The Ball - Portal-like game with a err.. ball

[lanux128]

The Ball is a first person puzzle game where you use a err.. ball to solve puzzles and vanquish undead mummies.

You're an archaeologist working on the slopes of a dormant volcano in 1940s Mexico. Somehow you get stuck in a cavern. It doesn’t take long before you realize this is more than just a cave. You reveal ancient ruins that have been hidden from outsiders for centuries and discover a mysterious artifact, a gold and metal shelled Ball. As you progress towards solving the mystery of this amazing place you must unlock the secrets of the Ball and learn to control this ancient artifact. Venturing deeper into the volcano, you reveal some of mankind’s greatest secrets and you will start to encounter not just puzzles and traps, but also various strange creatures – the guardians of this mystery. These creatures have to be overcome, using only the Ball to defend you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4lY_gbcSX8

• http://store.steampowered.com/app/35460/

[Josh]

Already pre-ordered. Thanks for the heads up on IRC lanux!

[mouser]

looks cool but annoying

[Deozaan]

So is the artifact they're protecting the Ball or is it the gravity gun? Personally I think the Gravity Gun-like thing is much cooler than a giant ball.

Then again, maybe the Ball can do stuff I don't know about yet.

[Josh]

The gun and ball combo can do many things, take a look at www.theballthegame.com

[lanux128]

Already pre-ordered. Thanks for the heads up on IRC lanux!

you're welcome, Josh! my internet went down just as i was talking about it in the irc.

btw, there are some previews of the game on their website.

• http://www.theballthegame.com/?p=882

[f0dder]

Stumped by this a couple of days ago because it was mentioned on STEAM News or something. The first comment from my girlfriend was "Hah, that's a Portal ripoff - companion ball, eh?".

Still, there's quite different elements in it compared to Portal, and it looks like it might be interesting. A bit too little information in the videos (there's mostly just some combat action, I'd like to see a bit more of the puzzle elements and what you can do with the ball), but it does seem like something that might be worth checking out

[lanux128]

about that, i posted in the forums about the lack of videos with puzzles and this is the reply by one of the devs.

No not right now, we don't want to show too many puzzles as it would give away the solutions to those puzzles and ruin the experience. There will be a demo a week or maybe 2 after the Steam release though.

• http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=17929406&postcount=5

[wraith808]

Already pre-ordered. Thanks for the heads up on IRC lanux!

Me too!  Thanks!

[y0himba]

Pre-ordered!  Thanks for the heads up!

[lanux128]

there is a 50% off sale ($9.99) for today only (Nov. 28, 2010). an engaging FPP (1st person puzzler) that will help to lessen the delay of Portal 2.



• http://store.steampowered.com/app/35460/

[wraith808]

Another example of why I shouldn't buy games at release.  I pre-ordered this one, and haven't played it yet. 

If I had waited, I could have saved money!

[lanux128]

Another example of why I shouldn't buy games at release.  I pre-ordered this one, and haven't played it yet.  

If I had waited, I could have saved money!

lol, they had 10% pre-order discount and an exclusive Killing Floor skin.. in any case it's a good game, you should find some time for it..


also there is a demo if anyone else wants to give it a try..

[f0dder]

Game sucks, anyway - at least it really doesn't work for me. I find it kind of tragic that the Unreal Engine 3 looked amazing and stuff before it was released, but every game title I've seen using it has looked rather bland and uninteresting.

[lanux128]

hmm.. doesn't work in what way? you can't play the game or you find the game not interesting..

[f0dder]

hmm.. doesn't work in what way? you can't play the game or you find the game not interesting..

As in I find it kinda dull - it feels kinda "German" to me

[lanux128]

As in I find it kinda dull - it feels kinda "German" to me

lol, i don't know what that means.. for the record, the dev studio is based in Scandinavia (maybe Sweden, iirc).

[lanux128]

there is a 75% off sale ($4.99) for today only (Dec. 30, 2010). if you need any persuasion, PC Gamer awarded this game, the "Action-Adventure Game of the Year 2010" in their GOTY awards.



• http://store.steampowered.com/app/35460/

[wraith808]

^ And I still haven't played it LOL 

[lanux128]

^ And I still haven't played it LOL

it's quite short, you should be able to finish it over the weekend, unless you go hunting for secrets..

[Deozaan]

I played the demo and ended up feeling much like f0dder does about the game. I didn't really enjoy it. I didn't even finish the demo.

Pity, it looked good.

[f0dder]

Pity, it looked good.

The trailers kinda did - actual game didn't.

[fenixproductions]

Bought. Even if it may not be as good as I hope for, it will definitely be better than my F:NV