Thread by @alienmelon

Some games that I've been introduced to (or re-introduced to lol) these past couple of weeks that inspired a few interesting discussions since.
I'm sharing here, in no particular order, because it might inspire you too!
(includes observations about comedy in games at the end)

The Wacky World of Miniature Golf

this one inspired a few really fun conversations.
it's funny but in a unique way. also the exaggerated cartoon style.

The Bizarre Adventures of Woodruff and the Schnibble

i played this so much way back. i feel like it's been unfairly forgotten. it's a strange, and different experience. worth checking out.

Armed & Delirious
part 1:
part 2:
this one is absolutely fascinating and intriguing. i love this one. the art style, and dialogue, it's so non-pretentiously honestly "off".

Arcade America

up till this point i've had interesting talks about the cartoon style mixed with the bizarre... i remember old-school games doing that a lot but it kind of got lost in the discussion. most of what i have to say rn will not fit into a tweet.

Quarantine

i played this one when it was new. i loved it (still do). it was strange and different. still is.

Realms of The Haunting

ZPC (Zero Population Count)

i remember this when it first came out and totally forgot about it. it's an interesting one.

Normality

actually vaguely remember playing this a long time ago. seeing it again is kind of inspiring because it's still so unique.

Cyberdillo

liz showed me most of these last weekend. this one is also really intriguing especially for its visual style.

observations:
what i love about these sort of things is how easily games become bizarre, sometimes unintentionally.
especially with jokes. certain comical settings that would be understandable, or accessible, in other mediums tend to turn into a fever dream when put in games. 1/5

it's really fascinating when you think of the ways jokes have to be incorporated differently in order to stay jokes, and not become "bizarre".
just giving it a cartoon aesthetic is not enough to communicate comedy. 2/5

when you make a game that relies mostly on writing to communicate jokes, it will work, and that's one thing, but deviating into other delivery systems that usually work for comedy (like exaggerated characters, interactions, and environments) makes it more weird than funny. 3/5

i've thought about this a lot. like if you would take any SNL skit & place a player into it, the reaction would more than likely be "wtf this game is weird".
you have to do a lot more to communicate humor otherwise it leans into the area of surrealism and bizarre. 4/5

i've observed this a lot with my other work (since i approach that as comedy or a joke). it would be funny as linear entertainment, but as interactive there's so much more you have to do to properly communicate that this is a joke.
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