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General discussion (archive)Release: Banished(185 posts)(185 posts)
(185 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 18, 2014
In wilderness' loving embrace.

Banished, a medieval village sim full of tranquility that evens out the many hardships of an exile's life in the lush and beautiful, but also harsh and unforgiving realm they've been cast into, is available for $19.99 on GOG.com.

We are the banished ones. Cast away from our homeland, exiled by our own brethren. But the woods are bountiful, the river is full of fish, and there's still months before the winter comes. We will toil and we will moil, from the sweat of our brows a village will rise. We will cut trees to make room for roads and houses, we will quarry stone to build walls, we cultivate the land and hunt the woods to fill our granaries, and we will survive. We must. An outcast is an outcast as long as they don't have a place to call home. A home we shall build then, my friends. Here, in the wilderness no one ever braved. It's either that, or the cold breath of winter and the death it brings. Tomorrow, starts another chapter in our story of hardship. For now, we should rest, and marvel at this beautiful day. This has been a long journey.

Banished is a free-form village sim firmly placed in a medieval setting with every possible calamity that comes with it. You will lead a small group of refugees, exiled from their home kingdom only with the clothes on their back and a small cart of supplies. Now, they need to rip a piece of land from the wilderness and make it their home, where they will live, love, have children, and finally die (let their death be peaceful!). You'll need to keep the population happy and healthy by providing them with food and warm shelter. Watch the town grow as you assign 20 different jobs to build buildings, grow food, craft tools and clothing, and more!

Heed our warning: this is not a city-builder you may be expecting. This is a game of survival where death and despair comes uninvited into the tranquility of your settlement just when you least expect it. We challenge you to lead the Banished, for only $19.99 on GOG.com.
Posted February 20, 2014
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goglier: Mod support is being planned. So at least you will be able to create this yourself, if no one else does. :-)
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mangamuscle: I wonder what kind of mod level it will allow.

1. Visual level. Change details in the visuals, but the games stays the same.

2. NWN level. Change the way the program works, but some aspects are hardcoded.

3. Open source. The author will make the code open source (but you ill need to buy the game to get the non code resource needed to play the game).
Developers' thoughts: http://www.shiningrocksoftware.com/2014-01-28-controllers-ports-mods-and-languages/#mod
Posted February 22, 2014
After tinkering with the game, I find it hard to justify 20 USD spent on the game.

Graphic is mediocre, mechanic is standard sandbox survival sim (cropping,planting,building) with no significant, revolutionary good points.

Audio is another so-so. Just the same melody played again and again.

...not sure why this is top seller on Steam as well.
Posted February 22, 2014
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zeroxxx: After tinkering with the game, I find it hard to justify 20 USD spent on the game.

Graphic is mediocre, mechanic is standard sandbox survival sim (cropping,planting,building) with no significant, revolutionary good points.

Audio is another so-so. Just the same melody played again and again.

...not sure why this is top seller on Steam as well.
To your points, its a game made by a single person. Give the dude a break.

As for it being a top seller, consider the abysmal game that was SimCity 2013 and understand the hunger people have.
Posted February 22, 2014
I was eager to see it released, yet i was afraid it would as always be "steam only" as most indies do nowadays.

when i saw the news headline on GOG i was very cheerful...

True, the game lacks some features, yet it sure will be improved over the time (especially if a modding engine/sdk is released to an eager communauty)

True it doesnt play on same league as giant stuff triple A games.

But lets take this game for what it is: a nice and relaxing little simgame in a medieval setting and full of promises of improvement.

one thing is impressing, imho, is that it took only one person to achieve this and i can bow to such feat.

My only dissapointment so far is that it pauses itself if you alt tab to another app... i really would have loved to "play" it while doing boring stuff front of computer
Posted February 22, 2014
Then time to rejoice, for you can click a setting in the options, that`ll let it continue to play when you alt tab.

Just remember to keep listening for dangers ;)
Posted February 23, 2014
Nice game, love the dev's hard work. These days his game is a precious gem!
But there is nothing medieval about it, it would be even better to categorize this as early american colonial, pioneerish if anything. I do not see any examples of typical medieval things in this game. The only thing close to medieval times is the terribly low technology level these pioneers possess. ( but even medieval people had way more tech so even thats odd ).

Some examples:
- The houses are not in medieval style as most would be mud houses with straw. And the later high medieval wood and stone buildings would be built different. The most likely building style would be rough stone or built with big wooden beams and mud.
- Planked houses and hewn stone townhouses are a bit more modern.
- And the grid like square building style? Medieval building was a lot more disorganized and 'organic'.
- A dedicated hospital with a doctor? Modern hospitals are a renaissance invention, the early medieval ones are more like monasteries.
- A school thats not a monastery? Definitely colonial!
- Church is modern and colonial-protestant styled.
- I can go on and on.

I know it's based in an alternate world, but its definitely NOT a medieval world. So stop calling it that way!
Since the game is in another world just call them settlers or pioneers or something without a specific period/setting. That would be correct.

I'm a historian and specialized in both medieval and colonial history, so I know what i'm talking about here in case you wondered.
Posted February 23, 2014
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SnakeByte99: Nice game, love the dev's hard work. These days his game is a precious gem!
But there is nothing medieval about it, it would be even better to categorize this as early american colonial, pioneerish if anything. I do not see any examples of typical medieval things in this game. The only thing close to medieval times is the terribly low technology level these pioneers possess. ( but even medieval people had way more tech so even thats odd ).

Some examples:
- The houses are not in medieval style as most would be mud houses with straw. And the later high medieval wood and stone buildings would be built different. The most likely building style would be rough stone or built with big wooden beams and mud.
- Planked houses and hewn stone townhouses are a bit more modern.
- And the grid like square building style? Medieval building was a lot more disorganized and 'organic'.
- A dedicated hospital with a doctor? Modern hospitals are a renaissance invention, the early medieval ones are more like monasteries.
- A school thats not a monastery? Definitely colonial!
- Church is modern and colonial-protestant styled.
- I can go on and on.

I know it's based in an alternate world, but its definitely NOT a medieval world. So stop calling it that way!
Since the game is in another world just call them settlers or pioneers or something without a specific period/setting. That would be correct.

I'm a historian and specialized in both medieval and colonial history, so I know what i'm talking about here in case you wondered.
About 150 posts ago I commented that this looked as though it could have taken place as early as a few hundred years ago, which made it even more attractive to me.
Thanks for adding some historical expertise here.
I'm still very anxiously waiting for payday. :)
Posted February 23, 2014
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zeroxxx: After tinkering with the game, I find it hard to justify 20 USD spent on the game.

Graphic is mediocre, mechanic is standard sandbox survival sim (cropping,planting,building) with no significant, revolutionary good points.

Audio is another so-so. Just the same melody played again and again.

...not sure why this is top seller on Steam as well.
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Darvond: To your points, its a game made by a single person. Give the dude a break.

As for it being a top seller, consider the abysmal game that was SimCity 2013 and understand the hunger people have.
To be quite honest, I find it is an unacceptable excuse. Dust An Elysian Tail is more or less the same - being developed mostly solo. Yet, Dust stands tall among solo-indie games be it in graphic, gameplay or audio.

The strong point of this Banished, yet the weakest point of Dust, is that replayability. Dust once completed you wouldn't want, most of the time, repeat play that game.

Banished is different.
Posted February 26, 2014
Interesting review:

http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2014/02/24/cold-undocumented-emptiness-banished/
Posted February 26, 2014
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zeffyr: Interesting review:

http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2014/02/24/cold-undocumented-emptiness-banished/
I've been noticing that sort of viewpoint on Banished from a few negative reviewers. The people who don't like Banished seem to not like it because it doesn't have a narrative or interesting story points and the mechanics of the game are essentially THE game itself... no other bells or whistles. I think they loaded up Banished and expected The Sims... and when they didn't get The Sims, they rebelled mentally.

For me that's what makes Banished an amazing game. It forces the player to construct his/her own narrative using... IMAGINATION. Yeah, we don't hear much about that any more. People want their hands held, their path laid out for them, everything set in place so they can be free to pay attention to something else while playing. It's the endless ADD syndrome. Yet, when games come along that offers a solid structure and narrative, they whine and call it a pointless rail shooter or fixed corridor creeper. I grew up playing Atari and being fascinated with moving blocks and shooting circles and dots that were supposed to be alien ships... so I guess I'm kind of easy to please. I don't mind a game that forces me to build my own internal story for my game and characters. Young gamers these days are a breed apart, though. They need everything handed to them a silver platter with glistening polygons and surround sound stereo goodness. Anything less for them would be uncivilized.

I think some people who don't like Banished are not seeing it for what it is. It's a nature survival sim with limited resources and simply keeping your villagers alive is the point. There's no reason to build an army because there's no enemy to fight, and there's no reason to construct complicated late-medieval style buildings because that would bend the late game into a structure that the game can't and shouldn't support. I heard one reviewer on a podcast complaining about not having bakeries and other type of buildings. But you know what, if there was more to build, they'd just find something else lacking to complain about. Some reviewers are not liking Banished because they're mistaking it for what it is, rather than what they'd like it to be. Will mods change that? Maybe. I guess I wouldn't mind more building choices or a more involved late game, but those things wouldn't change my overall view of it as being a really fun game. I just don't see how someone could take a look at the 20 or so building options and say, 'I don't like this game because there's not 30 buildings to choose from.'
Posted February 26, 2014
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zeffyr: Interesting review:

http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2014/02/24/cold-undocumented-emptiness-banished/
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Emob78: I've been noticing that sort of viewpoint on Banished from a few negative reviewers. The people who don't like Banished seem to not like it because it doesn't have a narrative or interesting story points and the mechanics of the game are essentially THE game itself... no other bells or whistles. I think they loaded up Banished and expected The Sims... and when they didn't get The Sims, they rebelled mentally.

For me that's what makes Banished an amazing game. It forces the player to construct his/her own narrative using... IMAGINATION. Yeah, we don't hear much about that any more. People want their hands held, their path laid out for them, everything set in place so they can be free to pay attention to something else while playing. It's the endless ADD syndrome. Yet, when games come along that offers a solid structure and narrative, they whine and call it a pointless rail shooter or fixed corridor creeper. I grew up playing Atari and being fascinated with moving blocks and shooting circles and dots that were supposed to be alien ships... so I guess I'm kind of easy to please. I don't mind a game that forces me to build my own internal story for my game and characters. Young gamers these days are a breed apart, though. They need everything handed to them a silver platter with glistening polygons and surround sound stereo goodness. Anything less for them would be uncivilized.

I think some people who don't like Banished are not seeing it for what it is. It's a nature survival sim with limited resources and simply keeping your villagers alive is the point. There's no reason to build an army because there's no enemy to fight, and there's no reason to construct complicated late-medieval style buildings because that would bend the late game into a structure that the game can't and shouldn't support. I heard one reviewer on a podcast complaining about not having bakeries and other type of buildings. But you know what, if there was more to build, they'd just find something else lacking to complain about. Some reviewers are not liking Banished because they're mistaking it for what it is, rather than what they'd like it to be. Will mods change that? Maybe. I guess I wouldn't mind more building choices or a more involved late game, but those things wouldn't change my overall view of it as being a really fun game. I just don't see how someone could take a look at the 20 or so building options and say, 'I don't like this game because there's not 30 buildings to choose from.'
I agree! Banished is an amazing game.. This reviewed is a diptard anyway.. since one of his complaints about Banished is "No unlockables". Unlockables are for the lowest common denominator in my opinion, therefore one can conclude this game is too difficult for this reviewer and s/he should go back to something like Angry Birds.
Posted February 26, 2014
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SnakeByte99: ...
This is like the judge on Chopped who just had the best food but says" You called it stew but this is actually a soup, and for that I have to chop you!"
Posted March 07, 2014
Just bought it even though I wanted to wait for a sale. I just wanted to show GOG some support.
Posted March 07, 2014
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Emob78: They need everything handed to them a silver platter with glistening polygons and surround sound stereo goodness. Anything less for them would be uncivilized.
Yes. That's exactly how all young people these days work. Do you also remember how grass used to be greener and sky bluer, and those extremely pixelated videogames without high polygon counts or surround sound stereo made millions?

Oh. Right. Grass was not greener. Sky was not bluer. And games with 'retro graphics' are extremely popular nowadays, not to mention stuff like Minecraft. So I guess those days are now!

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Emob78: I think some people who don't like Banished are not seeing it for what it is.
Or they just don't like Banished! I'm sorry for being so sarcastic, you're obviously very polite and are trying to be nice, but I always found similar viewpoints to be a bit insulting, even when you don't mean it like that. Not talking about the crazy generalization I have nabbed at earlier, you're basically saying that 'People don't like it because they don't get it'.

I... I'll just start at the beginning. Since forever, I have played very few story-focused games as ~1997, there quite simply were not all that many of them. I have enjoyed pixaleted games without surround sound and no story a lot back then, but that wasn't because they would actually be somehow better - I have enjoyed them because there wasn't all that much to choose from. Since then, I have discovered story-based games, with great visuals and sound. And you know what? I enjoy them far more than vast majority of the stuff I have played in the 'days of old'. In spite of growing up with games with no story, I would consider the lack of clear goal and focus of Banished to be the game's weakness, perhaps even to the point of me not playing it. That doesn't mean I 'don't get it', that just means I prefer games taking a different direction. Creating a story in my mind? That's what I write for. I want to discover a story in a videogame.

And that's how it works with just about anyone, including game reviewers. Videogames are a medium where voicing an objective rating is extremely difficult, so it all comes down to subjectivity and personal values of each and every person. Saying that people don't understand the game is kind of wrong - they just don't like it.
Post edited March 07, 2014 by Fenixp
Posted March 07, 2014
To play devil's advocate for Emob, you're an experienced gamer Fenxip and the theory that many (note: many, not everyone) people don't get Banished is likely true. The Steam discussions is filled with people who have completely failed to follow the tutorial and realize it's a sand box game where you're supposed to set your own goals if surviving as long as possible is not enough.

And I think the expression "you don't get it" should be meant it as a "you don't like it, it's not your thing"-kind of way without being condescending and quite a few are responding that way to those that rant about the game being broken or poor due to no goals at Steam (at least).

Either way, when the creator release the mod kit this issue will more or less be solved. Hopefully as I lack creativity myself so I would welcome mods that give options to gameplay.
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Community
General discussion (archive)Release: Banished(185 posts)(185 posts)
(185 posts)