The definitive Space Giraffe thread

WiredWorm · Post by **WiredWorm** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:59 am 0

Jamie wrote:i'm just assuming it's going to be ace.

It is - there, that's my review, and i'm not even going to get paid for that!!

Mr Dom · Post by **Mr Dom** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:33 am 0

'There is no such thing as bad publicity'
Anything that is 'culty' or different WILL get wildly different reviews as some people get it others dont. Not everyone will like SG or give it the time, but it sure as hell will get people talking - and when people talk, they try.

The kiss of death commercially is being a game noone cares about - you just quietly slip away down the list of downloads never to be seen again.

SG is destined to be a cult classic - in its history, and execution.
It will attract rabid fanboys and vocal haters alike - and the ensuing rantings ensure that it will become one of the most talked about, and by extension, downloaded games on XBLA.

In that respect, a 2/10 is so out of the oridinary, its going to get noticed & commented upon ALL over the games press. More people will hear the name 'Space Giraffe' than if it had a 7 or 8. More people when browsing the list will then see this name and think 'I wonder what the fuss is about' - and more downloads = more sales.

Once more:
'There is no such thing as bad publicity'

PaulCunningham · Post by **PaulCunningham** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:35 am 0

I knew he'd be back! Sounds giddy with excitement too.

2007 and nothing has changed. Nowt polarizes opinion like a good old Minter shooter. Probably gonna be a rocky ride so hang on!

But as long a you've got enough fans keeping you in curry and sheep food that's all that matters really init.

oxo · Post by **oxo** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:38 am 0

Dom is correct.

As someone who works in a Creative Marketing agency, many of my
clients would have paid good money to get the amount of coverage and
people talking as SG has had in the last 24 hours.

It will all be alright in the end.

Enough fretting, when are we getting it??!

Dr Derek Doctors · Post by **Dr Derek Doctors** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:40 am 0

Mr Dom wrote:Once more:
'There is no such thing as bad publicity'

Tell Chris Langham's agent that.

shimeril · Post by **shimeril** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:45 am 0

Kamineko wrote:
Rib wrote:
shimeril wrote:
skweek wrote: As someone once said to me : "Don't worry, be happy"
Noooooo. The song is now in my head. You utter bastard!

bobby mcferrin got a grammy for that song!
Bobby McFerrin did a song called 'Noooooo. The song is now in my head. You utter bastard!'?

If he does one now I want my royalties cheque!

Istar · Post by **Istar** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:46 am 0

Dr Derek Doctors wrote:
Mr Dom wrote:Once more:
'There is no such thing as bad publicity'
Tell Chris Langham's agent that.

Who?

No, really. Whatever publicity he's had, it's passed me by.

Post by **Jedburgh** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 11:48 am 0

Dr Derek Doctors wrote:
Mr Dom wrote:Once more:
'There is no such thing as bad publicity'
Tell Chris Langham's agent that.

I once asked Max Clifford if there was such a thing as bad publicity. He said that of course there is

Chuffmeister · Post by **Chuffmeister** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:05 pm 0

Clearly a review not worthy of consideration. XBLA, innit - peeps will download and have a noodle with it and make their choice that way.

Michael_ · Post by **Michael_** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:17 pm 0

"If I put something out and I like it then thatÂ´s good enough for me because I know that the guys that are really into my games are gonna like it as well because I know where their heads are at".
Jeff Minter, January 1986

Sure, it could probably do with an extra comma in there (gravy)

but the way I see it, nothingÂ´s changed really.

The world is a different place these days, granted, but the above is still the way a Llamasoft game is brought into the world.
ItÂ´s sincere, uncompromized and, to a degree, different from the rest.
Herein lies the strength but also the vulnerablility of a game that strays.

Keep up the good work, Llamasoft. However strange this may sound, you comfort me.

juice · Post by **juice** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:32 pm 0

Much ado and hullabaloo!

Until/unless we can see the full review (has the mag actually been released yet, and/or has anyone nearby it got a scanner?), it's impossible to analyse the situation.

With that said...

From what's appeared so far, it sounds like the 2.0 is a "punishment" score handed out by someone who really doesn't understand Space Giraffe - and indeed, anything with a retro edge to it gets marked down by the magazine, if comments about other XBL reviews are to be believed.

The big problem for Space Giraffe is that it's not an "immediate" game. If a newbie picks up the pad then they're unlikely to last more than a couple of minutes - especially if they don't take the time to read the tutorial and get to grips with the game mechanics. It's actually slightly worse if you've previously played Tempest - the old game mechanics don't work anymore, as I learned at RV

It takes time to understand the nuances and figure out how to ram beasties off the grid, how to track multiple bad guys and plot your actions accordingly for maximum score and style. It may take even longer to appreciate some of the more (british|quirky) aspects, such as the KLF Mu-Mu sample and the Eyes of Ballard background

Unfortunately, someone who's being paid a fairly small amount of cash to review the game from a genre the magazine doesn't appreciate is unlikely to invest any significant amount of time into understanding it.

Space Giraffe is going to polarise opinions - it's the marmite of gaming. Just like green eggs and ham, the trick is to get people to notice it and play it - and if nothing else, this has stirred up sufficient publicity to help make that happen.

The wisest thing to do is to wait until the contents of the article can be read, and then to contact the mag and point out the flaws (assuming it's not just an opinion piece from a frat-boy wanting to get back to a beer and a blast on this year's Madden release) and suggest that they may want someone else to re-review it.

NickMon · Post by **NickMon** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:39 pm 0

What about a visit to OXM and a bit of education in how it should be played, after a bit of friendly PR they might 'get it'

Tmuk · Post by **Tmuk** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:43 pm 0

NickMon wrote:What about a visit to OXM and a bit of education in how it should be played, after a bit of friendly PR they might 'get it'

That might look ever so slightly condescending, don't you think?

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:45 pm 0

And it's the US version. Bit expensive to get there.

NickMon · Post by **NickMon** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:46 pm 0

Tmuk wrote:
NickMon wrote:What about a visit to OXM and a bit of education in how it should be played, after a bit of friendly PR they might 'get it'
That might look ever so slightly condescending, don't you think?

Maybe but then again it could help and show willing..