The Discworld series
We had a topic for Terry's the watch, so I figured it would be best if there was a topic regarding on his well known series Discworld. How many of you have read the books or played any of the games? I do know that there were only three of them. I only played half of Discworld 1(stopped it seeing that Scummvm crashed whenever I tired to load it) and I'm currently going through the second game.
I just finished reading Mort and got a huge kick out of it. So are there any Discworld fans on here?
I just finished reading Mort and got a huge kick out of it. So are there any Discworld fans on here?
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When I get into a series I like to read them all and right now I just don't have time to get through Discworld. I did enjoy the game, don't know which one I played though. I didn't realise there were three
Anyway, for all their flaws I love them very much
My favourite is Interesting Times, although any Watch or Witches book would do in a pinch
The graphics weren't great and it's a bit glitchy, but it's well worth it for the humour - try looking at youtube videos to get an idea of what it looks like, but keep in mind it's an old game (although not pixel-old)
Discworld - I had the PSOne version originally and got to around the 1/3rd mark only to discover that my second hand disc had a nasty scratch on it, causing me to be forced to give up. Years later I got the PC version through dubious methods (can you blame me after wasting my money on a legit copy) but I've yet to play it.
I'm probably going to plunge in sometime this year via ScummVM. Anyway, from what I played I thought it was good fun but I'll reserve judgment until I've payed the whole game.
Discworld 2 - I found a copy at the charity shop I was working in at the time (CD case with no box or manual) so I snapped it up before any customers could get their hands on it (which is one of the fringe benefits of working in a charity shop). I played through the whole thing without the use of a walkthrough and whilst I found the graphics to be beautiful, the story and characters to be charming; the puzzles were completely infuriating.
Seriously, play this game for the first time, without a FAQ guide like I did and you're liable to go insane. Having said that the feeling of accomplishment when you do solve a puzzle after hours or days of trying is immense (or at least until you realise that you've just spent hours or days wasting your life).
Discworld Noir - Again, this turned up in a donation to the charity shop. I've never got it to work under Vista and according to the Internet; I'm not alone. I can only imagine that that was the reason it was donated in the first place. Still, I'll hang on to it in the hope that a fan might release a patch.
So in summary that's my experience with the Discworld videogames; 50% frustrating gameplay and 50% technical headaches. Pretty good, I'd recommend them!
I've submitted a question about future computer games to be asked during Terry's interview session (assuming I don't get the chance to talk to him directly myself - after all there'll be 400 people there wanting to chat) so next week I might have some news for you about the /possibility/ of future Discworld Computer games, assuming a deal can be reached between Terry and a developer.
I have the first two loaded into ScummVM (along with every other compatible game, excluding some of the kids titles) but unfortunately Noir is not compatible due to it using a complex semi-3D engine, it's the same reason that EFMI and Grim Fandango aren't supported. Maybe in a 2045 release of ScummVM...
There's really no reason to be put off by the huge number of books into the series, mostly because they are pretty neatly broken up into smaller sub-series, which mostly have 3-5 books in each and can be read together. Reading all of Discworld is a pretty large endeavor -- though the books themselves aren't that long -- but getting through the books about each of the characters is a bit less daunting.
There are some which are a bit more 'standalone', such as "Small Gods" or "Moving Pictures", but most of the books fall under either The Wizards, The Witches, Death, Rincewind, The Watch, or more recently Moist von Lipwig.
Didn't know it was 3D. If I remember correctly, there was supposed to be another program, developed by the same people, that would work for 3D engines. Can't for the life of me remember what it was called though, only that it was about halfway finished two years ago.
Probably still halfway finished.
And yes, that was incredibly vague. That's gonna bug me for the rest of the week.
I know Residual is being worked on for Grim Fandango (& eventually Escape from Monkey Island) and I think another team is working on using that for Discworld Noir.
Yes! That's the one I was thinking of! Now I won't have to wonder about that for the next week or so.
Though for some reason, I thought it was something to do with resurrection.
So they're still not finished, huh?
I can't find much current info about it - either they're being very quiet with it or it's in a state of limbo. Most stuff I've read about it comes from 2009 (which is when it started I believe). But then I think development of Residual for Grim Fandango has stalled since then as well. In short I wouldn't expect anything any time soon.
That's right! Check out the handy-dandy reading order guide (click here for a larger version):
'Tis a thing of great beauty.
I've read most if not all of the books (kind of hard to remember exactly since that's been over maybe a 13 year period). Easily one of my most favourite series. It's more rewarding the more books you read, seeing this intricate world built up in such beautifully interwoven detail.
And when do get started, I am going to read them from top to bottom from the list at wikipedia or maybe from the guide.
Watched 3 play troughs of Discworld Noir, I really like that game.
I finished tCoM and started "the light fantastic" and was amazed at the change, while the first book was kind of monotonous, dealing more with getting the reader familiarized with the features, cultures, and such of discworld, the 2nd book was actually very entertaining, I sped through the tLF and started "Equil Rites" and was hooked, I plan to read them all in the future,
I however got sidetracked by "to kill a Mockingbird" because my college band is doing the full score from tKaM next month with special guest mary badham (scout) who will be narrating her memories of filming the movie, I have to read the book and rewatch the movie before that ^_^
As for future Discworld Computer games.... sorry, I didn't get the chance to ask Terry about it, and it didn't make it into the interview he did. So I don't know.
For those of you in furrin parts who may wish to go to a Discworld Convention:
- Dutch one is next month
- American one is in July
- German one is in October
- Irish one is in November
- and UK one is next year, probably August.
If there isn't one in your area - why not get together a comittee of volunteers and get started?
MEMORANDUM
From the office of Mustrum Ridcully, Archancellor, Unseen University
Dear People of the Discworld; and Students,
We would like to invite you, one and all, to attend the Unseen University Convivium 2012, to be held at University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Roundworld, on July 6-8 2012.
This will be a celebration of all things Wizardly and Discworldly, for afficionados of the ouvre of Professor Sir Terry Pratchett. The weekend shall include lectures, seminars, games, performances of an artistic nature, and much more.
Of course, there will be a chance to experience one of UU's famous big dinners at Gaudy Night, and for those able to stay an extra day, on July 9th there will be a Winery and Gourmet Tour. After all, there's nothing wizards like more than dining and whining.
Young Stibbons told me to include the following nonsense:
You can find out more information and purchase tickets by
- Looking on the website: http://ausdwcon.org
- Liking us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/UnseenUni
- Following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UnseenUni
- Sending enquiries via email to: UnseenUni2012@gmail.com
Yours academically,
Mustrum Ridcully,
Archancellor, Unseen University
View this memorandum as a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl5b9DdW14o