TIGSource Forums

Walker & Silhouette is an Interactive Fiction game that's playable solely using single word commands that are highlighted in the text.  In action it looks kind of like this:


Arguably the format favours something that's more story than game, but various scenes experiment in using the system for conversation, puzzle solving, investigating the environment and even a boss fight.

Feedback it up, TIGSoids
I've been working on Walker & Silhouette since about April, and it's already been through a few rounds of testing - but I can't shake the feeling that there's still a few bugs and mistakes in there, and I remembered how you guys managed to find a serious bug in Gun Mute, the last game I posted here, so...   :)

Although at this late point I'm not going to make any real changes to the game other than straightforward fixes, I am interested in doing more stuff in this style, probably with the same characters - so I'll be happy to hear any more general thoughts and criticisms you may have.

Download this thing:

http://cejpacian.googlepages.com/WalkerSilhouette.zip (http://cejpacian.googlepages.com/WalkerSilhouette.zip)
http://www.box.net/shared/hmk76jo1p8 (http://www.box.net/shared/hmk76jo1p8)

The game's playable on Windows, Mac and Linux.  The instructions in the zip should get you started (if they don't - tell me about it!  :P)

I haven't played enough of it to give proper feedback yet, but I really like it so far. I loved the bit where Ivy makes excuses for not noticing the writing desk earlier.

EDIT: I found a minor glitch. In the scene where the squid grabs you, if you click on the memo canister in Ivy's inventory, then the game will think you are referring to the canister full of sea water.

EDIT 2: Finished, and I got all the awards! I'd definitely like to see more 'episodes' in this story if that's what you're thinking of doing. I think they could benefit from being a bit longer, though - this one didn't quite feel like a real 'investigation' story because it was over so quickly. Would be nice to have a little more freedom as well i.e. being able to travel between locations. But I understand that this might run counter to the 'guided' style of play that you're going for.

Aha!  Yes, I'm afraid that's unavoidable at the moment due to the way my hacky keyword system breaks the TADS parser.  Ideally it should say, "Which canister do you mean..." etc.


It doesn't help that half of the game is actually just introducing the characters - something which further episodes wouldn't need.  Having said that, I'm not much of a mystery writer.  I think I'm always going to focus on Nate and Ivy and crazy action scenes, because that's what I'm best at...


It's certainly something that's been on the drawing board even for this one. I love exploration and setting in games - but at the same time I think my chief concern is always going to be not giving the player too much rope to hang themselves with.

Heh, it did say that at one point: "Which canister do you mean, the canister or the canister?"

Why haven't more people played (okay, commented) this?
It's great so far, which is to be expected, so show some love people! :)

It is great, however I tested it before release...I always feel like if I keep praising a game I tested after it's released the creator won't believe me.  :)

However Pacian has hinted there may be more games with these characters, so I'm looking forward to that!

Thanks, you two.

Yeah, quite a few TIGSourcers have already seen the game elsewhere, and I'm also quite confident by now that it can't be too broken.  ;)

And since the topic is alive again:


I've fixed this by removing the canister from Ivy's inventory at the end of the chapter it appears in, something I was already doing for another troublesome object.  I've added a credit for you in the manual, William.   :)

Oh my goodness, since December NINE? Thanks for the bumpitty, Jimbob. Would've hated to miss this. Downloading now, feedback later!