Linux version?

Since this game is written using Adventure Game Studio, and a version of the Adventure Game Studio runtime exists for linux, is there any chance we'll see a linux version of The Shivah?

If so, you've got at least one guaranteed sale.

Dunno... I'll ask Dave.

I recently discovered how to create mac and linux versions of AGS games, so I'll try and make that available soon.

http://www.davelgil.com/
Games - Travel - Long-winded rambling

Awesome! Looking forward to it.

The Shivah inherits the charming low-tech look of the old LucasArts SCUMM adventures. It's remarkable how expressive such simple graphics can be, especially when enhanced with respectable voice acting and a simple but effective music score. There's also a delightful "kibbitz" mode that works like the commentary track on DVDs. (It would be great if LucasArts and Sierra re-issued their old games with this feature!)

Unfortunately, The Shivah also inherits two of the most annoying design weaknesses of that period: obscure hunt-the-pixel objects and exits, and intricate dialog trees that must be navigated several times to discover the "right" way to avoid dying. After seven or eight traversals of the lengthy endgame tree, it's hard to keep caring whether or not you're supposed to punch the villain one, two or three times between attempts to save his soul.

One feature of the user interface, which is not at all obvious but must be exploited to complete the game, left me stuck about halfway through: You can combine clues you have gathered into new clues by dragging and dropping. Once I learned this was possible by searching the online forums, I had no problem getting to the finale. Total playing time for an experienced gamer will be a couple of hours. Easily worth the five bucks.

It's certainly refreshing to see an adventure game that makes ethnicity and religion a central component of the story. A few of the references went over my head -- why would anyone want to scratch a rabbi's podium with his keys? -- but I enjoyed being immersed in the idioms of an unfamiliar culture. Congratulations to Dave on his first commercial adventure!

Mr. Moriarty:

I hope you will indulge me while I let loose my inner fanboy. I grew up on the Infocom games, and the very first game I ever played was your very own "Wishbringer". I was young, impressionable, and completely entranced with the world you had created. I do not exagerate when I say that you were one of my childhood heros, and you continue to be an inspiration to me twenty years later.

It is a tremendous honor to discover that you have not only played my game, but enjoyed it as well. Thank you for your constructive comments, and for the compliments. You have made my day.

-Dave Gilbert

P.s. The instructions for the clues interface were covered in the README file, but I have quickly discovered that nobody reads those. For my next game I am incorperating interface instructions into the game itself.

http://www.davelgil.com/
Games - Travel - Long-winded rambling

Count me in for an OSX version. My wife doesn't play many video games, but she asked me for this one.

Good job on coming up with it and I can't wait to try it.