The Gutter

By: Xander

On: May 22nd, 2009

The Gutter is a recently released “interactive piece of art” by Jan Willem Nijman and Robin Rodrigo Ramirez Rodriquez. I realise their full names weren’t neccessary, but writing that 2nd name was just such a joy.

Saying anymore would be spoiling things, just be sure to give it a try and post back your impressions. Interestingly you can donate $5 to the creators via email and they will add the feature of ‘Death’ to this “Interactive piece of art”. If you can’t afford the full version however the demo version does still feature the functions VOMIT and FEEL ASLEEP, as well as a number of hidden extras. Happy hunting, TIGobos!

Posted in Games and Art?, Windows | Tags: JW

renkin

Wow, tragic. Can’t find much interaction, though. Interesting for 5 minutes (unless I missed something).
Boy

Great satire.
BitTid

‘FEEL ASLEEP’? Fall asleep? Feel sleepy? Feel somebody up while they’re asleep? I demand clarification!

Anyway, I like it. It strikes me that its main artistic merit is as a parody of other ‘art games’, which I’m choosing to believe is intentional.
phu

While ‘art’ is and has always been a VERY subjective term… lately it’s being stretched and beaten beyond all possible recognition.
Tet

Bracing for LOOK AT ME I THINK VIDEO GAMES AREN’T ART AM I COOL???
Rolf Soldaat

I think the FEEL ASLEEP is a reference to metal gear.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/angry-video-screwattack/47749
Fuzz

I liked how you couldn’t go down the side streets, exactly as in The Graveyard.
Foppy

Is it supposed to end and go to the credits right after it starts?
mr.zippycrow

this game was better than the graveyard
<I><I>

dunno… after throwing up several times in the game, not sure if I want to know what hidden surprises $5 brings besides death..
nice camera though.
indygo

it reminds me suspiciously to the hangover/jetlag…

oh wait!

artsyness fartsyess?
Kneecaps

It has Captain Falcon in it, so it HAS to be better than The Graveyard.
Anarkex

I’m putting my money on this game being a brilliant joke/troll. As such, I’m still not crazy about it.
Edmund

im loving it, somehow i believe satire is actually a lot more entertaining then “interactive art” at this point in the game. maybe it will put us all back on track so we start making “fun games”.

GO TEAM!
creath

I really enjoyed this. It’s up-front about being an “interactive art” which I think now-a-days is kind of accepted as meaning “we have no real gameplay but want to fuck around with the medium.
Under that assumption, art games are make or break for every individual, but this one stuck with me. Fun and funny and tragic, and do wish there was more interaction (the only thing that made me play it as much as I did was the credit for “Cat AI Programming”).
Maybe I too missed something, as there didn’t seem to be much else to do but to keep our poor alcoholic walking around and vomiting for some time. I think I kept him going for 10 minutes or so…
here-here

The whole term “games as art” was created by developer douches, not developer gamers. Gamers want to play games (usually they want those games to be fun). Art majors, beatniks, and yuppies want interactive art… and they can have it, all five minutes of it and the monotonous metaphors that permeate with some of them. Not all “art” games are complete redundant, but most of them lack any sort of “interactive entertainment” – ie. what a video game is by definition. Besides, gamers are far more likely to stab you or shoot up your school so I’m far more obliged to side with gamers because in a fight they’d kick ass over the yuppies and beatniks. It’s just smart alignment and politically correct to do and feel so.

Anyway… whilst!
Fuzz

See, I like The Gutter, The Hangover, and The Jetlag as art pieces. I know they’re satire, but ironically, I’ve enjoyed them as much as many art games I’ve played.
Fuzz

Has anyone bought the full version yet?
#14

I’m pretty sure Tale of Tales did this one under a false alias.
creath

Oh, and “FEEL ASLEEP” is a reference to terrible localizations, specifically Metal Gear (NES):

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/Rutilcaper/Podcast/ifeelasleep.jpg
Edmund

if Tale of Tales did this mocking their own game then they are the most awesome devs ever.
Paul Eres

Criticism of this game will probably be met with: Hello. I am Robin Rodrigo Ramirez Rodriquez. You didn’t like my game. Prepare to die.
Fuzz

Jwaap is great. Robin Rodrigo Ramirez Rodriquez is an amazing name, although I have no idea who he is.
Nicholas Moon

No.
StarStabbedMoon

@BitTid: “FEEL ASLEEP” is a reference to the poor translations of the NES version of the original Metal Gear.
Teknogames/Beau Blyth

I kicked a cat, did you?
alspal

I’d like to see a game that uses graphics like this.
cecil

AHAHAHA the hilarity of this game is…HILARIOUS. obviously a parody of the graveyard. shut up haters.
King

I never liked parody.
Rad

Could you guys stop leaving us in the dark about these games? I understand your desire to not spoil it for us, but half the games you post I have no intention of playing becuase all the information I get about them is a single screenshot. Maybe if giving any information on the game spoils the fun it’s too shallow to be worthwhile anyway…
Dinsdale

Parody and satire aside, I wish I didn’t download this.
Xab

For anyone who thought this was a game: the joke’s on them, myself included :(
Manpon

What is this “whilst” joke all about? So far it hasn’t made me laugh, so I’m wondering if it’s just not funny, or if I need filled in on some details.
Rolf Soldaat

I died.
nullerator

People: If you haven’t played or heard of The Graveyard, you’re not going to get this. Move along now.
Fuzz

It can still be enjoyed on it’s own, as it’s quite amazing aesthetically. Sure, it’s a parody of The Graveyard, but it’s also more than that.
undertech

Just had to include the cock and hairy balls in the screenshot didn’t you?
J

The download location is out of bandwidth. Is there a mirror?
TCM

God I love satire.
JW

bandwith back up
rolf

ARTSY AND DEEP AND NIGGA
Rolf Soldaat

The above post is not by me, somebody is trolling.
v1510n

It’s not a game.
It’s art you can play with.
Playing != game.
Paul Eres

Thank you for letting us know you don’t think it’s a game. That’s a very valuable contribution. We’re all eternally grateful.
Rolf Soldaat

JW never claimed it was a game.
renkin

If it’s not a game, what is it doing at The Independent Gaming Source? Is it pie? :)
Bon

I’m not sure about the recent artiness creeping into indie games. We criticise the commercial games for being all flash and no substance, yet isn’t that where this is heading? I like an artistic statement as much as the next guy, but when it’s incorporated into a larger playable narrative, as many indie designers have managed to do. And that’s what I’m looking for here at the Independent GAMING Source. For art with minimal participation I would look elsewhere.
TCM

Games are all about the flash.

Preferably the Newtype variety.

Or maybe that’s just Super Robot Wars…
poop

the credits made this better than the graveyard
Dinsdale

I was under the impression that all video games are art.
What is art?

A miserable pile of. . .