tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post4587786342034707507..comments2024-03-19T06:03:57.317-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 249: L'Anneau de Zengara (1987)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-81839480915650138782022-07-14T06:06:34.096-04:002022-07-14T06:06:34.096-04:00Depends on the context / environment. When staying...Depends on the context / environment. When staying in a country of my native language where most persons and things around me use it, that's the default. But if I spend some time in another country the language of which I'm sufficiently fluent in (and not just surrounded by expats speaking something else), then it can switch in many situations.<br /><br />And on the previous thread subject, I also prefer to play games in their original language if I feel I have sufficient command of it to get me through them (maybe with the occasional internet help on translation or cultural refetences) since some things just can get lost in translation. Same for movies/series and books.<br /><br />Though sometimes translators get impressively creative. My favourite example is the Tomato joke in "Pulp Fiction" ("Ketchup" / "Catch up!" - a wordplay that does not work in other languages) which in the French version is told using lemons instead ("Presse-toi!").Buscanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-4825251639381299902022-03-14T20:36:21.384-04:002022-03-14T20:36:21.384-04:00This will probably never be seen by the commenter ...This will probably never be seen by the commenter above, but anyone who speaks multiple languages fluently, which language do you think in? Your native language or a different one?Zack Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18077050078436768492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91506598929176422552017-12-24T20:36:01.983-05:002017-12-24T20:36:01.983-05:00I'm completely the opposite myself. I'm Fi...I'm completely the opposite myself. I'm Finnish, but I've always preferred English over localizations. Even when I was younger. Granted, I had acquired quite good working knowledge of the language at an early age through constant exposure, and by the time I was 14 or so I had switched to even reading books from the English section at the local library. That computer games were never localized to my language (and pretty much still never are) was of no impact to me (other than to keep help improving my language skills even further :P).<br /><br />These days English is completely my preferred working language and I even write fiction in English by choice. (Actually, admittedly, the relative levels of practice means that I am more eloquent in English than I am in my native tongue. I have come across situations where I know how to express my thoughts in English only and then have to pause and ponder how to translate the thought into Finnish. I am frankly unsure whether or not I should be distressed by that...)Viilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49416420892274236612017-05-23T20:52:06.069-04:002017-05-23T20:52:06.069-04:00There is someone I've heard of nominated for w...There is someone I've heard of nominated for worst GM of all time award. He traps the party on a room and to get out they have to solve a riddle. They get stuck. Between sessions they get help on internet forums so they are arriving with lots of answers. Weeks of gaming sessions pass, they finally admit defeat, and the DM declares they starve to death and won't tell them the answer as he might want to use that rifle again.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-47295324714843829182017-05-23T20:47:13.126-04:002017-05-23T20:47:13.126-04:00Mag: Depends entirely on the game. AD&D, OD&am...Mag: Depends entirely on the game. AD&D, OD&D? Yes. There is lots of talk about how you were basically disposable until 3rd level. <br /><br />3.X? Less so. 4e? Not at all. Haven't played enough 5e to tell.<br /><br />Other games? Heavily variable. Before the 90s? Probably. The current batch of story RPGs? Probably not.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12818526307599882582017-05-12T12:33:31.909-04:002017-05-12T12:33:31.909-04:00The comment about hint books is interesting, and I...The comment about hint books is interesting, and I think that may actually have been a significant part of it, at least for established producers. I read that interview with the authors of Disciples of Steel (I think that was it) who said they sold more copies of the hint guide than of the game itself. It may have been a means of generating additional revenue. Not saying it's good game design, but it's certainly possible that they were considering hint book sales, at least for some games (probably not this one).<br /><br />I know my dad bought the hint book for Eye of the Beholder when it came out.Salathornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-81783749265113492912017-05-12T12:30:03.939-04:002017-05-12T12:30:03.939-04:00Maybe it loses a lot of flavor to play an "im...Maybe it loses a lot of flavor to play an "immersive" game in a foreign language. I know that more French people speak English than Americans speak French, but if my only option was to play games in French I couldn't do it.Salathornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-71094323217154668152017-05-11T04:39:41.277-04:002017-05-11T04:39:41.277-04:00The winning screen is also adapted from a Conan co...The winning screen is also adapted from a Conan comic from Marvel; I don't know exactly which (could be the color Conan the Barbarian or the black and white Savage Sword of Conan), but that's obviously (to a comics fan like me :) ) the late John Buscema's art.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10155410179950267253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79879959168740738622017-05-08T06:40:39.130-04:002017-05-08T06:40:39.130-04:00Wow, these screenshots lool really nice. I'd e...Wow, these screenshots lool really nice. I'd even consider them to be the best from all games that Chet played up till now.Mag Wielki i Szelkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807838665939928892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-8233327530579059882017-05-08T05:22:59.751-04:002017-05-08T05:22:59.751-04:00I finished "fer et flammes" and written ...I finished "fer et flammes" and written a full guide with the solution. The version we played was totaly corrupted (places missing, unable to feed the characters) there's a link to the working disks.<br /><br />http://www.grospixels.com/site/fer.php (in french)Arnaudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10953773873381864242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-37988968334034425942017-05-07T02:42:40.012-04:002017-05-07T02:42:40.012-04:00"Lots of people buy their coffin while still ..."Lots of people buy their coffin while still living." Not so often that you can't basically get what the riddle is going for, especially extrapolated to a medieval society. I didn't think the riddle was unfair, particularly since the first translation I tried (<i>cercueil</i>) worked instantly.<br /><br />I rather like the occasional riddle in an RPG, but would generally prefer there was some way around it rather than an absolute blockage to passage.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-31538019364954268082017-05-05T14:54:39.335-04:002017-05-05T14:54:39.335-04:00To Salathor:
The old Arkania Trilogy you are prob...To Salathor:<br /><br />The old Arkania Trilogy you are probably referring to is definitely something I'd recommend - though I'm perhaps a tiny bit biased. ;) The first one is arguably the weakest part of the trilogy, but still a nice game if you can handle its clunkiness.<br /><br />There's a new, revised edition with more or less modern graphics, but that is widely regarded as an inferior, buggy product (though it has been patched extensively).<br /><br />For anyone interested in Dark Eye games, there are also a couple of modern ones:<br /><br />The only proper RPG among them is Drakensang, but there's also the Blackguard series (focussing more on tactical combat) and Demonicon (a darker, grittier action RPG vaguely similar to Witcher ... though definitely not in the same league). <br /><br />Finally there are Chains of Satinav and its sequel Memoria which I consider to be great and really atmospheric point and click adventure games. <br /><br />I think that pretty much sums it up apart from obscure mobile games and similar stuff. :)Knurrhahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-9765964933127351632017-05-05T09:13:31.412-04:002017-05-05T09:13:31.412-04:00No offense, though, why "yuck"? Seems pr...No offense, though, why "yuck"? Seems pretty self-defeating.hnrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-13445342577804865402017-05-05T09:01:40.322-04:002017-05-05T09:01:40.322-04:00Those were desperate times for french crpg-lovers....Those were desperate times for french crpg-lovers. Most games of the time were in english (yuck)and rare was the game with proper localisation. Desperate times call for desperate measures. One of them was Zengara.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-7894207389493490412017-05-04T16:56:58.507-04:002017-05-04T16:56:58.507-04:00Honestly my impression is that basically in all pe...Honestly my impression is that basically in all pen and paper RPGs starting characters, if not created by experienced power player, are absurdly vulnerable. I must have lost a few dozen characters in first fight, which translates to first hour of game, which in turns in worst case meant around 3 characters per "session". Not always of course, but not it wasn't that rare.Mag Wielki i Szelkihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807838665939928892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65873542954796035232017-05-04T16:54:50.968-04:002017-05-04T16:54:50.968-04:00Me and my friends used to "hotseat" game...Me and my friends used to "hotseat" games together so one would continue when the other died or was otherwise stymied. It worked pretty well most times. Also it gave me a taste for watching games like movies!Mayhaymnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22004855844234858742017-05-04T15:25:55.988-04:002017-05-04T15:25:55.988-04:00Hi Malte,
I just wanted to say that the game flow...Hi Malte,<br /><br />I just wanted to say that the game flow you describe sounds an AWFUL lot like early edition low level dungeons and dragons. My wife and I are playing a Labyrinth Lord (clone of first edition dnd) game and most low level characters are literally one hit from death most of the time.<br /><br />That said, the dark eye is really intriguing to me (more so now that you describe it) and I am waiting to find the Arkania(?) first person RPGs on sale and snap them up. Maybe I'll wait until the Addict gets there and play along! Have you ever tried it?Salathornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-69966793569169442822017-05-04T13:20:45.157-04:002017-05-04T13:20:45.157-04:00Good job both to Malte and Cowbranch! :) I remembe...Good job both to Malte and Cowbranch! :) I remember that there was something about riddles in 'Werkzeuge' ... but no specific riddle. Very interesting - especially in the light of what Malte described about The Dark Eye in France which indeed fits very well to this game and its scenario.Knurrhahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-21756833804770948142017-05-04T03:20:52.696-04:002017-05-04T03:20:52.696-04:00At the time, actually solving and finishing a game...At the time, actually solving and finishing a game was a major feat most of the time, especially in the case of RPG and adventures. If you managed to finish a tough game, you where basically the king of the classroom.<br /><br />This is why hintbooks, cheats, secrets and gaming magazines publishing these things where huge at the time, too. And if none of this helped you, you could alawys ask your friends for advice. Back in the day, gaming brought people together, one way or another.Steve Weidighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18364340751762357858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-56428944410155741902017-05-04T01:19:05.520-04:002017-05-04T01:19:05.520-04:00'Fouiller' translates exactly to 'rumm...'Fouiller' translates exactly to 'rummage' in terms of nuance. 'Chercher' translates exactly to 'search', and 'Regarder' for 'look'. However, the common uses of the terms often translate differently, as we usually say 'I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find it!' but in French you would say 'J'ai fouillé partout, mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé!' in the same context, as you normally wouldn't say 'I rummaged everywhere...', at least not in Canada. :)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-55620115257476903592017-05-03T18:52:49.776-04:002017-05-03T18:52:49.776-04:00I love that we have plenty of well-documented, wel...I love that we have plenty of well-documented, well-known American RPGs whose origins are nonetheless impenetrable, but you all managed to identify the source of every element in this obscure French title in 2 days.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-70613115026700528822017-05-03T16:11:19.536-04:002017-05-03T16:11:19.536-04:00I think you're making some really good points ...I think you're making some really good points there, Malte!<br /><br />And now that you've mentioned it - the "If I see it, it is not for me" riddle is actually included in the 'Werkzeuge' booklet, if I remember correctly. Coincidence?CowBranchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67325898225166315442017-05-03T15:35:03.642-04:002017-05-03T15:35:03.642-04:00I also recognize the same old friend from the 1980...I also recognize the same old friend from the 1980s in that orc picture. :-) If you know a bit more about the history of pen-and-paper RPGs in Europe, this makes a lot of sense.<br /><br />The Dark Eye was very successful in France back in the day. As far as I know, France was the one country beyond the German-speaking countries from which The Dark Eye originated where it was a big success, in the sense of: the best-selling pen-and-paper RPG by far, with D&D and friends very niche in comparison.<br /><br />With few CRPGs available, I think the RPG experience of the developers might have been shaped far more by (pen and paper) The Dark Eye than CRPGs, and I think this shows in more than just the orc portrait.<br /><br />Compared to other CRPGs, this one has oddly few battles and seems much more low-key. OK, it is about escaping eternal punishment, which is perhaps not so low-key, but this aspect was apparently stolen from Conan and doesn't seem to have much impact on the actual "adventure" that the hero faces. The actual story is merely "explore a few rooms in a thief's mansion, win a few battles, solve a few riddles, and overcome the thief", which would well fit the scope of a typical short pen-and-paper Dark Eye module of the day and feels like it has the right level of challenge for a Dark Eye story.<br /><br />Where D&D, with its wargaming roots, was always geared towards major battles, deadly megadungeons and rapid growth in power, The Dark Eye cultivated more of an "everyday" feel where a typical pen-and-paper session might perhaps involve 2-3 fights, roughly of the scope of the fights in this game (e.g. a group of PCs facing a werewolf would be a big deal), wounded characters would need a week or so to recover after a single tough fight, mages might cast perhaps 3-4 spells in a gaming session and then also need a week to recover, etc. Think more you're role-playing the hobbits in the Lord of the Rings rather than Aragorn and Gandalf.<br /><br />At least to my mind, this explains to some extent how a game with such weirdly (for our CRPG expectations) few fights and comparatively banal challenges might be considered a completely adequate game by its author. It is of course not, because "one single-session P&P RPG module = one computer game" simply doesn't work, but I can see where the author is coming from.<br /><br />Also, classical riddles were a staple in The Dark Eye. If I recall correctly, the "Werkzeuge des Meisters" expansion mentioned in one of the comments above included one book that had a long section on classical riddles that the game master could use to challenge the PCs. Of course, such riddles work much better in a pen-and-paper game where it's always possible to improvise if the players don't manage to solve it.Maltenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-75769275488115397032017-05-03T15:15:07.265-04:002017-05-03T15:15:07.265-04:00Growing up with a NES and an XT there were some ga...Growing up with a NES and an XT there were some games I never got close to finishing, and some games I could win even when making it harder on myself. I think mood probably dictated whether I strolled through Double Dragon II for the umpteenth time, or got lost and confused in Solstice, or sailed around in Pirates or EGA Trek, feeling like I was accomplishing things but never actually winning.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-90154067075794259982017-05-03T15:12:02.439-04:002017-05-03T15:12:02.439-04:00Aaand I've found it. It indeed seems to have b...Aaand I've found it. It indeed seems to have been "inspired" by one of the ogre tokens in the second edition of 'Werkzeuge des Meisters'.<br /><br />Yay me and thanks for your attention.CowBranchnoreply@blogger.com