What are TOGPicks?
TOGPicks are suggestions and recommendations for new or upcoming games that we at The Offline Gamer think you might like to check out. We will pick a game each to recommend you all and then one extra outlier (“The Other Pick”) that is gaming-related or something we think is geeky and cool that you might appreciate.
Rai’s Pick: “Need to Know”
Campaign Ends: Fri, Mar 11 2016 4:00 PM +00:00
Cost: $16 (AUD) for the game
URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monomythgames/need-to-know-the-mass-surveillance-thriller-game
This looks like a rather good deal if you’re converting to GBP as you’ll get the DRM-free game on release for just £8 and if you fancy more goodies there are incrementing pledge levels up to $1,500 AUD (there was a $5k level but someone already went in on that). So there’s something in there to entice any level of exclusives-hunter.
The game itself is based on the idea that you’re working for the “Department of Liberty”, which is essentially an NSA-like Big Brother organisation that collects and analyses data that it accrues, through whatever means, to keep the country safe. Yep, that old chestnut! You work your way up the Clearance levels to get to bigger and juicier info; from the trailer this can be reading texts and emails of potential threats, sending in the cops or leaking scandalous info on a senator. You can whistleblow or you can “eliminate”. You can try and fight the system from the inside or become the Kingmaker in your own police state. What will you choose?
Matt’s Pick: “Escape Room In A Box: The Werewolf Experiment”
Campaign Ends: Fri, Mar 4 2016 5:01 PM +00:00
Cost: $45 (US) plus shipping
URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/361817408/escape-room-in-a-box-the-werewolf-experiment
Rai and I, along with a few friends, recently experienced our first Escape Room a few weeks ago. A relatively new phenomenon here in the UK, Escape Rooms have been popular in other parts of the world for many years. Essentially a group of you are locked in a room and have a set amount of time to solve the puzzles and escape! It’s great fun, but until now there hasn’t been a decent way to experience the fun of an Escape Room in your own home.
So, here comes Escape Room in a Box: The Werewolf Experiment to bring you all the excitement of an Escape Room but in a package you can play in a familiar environment with your friends and family. Open the box, start the timer, and get solving! For backing the project you’ll also receive a refill pack to enable you to play it again, but this time as a narrator controlling the experience for others. This promises to be great fun and I can’t wait for it to arrive.
The Other Pick: “Video Games Live: Level 5 (album and movie)”
Campaign Ends:
Cost: from $10 (USD)
URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1916334303/video-games-live-level-5-album-and-movie
Matt is a huge fan of soundtracks for TV, Movie and Games so this pick was a no-brainer. Video Games Live have already successfully released 4 albums and have a good track record with crowdfunding.
This latest edition promises to include never before heard orchestral arrangements from the following:
Super Mario World
The Legend of Zelda
Chrono Cross
Grim Fandango
… and more!