Usually I will rebuild or restructure a press release and post it here, but the way the press release for this game is just so structured that sharing it as is feels the best way. I’ll drop some images here, but really check it out yourself.
JAZWARES AND DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS INVITE FANS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON TO MAKE HISTORY WITH GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® OFFICIAL ATTEMPT FOR LARGEST GATHERING OF PEOPLE DRESSED AS SPIDER-MAN
Hundreds of Fans Dressed as Marvel’s Spider-Man Will Gather on Thursday, October 8 for Costume Giveaways, Entertainment, and Much More!
[REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE HERE]
PLANTATION, FL – SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 – Suit up, Spidey fans! Jazwares, an official costume partner for Marvel’s Spider-Man, is teaming up with Disney Consumer Products to host a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® official attempt for the largest gathering of people dressed as Spider-Man during New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2026. The event arrives on the heels of the Super Hero’s latest blockbuster chapter and celebrates the enduring, cross-generational, global appeal of Spider-Man.
Taking place on Thursday, October 8, at the Javits Center, the family-friendly experience invites fans to become part of Superhero history. Attendees will gather in one place to break the current record of 685 participants and turn NYCC into the largest real-world gathering of costumed Spider-Man fans. The official record attempt is scheduled to take place around 8:00 PM ET at the NYCC Main Stage, with an official Guinness World Records adjudicator on-site to verify the results. As a celebration of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes, the event will unite fans of all ages under one iconic red-and-blue suit.
“Spider-Man has always been about the power of everyday people stepping up to do something extraordinary. It’s why I’m thrilled to host this moment and lead the fan community in making pop-culture history live at NYCC,” said Jeremy Padawer, President of Jazwares. “As an official costume partner for Marvel, this is our way of bringing that spirit to life for fans in a way only Jazwares can do. We’re inviting Spider-Man fans to show up, suit up, and help us make history.”
Open to NYCC attendees with a valid Thursday or 4-Day badge, the high-energy fan experience will bring together the Spider-Man community for an evening of entertainment, surprises, and record-breaking excitement. To help fans fully step into the moment, Jazwares will provide complimentary Spider-Man costumes in a range of adult and kids’ sizes (limit one per person, while supplies last), along with commemorative enamel pins for those participating in the record attempt. NYCC attendees can register here to participate and retrieve costumes on Thursday, October 8, beginning at 1:00 PM ET in the Javits Center Inner Roadway at the Jazwares fan zone booth. Once suited up, fans can begin lining up for the attempt at 6:30 PM in the Main Stage Queue Hall. The official record attempt will take place around 8:00 PM.
Fans can also bring their own Spider-Man suits, provided they meet the official Guinness World Records guidelines. Costumes must represent a complete classic Spider-Man look, including the signature red mask, boots, and red-and-blue suit with web detailing and spider emblem. Alternate suits from officially recognized comics or films are welcome, but all participants must be dressed as Spider-Man. Other characters from the Spider-Man universe will not be counted toward the record.
Whether longtime comic fans, families, or first-time conventiongoers, attendees will have the chance to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime moment during one of the biggest pop culture weekends of the year. With thousands expected to gather, Jazwares aims not only to break the record but shatter it, turning New York Comic Con into a sea of Spider-Man suits and a global symbol of fandom at its most powerful.
For more information on Jazwares’ NYCC Spider-Man stunt with Guinness World Records and other news, visit Jazwares at https://www.jazwares.com and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.
Indie dev Good Story Guild takes a stand against AI and corporate greed.
{Side note: Played the demo for this, absolutely fantastic, very fun concept and gameplay. I want to see where this goes.}
[Los Angeles, CA & New York, NY – September 2nd, 2026] — Grab your morning coffee with catnip and get ready to take on the corporate hierarchy as cozy narrative-driven adventure Cat Secretary is launching on November 4th on Steam! As megacorporation DOX’s first feline employee, it’s up to you to clock in for that nine to five grind as you boop office supplies, keep office morale at an all time high, and put a stop to the company’s mysterious mission to replace humans with robots. The cat is officially out of the bag… coming to the office later this year but worry not as a demo is available now on Steam with full save transfer support at launch!
Cat Secretary is a funny, story-rich adventure game that takes on the current AI takeover of workforces, but as a silly kitty cat. Throughout your time at DOX you can choose how to spend your days on the job. From sneaking through the office to avoid robots to decorating your lobby to your heart’s content, there is something for everyone at this entertainment conglomerate. When you aren’t dabbling in rhythm, strategy or dating mini-games you can take on quests to progress the story, assisting a fully voiced cast of characters (including Mousecorp Senior VP Benjamin Gouda, the only mouse with an MBA) on their mission to put a stop to DOX’s AI takeover.
About Cat Secretary
Cat Secretary launches on November 4th and you can prepare for your first adorable day on the job by checking out the fully playable demo and wishlisting the game on Steam today! All demo saves transfer over into the full game, so you don’t have to worry about losing any work towards that promotion. Join the office watercooler convos and keep up to date on all things Cat Secretary by joining the official Discord.
Here is the official game page description:
Thank You Bus Driver is a chaotic bus driving game where you take on the role of a town’s bus driver just trying to get through the day with minimal rulebreaking and maximum gratitude… in the form of Thank Yous!
Get behind the wheel and remember the three main priorities on your bus:
No Rulebreaking
Your bus, your rules! Who cares that they change every single day? And that the depot keeps adding new rules? And that some of these rules are just itching to be broken?
No matter! Slap any of those annoying rulebreakers to remind them of who runs the road. And if they’re repeat offenders? Revoke their bus privileges, via the back door.
Stay on Track
Getting to your next stop is all that matters. That might mean pulling up your map mid-turn or it might mean a shortcut through the corn field. Avoiding pedestrians, incoming traffic, or the fence directly in front of you is optional.
Your passengers certainly don’t care as long as you make it to your next stop before they get upset!
Be on Schedule
You have a tight timeline! Get to the next stop before your time runs out. And remember: the only thing that fuels you is a happy rider. The more Thank Yous, the more time you have to get to the next stop.
Collect even more Thank Yous to unlock additional bus tchotchkes, town variants, and more!
Run a strict bus and you may very well become the best bus driver this town has ever seen.
Just don’t forget, Bus Driver: Keep ’em in line… but get there on time!
and from the update of the Amnesia Fortnight 2026 Kickstarter:
“This particular game came from the brain of Double Fine’s very own Will Koehler, and created with a small team of incredibly talented Double Fine folks in a matter of weeks. We consider this an amazing example of what might come out of the polished Amnesia Fortnight project and we can’t wait for you to see more of it!”
The game is currently up for wishlisting on GOG. As well on Steam if you prefer that.
Last minute late night as PAX West, Dragon Con, RPM Fest, PPL Attack on Trios and more happen starting tomorrow.
A collection movie, tv, video game trailers, etc. and music.
Everyone is going to have their own things they get excited about from Gamescom in announcements, demos, etc. My interests tend to fall to point & click, action adventure, experimental and puzzle. Sometimes I’ll branch out. There’s been FPS I’ve enjoyed when they’re narrative based with puzzles and heavy character. Anyways, there was a lot to absorb from this show even just from home. Using press releases, the steam pages and youtube itself here’s what caught the attention of PCS.
Before I get to those though I want to show my support for some of the developers that got dishonorally robbed at the show (laptops and equipment with early builds and more). Their games are not necessarily my type but deserve attention.
The Zibbo Show by Tessera Studios
and NOW to my highlights, which are still a lot:
Hollywood Hustle: A Prop Collector Simulator on Steam
Sesame Street: Friends & Fun on Steam
The Wolf Among Us Remastered on Steam
ROLLA on Stream (good demo to try as well)
Pony Island 2: Panda Circus on Steam
Hillthorn (excellent teaser demo available)
Play the demo for The Journey Home NOW, amazing and dazzling!
Usual June has a brand new demo.
Here’s a a quick final new before becoming overwhelmed direct from the Gamescom pages on Steam:
Future Games Show Live Reveals First-Person Horror Breakup Simulator, “SWEETHEART”
Remember, escape, repeat as delusions of grandeur meet narrative-driven horror
LOS ANGELES — Aug. 26, 2026 — Today’s Future Games Show Live lifts the would-be bloodstained wedding veil to reveal Sweetheart, the first-person narrative-driven horror breakup simulator by Genie Boy Games. Sweetheart severs heartstrings on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch next year.
It’s not every day a 15-year toxic relationship turns into a monstrous nightmare, but today’s not every day. Skylar Maxine, after all, is not your typical woman: she’s an A-List pop star living in a sprawling L.A. mansion. Skylar’s a veritable icon, equal parts her childhood heroes, Hannah Montana and Marlyn Monroe, but once upon a time, she was simply Skylar, who started dating her childhood crush, Gabe, when they were 12. Now…things are different.
Unable to bear the nightmare their childhood dreams are turning into, Gabe must split with Skylar, a change she takes…poorly. Fearing the failure of fulfilling their lifelong goals together, Skylar’s mental stability dissolves, and untold horrors manifest in reality as an existential crisis.
Navigate Gabe and Skylar’s dream home in the Hollywood Hills as the 15-year couple breaks apart at the seams. Endure Skylar’s psychological breaks, warping their home and even Skylar herself in a tinsel-toned nightmare echoing shades of Mouthwashing meets La La Land and Midsommar. Sneak and hide through shifting labyrinthian rooms, ruined memories, and liminal spaces in hopes of surviving the emotional onslaught. As Skylar’s new form hunts Gabe, dark truths emerge, shedding a dangerous light on both their realities — or whatever remains of them.
“It’s hard not to want to be like the perfect couples we see on TV,” said Ben Escobar, founder of Genie Boy Games. “Sweetheart shapeshifts these thoughts into a surreal tragedy that examines the early 2000s era as major networks turned children into stars, and the intense fallout of humanity it may have left in its wake. Between the horror and comedic elements lies an authentic, meaningful tale revolving around the stigma of mental illness, the gray areas of dependent identities, and ultimately overcoming abuse in a relationship.”
Check out the debut Sweetheart trailer revealed today at Future Games Show Live here! Contain love’s broken dreams when Sweetheart launches on Steam for Windows PC, Mac, and Linux, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch next year.
For more information, join the community on Discord, visit the official Genie Boy Games website, and follow the developer on Twitter and Instagram.
NEW YORK COMIC CON 2026 REVEALS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING LINEUP
Offerings for Industry Professionals to Include Panels, Interactive Programming, Private Signings, and More
NORWALK, CT – August 27, 2026– ReedPop, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events, today announced the return of professional programming for New York Comic Con’s 2026 show. NYCC will kick off for industry professionals on Wednesday, October 7, with Retailer Day and continue with programming throughout the weekend. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, NYCC returns to the Javits Center in New York City on October 8-11, 2026.
This year’s professional programming builds on last year’s success, featuring a broad range of panels for professionals across industries, including comics, film & TV, book publishing, education, content creation, journalism, marketing, and more, taking place over five days in the River Pavilion. New programming for 2026 includes a series of film industry masterclasses for aspiring film and television professionals taught by masters of their craft.
All Professional programming is available to the following badge types: Artist Alley, Writers Block, Pro Thursday, Pro 4-Day, Press, Content Creator, Panelist, Exhibitor, and Sidekick.
For the first time, select Professional Programming panels will be available to fans through our Aspiring Professional Program on Saturday and Sunday to help support aspiring industry professionals. Available sessions be noted in the panel listing. Fans with Single Day or 4-Day Weekend tickets can reserve a limited number of spots for participating panels. Reservations open one week before the show and are available while supplies last. Pro and Industry badge holders do not need a reservation for these panels.
Professional programming at NYCC 2026 includes:
Join us for the third annual NYCC Retailer Day. This exclusive professional event features publisher presentations, keynotes from Stephanie Philips and Todd McFarlane, retailer conversations, industry discussions, and select creator signings. Speakers from Dark Horse, eBay, Ignition, Universal, Women in Comics Collective, and more.
Wednesday, October 7, 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Pro Stage 1, cocktail party to follow
The ICv2 Insider Talks will kick off with the Comic Industry Social Hour and registration, followed by two hours of programming, including the ICv2 White Paper and panelists from across the comics and graphic novel business. This is a free, ticketed event (via ICv2) for industry pros only.
Thursday, October 8, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Pro Stage 1
An evening networking event with keynote speakers, light food and beverages, and sponsor-supported activations. Open to all Industry Badge holders such as Artist Alley, Writers Block, Pro Thursday, Pro 4-Day, Press, Content Creator, Exhibitor, Panelist and Sidekicks.
Thursday, October 8, 7:00 PM, Pro Stage 1
Curated panels and professional development for librarians and educators, in partnership with the New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools and the NYC Department of Education’s Civics for All Comics Group.
Programming highlights from the NYC Department of Education include:
o Weaving LGBTQ+ History into the Narrative with Hidden Voices and Comics!
Friday, October 9, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, Pro Stage 2
o Hard History Through Comicsfeaturing Eisner Award-winning author and political cartoonist, Ben Passmore
Thursday, October 8, 12:15 PM to 1:00 PM, Pro Stage 2
o Know Your Rights: New York City’s Innovative New Comic Book
Thursday, October 8, 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM, Room 1B02
Programming highlights for the NYPL and its programming partners include:
o Panels, Pages, and Patients: Teaching Empathy Through Graphic Medicine
Thursday, October 8, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, Pro Stage 1
o CENTRO Library & Archives’ Lunch Hour Live: Brown Gay Ink Featuring Ivan Velez Jr.
Thursday, October 8, 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, Room 1B02
And so much more! While most of this content will be in the River Pavilion on the Pro Programming stages, select programming will also be available to all badge types on fan-facing stages throughout the Javits Center. Please check the schedule for more information.
Panels include:
o Marketing Art with Art: Visual Identity as World-Building
The best way to sell a piece of art is with more art. This panel brings together marketing creatives across film/TV, music, comics, and consumer products to unpack how visual identity and consumer-facing branding function as extensions of the work they’re promoting. Panelists will break down the specific choices behind identities that feel inseparable from the art itself, offering concrete process, cross-disciplinary comparisons, and industry insight along the way.
Friday, October 9, 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, Pro Stage 2
o Level Up the Fanbase: Music Marketing in the Age of the Superfans
Superfans don’t just happen. They’re built, one touchpoint at a time. This panel pulls back the curtain on the intentional mechanics behind fan loyalty. How marketing tactics like influencer seeding, brand partnerships, and experiential moments work as a system to turn casual fans into stans. Our panel of marketing experts and artist strategists breaks down real campaigns, not just theory, so you can see the playbook behind the fandom.
Friday, October 9, 2:45 PM to 3:30 PM, Pro Stage 2
o Comedy Gatekeepers in 2026: Are They Still Around? Do They Still Matter?
The Comedy industry is ever-changing and the historic mechanisms that once anointed comedians no longer exists. It’s not a network, it’s not a Late Night set, nor a festival. Modern comedians need to be everything from marketing specialists, media talent, podcasters and business owners in addition to just being funny to make it. This panel of club owners, comedians, managers, and marketing pros will have a frank discussion about how they are constructing the careers of tomorrow’s superstars.
Friday, October 9, 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM, Pro Stage 2
Brought to you by Experience12, this B2B summit focuses on one question: what earns people’s time?
Sessions cover entertainment, games, anime, publishing, tabletop, licensing, consumer products, community, creators and the brands that want to reach those audiences.
The panel lineup includes:
o Fandom Doesn’t Sit Still – What changing audience behavior means when discovery, identity, and community cross every boundary.
Friday, October 9, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, Pro Stage 1
o Cards on the Table – The boom, the seasons, and the marketing underneath both.
Friday, October 9, 12:15 PM to 1 PM, Pro Stage 1
o IRL: The Feed is not Enough – Nothing online feels like being in the room.
Friday, October 9, 1:45 PM to 2:30 PM, Pro Stage 1
o The Popcultr Edit – The marketing that earned people’s time, and what comes next.
Friday, October 9, 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM, Pro Stage 1
From novels and comics to podcasts, games and articles, compelling stories can emerge from anywhere. But what does it take for a story to translate to television?
Universal Studio Group executives Jordan Moblo (EVP, Creative Acquisitions & IP Management, USG), Kelsey Balance (EVP, Scripted Series, Universal Global Television) and Vivian Cannon (EVP, Drama Development, Universal Television) – the creative leaders behind shows including The Day of the Jackal, All Her Fault, We Were Liars, Cape Fear, The Five Star Weekend and the upcoming DIG and The Dream Lands – share how they discover projects, evaluate creative potential, develop relationships with creators and guide stories through the development journey.
Moderated by author Matt Dinniman, whose bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl series is being adapted by Universal Global Television for Peacock, this conversation offers a rare look inside the decision-making and collaboration that drives series adaptations today.
Saturday, October 10, 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, Pro Stage 2
Happy Sad Confused host Josh Horowitz takes you behind the scenes of the celebrity interview, joined by fellow entertainment journalists including Collider’s Perri Nemiroff. They’ll swap stories about dream guests, awkward encounters, interviews gone wrong, and what it really takes to get a great conversation out of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Then it’s your turn to ask the questions. The majority of the panel will be audience Q&A, putting Josh and his fellow interviewers in the hot seat.
Sunday, October 11, 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM, Pro Stage 2
Saturday, October 10, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, Pro Stage 1
o Practical Sculpting
A live, hands-on look at sculpting techniques used for film and television. Ian will demonstrate the process of creating a sculpt from the ground up, sharing professional techniques, materials, and practical advice for artists interested in developing their skills for character, creature, prop, and special effects work.
Saturday, October 10, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Pro Stage 1
o Introduction to Gore: Special Effects in Indie Horror
Explore the world of practical effects for independent horror and learn how filmmakers can create memorable on-screen effects while working within the realities of indie production.
Sunday, October 11, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Pro Stage 1
This exciting panel series is built for creators (and inspiring creators) who want to create better content, grow their audience, build their brand, and connect with their community. These panels provide practical tips on everything from fast, effective video editing to building a brand without quitting your day job – and discovering how creators are turning their passions into careers.
Plus, meet your next collab partner! Whether you’re a seasoned creator, aspiring influencer, gamer, cosplayer, editor, or just getting started, these panels are packed with real-world advice, fresh ideas, industry insights, and opportunities to connect with fellow creators. Panels include:
o Video editing for Content Creators
Join us to learn some tips and tricks on how to get your content into everyone’s algorithm! From editing techniques to literal camera pointers, let us help get your content rolling!
Saturday, 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM, Pro Stage 2
o Content Creators, find your next collab
Step into the ultimate creator session where community, creativity, and good vibes collide! This lively networking session is all about helping fans and creators connect in a fun, low‑pressure space. Whether you’re a seasoned editor, a cosplay storyteller, a TikTok comedian, or someone who just loves making things, you’ll find people who get your style and maybe your next collab partner!
Saturday, 12:15 PM to 1:00 PM, Pro Stage 1
o The Power of Play: How Games Build Worlds, Fans, and Creators
This panel brings together iconic voices from the gaming world and creators who transform gameplay into stories, communities, and viral content. Fans will get a behind‑the‑scenes look at how legendary games are built, how creators turn gameplay into careers, and how both sides work together to shape the future of digital entertainment.
Saturday, October 10, 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, Pro Stage 1
o The 15-Minute Creator: Building a Brand Without Quitting Your 9-to-5
Most social media advice is written for full-time influencers with professional editors. This panel is for the rest of us. Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a professional, you don’t need a 40-hour work week to transition from a “fan account” to a “business account.” This session focuses on the Micro-Content Blueprint: a system for filming, editing, and posting high-engagement content in the “pockets” of your day. We’ll show you how to leverage AI tools for scripting, use mobile-first editing hacks to cut production time by 70%, and pivot your hobby into a brand. Joining the conversation is a 13-year-old co-creator who will provide the “Gen-Alpha Reality Check”, revealing what younger audiences actually want to see versus what parents think is trending.
Sunday, 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM, Pro Stage 2
o Staying Sane in the Content Game: Mindset, Boundaries & Balance
In a world where everyone is online and anyone can be a star, things can get a little overwhelming. Join a panel of voice actors, a YouTuber, and a very qualified psychologist as we explore the age-old question: how do you exist as a creative person online without having a menty b?
Sunday, 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM, Pro Stage 2
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic industry’s oldest and most prestigious awards. Recognizing outstanding achievement in multiple categories, the Harveys have been a fixture of the comic industry since 1988.
The Harvey Awards are once again taking place at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 9th in the River Pavilion. The event is invite-only, but find out more at https://www.harveyawards.com/.
“The response to last year’s expansion of Professional Programming was overwhelmingly positive and we wanted to create even more opportunities to bring our community of professionals and aspiring professionals together this year,” said Kristina Rogers, VP of ReedPop, Star Wars Celebration and US Comics Portfolio. “For 20 years, NYCC has offered industry pros a space to gather to network, introduce new work, and celebrate their wins, and we look forward to continuing to grow those opportunities in the years to come.”
Industry professionals looking to attend NYCC’s professional programming can apply for a Professional Badge on New York Comic Con’s official site. For partnerships and sponsor opportunities, please reach out to Mike Negin at MikeNegin@ReedPop.com.
Stay up to date on the latest New York Comic Con news at NewYorkComicCon.com and on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
PCS is saddened to have to start this post with reflecting on the passings of two major icons of the world and the LGBTQ+ community but they happened and on the same day. A godspeed sent to Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.
Dolly’s music made the world go round, even a non-fan knows 9-5, Jolene and of course I will Always love You. Movies like The Best Little Whorehouse and Steel Magnolias. Her empire with Dollywood and soon to come hotel and museum in Nashville. An endearing spirit of love, equality and trust.
For many Tim Curry will always be Dr. Frank-n-furter and to others the original Pennywise, but he was so much more. Be it LEGEND, Clue, The Worst Witch, his voice work in cartoons, live action series (Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad) and video games, or even his short lived sitcom with Annie Potts & Steve Carrell, he was a consumate performer and entertainer with a legacy that will last forever.
In other news, after becoming an independent studio again and sadly doing a major lay-off to stay afloat, Double Fine is on the way back with a Kickstarter for a new Amnesia Fortnight and an appearance at PAX West where they’ll reveal a new game. [Would love to go PAX again this year, but have seen what is on display and Double Fine is not enough to quantify the two 6 hour train trips + hotel, food and any purchases costs at this time]
Gamescom is happening now so video game trailers will NOT be in this Nerd Notes, but in a seperate post.
Anyway, here’s some new music videos, some new m/vs to older songs:
And now fun stuff and trailers:
The final season of Facts of Life was a weird one indeed, but during it there were two back door pilots that would’ve been really good shows with amazing casts. The series finale (yes SERIES), ended with a two part backdoor that had Mayim Bialick Juliette Lewis, Seth Green and others. It would have been a second coming of the school that the show had abandoned to be about the 4 girls. The OTHER one was had Natalie go to NYC, it was called Big Apple Blues and introduced a possible show with David Spade as a snarky student doctor, Richard Grieco as an actor and two other female room mates (a dancer and a modern hippie). It predated Friends by four years, but it didn’t happen.
One of the streamers I watch (bionicbenbo) is playing through Spy Fox and it made me think about other games from Humongous which later became Hulabee. Turns out Moop & Dreadly is on the Internet Archive as abandonware. I loaded the ISO, hit install and it worked right away no problem on a Windows 11 machine.
I went on a search for pilots and shows that didn’t last or lasted a short time or just didn’t get the attention they deserved. Here’s some:
Before the Prime adaptation of William Gibson’s The Peripheral by Jonathan Nolan way back in the 90s was this show VR.5 which was totally different but also super the same.
and finally on a different rabbit hole I was lead to this:
Pixel art point and click games are becoming rarer and rarer. They exist, there are some amazing ones still being developed all the time but they still are rare. Games like this are even more rare though. A wordless, use intuition from purely visual cues game with no hints or anything to guide you other than hotspots and abstract thinking is not something one sees or hell ever sees, but it is exactly what Theropods is and when it does it well, it does it better than most things.
The pixel art is really enchanting. It’s so amazing how pixel art like any art is so pass/fail, but it is, and the art in Theropods just hits. Although I must admit that if there wasn’t a hotspot button some of the puzzles would truly be luck instead of figuring out what to do. This isn’t truly in the art itself I think but a combination of coding and pixels, as there are sections later of gameplay where it is truly poorly done enough to be criticized.
For most of the game the gameplay is wonderful. I love it. No complaints. It works, it makes sense in the end, but the hidden dog achievement has no reason to exist cause you have no reason or clue to even look for it unless you spoil it and then consider what/how. Then there’s the battle with one of the dinos later. Spoiler free it is repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat solve that really is tedious and could’ve been done much better. Beyond those two complaints though I loved everything about this game and it’s gameplay.
The story is wonderful, enriching, surprising and while short, full and lush and nearly epic inside a small package. To speak of it at all spoils it even though launch trailers and the steam page does ruin the sci-fi twist, it still comes unexpectedly and in enchanting ways.
Theropods is out NOW on Steam.
(disclaimer: P-CS recieved the game for review, but as you can tell, it didn’t get a glowing review, as wonderful as the game is, it has flaws)
