oh god, so true, and i just watched the movie yesterday xD i loved bruce willis line when he “disarm” kevin.
on a lighter note, its funny how grumpy sweet look yet we know he’s a good guy. and meanwhile it almost seems like Gcat is starting to go to the darkside a little bit more :P
Why is she even wearing glasses? Cats have awesome sight…..
Meganeko
not all cats have great sight, a friend os mine had one nearsighted, she was always squinted, we planed to get it cat sized glasses, but we coudn´t find them
Necrisha
One of my friends cats went blind in her old age. And cat’s generally rely on their sense of smell and whiskers when their vision goes. (which happens a lot due to cat diabetes.)
The only problem would be gauging how nearsighted the cat is of course. I figured it was more of a fashion statement in pixel’s case- as sunglasses would be redundant.
If you look closely, you can see that Pixels glasses arent even attached to her ears! And they dont have the temples! (Temples are the support parts of the glasses, if you are wondering.)
Angry Birds suffers from the same problem a lot of physics-based puzzlers do: it’s not consistent. An extremely miniscule change in your actions can mean a big difference in the game.
It eventually gets to a point where you pretty much have the angle down, but have to retry it like 20 times because it requires such a precise input. And you’re not given any exact angles or power levels so you have to do it all on perceptiveness.
Overall it’s just poor design that only favors simpleminded individuals that don’t mind the monotony. Considering how popular the game is I think that says something about the general population…
Well this comment is incredibly condescending. Your assuming “not minding monotony” automatically makes someone a simple-minded individual, and then going further to call the general population the same thing. I don’t know what goes on in your elitist sphere of friends, but when I’m in a car or tired as hell I enjoy blowing shit up with birds. It’s simple fun.
Also, looking back at your comment, doesn’t “doing it all on perceptiveness” describe what your SUPPOSED to do with a game? It would be incredibly easy, and even more boring, if the game just gave you the arc.
I think (s)he’s more talking about the level of skill involved. I have the same issue with Candy Crush, really. (and Bejeweled before it, and Puzzle Quest.) Sure it’s decently fun to just watch stuff go “boom” or whatever, but there’s really not much skill involved in doing well. And really, a decently high level of skill and planning won’t do you any discernible good over a newbie who’s just winging it and not caring too much. That’s a huge problem to me when a game punishes you for failure the way those games do.
You can’t change to a different level. You can’t go back and try other stuff for a while unless you really just like making more stars appear without any benefit to it. (I could swear we, as an industry, figured out how much better it was to gate off content based on how many stars you’ve gotten or how many levels you’ve beaten in the last group rather than making it wholly linear “beat level N to play level N+1 [repeat unto infinity]” but clearly those big mobile devs didn’t get the memo.) So if skill doesn’t give you a better chance at victory, you’re stuck basically just hoping you got the angle perfect each time, and it becomes a frustrating mess. Another thing a good designer should recognize is feedback, telling the player how well or poorly they’re doing so they can adjust their play. And the randomness inherent in both Angry Birds and Candy Crush makes feedback worthless.
It’s not that either game is BAD, but I think the progression model does a lot to hinder them both, and I’m sad to see that model being accepted as the norm in this day and age. Casual games can be a lot of fun, and I often look to Popcap for a good lesson in how simple and fun can really work. I totally get that the progression model is there to get you to buy stuff to progress out of frustration and desire to play more of the game, but then you’re sacrificing the integrity and fun of your game for the sake of money, and that’s not something I support in the slightest.
But then, I’m not sure why we’re having this conversation, because Flappy Bird is something completely different. I have a whole different set of issues with that game.
Alzack
I’m not really defending the quality of design in any of the mentioned games. Candy crush is based entirely off of luck, and Angry Birds does take more tries than it should because of some bullshit. I just didn’t like how Searz took the elitist route, and tried to generalize anyone who played/enjoyed the games a simple-minded. Most Zynga/Bejeweled based games exist entirely to eat time and money, but just because you play them doesn’t make you an idiot. (Although if you pour a lot of money into them, that MIGHT be a different story.)
Of course Glitch knows how to play Tetris. “Candy Crush is just like it”, to quote Pixel. You stack things to the top. And thus, without moving a single thing, you win Candy Crush.
I only ever once got hooked on a mobile game… because it was a Monster Rancher game, and I hadn’t seen any of those since the PS1. It was pretty good, if overly simplistic, but I mostly stuck around for the community… elsewise I might not have bothered. Still, that is all buried in the past now.
52 thoughts on “Block by Block”
MattoMatteo
Uhm… i think somebody must teach something to Glitc… ^_^’
The mudkip
No, don’t! He looks to cute trying to give comand. Also, the white in pixel’s glasses is terrifying.
Hi! My name is Jenkins Leeroy!
reminds me of Kevin from sin city
Phyrex
oh god, so true, and i just watched the movie yesterday xD i loved bruce willis line when he “disarm” kevin.
on a lighter note, its funny how grumpy sweet look yet we know he’s a good guy. and meanwhile it almost seems like Gcat is starting to go to the darkside a little bit more :P
NEKOmizu
Why is she even wearing glasses? Cats have awesome sight…..
Meganeko
not all cats have great sight, a friend os mine had one nearsighted, she was always squinted, we planed to get it cat sized glasses, but we coudn´t find them
Necrisha
One of my friends cats went blind in her old age. And cat’s generally rely on their sense of smell and whiskers when their vision goes. (which happens a lot due to cat diabetes.)
The only problem would be gauging how nearsighted the cat is of course. I figured it was more of a fashion statement in pixel’s case- as sunglasses would be redundant.
Lusamine's True Motives
I tried a flappy bird spin off and could not get past the first pipe.
Switcherland
It’s “Glitch” not “Glitc”
BoomBoi
If you look closely, you can see that Pixels glasses arent even attached to her ears! And they dont have the temples! (Temples are the support parts of the glasses, if you are wondering.)
LauW
Flappy Bird is the reason i can’t gold Goat Simulator
johnson
thats why i don’t play flappy bird btw isnt flappy bird 2 supposed to be released?
ifics
I don’t know what is more intimidating, Sweet walking up, or Pixel with that look in the last panel.
Searz
Angry Birds suffers from the same problem a lot of physics-based puzzlers do: it’s not consistent. An extremely miniscule change in your actions can mean a big difference in the game.
It eventually gets to a point where you pretty much have the angle down, but have to retry it like 20 times because it requires such a precise input. And you’re not given any exact angles or power levels so you have to do it all on perceptiveness.
Overall it’s just poor design that only favors simpleminded individuals that don’t mind the monotony. Considering how popular the game is I think that says something about the general population…
M505
Angry Birds or Flappy Bird? Because both COULD apply here…
Alzack
Well this comment is incredibly condescending. Your assuming “not minding monotony” automatically makes someone a simple-minded individual, and then going further to call the general population the same thing. I don’t know what goes on in your elitist sphere of friends, but when I’m in a car or tired as hell I enjoy blowing shit up with birds. It’s simple fun.
Also, looking back at your comment, doesn’t “doing it all on perceptiveness” describe what your SUPPOSED to do with a game? It would be incredibly easy, and even more boring, if the game just gave you the arc.
Bitcoon
I think (s)he’s more talking about the level of skill involved. I have the same issue with Candy Crush, really. (and Bejeweled before it, and Puzzle Quest.) Sure it’s decently fun to just watch stuff go “boom” or whatever, but there’s really not much skill involved in doing well. And really, a decently high level of skill and planning won’t do you any discernible good over a newbie who’s just winging it and not caring too much. That’s a huge problem to me when a game punishes you for failure the way those games do.
You can’t change to a different level. You can’t go back and try other stuff for a while unless you really just like making more stars appear without any benefit to it. (I could swear we, as an industry, figured out how much better it was to gate off content based on how many stars you’ve gotten or how many levels you’ve beaten in the last group rather than making it wholly linear “beat level N to play level N+1 [repeat unto infinity]” but clearly those big mobile devs didn’t get the memo.) So if skill doesn’t give you a better chance at victory, you’re stuck basically just hoping you got the angle perfect each time, and it becomes a frustrating mess. Another thing a good designer should recognize is feedback, telling the player how well or poorly they’re doing so they can adjust their play. And the randomness inherent in both Angry Birds and Candy Crush makes feedback worthless.
It’s not that either game is BAD, but I think the progression model does a lot to hinder them both, and I’m sad to see that model being accepted as the norm in this day and age. Casual games can be a lot of fun, and I often look to Popcap for a good lesson in how simple and fun can really work. I totally get that the progression model is there to get you to buy stuff to progress out of frustration and desire to play more of the game, but then you’re sacrificing the integrity and fun of your game for the sake of money, and that’s not something I support in the slightest.
But then, I’m not sure why we’re having this conversation, because Flappy Bird is something completely different. I have a whole different set of issues with that game.
Alzack
I’m not really defending the quality of design in any of the mentioned games. Candy crush is based entirely off of luck, and Angry Birds does take more tries than it should because of some bullshit. I just didn’t like how Searz took the elitist route, and tried to generalize anyone who played/enjoyed the games a simple-minded. Most Zynga/Bejeweled based games exist entirely to eat time and money, but just because you play them doesn’t make you an idiot. (Although if you pour a lot of money into them, that MIGHT be a different story.)
Matt
On a related note:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQRWlE19c6Y
Anon
Of course Glitch knows how to play Tetris. “Candy Crush is just like it”, to quote Pixel. You stack things to the top. And thus, without moving a single thing, you win Candy Crush.
pOkEgAmEr7
awww glitch whoever told u that lied XD and wow nice joke about a very evil game, its perfect to prove both points
yaluckyboy09
why haven’t you updated the Characters page with Pixel yet?
Carlosfer2201
Try Bird Jesus, it’s a flappy bird clone with a Twitch plays Pokemon theme, plus you unlock legedary birds as you work your record up.
Starvr344
Reminds me of Dagget from Angry Beavers.
“Stuipd EH stupid EH stupid EH!”
Horselover
I think the white glasses thing on Pixel is supposed to look like anime glasses
TonksM
The gang’s all here now. :3
Horselover
What gang?
Ponymon Master
twas fap- i mean; flappy bird that tore a hole in the time space continuum
Baron Barian
Looks like we have a new Frank Gehry kitty.
Also, the gang is now together. :D
Nespa
i wonder what would happen if gamercats owner game home and saw sweet and pixel :D
DaGoldenGolem
lol me too
Stormer
Oh god, that was me when I first played Tetris.
Then I soon found out HOW to play.
Once in a blue Mew
I’m new, how does this Gravatar thing work?
Saibot
Metroid please you have it with the other symbols inthe backround.
I like how this is like a 2 in 1 comic. LOL
Poisone
Wait. I thought that GamerCat was a girl?
CelesseAdministrator
No, he’s a boy.
aftertale sans
why does evereybody think hes a girl
H
I love the way Sweet greets her, “You must be Player Four”.
twilight sparkle
my favorite comic glitch is sosooosoossosooso cute! squee!
mr. lincoln
glitch is crazy
mr_lincoln_is_wrong
GLITCH IS NOT CRAZY HE IS CUTEE!!
David
Awww, I think Pixel is very adorable… actually they all are.
skootz524
you had one job, ONE JOB, AND YOU FAILED! MISERABLY!
SotiCoto
-_-
I only ever once got hooked on a mobile game… because it was a Monster Rancher game, and I hadn’t seen any of those since the PS1. It was pretty good, if overly simplistic, but I mostly stuck around for the community… elsewise I might not have bothered. Still, that is all buried in the past now.
Thwaitesy
I’ve just noticed…Glitch doesn’t have a nose.
Nyan (Nano)
Glitch, that is not how you play Tetris.
Lock@Shock@Barrel
I dont know about you all but I love flappy bird. I spend all my coins on it and crossy road when i’m at Boondocks
i wish i had a 3DS
FLAPPY BIRD IS SO HAARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abbykatie
Do you know that flappy bird has an ending?
If you can get 999 points, you’ll meet super mario in the last pipe, and it will kill you
StitchFan626
Wait! How does a cat even *have* a phone?
Super Jonte
It’s a rage game
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