of moves wipes out the whole board or a repeating pattern cleans it up. I certainly feel your pain, though (see my lich capture failure a few posts up).

Stealing spells will eventually have your language making sailors turn away. When you churn for 15-20 minutes and lose just a single scroll short, it will get ugly. ;)

[Arma]

Spell Research is one of the two things I hate in the game, it's so time consuming and dependant on luck, which is sadly not a character stat in the game :(
For the record, the other is how the AI seems to be either cheating or have the amasing powers of Nostradamus since 99 % of the time it seems to know what gems are going to drop on top of the grid and make my life miserable.

[dteowner]

I think the game cheats, too, but I figured that sort of balanced out the AI's tendency to overlook obvious moves.

[Arma]

I though that for a while, however, I think that it overlooks obvious moves since it know what is going to drop and waits for it.

[dteowner]

You might be right about that, Arma.

The main rule I discovered was to avoid as much as possible going with the move that the AI recommends. No matter how good the move is, it's going to set up something much better for the AI.

I still haven't completely forgiven you for finding this game, Arma. ;)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I though that for a while, however, I think that it overlooks obvious moves since it know what is going to drop and waits for it.

Reminds me of Age of Wonders II : The devs once said that the AI also knows the WHOLE terrain - from move 1 on. This was done as a try to make the game more challenging against the human AI: ;)

[Wulf]

Re:
[The main rule I discovered was to avoid as much as possible going with the move that the AI recommends. No matter how good the move is, it's going to set up something much better for the AI.

At first i though the same, then i realised that the white arrowhead is suggesting the *AI's* own covert intention (unless you can interupt it) :D

[magerette]

Anyway you look at it the @#$!% thing is just cheating! But then it has to, since I'm so smart. It's frightened into cheating by the prospect of my superior strategy skills. Or something :wall:

I'm giving up on the @#$*&% harpy. @#!&^ the harpy. I don't need the Swoop spell anyway since I got it off a cheating %$#@! bat. HA! :sneaky::leer::mwahaha:*insane laughter fades into the night*

[Arhu]

I giving up on the @#$*&% harpy. @#!&^ the harpy. I don't need the Swoop spell anyway since I got it off a cheating %$#@! bat. HA! :sneaky::leer::mwahaha:*insane laughter fades into the night*

Please put a !@#$% quarter in the swear jar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJJL5dxgVaM).

I feel your pain though, in one "difficult" try to catch something I had scrolls all over the place and was only one short before the game decided I was out of luck. I'm not that far into the game yet, but it's definitely fun.

[GothicGothicness]

I tried the game, I got sooooo bored with the battles an "undead" has appeared,,, I mean how many skeletons should I fight before I die of boredom?

[dteowner]

After you defeat them, capture one, and then defeat a few more, you have the option to "avoid" critters that pop up on the roads.

[magerette]

Please put a !@#$% quarter in the swear jar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJJL5dxgVaM).


I don't think I have that many quarters, but I approve of the concept. :)

[GothicGothicness]

After you defeat them, capture one, and then defeat a few more, you have the option to "avoid" critters that pop up on the roads.

Wow, thanks.... I didn't know about that!

[Arma]

I always though that avoding enemies was due to the mount. The higher level it is, the more powerful enemies you can avoid.

[dteowner]

So that would be the advantage to a fast and/or flying mount? I used the griffon for almost the entire game, so I guess I can't say for sure if there's any difference. I have wondered a few times why the game would specify mount speed and travel mode since it seemed to make no difference. I thought leveling the mount was just to increase the bonus it provides. Your theory certainly makes sense, Arma. There's something to the number of times you defeat a critter type, though, because I picked up the option a few times without levelling my mount, IIRC.

[Arma]

As far as I got it, travelling around with a fast mount advances the game time slower resulting in less monster spawns on the map and less frequent income from the citadels. A slower mount (btw a slow mount is supposedly travels slower than walking/no mount) is gives the opposite results.

Btw, I spent most of my game (before I definately ruined it rather untimely) with a giant rat - it sure was slow but my Pally needed the Cunning boost :) And I didn't have the nerve to level a second one ...

[magerette]

Some interesting trivia--Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3228/gamasutras_best_of_2007.php?page=8)has put PuzzleQuest in their Top Ten games of the year ( at # 10, but still...) Since this is a game designer site, it says a lot for their respect for the devs:

One of the quietest hits of the year, Puzzle Quest's industry importance was felt in a number of ways, from truly establishing the Western presence of its publisher, D3, to receiving one of the most successful word of mouth campaigns in 2007, and managing a staggering number of multiplatform releases for such a small developer, through smart external partnerships.

As a game, too, its acumen showed through both in its deceptively deep mechanics and, most blatantly, in its audience-widening marriage of casual and hardcore play. Rarely does a game come along that can ease casuals into the deeper potential of strategic play, while also managing to convince the hardcore to spend hours with something that, outside its fantasy garb, they've convinced themselves isn't "real" gaming.

Truly one of the landmark achievements of the year, and one that gives us great hope for Infinite's next puzzle outing.

[txa1265]

I am *still* playing it ... when I get on a plane tomorrow night, guess what game will be in my PSP? Yep.

[dteowner]

Excellent analysis. It would be too much to hope that someone might take the hint that gameplay still has value in the days of kewl grafix.

[Lucky Day]

A guy at work saw my other buddy playing it and wanted a copy. he said he was going to pick it up. I said by all means do so. (its 20 bucks - c'mon!)

Also, I've recovered my old hard drive so I should have my old save back. Does it cap off at level 50? If so I might just start a new game with a different character. I don't want to restart it just to finish it off in 10 minutes.

Also...

Is Puzzle Quest Bejeweled with an RPG element?

Someone mentioned Bejeweled when I brought PQ to our network games. I saw Bejeweled in the $10 bin at Office Despot yesterday and from the game description it looks identical to combat in PQ. The game was loaded with all sorts of GotY accolades on the back cover and I found two clones of it at Office Despot and Tarjay.

---

Whether its cheating or doesn't stop it from being an idiot. Choosing 4 of kinds that kill damage or just outright missing them or 3 of kinds doesn't cut it. If this were a chess program it would fail badly.

Personally, I haven't seen a pattern that seems like its actually cheating - I just get ticked off when it gets good matches.

---

The biggest problem I have with researching spells is when the spell turns out to be junk.

And I've yet to find a better mount than my spider. That web spell is way too handy for its shortcomings. Is there any real advantage to speed?

---

What exactly causes a Heroic Effort? Is it 3 matches in one turn?

[Jaz]

Is Puzzle Quest Bejeweled with an RPG element?Basically, yes. There are a few differences, but they are minor. In the Bejeweled/Diamond Mine series, you a) play without an opponent (like with the training puppet in the beginning of PQ), you b) make jewels disappear when you match 3, c) create an explosive jewel when you match 4 (which will detonate when you match three of its kind), and d) create a color smart bomb when you match 5 of a kind (you can pick the color you want to destroy - it must border your smart bomb). Bejeweled also has a puzzle mode which is exactly like PQ's spell research. Bejeweled (especially B2) is one of the most addictive casual games ever, and PQ is that with enhanced game elements.
There was a similar minigame in Mortal Kombat: Deception; you picked a character and played a Bejeweled (or was it Colums?) clone against an opponent (either another player or a bot). Each had his or her own board to play, and each character had one special ability. Some special abilities affected the opponent's board IIRC.. it's been a while. Anyway, there's nothing more addictive than Columns or Bejeweled or Chuzzle or... Puzzle Quest :).

[Lucky Day]

Puzzle Crack

[Alrik Fassbauer]

A novel ?

Just found this one. (http://www.amazon.de/Through-Space-Puzzle-Quest-Clint/dp/1861991614/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11?ie=UTF8&s=books-intl-de&qid=1198368873&sr=8-11)

[xSamhainx]

omg it's 1:30 am....

It started so innocently, I just wanted a peek

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Welcome to the club. :D

[dteowner]

I've fired up PQ a few times over the last week as a change of pace. I've been working on stealing the dozen or so spells I hadn't learned before I won and then hitting a couple wandering critters to try out the new spells.

It doesn't get any better, Sammy. Sleep is overrated anyway. ;)

[Lucky Day]

I've finally finished it but its still interesting. I've researched all the spells I could. I did watch it cheat as it ignored a damage for a 3 and instead brought down a 4 from offscreen that gave it a free turn. Nevertheless, its still a retard.

There's not much to Multiplayer, just combat. However, if you have characters at different levels there's an option to compensate. It would be nice to have some sort of co-op, like having to win both or just one combat simultaneously.

[xSamhainx]

Good Lord of the Tigers, I usually hate puzzle games. This morning I was just like "I'll play a couple while my muffin is toasting.."

4 hours later.. ='.'=

That friggen troll, I tell ya, took me like 5 matches to get him. There were like two matches when we were both under 10 life left (thrilling!), and he pulled some miracle skulls or blue tiles (so he could regen) from the top row and wiped me out. I hate to sound like a spoiled sport, but the ai seems to either get very very lucky, or it cheats. Whatever, it's all more of a challenge because of it I guess.

I didnt mess with the spells too much at first, but they definitely are needed, I had to throw the kitchen sink at the troll to win. This game is far bigger than I originally thought, there's a lot of strategy involved. If you just plunk away at the most obvious matches (or even what the pc recommends), your done for!

Does anyone else just love the sound in this game or what?? I crank it up! The music, the explosions, everything is great. I wish the creatures had some sounds tho.

Goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) I need full version asap

[Lucky Day]

The music starts to wear on you. It gets repetitious. I do confess to to like hearing the one gobbledygook line where it seems to say blah bleh or bleh blah.

[dteowner]

I've got all the sound turned off now. I wanted another game I could play while listening to internet radio.

If you review the thread, Sammy, you'll see that we're all pretty much convinced the AI is a dirty, rotten cheater.

[xSamhainx]

I skimmed it at first, but on further more indepth review, I see that I'm coming late to the party on that one.

[Lucky Day]

Now that I'm finished I was wondering if there was a sequel planned or if anyone made a mod for it:

Low and behold I find out its relatively easy to make simple mods for Puzzle Quest

http://forums.infinite-interactive.com/showthread.php?t=576

One person here has edited the PC version to play like the PSP version:

http://www.gameslifeandstuff.com/2007/10/puzzle-quest-mods.html

[dteowner]

I think I mentioned in another thread that there's an awful lot of empty map for there not to be a sequel. There's ground to the south and a whole western zone that are empty. Screams "sequel" to me, which is perfectly fine in my book.

[txa1265]

Hmmm ... used to know the heroic effort thing ... oh well ...

Played plenty of this (PSP version) on the plane and around during Christmas vacation. Just love it!

[Arma]

Yup, I was pretty disappointed on that since for some time I was actually expecting to visit all the interesting places on the map in PQ since they do feature the whole Warlords map up to Keshan (the continent to the south) and in the end we had just the corner of it. But after putting that much time into the game and I am not still done exploring the corner, I imagine how long the game would have been if we had the whole map to adventure!

Right now I expect Galactrix first, PQ sequel after that :)

[Jaz]

Ahhh yes Galactrix... there wouldn't be a demo out?

[Arma]

Not yet ...

[Lucky Day]

So..this is based on Warlords or something?

[Arma]

Yup, it's a Bejuweled/JRPG hybrid set in the Warlords world :) though the more traditional art of the series is replaced by a fresh pro anime/manga look of the game characters and so on (as far as I understand the authors of the PSP port introduced that along with the port itself)

[magerette]

Arghhh...another session into the dawn hours--finally captured the Wolfrider--I must have retried that one a dozen times--then I made one different move and the whole thing dissolved like a rockstar hitting forty.

So I find myself now interested in puzzle games as a genre whereas before I never even thought about playing them...I just downloaded a demo for a game called Cryptex of Time (http://www.gamershell.com/news/44382.html) and it seems pretty fun. Is anybody really into this genre enough to recommend some other good games(PC as that's all I have) ?

[xSamhainx]

I just unistalled the demo, so I can get some time in on Witcher today. It's like "ok, one match"... then you get beat, and THEN IT'S ON!!!

I also dont want to get burnt out on it before the full version arrives in the mail any day now. It's bad enough that I have it on my pc at work too!

I tend to never really play caster characters, but I'm definitely preferring the Wizard class in this game over the others.

[Jaz]

Nah, it's Druid all the way!!!

...and I never, NEVER played a Druid. Anywhere else. Really, I didn't.

[magerette]

Hmmm--do I see a trend here?

I always play a caster in every game where it's possible, but I'm finding the Warrior babe to be the one for me in this one. :) I absolutely never play a fighter unless it's the only choice. Pretty weird.

[dteowner]

I bucked the trend. After trying all 4, I settled in on the warrior, which is pretty typical for me.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

A side-detail:

I received an e-mail of Koch Media Germany, who publish Puzzle Quest here in Germany.

But only the non-PC versions, because - as I read - they don't have the rights for publishing the PC version here in Germany and they don't even know who's got the rights for it.

Weird.

[Lucky Day]

weird in deed. weird in word. Alrik you could contact the original company or you could order an import. Or are you strictly looking for a German language version? If that's the case I bet it would be hard to rip the dialogue out of one of the other versions because its its been built for cross platform.

I played Druid because having the heal spears is a real advantage. I recently started a mage and I like her combat spells. My buddy played a fighter and got mad real early over his choice.

About 5 people at my job have copies now and they are playing it during daylight hours (as opposed to watching tv on the internet). I'm waiting for Management to to connect three 5 skulls on us now because idiots don't have a lick of sense.

Either way this is what management gets for exporting our jobs to the Philippines and stringing us along for a year until the transition is complete.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Interesting. I didn't know about that.

An exclusive ?

[magerette]

This isn't a widely distributed game in it's PC form even here in NA, Alrik. I waited for months for it to be available somewhere other than as a DL at Gamersgate or at amazon. I blame it on THQ(Valusoft) just not doing their job--the developers pretty much handed off to them at least here in the US.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

THQ ? Oh, THQ is one of the worst for me - older products just vanish out of their support sections only a few months after the release !

Or so it seems to me.

I recently wanted to use their new registering system - type in the EAN number, and your product is registered.
I tried it for Zanzarah, but it wasn't there. Although it's a product genuinely distributed by THQ (and made by Funatics, who helped with the Settlers 5 & 6).

[magerette]

slight rant: I have a deep personal hate for THQ because of what they did to Iron Lore-(-that is Brian Sullivan's studio he started up a few years ago.) They completely dropped all continuing support for Titan Quest as soon as the Immortal Throne expansion hit the streets--and that's a pretty mainstream game. From what I've heard from you and others, I guess this is pretty normal for them, but it still irks me. :)/rant

Edit: does deep personal hate maybe sound too strong?? probably should reserve deep personal hate for something worse than bad publishing?? naaaah.

[txa1265]

This isn't a widely distributed game in it's PC form even here in NA, Alrik. I waited for months for it to be available somewhere other than as a DL at Gamersgate or at amazon. I blame it on THQ(Valusoft) just not doing their job--the developers pretty much handed off to them at least here in the US.

I got mine from GamersGate ... but now that it is also out for other platforms (waiting for my Wii version to arrive) hopefully it will get more play for PC as well.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I'll write an e-mail to the makers of PuzzleQuest.

I hope they know it. ;)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Today I received an e-mail from Infinite Interactive (or was it vice versa ? ;) ) , stating that D3P handles all of the distribution and that my e-mail would be forwarded to them.

I found this quite nice. :)

So, now I'm curious how it will turn out ...

[xSamhainx]

got full version!

*jumps around crazy tiger*

It was impossible to nail down in any store, i had to get it off Amazon. Ended up costing me 'round 20 bucks, just about what it would have cost anyway give or take a buck or three.

[dteowner]

See ya in a couple weeks, Sammy. You might want to save a Coke bottle or something so you'll have a place to pee. ;)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

LOL ! :D

Yesterday I played the demo through - well, almost. Somehow I couldn't beat this Troll.

But I couldn't concentrate the whole week because of a light cold, anyway.

[dteowner]

Trolls are actually a very difficult battle at the time they start appearing. They have as much or more HP than you and that regeneration is just a killer.

[Arma]

Finally! After all this time I finally managed to defeat Lord Bane so that my pally could take over! Muahahahahhaha! :cm:

[xSamhainx]

That's the glory of the wizard, keep draining the mana of enemies like trolls so they cant regen!

[magerette]

A note of warning--if you have the demo installed before you installed the game, be wary of uninstalling it. I was doing a little file clean up yesterday, uninstalled the demo, and lost all my save games.

Bad bad bongos as my warrior babe was level 29. >:O

Starting over isn't that big a deal though as the AI cheats just as well in the early game as it does later on. :)

[dteowner]

I did the same thing, magerette. The save game is still there.

[magerette]

Ah--forgot to click the little arrow in singleplayer:blush::stupid:

You don't know how I thank you, dte.

[dteowner]

Don't feel bad. I went thru the exact same series of profanities, grumbling, and resignation before stumbling on the answer.

[Lucky Day]

Multiplayer is like that too. You have to go through a series of gyrations to switch characters and get back to games with other characters. Its one part of the game that's poorly designed. It could scare players into not trying.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I bought a german download version at www.gamesload.de, which belongs to Deutsche Telekom.

I wrote an e-mail to them asking once again who might have the distribution right.

Maybe I formulated my question wrongly, but my answer I got said that they don't know it, too.

This is becoming strange. No-one knows anything.

[xSamhainx]

I'm giving up on the @#$*&% harpy. @#!&^ the harpy. I don't need the Swoop spell anyway since I got it off a cheating %$#@! bat. HA! :sneaky::leer::mwahaha:*insane laughter fades into the night*

Good Lord of the Tigers, that one red gem is driving me insane! I dont even want the swoop spell, it's the principle of the thing!

*roars so loud the walls shake!*

[xSamhainx]

just took another 15 cracks at it.. AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

on another note - you dont have to defeat creatures 3 times on the map to rev up to the capture, you can beat them several times on instant action mode, then capture them off the map!

[magerette]

I swear that harpy one HAS to be a bug--its the only clear-the-board one I haven't been able to get, and some of the others have produced some extremely colorful language--but they have yielded to my invincible mastery of correct clicking combinations(otherwise known as dumb luck) eventually. Not that one...not, of course, that I care or anything...

Yeah, the challenge mode had me all suited up with a lot of those capture options from the demo. I've noticed, though, that I still can't choose the 'avoid' option for a lot of my captured and fallen foes--which tends to make those trips around the map a bit tedious.

[dteowner]

I never even knew that challenge mode was there. Cool. So, as a present for showing me the new function, here's the harpy:
G5-H5 / D3-E3 / G3-H3 / D2-E2 / D1-E1 / D1-C1 / C4-C3 / C3-C2 / C2-C1 / D2-D3 / D2-D1

[magerette]

Don't tell me--spreadsheet? ;) Or just those old dungeon mapping pencil skills?

Thanks dte. And what the bejasus is this World's Fair Spoon you're always looking for?

[dteowner]

Actually, it would chess coordinates, I think. Not a chess player, so I can't be certain.

The World's Fair Spoon thing comes from a Bob&Tom skit called "Invisible Leash", which is a spinoff of the Invisible Fence and used for keeping adled old folks in the yard.

[Lucky Day]

Algebraic chess coordinates are in the form of the piece and where it lands ie Nc3 is Knight to c3. If its just c3 then its a pawn move. Extended Algebraic also has the the place where the piece originated but this gets verbose ie Nb1 - c3 is Knight on b1 to c3. English or descriptive notation is the old style where it changes according to whether the piece moved is black or white ie NKB3 is Knight to King's Bishop 3.

[magerette]

I'm downloading the demo for this as I write and will let you know how it stacks up to PQ--it's an indie puzzle/strategy game featuring mage duels. Here's the blurb:

Magi (http://www.getmagi.com/)
Take a role of dueling mage and challenge your opponents in a battle of skill, tactics and wits.
Summon mighty creatures to your aid and waste other mages with dreadful curses.

* unique strategy game of magic duels
* 10 characters and over 50 spells to choose from
* an epic soundtrack by Rob Westwood
* gather experience and develop your character
* collect Insignias for your most outstanding achievements



EDIT: Okay-tried it out a bit and it's lots of fun. The tutorial level is fairly easy, but I should think the actual game will be seriously challenging. This is pure mage dueling--no puzzle aspects at all, just strategy. Really addictive if you like tossing spells around. :)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I think someone had commented here on this earlier ... But I don't remember where ...

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Taken from the forums:

http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/01/steve_fawkner_interview_warlordsonline_oz_games_de velopment.html

I think the link is self-explanatory.

[magerette]

Nice, Alrik--thanks. I'm going to stick it on the front page.

[Arma]

Are we following Warlords Online, now :) Btw, there is more info in the I2 forums, from Steve -> http://forums.infinite-interactive.com/showthread.php?p=9644#post9644

[magerette]

Thanks, Arma. I don't know that I'd say we're 'following' Warlords, but Dhruin put Puzzle Quest in the database, so I think it's okay to post about it--hopefully. ;) I mainly posted Alrik's link because of the interview with Steve and so forth. I have to say though that this and the HoMM Kingdoms browser game sound pretty interesting to me--and I have never played anything online.

[Lucky Day]

But Corwin said PQ wasn't an RPG. He didn't say why but I'm going to guess he doesn't care for the turn based combat system.

[Arma]

One thing I would argue is that PQ is an RPG. Not in the strict, PC, open-ended and multi-sided kind of way (though there is much freedom of choise and even a slight twist if you make the wrong choise at the right time) but it still is an RPG. And nobody mind Corwin, that's old age :cm:

[Jaz]

It's a cRPG alright - just like NWN, Diablo, The Witcher, Gothic, Dungeon Master, IWD, System Shock, Wizardry and Baldur's Gate are cRPGs. If there's a sticker on a game's box saying it's a cRPG, it's a cRPG. It's a simple as that. And if there's no such sticker, it's a cRPG if you think it's a cRPG.
I think it's a CrGP, just like Arma said: it has more of a story than Dungeon Master, more moral conflicts than Diablo, more interesting NPCs than NWN, better combat than Wizardry, and more stats (shudder) than Gothic.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

At last !!!

In October there'll be a German-language PC CD-ROM version of it !!! :)

http://www.amazon.de/rondomedia-Puzzle-Quest-Challenge-Warlords/dp/B001EKH7KQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1220643133&sr=8-3

[xSamhainx]

dang, the last post in this thread before the latest was Feb 2008?

Time sure flies.... *blinks* ='.'=