Meh !

[Video Game Review] World of Goo - A Precious Gem

Scribbled on Thursday, November 13th, 2008

What is World of Goo ?

It’s one of those games which make you think out of the box. A three developer wonder and a new milestone in games_can_be_awesome_without_big_budget_and_gluttonous_publishers.

Should you get it ?

Yep, a must play game for all. From school going kids to your Grandpa, everyone will like it and enjoy it. Show some love to developers too.

Promote it !

If you liked it then please digg about it or stumble about it or blog about it

Please note, I’m not affiliated or given money to write about it.

How is the game ?

Let me answer it in five points.

• It’s awesome
• It’s radical
• It’s innovative
• It’s music to ears
• It’s least tedious

How is the gameplay ?

Simply a mouse is needed to play the game. Just point, click and drag the Goo balls. It’s that simple. But can be quite brain twisting at times, though nothing like brain fcuking.

If you are not good in basic principles of physics then you will suck at it. Fear not, you don’t need a degree to finish it.

There are around 48 levels to enjoy.

What are the hardware requirements ?

It will virtually run on every machine which is not pathetic enough.

Though if you are skeptic then download the demo for Windows or Mac. There is Linux version coming soon too :W00t:

Good things about World of Goo from a Geek’s perspective ?

• No whacky DRM (Digital Restriction management) and no codes to fill in. Just an exe file to install and play anytime, when you wish and where you wish.
• It uses various open source technologies to bring you the best. Open Dynamics Engine for physics, irrKlang for sound, TinyXML for configuration of animation and some other too.
• Ogg format is used for sound files, which means you don’t have to pay a royalty in addition to it’s actual price.
• Almost every resource can be found in World of Goo directory inside Program Files which is fortunately not packed into some encrypted archive format. Even the whole Sound Track files are intact in ogg format.
• Developer showed some love for PCs and released it for Windows, Mac and Linux (soon to be released). Though a Wii version is too released. But there are no XBOX 3sh!tty or PeeS 3 versions. It feels so good that PCs are not given step motherly treatment by some developers.

Can I play it on Linux ?

Yes, though there is no Linux version released till now, It will be released soon as promised by developers.

But you can use WINE to install the Windows version in Linux and play it. Yes it works perfectly fine and the performance is same as tested by me. I played it on Ubuntu 8.04 - Hardy Heron with WINE.

Instead it is a pleasure to play it in Linux. Why ? Let me quote two good reasons. Please don’t take it as a flame bait, it’s just my observation and not any rant.

You can always take screenshot with Print Screen Key in Linux. But in Windows XP you have to first press Print Screen key and then paste it in MS Paint to get the screenshot or get Fraps/other third party addon to do the job.

Alt + Tab doesn’t work well and if it works then too the game gets minimized and swapped at times to virtual memory. But in Linux I just switched (Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys) to another Virtual Desktop and was simultaneously checking my downloads and browser to see updates about blogs, the game was still running on previous Virtual Desktop. Though you can get third party Virtual Desktop applications for Windows too.

Here are some Screeshots !

Useful Links !

• Tower of Goo

• Experimental GamePlay

• 2D Boy !

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