Roguelike
Review |
Introduction
1. A Brief History and Characterization of Roguelike GamesRogue is a computer game. It was created in the dark ages [1970s?] and was initially bundled with UNIX as a "test" application. It was such a popular "test" that enterprising UNIX admins and users distributed it, expanded it, imitated it, and ported it to their home computers. Rogue's original concept was unique and rich enough so that decades later it has an entire genre of computer games named after it, Roguelike Games, and it seems like that label is here to stay. When's the last time you heard "Wolfenstein-like" or even "DOOM-like" used to refer to first person shooters? Roguelike Games are traditionally freeware, ASCII interfaced, turn based, single player, dungeon crawling RPGs. Of course, there are occasional deviations from this characterization: many recent Roguelike games include tile-based graphics and mouse control; others have added multiplayer and/or real-time action; and a few take place not [only] in dungeons but in wilderness and towns. However, if Roguelike games violate one characteristic, they usually adhere closely enough to the other characteristics to be considered part of the group. [I know the logic here was pretty circular but bear with me!] 2. The Purpose of this Web Site is.......to help you get the most fun out of the genre! I do this by providing reviews of different features and instances of Roguelike Games. Reviews include introductory and associated information, personal evaluations, suggestions on how to get the most (fun, always fun) out of Roguelike games, and invitations to further discussion. The Topics pages review different aspects of the genre. They also sometimes delve into specific game features and hints such as Shoplifting in NetHack. The idea here is to deal with lots of different topics but only when I feel like it and am prepared to say something intelligently. The Games pages review the individual games. Right now there are so many games, variants, and versions popping up and disappearing that it's hard to know what all's out there and what you'll be thankful for downloading. One thing I don't want to do is provide a ton of links and downloadable files. Roguelike games get updated so frequently and get handed off to so many people (and web sites) that it is very difficult to keep current. However, I would like to provide new or curious Roguelike gamers an easy wasy of getting acquainted with the different games in the genre; for that reason, I've created a Direct Download page. There's also a Discussion List (Enscriptions) that we can use for talking about whatever's on our minds. It gives everyone an opportunity to swap reviews, pointers, news, hints, and email addresses. By the way, my reviews are meant to be entertaining first, inspiring second, and educational third. 3. Trav's Roguelike Mindset - Should You Trust Me???Obvious comment number one: Having a web site doesn't make you an authority. I'm not a Roguelike Game expert, not even close! I've seen some of
those posts on the roguelike newsgroups about ascending and winning and all sorts of stuff
you'd have to be awesome to even see. In my more than a decade of playing
Roguelikes, I've never won NetHack or Angband or even gotten past the
first couple of dungeons in ADOM. When it comes to high scores, I pretty much suck
compared to a lot of the guys out there! Also, because I play for the moment (for fun) and not for
high scores or knowledge or prestige (all of which have something to do with the
future), I don't cheat or use Borgs or play hour upon hour a day,
every day. I also don't play in competitions, and have generally stayed away from
the multiplayer Roguelike scene. Anyway, that's my mindset. I'll expand on many of these points in future Topics. |
Note: these are fan pages and not to be considered "official" or "authorized!" |