Comments on: Virtual Skipper 5: Free Port!

By: Hypocee

Hypocee — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:19:39 +0000

I’ve been playing VS5O.free a bit over the last couple weeks. It does indeed allow the full tutorial and the complete spectrum of realism modes, and though I haven’t tried longer races yet (lots to learn!) they aren’t greyed out. The primary demo restriction, aside from not being able to mock a human opponent for totally luffing the genoa on his overlapped portside gate gibe when you pushed Rule 13, is a two-minute game startup timer. Which feels really irritating and onerous, but then it should. Very reasonable demo arrangement, and a quietly fascinating type of racing. Heeling increasingly toward a purchase.

By: Bobsy

Bobsy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:28:48 +0000

a niche game about sailing, trucking or dating teenage girls

I would LOVE a game about sailing, trucking AND dating teenage girls. But it has to combine all three.

By: man alive

man alive — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:52:52 +0000

Imagining quietly and carefully sailing a couse then watching a swarm of infected clamber over the sides and drag off the simulated crew…

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:55:12 +0000

I gave VSK5 a go after reading about it here recently – and you know – its actually really good ……

As someone who’s done a lot of sailing, I picked it up very quickly and have been going to it for the odd race pretty frequently.

By: nakke

nakke — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:04:43 +0000

Oh Nadeo and their crazy ways!

By: Hypocee

Hypocee — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:01:37 +0000

I actually tried out Virtual Skipper America’s Cup recently, after finally trying Trackmania, getting hooked and linking out to VS on Nadeo’s site. It may have the worst demo limitation point ever. It only allows the one-on-one, 5-minute races in arcade mode.

The first part seems quite reasonable – let players play bigger, longer races in the demo and you’ve robbed yourself of sales – but the arcade mode limitation means you can’t really tell what the game’s like. I was having lots of fun forcing the idiotic AI into buoys and such, but the sailing was limited to rotating until an arrow turned green; when I went to step up a notch and make a final purchasing decision, oh. It also means the tutorial series cuts off just when it starts getting interesting. Maybe this new business model will allow a proper try and get some monies from me, but then I don’t like paying for games as services…

Anyway. Bizarre business decisions…wait for it…ahoy.

By: Ginger Yellow

Ginger Yellow — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:57:14 +0000

“In this version of reality, the site is run by four lecherous old men who are constantly confusing each other with ghosts from their own past, and only post during their twice-daily solitare breaks.”

Sorry, which version is supposed to be the real one again?

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:04:22 +0000

The America’s Cup is monkier than ever. It’s downright simian!

By: frymaster

frymaster — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:55:53 +0000

Every time RPS does a post on a niche game about sailing, trucking or dating teenage girls, I’ll often get a flash of bizarro universe RPS (SPR?), where that’s all they post about, completely oblivious to mainstream releases, quirky indie games, and the intricacies of gaming culture in general. In this version of reality, the site is run by four lecherous old men who are constantly confusing each other with ghosts from their own past, and only post during their twice-daily solitare breaks. Occasionally, they would get really confused and post a verdict on creamed corn or mashed carrots. This is my dream. This is my nightmare.

This is my vision of utpoia

By: Nuyan

Nuyan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:36:19 +0000

I’m up for some multiplayer session! I assume it doesn’t take all too long to get the basics for this right, as I’m not up for this if it has a hour-long tutorial.

By: Leeks!

Leeks! — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:30:09 +0000

Every time RPS does a post on a niche game about sailing, trucking or dating teenage girls, I’ll often get a flash of bizarro universe RPS (SPR?), where that’s all they post about, completely oblivious to mainstream releases, quirky indie games, and the intricacies of gaming culture in general. In this version of reality, the site is run by four lecherous old men who are constantly confusing each other with ghosts from their own past, and only post during their twice-daily solitare breaks. Occasionally, they would get really confused and post a verdict on creamed corn or mashed carrots. This is my dream. This is my nightmare.