- The future of adventure games - 23 November 2017
Every few years, someone claims that adventure games are dead. But adventure games never died: they just changed. "I think what they really mean is the death of point-and-click adventure games," says Ron Gilbert, creator of Monkey Island and, more recently, Thimbleweed Park. "Games like Gone Home, Firewatch, and everything Telltale makes are adventure games, and they can sell millions of copies. But if we limit the description to point-and-click games, I don't know that I fully disagree. These games are a niche market now, but if you make them cheaply and efficiently, they can still do well. Dave Gilbert has carved out a nice fanbase." "What's interesting is that those articles usually come out after a high-profile adventure game is released that's less than stellar," says Dave Gilbert, founder of point-and-click revivalist Wadjet Eye. "Suddenly a game speaks for all adve…
- Have you played The Cave? - 14 September 2016
Have You Played? is an endless stream of game retrospectives. One a day, every day of the year, perhaps for all time. There have been a lot of attempts to find a more modern form for the point-and-click adventure. The Cave has the benefit of being designed by Ron Gilbert, the creator of some of the best, with art and animation from the always-good-at-those-particular-things Double Fine. …
- The Rift Report: 10 of the best VR experiences - 15 April 2014
Every Tuesday Andy straps on the Oculus Rift and dives headfirst into the world of virtual reality in The Rift Report. Is it really the future of PC gaming? Let s find out. The Rift Report will be taking a break until I get my hands and eyes on the higher resolution DK2. But before I go, here s a list of the games, tech demos, and other oddities I think make the most of the hardware. I ve been using the Rift pretty frequently for a couple of months now, and it still manages to impress me. But the limitations of the original development kit are obvious, so I think I ll wait until the fancypants new model lands on my desk before I continue my virtual reality odyssey. Elite: Dangerous I ve put this at the top, because it s my favourite VR game so far. The weighty ship handling and dramatic space battles are fun with just your archaic old eyes, but throw the Rift and a good flight stick int…
- Midweek Madness - The Cave, 50% Off - 26 March 2013
Save 50% on The Cave during this week's Midweek Madness*! Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities and stories, then descend into the mysterious depths to explore locations including a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready-to-launch nuclear tipped ICBM. The Cave awaits! The Cave is a new adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. *Offer ends Thursday at 4PM Pacific Time
- No More Monkey Business: Ron Gilbert Leaves Double Fine - 12 March 2013
Well, this is slightly unexpected. Ron Gilbert’s always kinda done his own thing, but sharing a colorful roof of pure, shining whimsy with partner in pirate-y crime Tim Schafer just sort of, you know, made sense. It is, however, like they say: all good things must come to an end. Also, The Cave was actually only kind of all right, so maybe this is for the best. But what’s next for the man they call “RonnyG” (and I guess also Grumpy Gamer)? Solve a series of increasingly obtuse puzzles to get past the break for more. Hint: the first one involves clicking. And also a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle. (more…)
- Ron Gilbert leaves Double Fine to plot his next move - 12 March 2013
Legendary game designer Ron Gilbert has announced his departure from Double Fine Productions, following the release of The Cave. Gibert made the announcement in a blog post earlier today, posting that there are "so many games left to be designed". He's currently working on "another iOS side project" with Clayton Kauzlaric called (take a deep breath) Scurvy Scallywags in The Voyage to Discover the Ultimate Sea Shanty: A Musical Match-3 Pirate RPG. Gilbert joined Double Fine in 2010 at the invitation of the studio's founder Tim Schafer. Gilbert and Schafer collaborated on several titles at LucasArts including Day of the Tentacle - which was a sequel to the Gilbert-created Maniac Mansion. "I want to thank all the amazing people at Double Fine for all their hard work on The Cave," Gilbert wrote in the announcement. "It was a true pleasure to work with every one of them over the past two yea…
- The Cave Updated - 12 February 2013
Update Includes: - Added new, super high quality anti-aliasing – Super Sample Anti Aliasing. Users can enable it by toggling “SSAA” in the visual settings. - Lots of fixes to various gameplay bugs that could cause characters or items to go missing, especially after loading from saves in certain spots. - Fixed the bug that could cause the game to very rarely write out garbage/invalid save files.
- The Cave review - 30 January 2013
A Knight, a Scientist and a Time Traveller walk into a cave. Somehow, that feels like it should lead to a joke - especially in a game by Monkey Island creator Ron Gilbert. It doesn’t, but that’s not in itself a problem. The Cave has a definite dark sense of humour, but it’s not a comedy. Instead, it’s a laidback tragedy about seven sinners on a search for their deepest desires, only to find their fatal flaws waiting for them instead. A series of light morality plays written to educate and entertain. And, sadly, a really quite dull platform game. Focusing on that bit feels mean, but it can’t be helped – not least because there’s little that’s more depressing than playing an obvious labour of love that doesn’t pull it off. The ideas behind The Cave are great, it looks delicious, especially in motion, and no creative expense has been spared in charting this allegorical labyrinth. Even with…
- The Characters From The Cave, Now Available In Charming Toy Form - 29 January 2013
The characters are the highlight of Double Fine's new adventure game The Cave . Seven wanderers, each with his or her own selfish journey to undertake (and lesson to learn), each drawn in the game's groovy art style . If you're a fan of the game (like Tina came to be when she reviewed it ), you might want to check out these Cave toys that Double Fine is selling. You can get one for $5, or a full set for $35. Here's The Cave creator Ron Gilbert sizing 'em up: I have enough collectible tchotchkes to last a lifetime, but I wouldn't say no to those creepy twins…
- Play The Cave. You'll See Awesome Art Like This. - 25 January 2013
If you've been playing Double Fine's The Cave —and Tina says you probably should be —you'll have noticed the lush cave paintings you come across depicting the game's seven characters. They're the work of Daniel Krall, and there's so much colour you could drown in it. You can see more of Daniel's art on his personal blog . To see the larger pics in all their glory (or, if they're big enough, so you can save them as wallpaper), right-click on them below and select "open in new tab". Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists, showcasing the best of both their professional and personal portfolios. If you're in the business and have some concept, environment, promotional or character art you'd like to share, drop us a line !
- Wot I Think: The Cave - 24 January 2013
We’d strongly hoped to bring you a review of the PC build of The Cave before now. Now the PC version is unlocked, and we’ve finally been able to play it, I’m able to tell you wot I think. And the strangest thing? The PC code is significantly better than the dodgy 360 version, making it all the more mysterious that it was kept from us. (more…)
- Now Available - The Cave - 23 January 2013
The Cave is Now Available on Steam! Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities and stories, then descend into the mysterious depths to explore locations including a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready-to-launch nuclear tipped ICBM. The Cave awaits! The Cave is a new adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend.
- Pre-Purchase Now - The Cave - 10 January 2013
The Cave is Now Available for Pre-Purchase on Steam! Pre-Purchase and receive 3 items to use in Team Fortress 2! Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities and stories, then descend into the mysterious depths to explore locations including a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready-to-launch nuclear tipped ICBM. The Cave awaits! The Cave is a new adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend.
