Thinking of buying? Read this first and then decide.

[Rodalli]

I'm going to catch some flak for this, I know it, but I feel like this needs to be said for the people who may be thinking about purchasing this. Just so we're clear, this is coming from the viewpoint of someone who studied visual art. I was a sculptor and studied 2D and 3D design. Also dabbled in some video game design and 3D modeling. Anyway, here we go.

What you see in the videos on the Steam store page is *precisely* what you get. Cool visuals and cool scenery, but that's it. It's quite beautiful. This is really cool for the first 5-10 minutes, as there is a strong sense of awe and wonder at all of the strangeness of the world you're dumped in...but after that you're probably going to get bored. It doesn't last.

You can't interact with the world in any way. The most you can do is approach objects and creatures and have them either a) make noise, b) run away from you and make noise or c) chase you and make noise (flies, for example, will do this).

There are some cool little things here and there, but this is not what I would consider a "game". There's no objective except to get to "the end". To play through this is going to take you all of 30 - 45 minutes. This *is* what I would consider "art". It provokes immersion, exploration, it engages. Those are all things that art and games have in common. But it doesn't have the qualities that a game has. There's no clear objectives. There are no mechanics. The bit of structure and flow that exists is very loose and it is difficult for most players to perceive it is even there at all. You have to be very observant to realize what's going on. Like a lot of art, there are very few people that are going to be able to enjoy this with repeated viewings/plays. Not many people end up loving a painting so much that they have to own it, they want in their home, want to see it every day, etc. The same is true for this title. Not many people are going to play this again after the first run. I'd reckon many won't even make it through the first run. There are games that are both "games" and "art". Bastion comes to mind, as does Braid. You can play, mess with game mechanics, experiment, discover new things, have an impact on your environment, and at the same time be moved and influenced by the story, the art, the music and the entire experience. This is not one of those titles, sadly.

To me, this title is a good example of something I wish I would have thought of when I was in art school. A different way to use computers and games to engage an audience and share an experience. However, it's *not* a game. I feel like this has to be stressed. I don't feel like this is worth the $8.99/$9.99 they're asking for. There's not a lot of replay value unless you're among that small subset of people that just really get off on this art/music style and want to veg out. May be awesome if you're a stoner, too, I'm not sure. In my opinion, not for the average gamer, though...a lot of people on Steam are going to feel ripped at this price point. I'd feel better about it if it were in the $2.99 - $4.99 price range.

Just my 5 cents. I'm not here to have an argument, so please don't try to start one. I hope this was helpful to anyone who's on the fence about this.

[Icicle]

What are computer games worth anyway? Gamers are cheapskates.

A good performance of art - performed live, lasting about an hour - usually costs more than this.

I admit, this piece of art can be infinitely copied. But the same holds true for an album of music, which is roughly the same price as well.

[Tricuul]

Agreed. There were moments during play that I felt like I was doing something, but the vast majority of the time I felt like something was being done to me. I can see how this sort of mental massage might be pleasing for some, but as much as I like conceptual games and art games, I can't see this getting another play. There might have been things that I missed, but I need something more visually interesting to keep me around waiting for it.

The price point is a bit high, but at the same time I don't know how many will actually purchase it and so I am assuming a premium there - and I am okay with it.

The moments of sonic interest were there, but fleeting and soon missed. There were a lot of unexplained audio hotspots - where the sound specifically changed and you wondered if you were supposed to stick around, do something, etc. Part of the game is interaction, yes. But waiting around for something to do doesn't feel interactive to me. Again, I felt like I was waiting for permission to move on while inside the experience.

I'd like to think I influenced the transitions within the simulation, but part of me wonders if it isn't all just a time issue, and that if time didn't change you might reach the end regardless of what you did. I'm not sure if it demands a replay to find out. Certainly not tonight.

[im not trading. get a job.]

This game in itself is just that.. art! I think it is an interesting departure from all the violence in games such as God of War or TF2
but seems a bit of a waste since its around $10 but I argee with waht Iciclesaid about art costing more than this game.If you want an artistic game then try Journey or even Bastion,LIMBO,and Braid

[Dirt McGirt]

what i like to do is find the highest mountaintop when i wanna listen to a different tune for a bit and wait till night! then look out for moving stars in the distance and walk to that area you'll get a different song after you get to it. In my opinion it's worth it if your into what you hear and see from the trailer. This game is an awesome experience, im not gonna say i didn't want more gameplay after playing the beta but now playing the full game i can tell it was definately worth it. I just hope when i get back into the game the songs continue from where i left off. Also there was no controller support for mac in the beta i played so i was very greatful that my directinput gamepad was working. Most best selling games dont even support that.

[∆ Pain ∆]

This game needs more secrets to find out and more interaction with things then it would be perfect.

[Sin4profit]

This is the kind of review i saw looking for, thanks. As it is i think i'll wait on a deeper sale and check it out. I'm fine with interactive experiments like this but it's kind of a pet peeve of mine when the description itself refers to it as a "game".

Also like i said in the topic i created (Is this really a "Game"), i think experiences like this will make more sense if the Oculus Rift lives up to the hype but for now it's just worth waiting for the big sales on it.

[FriendCalledFive]

@Rodalli Thanks for saving me the money, I got burned on Dear Ester and Thirty Flights of Loving, I am getting bored of backing indy arthouse concepts with no gameplay or story.

[MaziQueen]

Thanks for saving me ten bucks

[MechWorrier]

It's a game. Just a completely non-conventional and experimental one. The interactivity and aesthetic is what makes Proteus what it is, it isn't anything other than a game, it just isn't focused on mechanics or replayability at all. Which is fine really.

[IneedsBeer]

Thank you, I was considering buying for all the wrong reasons. You saved me money!

[Captain Awesome]

Well said OP. It stands JUST on the art side of the pure art---game line. This game is the definition of interactive art. I heard all I could hear, saw all I could see, explored the island, enjoyed it even for the most part, and I doubt I'll ever open it again. I suspect most of the steam crowd will feel the same.

[DemoEvolved]

If you are curious about this, but hesitant that there is not enough game present, or even narrative, then check out Dear Esther, which has a more vivid realism, is more haunting and has a narrative you can struggle to piece together. This and that are basically the same genre.

[Darren Grey]

This is way more gamey than Dear Esther! :P It has choices and meaningful interactions, freedom and non-linearilty. The exploration supports the gameplay rather than being an obstacle. And personally I find it far more beautiful than Dear Esther's bland realism.

To each his/her own, of course! But don't pigeon hole a game like this.

[nitrome]

"I don't feel like this is worth the $8.99/$9.99 they're asking for."

I think developers are entitled to ask for the amount of time and effort they've invested in a project.

As a game developer, a project like Proteus is not easy to make - it's not simply a matter of making some 3D shapes and laying out some triggers in Unity. It's also not trivial to make an island and expect people to blunder into every interesting thing on it - it has to be designed and that design requires a lot of iterative testing. Taking perhaps years to get right and removing a lot of content that simply isn't good enough.

I think you are entitled to take issue with a product's description, because that ultimately informs your purchase. But I don't think you have a right to decide its value.

[Toroko]

Originally posted by nitrome:

"I don't feel like this is worth the $8.99/$9.99 they're asking for."

I think developers are entitled to ask for the amount of time and effort they've invested in a project.

As a game developer, a project like Proteus is not easy to make - it's not simply a matter of making some 3D shapes and laying out some triggers in Unity. It's also not trivial to make an island and expect people to blunder into every interesting thing on it - it has to be designed and that design requires a lot of iterative testing. Taking perhaps years to get right and removing a lot of content that simply isn't good enough.

I think you are entitled to take issue with a product's description, because that ultimately informs your purchase. But I don't think you have a right to decide its value.

I think the value of games change from person to person, of course we are able to judge for ourselves if the price is right or too high, after all it's our money we're spending.

For someone 10$ could be a lot and they expect to get a great experience that is going to last. For example, upon purchasing a game for 10$ that lasts mostly one hour, that person will be disappointed and think that the particular game is not worth the money. For someone else 10$ could be nothing and buying a one hour experience is justified as a good one.