How Untitled Goose Game became a real video game(vox.com)
vox.com
How Untitled Goose Game became a real video game
https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/10/10/20897212/what-is-untitled-goose-game-explained-nintendo-switch-pc-mac
172 comments
Hadn't seen that second link before. Just lost my good boy a month ago. Thanks for the unexpected (happy) office tears
Seriously! We said goodbye to our good ol' fat labrador maybe 10 months ago, and this still immediately choked me up...
Ugh they leave such a great impression on you. Miss you Joe.
Ugh they leave such a great impression on you. Miss you Joe.
2 years since I lost my girl (18 years with me!), still hard as f*. I'll forever miss my baby.
Damn.
May I present my favorite UGG meme:
https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1590291-untitled-goose-game
if this isn't the work of a viral marketing company, they certainly have the possibility of a new line of work ahead of them after this. I can't remember seeing a viral marketing campaign as effective as this in a long time.
edit: this comment is apparently oddly controversial for a startup-oriented forum. Perhaps someone could explain why? They have really struck marketing gold in a way most small companies would envy.
edit: this comment is apparently oddly controversial for a startup-oriented forum. Perhaps someone could explain why? They have really struck marketing gold in a way most small companies would envy.
To be honest what sold it for me instantly was the combination of graphics, animation and these monty-pythonesque villagers. There are not that many humor-based games in any given year. So viral marketing or not, this game fills the rare niche of games I would give any non-gamer friend because they would enjoy it
I can only speak to my opinion on this matter, but I hate the idea of using 'manufactured'--for lack of a better term--fanart and memes as mediums of advertising. Just looking at the meme, I immediately think "someone loved this game so much they took the time to create something about it". The thought of a company 'manufacturing' memes to try and advertise for something just seems like it's taking such a cool form of expression and commodifying it.
As an example, Wendy's Twitter account has become pretty popular for all their pop culture references and crazy projects like a Dating Simulator and a Tabletop RPG--but at the end of the day, they're advertisements. Personally, it's hard to recognize the time and effort that went into these projects because they were only made to sell fast food; Wendy's isn't releasing these projects because they think they're cool, but because they have a bottom line they want to bring up.
I use an ad-blocker. I haven't seen a television ad in forever. However, I'm sure that this isn't the first time that memes and social media have been used as advertising. It's antithetical to what I've said previously, but I guess the most effective uses of memes as advertising are so good that you can't tell they're ads. Ultimately, if it's funny and not forced, then it's going to spread. And weirdly, I'm okay with it.
I just can't bring myself away from the comparison to how stuff becomes unpopular as soon as your parents start doing it. Facebook became ~uncool~ when our parents started using it, and I don't want to see memes become less of a cultural touchstone because of corporations starting to abuse them.
As an example, Wendy's Twitter account has become pretty popular for all their pop culture references and crazy projects like a Dating Simulator and a Tabletop RPG--but at the end of the day, they're advertisements. Personally, it's hard to recognize the time and effort that went into these projects because they were only made to sell fast food; Wendy's isn't releasing these projects because they think they're cool, but because they have a bottom line they want to bring up.
I use an ad-blocker. I haven't seen a television ad in forever. However, I'm sure that this isn't the first time that memes and social media have been used as advertising. It's antithetical to what I've said previously, but I guess the most effective uses of memes as advertising are so good that you can't tell they're ads. Ultimately, if it's funny and not forced, then it's going to spread. And weirdly, I'm okay with it.
I just can't bring myself away from the comparison to how stuff becomes unpopular as soon as your parents start doing it. Facebook became ~uncool~ when our parents started using it, and I don't want to see memes become less of a cultural touchstone because of corporations starting to abuse them.
I've seen a few people on Reddit insist that it must be an astroturf campaign. Because Reddit would never latch onto some random thing and meme obsessively about it for months, otherwise.
It's extremely streamer-friendly (i.e. "fun to watch other people play and react to"), which is a big boost to virality, and it got featured by a hugely popular YouTuber (Dunkey) four days after its launch. And it got lucky. It's not an uncommon story.
It's extremely streamer-friendly (i.e. "fun to watch other people play and react to"), which is a big boost to virality, and it got featured by a hugely popular YouTuber (Dunkey) four days after its launch. And it got lucky. It's not an uncommon story.
People were meme-ing the goose game hard much before its launch, and much before Dunkey covered it, but that probably helped sustain its exponential growth.
More than streamer-friendly, it's Reddit- and Twitter-friendly. Any small clip of the game is automatically funny and share-able. The bird's simple design makes it easy for fan artists to make more memes.
More than streamer-friendly, it's Reddit- and Twitter-friendly. Any small clip of the game is automatically funny and share-able. The bird's simple design makes it easy for fan artists to make more memes.
Agree 100%. My daughter and I played the hell out of it for a weekend and then after football on Sunday we turned it on and every adult in the house (6 or 7) took a turn, regardless of whether they like videogames. It's fun to do bad things.
If anything, the EGS hate feels like an AstroTurf. I just do not get it.
It's a crappy store that seeks to compete with the dominant market player not through being better, but through throwing shit-tons of money at timed exclusives. Which itself isn't really that bad, but it doubled down on being hated when it started snatching up community funded games that were otherwise intended for release on several other platforms.
Epic is a better store for game creators.
It's about on par with or better than what Steam was when it first launched. Steam was an absolute clusterfuck when it first launched, and Valve only got away with it because they tied Half Life 2 to Steam.
It's about on par with or better than what Steam was when it first launched. Steam was an absolute clusterfuck when it first launched, and Valve only got away with it because they tied Half Life 2 to Steam.
Steam launched 16 years ago. Saying Epic is at most 16 years behind is not really a good argument.
If you look at it from the point of the view of the game creator, Epic is better - they take smaller cut and they will outright give you money for exclusivity.
This might not seem necessarilty better for the players, but considering how many smaller game studios / creators are on the verge of profitability, this might mean we get to play games we wouldn't otherwise.
This might not seem necessarilty better for the players, but considering how many smaller game studios / creators are on the verge of profitability, this might mean we get to play games we wouldn't otherwise.
They should try pushing that angle a lot harder I think. I wasn't aware of it (I've only used their store for some of the weekly free games).
Most of the pushback seems to be because everyone is fine with Steam, yet another store seems unnecessary, and it smells a lot like a rich company buying their way into our hearts (exclusives from all that Fortnite money). I think that's why it doesn't sit too well.
Most of the pushback seems to be because everyone is fine with Steam, yet another store seems unnecessary, and it smells a lot like a rich company buying their way into our hearts (exclusives from all that Fortnite money). I think that's why it doesn't sit too well.
FWIW I also saw it covered on sites like RPS for what feels like years (and might be, it had a very long dev time).
I ended up buying it on Switch shortly after its release.
I spent a very fun couple of hours on this game and memed a lot about it with my partner.
It is not going to have the profound emotional impact that e.g. Outer Wilds had on me but that goose animation and sound designs are perfect and make for good memes that I will also remember.
I ended up buying it on Switch shortly after its release.
I spent a very fun couple of hours on this game and memed a lot about it with my partner.
It is not going to have the profound emotional impact that e.g. Outer Wilds had on me but that goose animation and sound designs are perfect and make for good memes that I will also remember.
It's an accidental success and the game took 3 years to make. Unless they can turn around viral marketing campaigns in significantly less time, with a clear strategy for success then it's unlikely that they'll be able (or even want) to switch markets from game design to marketing consultancy.
Additionally the whole meme is pretty far from commercialisable. It's the simplicity and wholesomeness of the goose that gives it strength. It would be difficult to attach the image to a brand without killing the feel.
Additionally the whole meme is pretty far from commercialisable. It's the simplicity and wholesomeness of the goose that gives it strength. It would be difficult to attach the image to a brand without killing the feel.
It nearly got me to purchase something on the Epic Store.
Nearly.
Nearly.
* Make a tribute to coffee mugs in the middle of the office
* Make a developer spit their coffee out.
* Preside over the morning's stand-up.
* Force SketchySeaBeast to buy something on the Epic Store
* Lock somebody out of their office.
* Water the office plants.
* Make a developer spit their coffee out.
* Preside over the morning's stand-up.
* Force SketchySeaBeast to buy something on the Epic Store
* Lock somebody out of their office.
* Water the office plants.
FWIW I’m playing on Switch. It’s a great format for a little game like this.
I bought Outer Worlds on the Epic store. Bah. I don't like the Epic store but I really wanted to play that game. Game is awesome, I'm really not sure what deal ensured it wouldn't be on Steam.
> I'm really not sure what deal ensured it wouldn't be on Steam.
The simple fact that Epic offers a much better deal in terms of cost to be on the store. Half of what Valve demands per sale.
The simple fact that Epic offers a much better deal in terms of cost to be on the store. Half of what Valve demands per sale.
I would be willing to bet there was a large cash payment from Epic for exclusivity, in addition to the smaller cut.
I think that a lot of these are all coming to steam a year after launch - I'll wait until then. I've been finding it very rare that I need to play a game day one these days.
I haven't bought a game this close to launch in years. A bunch of my friends bought Outer Worlds and vouched for how awesome it is, so I caved and bought it. IMO it's really great so far, the dialog choices are quite entertaining. I think this game might be an instant classic.
You could've gotten TOW for $1 on the Microsoft store through gamepass.
I don't use gamepass, I don't have an xbox account and my desktop that I only use for casual gaming is still running Windows 7.
If you can sell through one storefront for 70% and another for 85%, it's kind of obvious.
Yes, choose the 70% ... apparently (latest figures I could find) Epic has 85M registrations vs. 1000M (yes, a billion) for Steam.
Steam are claimed to have 90M active monthly users, I can't find a figure for Epic; it stands to reason it's less though, maybe half their registered users (now Fortnite lost its shine??) would be a reasonable guess?
It probably depends on your demographic considerably; basically if Epic have less than 79M active and the demographics are the same then revenue from Steam will be greater, across a wider user base (which might improve ongoing prospects?).
Steam are claimed to have 90M active monthly users, I can't find a figure for Epic; it stands to reason it's less though, maybe half their registered users (now Fortnite lost its shine??) would be a reasonable guess?
It probably depends on your demographic considerably; basically if Epic have less than 79M active and the demographics are the same then revenue from Steam will be greater, across a wider user base (which might improve ongoing prospects?).
I'm not sure those numbers are that relevant. People don't choose gamestores, they choose games. I personally will register on any gamestore if it has the game I'm interested in. I'm not on Steam because I'm loyal to it, I'm on Steam because it sells games I want. The moment a game is available on both Steam and EGS, I'm buying it on EGS.
You're possibly right about the relevancy, the figures aren't accurate either.
Your final sentence seems to contradict the rest of the paragraph. If the games are the same price, why are you choosing EGS (to contribute more to the company? but that would be choosing a game store).
Your final sentence seems to contradict the rest of the paragraph. If the games are the same price, why are you choosing EGS (to contribute more to the company? but that would be choosing a game store).
I guess I was trying to illustrate to point that I don't choose the store, but games. Choosing stores only kicks in when multiple stores are available for the same game, which rarely happens.
Thanks for the clarification.
Why not both?
Because every sale on the storefront that charges more is less margin? Unless the more expensive storefront is doing some sort of marketing for you, what's the point losing that 15%?
Steam's discoverability is pretty piss-poor, and most of the marketing is sales that have convinced your customer base to never buy anything new, just wait for the sale (which cuts into your income with 50%+ discounts).
I'm more bemused by the fanatical loyalty to Steam.
Steam's discoverability is pretty piss-poor, and most of the marketing is sales that have convinced your customer base to never buy anything new, just wait for the sale (which cuts into your income with 50%+ discounts).
I'm more bemused by the fanatical loyalty to Steam.
> Because every sale on the storefront that charges more is less margin?
There's a simple solution to that. Just charge more for the game on Steam et al.
For example. Untitled Goose Game is £15.99 on the Epic Game Store, so charge at least £18.39 on Steam.
There's a simple solution to that. Just charge more for the game on Steam et al.
For example. Untitled Goose Game is £15.99 on the Epic Game Store, so charge at least £18.39 on Steam.
I don't understand why people have problem with Epic Store. Isn't this just the competition everyone should want? Steam takes 30 % of your money. Epic takes 12 %. They are competing on cost. Why would that be a problem?
Why is that part of capitalism where Steam has near-monopoly on Games okay, but not the part where they have to compete with someone? Why would someone have loyalty to one huge corporation over another?
I don't get it.
Why is that part of capitalism where Steam has near-monopoly on Games okay, but not the part where they have to compete with someone? Why would someone have loyalty to one huge corporation over another?
I don't get it.
What bugs me is locking stuff in to exclusives while having a half-baked store platform. It'd be one thing if their service was near parity with Steam, but they started doing this while it was missing essential features.
Stuff like cloud sync for game saves or being able to buy games as a gift to someone else's account. It's 2019. You shouldn't launch a game platform without syncing saves to the account. Looking at you too, Oculus.
It's catching up and I haven't minded the platform for Borderlands, but I'd have felt better about using it if they'd had a more fully baked system to launch with.
I also don't love having yet another game store/updater/launcher platform, but that ship has sailed.
Stuff like cloud sync for game saves or being able to buy games as a gift to someone else's account. It's 2019. You shouldn't launch a game platform without syncing saves to the account. Looking at you too, Oculus.
It's catching up and I haven't minded the platform for Borderlands, but I'd have felt better about using it if they'd had a more fully baked system to launch with.
I also don't love having yet another game store/updater/launcher platform, but that ship has sailed.
If that were the motivation, the publisher would sell on both platforms and just charge more on Steam due to the markup. That is never what happens. Epic is locking content creators into exclusive contracts, because their business model requires on-boarding tons of users onto their platform and they are willing the throw cash at the problem. Steam does not monopolize games. You can usually download them directly from the publisher and other retailers like Humble Bundle. Epic is uniquely hoarding high-profile releases. Unfortunately they are also providing a sub-par user experience, which is what a lot of the negativity stems from.
The steamworks agreement does not allow charging more on steam than on other platforms, while still retaining the ability to sell steam keys. If one wants to use steam keys, such as for use in a bundle, their documentation mentions:
> Please note that Steam keys cannot be sold on other sites unless the product is also available for purchase on Steam at no higher a price than is offered on any other service or website.
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys
> Please note that Steam keys cannot be sold on other sites unless the product is also available for purchase on Steam at no higher a price than is offered on any other service or website.
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys
You can still charge less on other platforms and still use steam keys. You just can't charge less for steam keys. If you're selling on other platforms, use that platform's keys instead.
The problem is that on top of that Epic has been paying developers extra money to release exclusively on the Epic store (and in some cases it seems they've struck deals for the dev to just not release on steam specifically, but still release on other Epic store competitors). This seems like blatantly anti competitive behaviour to me and I don't want to support it.
If devs were just choosing to not release on steam because epic gives a bigger cut that would be fine, but that isn't the case.
If devs were just choosing to not release on steam because epic gives a bigger cut that would be fine, but that isn't the case.
My problem isn't with an alternate platform to Steam as I have bought things from both Gog and the Humble Store. My issue is with Epic exclusively and it is exclusivity.
To be specific I have issues with Epic offering exclusivity deals, especially to games that are KickStarter and had promised to release the product on other platforms. That's it. If games were only available on Epic because Epic offered a better cut I wouldn't take an issue with it.
You might say that in those cases the developers/publishers are more at fault than Epic is, which is fair. However it is kind of like sleeping with someone who is in a monogamous relationship vs. cheating. Sure it isn't as bad as cheating yourself, but I still view it as bad thing to do morally speaking.
To be specific I have issues with Epic offering exclusivity deals, especially to games that are KickStarter and had promised to release the product on other platforms. That's it. If games were only available on Epic because Epic offered a better cut I wouldn't take an issue with it.
You might say that in those cases the developers/publishers are more at fault than Epic is, which is fair. However it is kind of like sleeping with someone who is in a monogamous relationship vs. cheating. Sure it isn't as bad as cheating yourself, but I still view it as bad thing to do morally speaking.
That's how competition works - people voting with their wallets that the product sucks so much that being cheaper is not enough. Steam is competing with Epic store, and succeeding - for me it's the same, if it's exclusive to Epic store, then they apparently don't want my money because I'm not going to buy it there.
> because I'm not going to buy it there.
But why not?
But why not?
That game is 'nice to have' but not a 'must have' for me, and the inconvenience of having to setup and use another sucky third party game store makes it not worth it. I tried Epic store once and didn't have a good experience, so I don't have it right now, it would be a bother to install it and remember the account/password, and in any case I don't want the bother of having my library split among multiple tools, having to remember which game is where, etc. I mean, it's not a big inconvenience, it is an inconvenience, and getting access to yet another game isn't a big benefit; if it was on Steam I'd likely try it because it seems interesting and the price is trivial but since it's not available in a way that's convenient for me, why bother?
In any case there are many more other interesting games out there than I have time for, there's some stuff in my Steam library that I have yet to play, so if some games aren't accessible in the way I prefer, then those will be among the games I'll skip. For the makers of the game their game probably is important and special, but for a customer like me it's not, the competition between games for my time is huge, there's so much good stuff out there that there's no possible reason to jump through hoops (even if they're not that difficult) to get to any particular game, so if any particular game is not in the place where it's most covenient for me, it might as well not exist. There are some exceptions for nostalgic reasons that have driven me to e.g. gog.com for a few games I enjoyed decades ago, but there really has to be a special reason to do so. There was a time in my life where I'd be eager to invest a lot of time and effort just to get a particular game (worldwide distribution of games on floppies and CDs was awkward to say at least) but that's not the case anymore. Especially for short niche/fad games like this one seems to be, their role is like that of an impulse buy or a comfort food - it has to be a 'click here, pay a dozen bucks, enjoy your stuff immediately' experience without having to bother with making yet another account and installing extra stuff that you have to care about.
In any case there are many more other interesting games out there than I have time for, there's some stuff in my Steam library that I have yet to play, so if some games aren't accessible in the way I prefer, then those will be among the games I'll skip. For the makers of the game their game probably is important and special, but for a customer like me it's not, the competition between games for my time is huge, there's so much good stuff out there that there's no possible reason to jump through hoops (even if they're not that difficult) to get to any particular game, so if any particular game is not in the place where it's most covenient for me, it might as well not exist. There are some exceptions for nostalgic reasons that have driven me to e.g. gog.com for a few games I enjoyed decades ago, but there really has to be a special reason to do so. There was a time in my life where I'd be eager to invest a lot of time and effort just to get a particular game (worldwide distribution of games on floppies and CDs was awkward to say at least) but that's not the case anymore. Especially for short niche/fad games like this one seems to be, their role is like that of an impulse buy or a comfort food - it has to be a 'click here, pay a dozen bucks, enjoy your stuff immediately' experience without having to bother with making yet another account and installing extra stuff that you have to care about.
Because their business model is that games are only available in their store so they are a cancer in the PC games industry. we dont need more walled gardens everywhere.
Because they don't have a Linux version of their client.
Valve and by extension Steam have built a very positive reputation.
IMO they have squandered a lot of it lately but they remain very popular and people are just extremely used to the steam launcher.
I for one am VERY happy that somebody is forcing Steam to stop being complacent and is competing on margins (30% is a LOT of money).
IMO they have squandered a lot of it lately but they remain very popular and people are just extremely used to the steam launcher.
I for one am VERY happy that somebody is forcing Steam to stop being complacent and is competing on margins (30% is a LOT of money).
They're not competing on margins, they're "competing" by making game developers sign up for exclusivity deals.
How do you call the lower store fees ?
30% is not much when you consider that is an access to a huge market you buy. A larger market than any brick and mortar publisher ever provided when you were selling with physical game copies. Plus, they do not charge you for game updates, traffic, online gaming capabilities, etc...
It is much compared to 12% though ;)
I think it's less about the price and more about the fact that their 'winning strategy' seems to be to just throw money at exclusives until they win.
Maybe that's the push-back?
Maybe that's the push-back?
Aside from the Epic Games Store:
I don't mind purchasing games from Steam. I've purchased a game or two on the EA store. I don't know if I purchased anything on the Ubisoft store, but I know it's needed for some of their games. I've purchased games from the Microsoft Store.
I've purchased games from sites like Good old games, Humble Bundle.
I think in practical terms, it's a bit annoying to have different, heavy clients to use to have these different games. It'd be less of a hassle if they all had a Single Sign On, I guess. But, yeah, the vast majority of my games are on Steam and I only use the EA store when I want to play a game that's exclusive to that store.
It makes sense to say "but it's market competition, why would you dislike Epic", but I don't think it appeals to the gamer identity/ethos. Idk how many people actually care about it; it's probably a vocal minority.
I don't mind purchasing games from Steam. I've purchased a game or two on the EA store. I don't know if I purchased anything on the Ubisoft store, but I know it's needed for some of their games. I've purchased games from the Microsoft Store.
I've purchased games from sites like Good old games, Humble Bundle.
I think in practical terms, it's a bit annoying to have different, heavy clients to use to have these different games. It'd be less of a hassle if they all had a Single Sign On, I guess. But, yeah, the vast majority of my games are on Steam and I only use the EA store when I want to play a game that's exclusive to that store.
It makes sense to say "but it's market competition, why would you dislike Epic", but I don't think it appeals to the gamer identity/ethos. Idk how many people actually care about it; it's probably a vocal minority.
The Epic Store won't allow me to create an account because I was a victim of reverse identity theft (https://www.xkcd.com/1279/) years ago. I guess Epic doesn't want me buying this or any other game from them.
Too bad this game is only available there.
Too bad this game is only available there.
If someone else registered with an email address you actually own, why not just reset the password?
I'm guessing you wouldn't be screwing over whoever registered the account, since presumably they wouldn't have had a chance to validate their (your) email address.
I'm guessing you wouldn't be screwing over whoever registered the account, since presumably they wouldn't have had a chance to validate their (your) email address.
For gmail addresses, I usually attempt to solve duplicate email detection by adding either a + string or throwing in random periods. So you could try `[email protected]` and `[email protected]` and see if any of those work.
Unfortunately or fortunately gmail essentially ignores added or removed predomain dots. So [email protected] is the same as [email protected].
I have gotten emails from gmail forgetting to pin in my middle initials with periods.
I have gotten emails from gmail forgetting to pin in my middle initials with periods.
They hyped up this game for over a year, promoted it on Steam, then sold out to the Epic store at the last minute claiming the decision was for "financial stability due to the uncertain nature of the game's popularity". They had a mailing list on their home page as soon as it went up. They knew exactly how many hundreds of thousands of people were waiting to buy the game.
Mailing lists represent potential buyers, not actual buyers.
There have been articles on HN about mailing list conversion rates. Depends on the product, but the usual # was 1-3%, with outliers being as much as 15%.
There have been articles on HN about mailing list conversion rates. Depends on the product, but the usual # was 1-3%, with outliers being as much as 15%.
Popular art does this. Stardew valley spent zero dollars on advertising. UGG was well placed to hit a transition point between themes and it's paying off.
I haven’t played it but videogamedunkey spent enough time with it to give me a few laughs. It’s almost like it was made for him.
My personal favourite fan art: Goose Omens
https://theladymania.threadless.com/designs/goose-omens
https://theladymania.threadless.com/designs/goose-omens
I was on the fence, until a Goose locked me out. Now I'm just listening to my floating radio
This one is really truly excellent:
https://twitter.com/lluvia_deer/status/1177864395822530561?s...
(Based on the legendary vine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6gBu2Zd7Bc )
https://twitter.com/lluvia_deer/status/1177864395822530561?s...
(Based on the legendary vine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6gBu2Zd7Bc )
Between this game, Disco Elisium, Control and The Outer Worlds, it's a very busy season for great new game franchises. Wish I had the time for them all. And Death Stranding is just around the corner!
Oh, Disco Elysium was such a special experience. Haven't played anything as well written and unique since Planescape: Torment.
Are these franchises?
The term 'franchise' is mutated a bit in the game industry. They're new games that don't have anything to do with previous games (not a sequel, remake, prequel, etc.) so they're new franchises.
I have mostly seen this be named IPs (intellectual property), as in "studio X confirms it is working on a new IP".
I guess 'franchise' also works nowadays, as for any succesful game it will be profitable to make a sequel/spinoff/eventual remaster.
Ahhh, thanks! I had no idea "new franchise" would be used even if it wasn't obviously the first in a series of games.
OT, but I’m very confused by all the “More on Imgur” posts on the page you linked showing image after image of illegal drug use? But at least it’s not NSFW?!
John Harper, who created the tabletop RPG Blades in the Dark, posted in support of a Kickstarter for his new Odyssey-themed RPG Agon, this tweet:
https://twitter.com/john_harper/status/1177301721837535232?s...
Which, I think, says something.
https://twitter.com/john_harper/status/1177301721837535232?s...
Which, I think, says something.
What does that say other than a niche developer using something popular for promotion?
[deleted]
I didn't read to the bottom, but just in case this wasn't mentioned: UGG was funded by a government grant, Film Victoria, specifically for game companies to "produce a prototype or full game, and marketing and related expenses"
https://www.film.vic.gov.au/showcase/untitled-goose-game
edit: I mention this as interesting trivia, not as in, "Watch out, Untitled Goose Game is a front for the (Australian) feds"
https://www.film.vic.gov.au/showcase/untitled-goose-game
edit: I mention this as interesting trivia, not as in, "Watch out, Untitled Goose Game is a front for the (Australian) feds"
Film Victoria is a state based organisation. The Australian Federal funding for this type of thing was closed in 2014 [0]. I believe they are one of the few states to provide funding to indie game devs.
[0] https://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/05/government-funding-for-gam...
[0] https://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/05/government-funding-for-gam...
Funding from the Vic government has made lots of cool indies possible. I'm pretty used to seeing their logo pop up at the beginning of a game now. It's really good to see such a successful arts funding program, and the thriving community that it's helped make in Melbourne.
The Tasmanian state government also presents funding for video game startups. Giant Margarita, and Myriad Games both from Hobart have received funding.
>Untitled Goose Game is a front for the (Australian) feds
It just keeps getting bettter!
It just keeps getting bettter!
>“Untitled Goose Game is a safe, socially acceptable way to relieve stress,” the Washington Post declared shortly after the game’s release. “It’s the new punching a wall. It’s the new crying at your desk.”
Likening crying at your desk to a delightful video game is exactly the kind of analogy that I would expect from one of Jeff Bezos' employees.
Likening crying at your desk to a delightful video game is exactly the kind of analogy that I would expect from one of Jeff Bezos' employees.
> Likening crying at your desk to a delightful video game is exactly the kind of analogy that I would expect from one of Jeff Bezos' employees.
I would expect them to identify more with "crying as you pack boxes as fast as you possibly can for 12 hours."
I would expect them to identify more with "crying as you pack boxes as fast as you possibly can for 12 hours."
"You know how we all punch walls and scream and cry at our desk and drink heavily to relieve stress? ...wait... you don't all do that too?"
A startup I worked at used to have a crying room. So not just Jeff Bezos.
This sounds something like a wellbeing room, which is pretty common. Or is there literally a door marked 'crying room'? If latter, I am worried.
There's nothing wrong with crying or in general showing or having emotions, "negative" or otherwise.
Some people just have that reaction to difficulty and frustration or whatever else, it doesn't have to mean that an environment is terrible or immoral if people cry about it sometimes.
Some people just have that reaction to difficulty and frustration or whatever else, it doesn't have to mean that an environment is terrible or immoral if people cry about it sometimes.
But maybe if it happens often enough that you need a "crying room", something is wrong.
Sometimes it’s going to be unavoidable. I used to work in help desk and at least once a week an employee would either cry, or take their phone out of the queue and storm out of the office, something to that effect. I remember two occasions where an employee punched a hole in the wall. I took a day off work because one of the callers threatened to come to the office with his gun if I couldn’t solve his problem.
Sometimes there are jobs that have to be done but that make it really hard to control your emotions. And some people have a really hard time controlling their emotions anyway. It’s better to have a safe place to let that out.
Sometimes there are jobs that have to be done but that make it really hard to control your emotions. And some people have a really hard time controlling their emotions anyway. It’s better to have a safe place to let that out.
I'm sorry you had to go through that, but unless you work at a suicide hotline or one of the departments that tracks down child-porn creators or something along those lines, people breaking down at least once a week should not be "unavoidable." I know help desk is always going to be stressful, but employees need to be empowered to speak sternly to, and hang up on, abusive customers. If they're not, that's a management failure, not just an unavoidable reality.
Yep.
Worked with a developer who had to leave the office temporarily one day to go outside and cry in his car.
Was in a team where he could have spoken to any of us and we all would have listened and helped, but I guess sometimes, some people, just need to be alone and cry.
Whatever helps them. I'm not going to judge.
Worked with a developer who had to leave the office temporarily one day to go outside and cry in his car.
Was in a team where he could have spoken to any of us and we all would have listened and helped, but I guess sometimes, some people, just need to be alone and cry.
Whatever helps them. I'm not going to judge.
I tell you it was fairly destabilizing working in a small office in a highrise in a city center. 90 minutes at best from home on two trains, open office plan in a small office space, it was like being in a cage, being so far from a space which was "mine". The only escapes were spending a long time commuting, walking around outside on busy city streets, or sitting in a bathroom stall.
I think the psychology has something to do with growing up on a few hundred acres.
Boy could I have used a crying room. Not to actually cry but just to escape for a while now and then.
I think the psychology has something to do with growing up on a few hundred acres.
Boy could I have used a crying room. Not to actually cry but just to escape for a while now and then.
I moved from the country to a city. Its been four years I still feel like this!
Out in the country I was five minutes walk from lochs and l forests. I used to be able to leave the house and walk for twenty plus miles and maybe see a handful of people. Just me, the outside and hours of alone time.
You dont realise how much you miss that! Now in a city with no car and its so hard to get away from everything. Jusy to get away and clear my head.
Yeah, I live alone but sitting inside my house unable to get out and away from life can feel so trapping.
One day ill get back.
Out in the country I was five minutes walk from lochs and l forests. I used to be able to leave the house and walk for twenty plus miles and maybe see a handful of people. Just me, the outside and hours of alone time.
You dont realise how much you miss that! Now in a city with no car and its so hard to get away from everything. Jusy to get away and clear my head.
Yeah, I live alone but sitting inside my house unable to get out and away from life can feel so trapping.
One day ill get back.
> is exactly the kind of analogy that I would expect from one of Jeff Bezos' employees
There are so many valid criticisms of Bezos, the companies he owns, etc. This is so unnecessary. The quoted line says nothing about Bezos.
There are so many valid criticisms of Bezos, the companies he owns, etc. This is so unnecessary. The quoted line says nothing about Bezos.
"leave Brittany alone!"
I think they're trying to loosely relate the implied socially unacceptable ways of relieving stress with this persons employment at a Bezos company, companies which have been in the news because of bad working conditions for employees.
Just one example: https://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11/27/undercover-reporter...
Given that, it is not too much of a stretch to associate Jeff's example and style of leadership with this person's statement - in a mostly tongue-in-cheek manner, mind you.
Just one example: https://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11/27/undercover-reporter...
Given that, it is not too much of a stretch to associate Jeff's example and style of leadership with this person's statement - in a mostly tongue-in-cheek manner, mind you.
This is shoehorning of politics where it doesn't fit. I know that's popular on Reddit but it rarely leads to interesting conversations, just low quality generalizations/flamewars all based on a weak analogy.
This article is about a video games, the story doesn't mention Amazon or even her workplace specifically, the quote was a lighthearted joke (jokes use exaggeration to be funny, ie. "punching a wall" at an office), etc.
This article is about a video games, the story doesn't mention Amazon or even her workplace specifically, the quote was a lighthearted joke (jokes use exaggeration to be funny, ie. "punching a wall" at an office), etc.
I agree in the sense that I wouldn't have made the association myself either - I also think that the quote was almost definitely just humour. I'm just explaining what I thought the connection they'd made was.
Looks like a whole new genre of games have recently been invented:
- Goat Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvWGLcdI8o8
- Untitled Goose Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LL2AtHo1gk
- Pigeon Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb30jQ_Bpmg
- Goat Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvWGLcdI8o8
- Untitled Goose Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LL2AtHo1gk
- Pigeon Simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb30jQ_Bpmg
Potty Pigeon, Initial release date: 1984, Platforms: Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Goal: shitting on everything, Ross's Game Dungeon: Potty Pigeon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIolFGfZaGg
Enviro-Bear 2000: https://captaingames.itch.io/enviro-bear-2000
- SimAnt (1991): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimAnt
Jesus, if there's one game I'd pay for again on Steam or other format, it's that one.
Well, that and maybe the original Leisure Suit Larry, just to see why I wasn't allowed to open that game at all.
Well, that and maybe the original Leisure Suit Larry, just to see why I wasn't allowed to open that game at all.
There were good reasons you weren't allowed to play that game. It's just not what kids did.
I sat there guessing all the trivia questions anyway and then did all the things I wasn't supposed to do.
Good times.
I sat there guessing all the trivia questions anyway and then did all the things I wasn't supposed to do.
Good times.
If you can get your hands on the original game, it runs excellent in a Windows XP VM. Just played it a few weeks ago.
the internet archive has lots of dos games available to play in a ready to go emulator: https://archive.org/details/msdos_Leisure_Suit_Larry_1_-_Lan...
Might as well also link SimAnt: https://archive.org/details/msdos_SimAnt_-_The_Electronic_An...
Loved that game!
Long ago someone already had the bright idea of making individual sims of tons of different animals all based around the same shitty engine, each with their own separate DLC and flood the android market with them. I was really interested in animal sims for a while.
I think we're headed into good territory though. Check out this clearly Harvest Moon inspired cat sim: http://cattailsgame.com/
Personally, I would like to see an animal-centric classic Gamemaker style RPG a la Chef Boyardee's Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden with an audacious plot on the level of Cats & Dogs.
I think we're headed into good territory though. Check out this clearly Harvest Moon inspired cat sim: http://cattailsgame.com/
Personally, I would like to see an animal-centric classic Gamemaker style RPG a la Chef Boyardee's Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden with an audacious plot on the level of Cats & Dogs.
Oof, don't remind me -- it's been close to a decade since I backed "The Magical Realms of Tír na nÓg: Escape from Necron 7 – Revenge of Cuchulainn: The Official Game of the Movie – Chapter 2 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa" on Kickstarter.
Hey! As of June this year the developers have said they're still working on it, just most of the team has left so it's just the core two devs now working part time. I'm considering reaching out to lend a hand just so I'm not playing this game in my forties.
I loved playing Harvest Moon as a kid, and more recently Starview Valley. Not sure the cat simulation appeals to me but to each their own!
Reportedly¹, the Goose game is quite different from Goat Simulator.
1. https://imgur.com/t/goose/zOcNSI1
1. https://imgur.com/t/goose/zOcNSI1
Goose game is much more of a puzzle game and goat simulator is a, well, simulator. There aren't goals baked into lists with levels.
Looking at the trailers and watching some clips, Goose game does seem to be a bit more interesting with the puzzles. Whereas Goat Simulator seems to be an interactive meme.
Goose isn't really like those. Many of those simulators are full of jankyness and that's part of their appeal.
Goose game is closer to Hitman where Goat Simulator is more like Garrys Mod. It’s intentionally “glitchy” physics parody in a big open map.
Ah that is a good comparison. I am very familiar with the Hitman series and this does seem to be very similar having a set of objectives and the player needs to put the pieces together.
Writing on Games has a very good video about why that comparison actually really doesn't hold very well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ySPq0Sw10
tl;dw: Those other games are more about generating absurd and funny situations through (carefully designed) intentionally awkward controls and silly physics. Goose Game is carefully designed to allow the player to set up and execute a joke for themselves.
tl;dw: Those other games are more about generating absurd and funny situations through (carefully designed) intentionally awkward controls and silly physics. Goose Game is carefully designed to allow the player to set up and execute a joke for themselves.
You forgot the most important one:
Bread Simulator: https://www.bossastudios.com/games/i-am-bread/
Bread Simulator: https://www.bossastudios.com/games/i-am-bread/
Lol food simulators are next :). I've actually seen this one being played, very comical. The comedy (besides the obvious being bread trying to get to a toaster) is the incredibly difficult controls causing the player to panic and mash buttons sometimes saving themselves, other times flinging themselves into the air.
I love the trend of animal games. I'm a big fan of Shelter (https://store.steampowered.com/app/244710/Shelter/)
I’m still waiting for Rock Simulator.
I am impressed and surprised to watch Panic Software's transition from exceptional mac software developers, to exceptional Game Producers. I'd love to hear from them about their choice to start publishing games, and their strategy for success in that market.
I love Panic. Playdate looks awesome, I am happy for their success, and I wish them the best.
That said, I think both the games they've produced (Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game) are duds. They're flashy, well marketed, and totally underbaked. I expected to love both of those games, being a fan of "walking simulators" and story focused games (which Firewatch fumbled), and Hitman and stealth games (which UGG fumbled).
That said, I think both the games they've produced (Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game) are duds. They're flashy, well marketed, and totally underbaked. I expected to love both of those games, being a fan of "walking simulators" and story focused games (which Firewatch fumbled), and Hitman and stealth games (which UGG fumbled).
I personally loved Firewatch. What did you dislike about it? What are you comparing it to?
I thought the writing, characterization, and voice acting were surprisingly poor, it's a game that requires the chemistry between the two characters to really sing but it just falls flat. Some people complain about the plot itself not going "anywhere" but I think that would have worked if the fundamentals were stronger. (Far less important but I also really didn't like the animation and character feel.)
I vastly prefer Gone Home, which is a very similar type of game, with much less flashy visual style but the characters, voice acting, and storytelling are handled, imho, perfectly.
I vastly prefer Gone Home, which is a very similar type of game, with much less flashy visual style but the characters, voice acting, and storytelling are handled, imho, perfectly.
Interesting, I thought the writing and voice acting were its strongest elements (in addition to the beautiful scenery). The world would be boring if everyone had the same opinion though :)
Also worth mentioning is their upcoming game platform release: https://play.date/
For another entertaining "This went much farther than expected" but for two people who already had full time jobs and no desire to leave them, make a start up, or start a new business in any way, see Tom Scott and Matt Gray's Emojli: an emoji-only messenger app https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsyhGHUEt-k
Light hearted mischief come alive with the animal kingdom's lead scamp as the central character.
The game itself is great fun for a casual game and it's fun to watch people play and laugh.
The inherent share-ability / meme-ability of goose antics is viral marketing at it's best.
Well deserved success, I hope they do a goose-2 with co-op mischief!
The game itself is great fun for a casual game and it's fun to watch people play and laugh.
The inherent share-ability / meme-ability of goose antics is viral marketing at it's best.
Well deserved success, I hope they do a goose-2 with co-op mischief!
I love how this is almost exactly the same story as Goat Simulator. Modestly successful indie studio, looking for something to do after wrapping up their last project, starts work on a goofy little game about a chaotic, malicious farm animal, more for fun than anything else. Somehow it goes massively viral and becomes their greatest success.
DeSinc did a brilliant piece on the various glitches in the game that let you go over fences etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwWvQXexDkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwWvQXexDkE
In a sleepless night, I made a bookmarklet that lets you honk and drag around images on a website of your choosing.
https://kay-is.github.io/undefined-gooselet/
https://kay-is.github.io/undefined-gooselet/
Related: Katamari bookmarklet: http://kathack.com/
(No, not mine.)
(No, not mine.)
I feel like this is somewhat close to the Goat Simulator.
In that case, this will likely join my list of fun, but pretty odd games:
* The Stanley Parable
* The Goat Simulator
* I am Bread
* Starwhals
* Octodad
In that case, this will likely join my list of fun, but pretty odd games:
* The Stanley Parable
* The Goat Simulator
* I am Bread
* Starwhals
* Octodad
Octodad, now there's a blast from the past. Loved those games!
I'd also like to throw Surgeon Simulator into the mix.
I'd also like to throw Surgeon Simulator into the mix.
+1 for Starwhal; we played it so much in school that it got blocked on the network (pre-Steam)
Surely we need a hat tip to Jeff Minter as the godfather of "odd animal references in video games"...
Having once met Jeff and had an all too brief chat, I am happy to confirm that he is just as nice a person as I imagined him to be.
I can't really speak to any of the other games but The Stanley Parable is an amazing game. Replays are very rewarding; trying to experience and find everything which lies inside that very peculiar office building.
"This is the story of a goose named Stanley".
I was unable to find it funny :|
On the other hand I witnessed two grown women break into tears because, and I cite, "look how cute I cant even"
Personally, It's a game I love to hate. growing up near a large lake, I got to see these flying rage machines up close, and to play as one opened up a part of my brain I had closed up for years.
I want more games like this.
I want more games like this.
Something that might cheer you up:
We too used to live near a lake, in an apartment. The geese there terrorized people one year.
We had a tiny little partially disabled girl ferret. She could barely walk but slithered and bounced around with gusto and she had a surfeit of chutzpah.
We bought a little leash for her, and let her explore the grass, bushes, mulch and edge of the lake, and she loved every minute of it, chucking and dooking happily.
Then the geese saw us, and started their "feed us or suffer" swarm. We of course began to back up, and as the long necked avian assholes drew closer, we thought of beating a hasty retreat.
But then our saviour leaped forth! Tiny disabled girl ferret happily bounced around at our feet and then charged at the geese like a little flailing bezerker, loudly dooking the whole time.
I'd never before seen a goose visibly think "oh fuck", and here was a couple dozen double taking geese stopping dead in their webby tracks, like a European general trying to advance east during a Russian winter. Each goose looked shocked, then confused, then terrified as they abandoned any thoughts of camaraderie and fled from this tiny whirling daemon dervish of death.
Tiny girl ferret didn't get within 4 feet of the geese. Not a single of Nature's red teeth or claws were used. But a pound or so of sinewy insane calamity managed to put the fear of a goose god into those beaky bastards.
Unfortunately they kept attacking people and were dealt with somehow. We weren't told how, the apartment complex wouldn't say anything.
----- * -----
This is a true story. If you want to scare geese away, get yourself a ferret. In fact, get 3 because they are stinky social weasels who love to sleep cuddled up together. I miss my girls and boys, they were so much fun!
We too used to live near a lake, in an apartment. The geese there terrorized people one year.
We had a tiny little partially disabled girl ferret. She could barely walk but slithered and bounced around with gusto and she had a surfeit of chutzpah.
We bought a little leash for her, and let her explore the grass, bushes, mulch and edge of the lake, and she loved every minute of it, chucking and dooking happily.
Then the geese saw us, and started their "feed us or suffer" swarm. We of course began to back up, and as the long necked avian assholes drew closer, we thought of beating a hasty retreat.
But then our saviour leaped forth! Tiny disabled girl ferret happily bounced around at our feet and then charged at the geese like a little flailing bezerker, loudly dooking the whole time.
I'd never before seen a goose visibly think "oh fuck", and here was a couple dozen double taking geese stopping dead in their webby tracks, like a European general trying to advance east during a Russian winter. Each goose looked shocked, then confused, then terrified as they abandoned any thoughts of camaraderie and fled from this tiny whirling daemon dervish of death.
Tiny girl ferret didn't get within 4 feet of the geese. Not a single of Nature's red teeth or claws were used. But a pound or so of sinewy insane calamity managed to put the fear of a goose god into those beaky bastards.
Unfortunately they kept attacking people and were dealt with somehow. We weren't told how, the apartment complex wouldn't say anything.
----- * -----
This is a true story. If you want to scare geese away, get yourself a ferret. In fact, get 3 because they are stinky social weasels who love to sleep cuddled up together. I miss my girls and boys, they were so much fun!
(i'm curious why this reply is apparently downvoted?)
There are bots here that vote seemingly at random to try to appear "normal" to HN's anti-spam controls. I wouldn't read into individual votes too much.
Occasionally the HN hate machine rains down upon you if your comment doesn't fit someone's narrow idea of what a comment should be. I upvoted, but really it's best to not take votes too seriously or personally as people on here are fickle
I'm guessing someone got as far as "a game I love to hate," misinterpreted that as hating the game they liked, and downvoted.
>I got to see these flying rage machines up close
Probably one of the more harrowing things I've ever done was egg addling for goose population control in a lake nearby. Nothing like balancing on a canoe fighting off geese with a paddle while the other person sneaks up behind to the nest and does the job.
The one thing the game seemed to fail to capture is the horror as a goose comes up hisses in your face. Geese do this. You know that when some animal comes up and hisses at you it means business.
Probably one of the more harrowing things I've ever done was egg addling for goose population control in a lake nearby. Nothing like balancing on a canoe fighting off geese with a paddle while the other person sneaks up behind to the nest and does the job.
The one thing the game seemed to fail to capture is the horror as a goose comes up hisses in your face. Geese do this. You know that when some animal comes up and hisses at you it means business.
[deleted]
This game is great. It's really fun being an a-hole goose, lol.
"What a fowl day" song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjhfDQbJ3Lk
Something about the lack of margins between sections on that article makes it very hard for me to read.
Firefox Reader Mode is now one of my favorite features (Chrome probably has somethign similar?)
I haven't seen one included with Chrome yet. Safari has reader mode and its amazing.
It does, but it's disabled by default, enabled by a hidden setting and you have to use the menu to trigger it.
https://www.howtogeek.com/423643/how-to-use-google-chromes-h...
Cant make avoiding adverts too easy, after all.
https://www.howtogeek.com/423643/how-to-use-google-chromes-h...
Cant make avoiding adverts too easy, after all.
just going to leave this here: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/peace-was-never-an-option
A bad goose variation on https://i.imgur.com/WPuSziL.jpg
It's a simple and hilarious game. Haven't finished it yet, but strongly recommend to anyone who's on the fence.