FOX News: Sam and Max The Devil's Playhouse - The Penal Zone Review
Hey all,
Ken here... Writer/producer of "FOX News Gamers Weekly" for the FOX News Channel. Not to plug the show, but I wanted to give you guys a heads-up that we've posted our full review of "Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone." We publish to the FOXNews.com website, iTunes, and Hulu.com, and the episode is titled "Halo: Reach Beta Preview".
Here's a direct link to the video:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4183398/halo-reach-beta-preview
(Or subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching "Gamers Weekly" in the Podcasts section!)
Thanks, and enjoy!
Ken here... Writer/producer of "FOX News Gamers Weekly" for the FOX News Channel. Not to plug the show, but I wanted to give you guys a heads-up that we've posted our full review of "Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone." We publish to the FOXNews.com website, iTunes, and Hulu.com, and the episode is titled "Halo: Reach Beta Preview".
Here's a direct link to the video:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4183398/halo-reach-beta-preview
(Or subscribe to the show on iTunes by searching "Gamers Weekly" in the Podcasts section!)
Thanks, and enjoy!
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
It's hard to review adventure games like these... Showing anything gives too much away. But to be honest, if someone is paying very close attention, the only puzzles we really gave away are in the first few minutes.
Anyway, I sympathize. But we did our best.
P.S. - Which is also why we (probably) won't do a full review of the other Sam and Max episodes. (Although we'll most likely highlight them in a "New Releases" section when they arrive.)
I just hope the episode gets enough people to download the game, because it's friggin' awesome.
Maybe for the next one you can have a quick "next episode is out" that just introduces the very beginning. Well I guess that's what you said you'd do, so this suggestion was useless...
Either way, it's always nice to let the word out
Thanks, dude! I appreciate it!
Ah, yeah, that was one puzzle we kinda spoiled. But seriously, other than some minor things in the first few minutes of the game, that was it. (Like I said, that's the problem with reviewing adventure games... To illustrate the kinds of puzzles you'll encounter, that means spoiling at least one of them. Grr.)
Also, that wasn't my voice...I write, edit, direct, and produce it... But we have a guy with a much better voice than mine do the voice-over.
Anyway, I always appreciate feedback! The show is FOX News' most-watched video podcast, and it's a real passion of mine, so I really appreciate viewers, fans, and critiques. Thanks, guys, for checking it out!
Hindsight is 20/20, of course
Haha, true. But when I capture footage of these games, it's always on my first play through. (Honestly, I didn't know if it was going to work or not when I first tried it... I was just going off the Future Vision hint.) I just dont't have time to go back, replay, and recapture anpther version, unfortunately... So I've gotta work with what I've got. But yeah, you're totally right.
Still, it was better than spoiling the other transportation puzzle (which I found much harder, personally)
Also, really glad you guys liked the sound bytes. My favorite was Max's cliche line, since... Let's face it, when I wrote my previous line to that in the script, I was like, "Wow, it's true, but really packed with platitudes.". So I was able to poke a little fun at myself with Max's dialogue.
Anyway, all cool suggestions. Thanks
The spoilers were not to much except maybe for the teleportationpuzzle with the ape. But if I hadn't known the game already I might have forgotten it until I got a chance to play.
Normally anything fo news related annoys me, but this (probably because it wasnt even remotely like Fox News' normal lineup) was really good
You guys at TT never cease to amaze me.
Nonetheless it was a good review.
Haha, thanks man! Congrats again, and I'm looking forward to the next episode!
Yet you somehow reviewed this game correctly. I guess there are always the exceptions that prove the right-wing spin. Still. You work for Fox News.
Welcome aboard
What about people who come by and link to well put together, constructive, yet ultimately negative reviews of your games? :eek:
Dude.
If they're not butts about it, sure.
I know!
Isn't that self-contradictory?
Not at all; there is such a thing as constructive criticism.
That being said... Even though most their commentators are full of it, I would rather watch Fox than crap like CNN or CBS. Because at least Fox reports ALL the world news and not randomly selected/whitewashed stories that make only one political party look good.
As for the review, yeah its a little too revealing, but good none the less
Good for you - you've fallen for the spin.
While there may be some leaning one way or another, no other major news organisation comes even close to the kind of slant that Fox spews. And sorry this thread's getting derailed, but they deserve it.
Sorry, which CNN and Fox News are you watching? Is this in Oppositeland? Fox is 24 hour conservative spin.
Dude, seriously. You're welcome to your thoughts and opinions, but when it comes to this thread and this topic - and the show that I run - what place does this political discussion have? "Gamers Weekly" isn't remotely political... Our motto is "by gamers, for gamers"... And personally, I'm tired of the haters.
I can only speak for myself... But FOX is a large corporation with thousands of employees, each with their own thoughts and opinions. Here at "Gamers Weekly," we have our own perspectives as well. And tell me... for all your frustration, what other major news network has a show dedicated to hardcore gaming? None.
The problem is, most of the general public still views games as being "just for kids." But the average age of a game player is now 35 years old. Close to half of all gamers are women. Gamers aren't just adolescent boys living in their parents' basement... And my goal with "Gamers Weekly" has been to provide a mainstream show that increases gaming awareness, appreciation, and real criticism... Even "other" gaming TV networks (I won't name names) still gear their programming towards 12-18 year old males, but that's NOT gaming anymore. And for me, games are art... They deserve more.
Long speech, but my point is... I've been a gamer all my life, and this show is for the fans. Ultimately, what we're doing can only help expand appreciation for the gaming community. So please don't force your anger on our friendly podcast.
And I don't appreciate being told that we "deserve it."
Anyway, do what you want to do. Watch what you want to watch. But please keep our show out of it.
Yeah leave the guy alone, he's just doing his thing.
I enjoyed the review, but I have to agree with Avistew's initial comment about the video spoiling a puzzle or two. I think you could have communicated what you wanted without spoiling the teleportation puzzle, especially since without knowing the context, it isn't the best presentation of how the puzzle-solving mechanics work in adventure games. My suggestion is just throw up a spoiler alert and everybody will be happy.
*Spoiler alerts will not appease your political opponents.
Ditto on why?
Also, wow did this thread derail in a rather bizarre manner or is it just me?
As far as any spoilers in the game, you didn't give away a whole lot. There were a few scenes from later on in the game, but I don't think anyone who hasn't played the game would suspect anything. I dunno if you should've mentioned that you get the shapeshifting power, though. You only get to use it in the first area of the game, likely as a demonstration. Of course, should Telltale give that power back to you in a later episode (which I really hope they do. BUNNY BAZOOKA!), then I guess that works.
Overall, you did a good job. You gained +1 viewer!
...god, that sounded corny.
And as persona1138 pointed out; in a large corporation like that there are bound to be reporters with wildly different opinions; and there will be people who are completely clueless about games and technology as well as very knowledgeable people.
Yes.
I'm not sure why you'd waste your time. There are plenty of truly excellent video game-focused sites/shows out there that AREN'T buried inside Rupert M's evil, soulless machine.
This is the network that brought you this, this week: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/05/glenn-becks-war-on-the-fcc-and-satan-worshippers.ars
Dude, just because a giant corporation is run by soulless d-bags, doesn't mean everyone associated with the company are soulless d-bags.
Take Activision, for instance. When they're not running well-known franchises into the dirt and getting rid of most of the talented people who made them, they're filing lawsuits at anyone who even whispers the word "EA" in the office. And yet, Blizzard is a big chunk of their company, and they do a pretty good job of appealing to their audience and making good games.
That's basically like with persona1138's show. Yeah, it's a part of a news network who's more concerned about high ratings than putting anything good on their TV channels, but this guy's game show is actually good. Like he said, it's made "by gamers, for gamers". He's treating the game community with respect, which is more than I can say for a lot of the people at FOX...not that they treat anything with respect, but ya know what I mean.
If you don't like it, just don't watch it. Like you said, there's plenty of other video game shows and sites that aren't buried in evil corporate stuff if you don't wanna deal with that.