Topic

So what's this Glitch thing about then?

I was talking to someone the other day and happened to mention Glitch, and they asked the above question - "What is it?". So, I started to answer and waffled on for a few minutes about this massively multiplayer social thingy where you make stuff and are nice to people and don't just run around killing things but help each other out instead, and quickly realised that I couldn't figure out how to properly describe this game - at least not in any meaningful way. They were completely befuddled by my explanation and I'm pretty sure decided that they'd just stick with Halo instead.

I completely failed to articulate the basic essence of Glitch. I couldn't work out how to describe, in a brief sentence or two, just what the game is - in a way that not only describes the basic game mechanics, but also conveys something about *why* you might choose to play it.

So, how would you all describe Glitch to someone who was totally unfamiliar with it? Could you convince them of its merit in just a couple of sentences?

Posted 21 months ago by dopiaza Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • Um, you go around this big world taking care of trees, plants and piggies (chat to your buddies), massage and milk butterflies,(chat to your buddies) complete quests (chat to you buddies), buy things like tinkertools and bubble tuners (chat to your buddies) and if you are feeling like it, you can hug, kiss (with or without garlic), splank or moon someone as they pass by! Oh, and some like to wander round nekkid!

    I'm sure they'd be none the wiser after that either! :)
    Posted 21 months ago by ♥joby♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree it's very hard to sum up. I usually end up enumerating all the things you can do in the game, knowing it's not enough but wanting to share about the richness of game content.
    But there is, or at least that's what I think, a big part of the game that we haven't seen yet. I'm not sure the definition we'd give after alpha playing is accurate with the finale version of the game.

    In the end, the current definition I'd give would be: "a social mmo life simulation game, in a created universe which expands and evolves along with players actions". I would add something about quests and back story, but keeping in mind that there's certainly more than I'm aware of. And I'd talk about the strong visual identity of the game.

    But truth is... I know how to convince people about the greatness of Glitch. I just have to show it to them. So... I'll work on that, as soon as the game is available full time. :)
    Posted 21 months ago by Moumoushou Subscriber! | Permalink
  • running about, clicking things
    Posted 21 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd say it's like Animal Crossing for adults, but funnier, larger, and more varied. Some aspects are similar to some in Harvest Moon. Most gamers should have an idea of what those franchises are like.
    Posted 21 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I so want to play but can't due to technical issues - will just have to hang around the forums instead :/
    Posted 21 months ago by riscy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Riscy, what are the technical issues? Developers and players are more than happy to help.
    Posted 21 months ago by glum pudding Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Moumoushou did a great job describing it. Here's what I would say-
    "An MMO game that takes place in an imaginary world which mimics the real world. Players help to create this world by engaging in social aspects that range from chatting with friends to your avatar helping theirs on quests. Quests are varied and fun (no killing is involved). Some examples of these are squeezing pigs, milking butterflies, riding the subway and buying a house, creating elements, mining for gems, and so on."
    Posted 21 months ago by Holly Waterfall Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I once described it at "Animal Crossing with erections", but that was right after the, er, *dynamic* censor bars were added to the Wardrobe. I do realize that doesn't really begin to cover the scope of the game.
    Posted 21 months ago by Nanookie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd have to say something that included details of the silly things you do and the humor. Like, "It's nonviolent and the funniest MMO game I have ever seen: There are quests to milk butterflies, drink 12 beers, kiss people with garlic breath, pet trees to make them happier, join a naked conga line and more. In fact, your avatar can run around naked if you choose (though they're not anatomically correct). You learn skills such as mining, cooking, cocktail making, meditation, gardening and alchemistry from a magic rock...you have to try this game."
    Posted 21 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Naked conga line?! I didn't know about that one... cool!
    Posted 21 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Glitch is a free to play side scrolling browser based massively multiplayer online game whereby players interact with their environment, using the natural resources obtain from the plants, rocks, animals, and so on, to complete a series of quest that yield various rewards. Players are able to interact with one another, sending messages, trading, challenging one another and on a more personal level giving hugs and kisses.

    Time plays a very important role in Glitch in various ways. Days only last a few hours. Many abilities called "skills" can be attained which are required to complete many if not all quest, but each one has a list of requirements, the most important one being the patience to wait for that particular skill to be learned.

    Your character can be made too look almost anyway you want with a broad selection of shoes, shirts, pants, hair, etc.Along with interchangeable facial features such as eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, and a wide variety of colors.

    Unlike most massively multiplayer online games almost all goals are achieved through non-violent means.

    Story: Brought to life by the imagination of Giants you, a Glitch, live in a world constantly threatened by an evil menace known as the Rooks. It is your job to take care of the land and defend it from any attacks all while creating strong bonds, and enhancing your own abilities.

    So thats my little explanation of it. I hope it helps :)
    Posted 21 months ago by V-Primo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wow... I just realized I'd have to explain the idea of a 'non-violent/social MMO' to my friends before I could ever hope to explain Glitch to them.
    Posted 21 months ago by Doc Oblongata Subscriber! | Permalink
  • nearly non-violent oblongata, nearly :), and if my earlier explanation doesn't work you could always show them this page of the official website that can be accessed by anyone glitch.com/about/ , not trying to be sarcastic cause i realize that you may not always be near a source of internet when someone ask you
    Posted 21 months ago by V-Primo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's close enough to non-violent that most of my friends outside of Glitch (who've never seen a video game, let alone an MMO, without a sword or gun of some kind) would be totally bewildered. They're also the sort who have very short attention spans - kinda hard to get them to read anything beyond a few sentences in length without physically wrangling them to do so.

    Maybe I should choose better friends...
    Posted 21 months ago by Doc Oblongata Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ Shepherdmoon: Here ya go...

    www.glitch-strategy.com/wik...
    Posted 21 months ago by RM Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hm .. I'm not going to pen an Epic like V-Primo's description, which goes on and on and doesn't even address the collaborative nature of much of the game. At any rate, needing multiple paragraphs to explain the game is part of dopiaza's dilemma, I think.

    Here is my take, in 1.5 sentences..

    "Glitch is a non-violent, browser based, cartoonish side-scrolling MMO in which players work independently to improve their avatar's skills and personal resources while collaboratively building-out and developing the game world.

    It's all a bit twee, if you ask me."

    .. and as suggested by others up thread, I also think "Massively Multiplayer Animal Crossing" would do in a pinch.
    Posted 21 months ago by striatic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ^ Absolutely spot on.

    @Shepherdmoon: Here's the wiki article about the Nekkid Party: www.glitch-strategy.com/wik... ;D
    Posted 21 months ago by Hburger Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I too have friends with short attention spans, I explained it as running about with your customized avatar doing humerous tasks while chatting with your friends and helping other players if you feel like it.
    Posted 21 months ago by deedee_bear Subscriber! | Permalink
  • lol - Nanookie's explanation would at least get them to go and have a look!

    I'd have to start by explaining MMO, then erm, do you have a spare hour?
    Posted 21 months ago by Twoodle Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @ striatic that could work XD, mine was just a vague description to give some one if they were to ask me exactly what you could do in the game as far as functions and social interactions, of course its not everything you could do, it doesnt even come close to doing this game justice but it was an attempt
    Posted 21 months ago by V-Primo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I can't get over how many animal crossing players are actually playing glitch. I came to glitch with a small group of [now there all in] a dozen' ish AC friends. It really does have that same feeling of playing AC because it is a "labour of love" not point scoring. You cant really end AC or by the looks of it Glitch :)
    Posted 21 months ago by Misha Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Rascalmom and @Hburger: thanks for the link! I think the naked conga line failed, though, because 3 people are not completely naked (not counting shoes)....

    I also played animal crossing by the way, and loved it.... I'm not sure about the similarities to this game, but maybe that explains some of my attraction to Glitch...
    Posted 21 months ago by Shepherdmoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • the big thing that Glitch has that Animal Crossing doesn't .. beyond the whole collaborative MMO thing .. is the much different geography.

    you can alter and expand the Glitch world in a way that is much different from an Animal Crossing town... this aspect of the game will only become more pronounced.

    kinda like "side scrolling massively multiplayer version of animal crossing, with individually and collaboratively maleable template driven urban/rural geography"
    Posted 21 months ago by striatic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • sigh - unable to play but enjoying posting in the forums for now with a great community
    Posted 21 months ago by riscy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Loved the nekkid party pic, RM!  I think it is this kind of random craziness mixed with the learning and collaboration and extreme ability to customize self that SO appeals to me!
    Posted 21 months ago by Hab Subscriber! | Permalink