Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:59:00 GMT
Version 0.27.169.32a of Dwarf Fortress, or, as I like to call it, “Bob,” has just been released. From the release notes:
Well, it has been a while. That means potential instability, so don’t get too attached to your fortresses at this point. I’ll be doing subsequent releases more often now as I solve problems. In any case, dwarf mode now has a z-axis and you can make fortresses that span several levels. Fluids behave much more reasonably, and you can walk across the world in adventure mode in the local view without having to step off of an artificial edge. And various other lots more stuff.
The z-axis is amazing. As you can see in the screenshot, my newly created human swordsman can peer into the bottom of the lake, as well as spy part of a second story in the building. Shortly after, he climbed some logs onto the second story and then promptly fell back down again, stunning himself. Pretty embarrassing thing to do right in front of the Mayor of the city.
Toribash 3.0 and now this. Pants officially esploded.
Posted in Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | Tags TarnAdams | 37 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:13:00 GMT
One thing I love about games are the stories within the stories – the ones that are not created by the developers, but by the players and their experiences. Dwarf Fortress is a game that is more or less built around this idea. Zach Adams spins fantastical yarns that his brother Tarn then makes possible within the game’s engine. Excitement, tension, and high drama arise naturally from the player’s choices and their interactions with the game’s ruleset.
Actually, while reading this “Let’s Play” succession game of Dwarf Fortress, even the more mundane events that occurred were interesting to me, because of how they were framed. Like this journal entry, for example:
12th Hematite, 1052: Today one of our apprentice carpenters fell asleep on the bridge and was swept away by a flood, never to be seen again. On the same day, the metalsmith gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Doren Clearingsilvers. Also, mandrills stole several objects we had lying around outside, but nothing important. Just a few bits of clothing and an iron helmet.
Diablo took the Roguelike genre and dumbed it down and gussied it up. It’s a fun game, but there aren’t many compelling stories in there that Blizzard didn’t come up with first.
(Source: GameSetWatch)
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Developers | Tags TarnAdams | 12 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:37:00 GMT
This month’s issue of Games for Windows has an awesome 3 page article dedicated solely to Dwarf Fortress. YES! I love the layout, too.
Zach, for his part, isn’t all that interested in how it works. “If I didn’t have a brother who could program… I would have taken it upon myself to fill his shoes,” he explains. “But as I do have that brother, I am blessed with the opportunity to make my computer-game dreams a reality.”
Very interesting to read about the dynamic between Tarn and Zach Adams and how they work together to create the Roguelike monster that is Dwarf Fortress.
Scans: Pages 1, Page 2, Page 3
(Special thanks to the DMac for the scans!)
Posted in Roguelikes, Community, Windows, Developers | Tags TarnAdams | 14 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:26:00 GMT
“My legendary clothesmaker just threw a tantrum because his masterwork giant cave spider silk pants were stolen by invisible goblins. Which I guess I can understand, they probably were really nice pants. The thing I don’t understand is why he decided to mangle the limbs of one of my legendary craftdwarves and break the legs of my legendary carpenter.” -bloodyfool, Dwarf Fortress player, from the forums
I need to stop talking about this game, because it’s annoying my friends and keeping me from my work. It’s a Roguelike that let’s you build and run a… well, dwarf fortress. (I love saying “dwarf fortress.”) There’s so much detail in this game that it’s almost too complex to play. I just like revelling in the possibilities.
EDIT: Also, here’s a link to a beginner’s guide (Penny Arcade forums) and the Dwarf Fortress wiki. The game’s hard to get into without either.
Posted in Highly Recommended, Roguelikes, Windows, Freeware | Tags TarnAdams | 20 comments
