Blog for Keith Nemitz at GarageGames.com

[Feedback Req.] Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!

Keith Nemitz — 2007-07-09T16:45:16+00:00

Hi,

Mousechief Co. has some new mischief for your mouse. Please try this extended demo, and help us make a better game. I added a list of our questions and concerns at the end of this post.

About the game: This is our fantasy RPG of social satire. The interface metaphor is a vintage, parlor boardgame. I like to think it's something you found in your great-grandmother's attic. I also hope you'll forgive your great-grandmother if she ever did anything like what happens in this game.

Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!
(In the 1920s, small town USA was never this fantastic.)

FYI: PC version probably doesn't work under VISTA!
This extended demo goes beyond what will be available in the trial version. The game expires at the end of July. Expect a little rough reading. We can't afford proofreading until near the end of development.

Download Links: (13MB) (Min. Sys: 500Mhz CPU, 128MB RAM, 40MB HD, 32bit screen - 800x600)
PC Version

Macintosh Version

Please help us with the following, after playing the game:

Did you have fun?
How far did you play?
How comfortable were you at learning the various, little games?
Were the goals clear and compelling?
At what point were you drawn into the story? Never?
Is this your kind of game?
Could it ever become your kind of game? How?
What do you typically play for interactive story goodness? (yes, RPGs, platform adventures and even FPSs like Half Life counts... :-)

What did we do wrong?
What did we do right?

What do you REALLY want to tell us about 'Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble'?

thank you,

Keith Nemitz
Mousechief Co.
www.mousechief.com

Monday Dec 12 18:51

Keith Nemitz — 2005-12-12T18:51:33+00:00

IGF Finalist for the second time? Mousechief isn't resting on it laurels. Announcing new game! Check the whole story out at: www.mousechief.com

Mousechief is psyched to have their 'hen flick' adventure game, 'The Witch's Yarn', picked as an IGF Finalist. Regardless of how fair/lame/random the process may seem to some, I personally think CMP has their heart in the right place. The indie scene is a swift target moving all over the terrain of platforms and audiences. While I'm personally not thrilled at the loss of a 'downloadable' category, and the pigeonhole method for nominees worries me, but at least they're trying different things.

We aren't letting the moss grow either. Mousechief would like to announce their upcoming game,'Dangerous High School Girls, in Trouble!'. There's a one page description accessible through our website: www.mousechief.com It should ship for PC and Mac next summer. Until then we would greatly appreciate the GG community's feedback and suggestions. It's early enough to evolve the design to some degree, but in a month we'll lock it down.

Briefly, it's like 3 in 3, Fool's Errand, and Puzzle Pirates with a very thick wrapping of RPG/adventure gaming. In 1920s USA, lead a band of high-spirited girls against the oppression and intolerance of their hometown. It has lots of wacky characters to interact with. It offers a variety of contextually designed mini-games you can pick to resolve confrontations: Outwit, Expose, Lie, Flirt, Taunt, Gamble... Win useful items. Level-up your girls. (Hey, isn't that illegal in six states?)

Check it out.

Keith Nemitz
Ordinauteur
www.mousechief.com

Saturday Mar 5 6:08

Keith Nemitz — 2005-03-05T06:08:52+00:00

Game developer case study, Tuesday night.

Game developers, newbies, and wannabies are cordially invited to attend a gathering of minds and case study of an independent project.

It will be held next Tues. night at the SF Apple Store theater. 3 blocks from the GDC. Here are the details:

http://www.mousechief.com/gamesta.jpg

There will be time afterwards to socialize.

Keith Nemitz
Mousechief Co.
www.mousechief.com

Saturday Dec 11 23:08

Keith Nemitz — 2004-12-11T23:08:22+00:00

YEAH!! Just shipped the Macintosh version of The Witch's Yarn Now I have to begin marketing the press release to mac friendly web sites. Too bad the Windows version is stuck, waiting for a third party library to ship. At least this way, I can concentrate my marketing efforts.

I'm appending a current draft of my Press Release. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Also, what portal sites would be best to sell the game to Mac people? Please advise.

The release:

Mousechief Tickles the Web with The Witch's Yarn

Emeryville, CA, Dec 13, 2004 -- Mousechief (www.mousechief.com) proudly releases, The Witch's Yarn, the first adventure game developed specifically for the downloadable market. Tired of clones and renovations? Finally, there's something new to play instead of puzzlers and simple action games. Isn't it time to wrap yourself up in a rich, delightful story?

The Witch's Yarn tells an upbeat tale of modern living served with a lighthearted dish of fantasy. Although suitable for audiences of all ages, adults will fully appreciate its humor and situations. It is a story about relationships, community, self-empowerment, and simple living. Challenges in the game arise from the very same issues but present themselves by adding to, not interrupting, the story.

Built with the CineProse(tm) adventure engine, YOU decide what happens, how the plot thickens, and most importantly, how it ends. Combining the best of movies, live theater, and the written word, the CineProse experience is a wonderful new, interactive entertainment!

Anyone who likes to sink into a pile of couch cushions for "a good read" will enjoy this humor-filled tale about making a new life in unfamiliar territory. Play for one minute or one hour. The Witch's Yarn was designed to be as easy to pick up and enjoy as reading a book.

Versions for Macintosh and Windows are available immediately for free download. After previewing the first two chapters, unlock the full game for $19.95 (USD).

One published review had this to say, "...provides very innovative game play that will likely get this game noticed. ...I think it is something that everyone can appreciate."

The Witch's Yarn can be securely downloaded at http://www.witchsyarn.com/

Registered users are entitled to unlimited play, free updates and technical support.

About Mousechief Co.

Founded in 2003, Mousechief is lead by a 12 year veteran of the computer gaming industry. We believe that current adventure games do not address the constraints of the casual game market. In our user testing, the majority of a sample population was unable to perform basic control over the main character. That's why we re-invented the genre specifically for this market. Thus, the CineProse style of adventure game was born. Subsequent testing of computer novices showed that 100% of ages 8 to 78 were able to pick up and play The Witch's Yarn.

Working with art talents from famous jazz musicians to highly skilled illustrators, Mousechief crafts unique, fun-filled experiences for the casual game market. Our games will delight your senses as much as they will expand your heart. We make play worthwhile.

# # #

For more information about The Witch's Yarn:

Contact: Keith Nemitz
Company: Mousechief Co.
E-mail: chief@mousechief.com

Company site: http://www.Mousechief.com/
Company logo: http://www.Mousechief.com/mousechief_logo2.png

Game site: http://www.TheWitchsYarn.com/
Game logo: http://www.Mousechief.com/wheel.png

Screenshots:
http://www.TheWitchsYarn.com/ss1.html
http://www.TheWitchsYarn.com/ss2.html
http://www.TheWitchsYarn.com/ss3.html
http://www.TheWitchsYarn.com/ss4.html

PC download: http://p4.hostingprod.com/@mousechief.com/TheWitchsYarn.zip
Mac download: http://p4.hostingprod.com/@mousechief.com/TheWitchsYarn.dmg

Wednesday Jun 2 0:37

Keith Nemitz — 2004-06-02T00:37:26+00:00

Current activity on game: Prepare to ship the product on Dec 10, 2004. Install last eight poses. Prepare for final testing. Build final candidates. Current activity for publication: Install purchase systems for self-publication. Install web pages for self publishing. Continue negotiations with [undisclosable] publisher/distributor(s). Prepare promotional materials.

'The Witch's Yarn' is a new kind of adventure game using an original and now patent pending user interface. Direct-Nject allows the least sophisticated of computer users to enjoy the full richness of branching narrative games.

CineProse is the inexpensive presentation system that lets 'The Witch's Yarn' be profitable as a downloadable game.

Full Plan

- Create an adventure game for the emerging downloadable market.

- Invent a user interface for unsophisticated computer users.

- Choose cross-platform development system.

- Emphasis on ease of development. (python and pygame used)

- Implement an engaging but inexpensive presentation system.

- Write a fun, branching story.

- Design challenging gameplay that does not frustrate the player.

- Create scripting language tailored to gameplay. (looks like a screenplay)

- Make sure the story is still intact after implementing gameplay.

- Find independent musicians for the soundtrack. License their music.

- Find a talented but hungry illustrator. Prepare to be very patient.

- Use the services of an established sound engineer. Try not to worry that he lives in Belgium.

- Do NOT be cheap about testing and proofreading.

- Be sure to finish the product.