Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Sleuth : Shades of Mystery

Jan-26-2008 16:43
(sticky post)

We've officially lifted the non-disclosure agreement for testers who have been taking part in the closed Sleuth : Shades of Mystery beta tests. I'm hoping a few of them will post here with some of the impressions so you can all get a picture of where the game is and where it is headed.

I'm sorry it was necessary to ask them to keep their mouths zipped up until now, but I didn't want anybody to get wrong impressions about what the finished game will be like by basing their opinions on an early version.

Also, we will be switching to an open beta test very soon, so everyone who is interested won't have to wait much longer before trying things out.

Jan-28-2008 02:53

I agree with Greebo's earlier sentiment that the jerky camera angles can make your eyes go buggy at times.

That said, the skills and contacts blend really well together, and I can already see the potential direction the game will go when they add the ability to have and decorate an appartment.

The cases do take much longer to go through than the original sleuth noir cases, but the speed at which you advance compensates well for the time factor. I love the original, but despite my issue with the camera, I think I'll end up spending my time on SoM.

Jan-28-2008 06:25

How very odd RAN that you feel SOM doesn't feel like a scene to be interacted with while you feel that way about Noir.. I have always felt very uninvolved in the case stories of Noir, while in SoM I feel more a part of the investigation. (And before anyone thinks that this is a criticism of what Ran said, it is not. It is merely meant to show how two people can view the same thing very differently.) The interactions with the townspeople along with the skill building allow, in my opinion, more control in shaping your detective.
As far as role playing is concerned, I have a feeling that those interested in that aspect will find a way to enjoy it in SoM.
I do agree that those with lots of time to play SoM will end up on the top of the high score boards..but then again even with case limits per day in Noir the one's with the time to put into the game are the ones who are on top.

Jan-28-2008 07:32

Shell, I think my impression comes from the reading in Noir and the watching in SoM.

Noir feels like I am reading a short story, working a puzzle at the same time.

SoM feels like I am playing a video game and keeping notes on the side about what is happening.

I do agree that the new ways of developing a detective are much more varied that Noir and will do well in helping each person feel unique.

Jan-28-2008 09:17

I know I will stick with Noir.

The main reason are that while it takes quite some time to solve the cases and advance in Noir, but in SoM, it felt like you were advancing slower, and the cases took longer. And, the short time I tested SoM before I just had got enough, I could not even know that I would be allowed to do cases on the hardest level "opened" all the time. When I had come to intermediate, I some times had options to choose just between easies.
While it might be like this in real life, it's different in a game where much are based on advancing.

You might find it fun to search a crime scene or a home the first 20 times, but then it becomes like routine. Oh, yea, that piece of furniture, it's got a space for somthing there, and one (always only one) drawer you can open there..... And, this furniture piece don't have a drawer, even though it looks like it... - and see, I have found the footprint, the handprint, the handwriting, the clothes, the comb/brush, the tobacco or lipstick stain, and there was no extra notes or keys, well, done with that "house".

When you have a game that's mostly routine, and it quickly becomes like that both in Noir and SoM, then you need something that is able to speed the process, as just repetition are not that fun. With Noir I was able to make a program that took care of most of the booring repetition work, but I am not sure if it would be equally easy to do with a flash component.

And, if the character creation system are not drastically improved since I had a look....No.... I accept that I cannot "create me" in Noir, but to make something that have similarities, but still not are me.... :-(, it's just to mock me.

I know that I will either stick with Noir, or none. If the Noir community will be depleeted too much, and Admin will use most of his time on SoM, since it's more new and fun, well, then perhaps I won't be anyplace....

Jan-28-2008 11:44

I'll be staying with Noir too. I agree about the camera angles but its the almost mindless point and clicks that drove me batty. You have to do some thinking in SOM but not as much as in Noir. I crave deductive reasoning puzzles, SOM doesn't fill that need for me.

I'll just continue to play a little Nancy Drew or the equivilant on the side to remind me what decade I'm living in ;)

Jan-28-2008 12:19

I agree Sophie4 :-)
If I want to have something "newer" rather than the text-based Sleuth Noir, then I will play Nancy Drew or something similar, where the point-and-click thing are more integrated into specially crafted puzzles. This SoM thing, where the pointing-and-clicking are just a routine task of getting the evidence from a "home", and you have little variation in what you find.... - it's an interesting way of trying something new, but in my mind it was a failed experiment.

Then, I am happy to read that there are quite some who simply love SoM. It's good to see that the effort Ben has put into the new game seems to pay off, even though I am not entusiastic.

Jan-28-2008 18:01

wow, I didn't even know this post was here until today. Been a bit busy here on Noir so haven't really given it a fair shake quite yet. Like others have said, I like the deductive reason that Noir offers, therefore I think I prefer Noir. However that will not deter me from giving SoM a fair shake. There is still more aspects of the game I don't know about and will check them out during the next set of testing. At this point the jury is out for me, but I'm still looking at it with an open mind

Jan-28-2008 22:17

I have the same question Venulia initially had. When will the open testing start. I signed up for beta testing, but I may not have submitted something properly. Waiting for the game to be ready was enough anticipation.
And, now, after reading the pros and cons reviews, it's even worse.

Jan-28-2008 22:55

Well, I've been testing about the same time Jojo has... I can honestly say... we're testers so advancing was not our main issue in the beginning... and sure, it was difficult at first, but with lots of feedback and "begging", we were able to progress quicker. When it goes live, it should be really neat and fun to play.

However... SoM is not for everyone. That should be the "disclaimer"... lol. On a serious note, it's true, SoM isn't for everyone. Some may not like the motions... some may not like the set up... and others just may not want to try anything new. For whatever reason, I suggest that it gets a fair chance. Many of the posts prior to mine have all different aspects. I may look at some things differently than the person next to me, but all in all, I think this is pretty objective as far as views go. It's a great way to get all types of audiences.

Feb-11-2008 14:52

I tried playing SoM as a beta and quite honestly became frustrated by it.
I will be staying on Noir and hope for updates and upgrades in this game.