Comments on: Zen and the Art of Galaxy Maintenance: Orbient vs. Orbital http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/ Exploring the value of games-as-iconography in art, literature, and popular culture Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:33:18 +0000 hourly 1 By: librarian http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/#comment-936 librarian Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:54:05 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=512#comment-936 Hey, Matt! Yeesh, I'm actually not sure. I'm trying to think back, though, and maybe what I'm trying to get at is its, uh, <a href="http://www.infinitelives.net/2008/06/20/game-feel-a-game-designers-guide-to-virtual-sensation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">gamefeel</a>? It seemed like Orbient was more responsive somehow -- maybe your ball sort of accelerated when you held the trigger button for a longer time? In any case, the sensation, I remember, was something very dynamic, a far cry from Orbital's seeming stiffness. Hey, Matt! Yeesh, I’m actually not sure. I’m trying to think back, though, and maybe what I’m trying to get at is its, uh, gamefeel? It seemed like Orbient was more responsive somehow—maybe your ball sort of accelerated when you held the trigger button for a longer time? In any case, the sensation, I remember, was something very dynamic, a far cry from Orbital’s seeming stiffness.

]]> By: matt http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/#comment-918 matt Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:52:29 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=512#comment-918 Are you sure the Wiimote has pressure sensitive buttons? I'm convinced it doesn't, I can't find mention of it in a quick search. Anyway, I am loving Orbient - I find it more accessible than Orbital simple because of the visual queues that show whether you are using gravity or anti-gravity. I'll have to play the Orbital a bit more, though. Are you sure the Wiimote has pressure sensitive buttons? I’m convinced it doesn’t, I can’t find mention of it in a quick search.

Anyway, I am loving Orbient – I find it more accessible than Orbital simple because of the visual queues that show whether you are using gravity or anti-gravity.

I’ll have to play the Orbital a bit more, though.

]]> By: librarian http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/#comment-761 librarian Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:00:18 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=512#comment-761 Jesus, Greg! You've written a ton about Orbient and Orbital! This is really good, too. I don't think I realized, until I started peeking at Orbient and Orbital write-ups, that a lot of people liked Orbital best out of the bitGen games. Also: There <em>was</em> a time limit in Orbient, wasn't there. Grr! I just hate how these games are not identical! Jesus, Greg! You’ve written a ton about Orbient and Orbital! This is really good, too. I don’t think I realized, until I started peeking at Orbient and Orbital write-ups, that a lot of people liked Orbital best out of the bitGen games.

Also: There was a time limit in Orbient, wasn’t there. Grr! I just hate how these games are not identical!

]]> By: Kevin Bunch http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/#comment-760 Kevin Bunch Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:40:31 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=512#comment-760 That game sounds amazing. I'll have to check it out. I love goofy games that require some basic knowledge of physics to work through. The whole abstractness of the concept I think is what makes it work more than anything else. But this isn't the only game I've seen that mechanic in. At PAX 08 there was a PC game on display, called Strange Attractors 2. The control mechanism was pretty much the same; one button drew you into objects, the other repelled you. You have to work your way through these levels, collecting items, and reaching the goal. I consider it the best game of PAX, but Orbital, from the videos, seems more...laid back? Slower paced. Orbital appears like it would be a better game to zone out and relax to, as opposed to "ohgodohgoddon'tcrashagain." The music may play a part in that. That game sounds amazing. I’ll have to check it out.

I love goofy games that require some basic knowledge of physics to work through. The whole abstractness of the concept I think is what makes it work more than anything else.

But this isn’t the only game I’ve seen that mechanic in. At PAX 08 there was a PC game on display, called Strange Attractors 2. The control mechanism was pretty much the same; one button drew you into objects, the other repelled you. You have to work your way through these levels, collecting items, and reaching the goal. I consider it the best game of PAX, but Orbital, from the videos, seems more…laid back? Slower paced. Orbital appears like it would be a better game to zone out and relax to, as opposed to “ohgodohgoddon’tcrashagain.” The music may play a part in that.

]]> By: Greg http://infinitelives.net/2008/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-galaxy-maintenance-orbient-vs-orbital/#comment-759 Greg Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:21:29 +0000 http://www.infinitelives.net/?p=512#comment-759 Just to let you know (since you linked my old Orbital article), we posted some impressions of Orbient: http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2008/09/29/impressions-art-style-orbient/ Just to let you know (since you linked my old Orbital article), we posted some impressions of Orbient: http://www.4colorrebellion.com.....e-orbient/

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