Deer Chat Simulator: The Endless Forrest

[bapenguin]

I don't even know what to make of this game. It's like a bunch of drugged up hippies during some stoner session designed this thing or something.

From the official site (http://tale-of-tales.com/TheEndlessForest/):

You are a stag, a male deer. So are the other players. You meet each other in an endless forest on the internet. The setting is idyllic, the atmosphere peaceful. You communicate with one another through sounds and body language.

The Endless Forest is a social screensaver, a virtual place where you can play with your friends. When your computer goes to sleep you appear as a deer in this magical place. There are no goals to achieve or rules to follow. You just steer your deer through the forest and see what happens.
Well...woooo-eeeeh-ahh! Sign me up for some forest romping with my Stag. Make sure you fully check out the site for great quotes like:

When your deer runs through the trees, it doesn't collide. That would hurt! It just triggers some magical dust and slows him down a bit. No harm done.
In all seriousness, reading the enclosed press release (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?p=260045#post260045) it does sound like a different style of game that could be fun. Who's up for creating the Evil Avatar herd and tearing up the joint?

[bapenguin]

Dancing deer in strange disguises

Tale of Tales release Phase Two of The Endless Forest

Gent, Belgium, 26 April 2006

By far the most striking addition in version 2.0 of The Endless Forest is the ability of players to change the look of the deer avatars. This happens, primarily, by collecting the hidden magic of the forest to cast spells on each other. Next to this, several new activities have been added, from worshipping the Twin Gods to dancing to Gerry De Mol's ocarina. And many new ways for players to express themselves in the chat free world of The Endless Forest.

The Endless Forest is a multiplayer online screensaver in which everyone plays a deer. It is an experiment with non-violent, non-goal-oriented interactivity and new forms of narrativity in realtime 3D. Designed and directed by veteran new media artists Auriea Harvey en Michaël Samyn as a large game that is released in phases. The development of these phases is influenced by the response of the players and opportunities offered by arts organisations.

Phase One was released in September 2005 with a spartan approach to interactivity that stimulated the players to invent new ways of amusing each other with only a small amount of available actions. It featured a mysterious ruin and a graveyard built by visualisation of data generated by an art exhibition that featured the project.

In Phase Two, the play space has become twice as large and the amount of possible activities has increased considerably, many influenced by suggestions from the players themselves. The most significant addition is the introduction of enchantments that allow players to transform the appearance of others. So your avatar does not need to look the same as all the others anymore. Over the course of Phase Two, new guises will be added continuously. Also in this version, the game interface has been translated into French and German in addition to the original English and Dutch.

Phase Two also includes new destinations like a romantic stream and pond and a huge hollow oak. The Abiogenesis system was introduced at the Artefact new media arts festival in February 2006. It allows the authors to play god in their virtual universe by controlling the weather, day and night and all sorts of flying and non-flying objects and creatures. At times terrifying, at others hilarious, the interventions of the Twin Gods never endanger the deer who join the party.

Tale of Tales is a Belgian games development company founded by former internet artists Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, better known as "Entropy8Zuper!". Their goal is to explore the potential of the games medium as an artistically expressive form of entertainment.

The Endless Forest is supported by Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean in Luxemburg, Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds, Design Vlaanderen, STUK arts centre in Leuven, and Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Ename.

The Endless Forest can be downloaded for free from
http://Tale-of-Tales.com/TheEndlessForest/

[Serapth]

Ok... this sounds like a game seriously crying out for substance abuse before playing.

I do wonder though, at the "romantic stream" can you get it on in some hot and dirty deer on deer action?

[Serapth]

Ahhhhh... something that screamed in my head ended up being true. This so sounds like something funded by a government art grant. Governments love to piss away money on wierd artistic shit. Low and behold:

And so far, we've been fortunate enough to find sufficient arts funding to allow this project to remain non-commercial.

[Dr.Finger]

I can just hear Cartman yelling "Goddanm hippies! I hate hippies!". as I read this,

[Stevercakes]

First thing that came to my mind was this little flash clip from newgrounds Charlie the Unicorn (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/280260).

Lets Rock This Joint!

[Jukey]

Who's up for creating the Evil Avatar heard

I think you mean herd, not heard.

[Bad_Buddha]

What I wouldn't give for a "Drunk, red-neck, camo hunter" haxx!

[jacktion]

Hmmm... Looks novel.
I'm tryin' it.

[Wedge]

That game is going to be a breeding ground for furries.

Fetch my rifle.

[Serapth]

What I wouldn't give for a "Drunk, red-neck, camo hunter" haxx!

You mean like this one?

http://www.cdaccess.com/jpg/shared/front/large/deerav4.jpg

[Heretic Machine]

Ok... this sounds like a game seriously crying out for substance abuse before playing.

I do wonder though, at the "romantic stream" can you get it on in some hot and dirty deer on deer action?

http://www.mynaturephotos.com/images/whitetailed-deer-3.JPG

Aww, yeah...

[Serapth]

Aww, yeah...

Wow, now thats a come f$#k me if I ever saw one! :D

[Klade]

This game is incredibly strange. I never knew that hippies would learn computer programing, somehow the two always seemed like oil and water. Here's my favorite quote:

"Make your deer lie down once in a while. Not because he gets tired but because it looks so decorative."

[Deadend]

It's a european art grant, nothing wrong with that then. Or would you rather have some painting that is made to pander to critics?

At least this way there is interaction, and interaction is good.

[Tia]

This game is incredibly strange. I never knew that hippies would learn computer programing, somehow the two always seemed like oil

There was this little computer company started by hippies. What was it called... it is on the top of my tongue... something to do with some fruit. :confused:




(yes, yes, I mean Apple.)

[Klade]

There was this little computer company started by hippies. What was it called... it is on the top of my tongue... something to do with some fruit. :confused:




(yes, yes, I mean Apple.)

Those are different kinds of hippies. Theres hippies from the 70's (pretty much most of the college crowd) and then there are hippies that advertise dropping out of society. This is the original meaning of the word and the one I was using. These people tend to do things like refuse to get vaccines, eat only raw food, and speak for long periods of time about the evils of iodine in your salt. And before I saw this game I'd never heard of one being actively involved in a tech field.

[EmoryM]

Dolphins would've been more fun.

[LilEvilFish]

What's so wrong about making a game which is essentially a social "chat room" type of affair?

[Serapth]

What's so wrong about making a game which is essentially a social "chat room" type of affair?

Well, for starters, everything that is wrong with social "chat room" types in the first place. Hell I can picture it now.

Bamby1: Dude, im look for serialz for Diablo2, can anyone help?
Bamby2: Shut up Bamby1, please play in character!
Bamby1: How the fuck do I play a deer in character? So, anyone got those CD keys? Im willing to trade a steam account for them!
Bamby3: Hey bamby2, your kinda hot. Wanna cyber?

[RandomViolence]

What's so wrong about making a game which is essentially a social "chat room" type of affair?

But you can't CHAT! It's meandering around doing absolutely nothing in a world that's meaningless. I don't need a video game for that!

Seriously, what the fuck? Let's all play invincible deer in a place where we can't really communicate with each other but can romp around the romantic stream and lie down occasionally to 'look nice'. Fuck that, I'd rather look at porn.

Toss in some horn-locking action and adaptive physics to simulate antler fights, and maybe I'll be interested. No, wait, that still sound boring as shit. What exactly do you DO?! IT'S SO AIMLESS!!! GRARARGRGRGHHH!!!

[Tia]

Those are different kinds of hippies. Theres hippies from the 70's (pretty much most of the college crowd) and then there are hippies that advertise dropping out of society. This is the original meaning of the word and the one I was using. These people tend to do things like refuse to get vaccines, eat only raw food, and speak for long periods of time about the evils of iodine in your salt. And before I saw this game I'd never heard of one being actively involved in a tech field.

Of course they are. They were probably amongst the first to use the internet to spread their ideas. You really underestimate the powers of evil, err hippies. They are all around us, they haul your trash, they drive your ambulances, they guard you while you sleep.... Do not #$%^ with them. :p

Sorry I am just very bored right now. Yay for weird people.

[51|RandoM]

waiting for the 30-06 mod.

[phantomhitman]

wtf? those deer are creepy.

[Beelzebud]

So a peaceful game made by what you percieve of as "hippies", is worse than the Army using millions of our tax dollars to buy an Unreal Engine liscense to create a videogame that is actually a cleverly disguised recruitment tool?

I say as long as no one is complaining about America's Army, at a time when our soldiers aren't getting the supplies they need for their mission, then we should all STFU about a game that isn't harming anything.

[bean19]

But you can't CHAT! It's meandering around doing absolutely nothing in a world that's meaningless. I don't need a video game for that!

Seriously, what the fuck? Let's all play invincible deer in a place where we can't really communicate with each other but can romp around the romantic stream and lie down occasionally to 'look nice'. Fuck that, I'd rather look at porn.

Toss in some horn-locking action and adaptive physics to simulate antler fights, and maybe I'll be interested. No, wait, that still sound boring as shit. What exactly do you DO?! IT'S SO AIMLESS!!! GRARARGRGRGHHH!!!

IGE is selling a level 37 Buck Preist with all Tier 3 gear for only $50. You could totally wail on the endgame content with that guy.

[TacRod]

Clearly this aimless, magical deer simulation is exactly what the taxpayer needs.

(By which I mean government-funded art is theft).

[bean19]

So a peaceful game made by what you percieve of as "hippies", is worse than the Army using millions of our tax dollars to buy an Unreal Engine liscense to create a videogame that is actually a cleverly disguised recruitment tool?

I say as long as no one is complaining about America's Army, at a time when our soldiers aren't getting the supplies they need for their mission, then we should all STFU about a game that isn't harming anything.

Considering how effective AA was in comparison to it's cost, I don't really mind it that much. Otherwise, they'd have just run more television ads instead of making this game.

Good point though.

[Klade]

So a peaceful game made by what you percieve of as "hippies", is worse than the Army using millions of our tax dollars to buy an Unreal Engine liscense to create a videogame that is actually a cleverly disguised recruitment tool?

I say as long as no one is complaining about America's Army, at a time when our soldiers aren't getting the supplies they need for their mission, then we should all STFU about a game that isn't harming anything.

Gah this argument is so horrible it makes my head hurt. Let me see if I can distill it.

Your saying that just because a game made by the govt is not currently recieving critique on this website (cause don't pretend it didn't when it came out or that its not elsewhere), a game that is designed around a very well proven concept, a game that was very well made. Then people should not bitch about a different game, made by different people, for an entirely different purpose when they first hear of it?

Thats simply horrible. For one you should never compare two totally different products.

[phantomhitman]

but my bananananana is better than your apple

[Neosho]

So a peaceful game made by what you percieve of as "hippies", is worse than the Army using millions of our tax dollars to buy an Unreal Engine liscense to create a videogame that is actually a cleverly disguised recruitment tool?

I say as long as no one is complaining about America's Army, at a time when our soldiers aren't getting the supplies they need for their mission, then we should all STFU about a game that isn't harming anything.

The difference is that AA is fun. Deer prancing tree funtime is not.

I don't care about ads, i'm a child of the 21rst century...i tune them out by default.

[Chameleo]

anyone get a black screen when they start up the application?

i am.

[DirtyChimp]

Who's up for creating the Evil Avatar herd and tearing up the joint?

If by 'tearing up the joint' you mean 'have a massive deer orgy' , then yes. lets tear up the joint.

[GunJ]

It's like a bunch of drugged up hippies during some stoner session designed this thing or something.


Come on , you're making it sound like it's a bad thing ;)

[thecrazyd]

On an unrelated note, is the good Mr. Penguin now an orange name? Has he traded places with Kefkataran? Was there some kind of Highlander-esque sword fight where Kef called out "There can be only one!" and chopped his red name off?

[bapenguin]

On an unrelated note, is the good Mr. Penguin now an orange name? Has he traded places with Kefkataran? Was there some kind of Highlander-esque sword fight where Kef called out "There can be only one!" and chopped his red name off?

nah...it was an accident. Gotta wait for Evil to fix me up.

[thecrazyd]

Damn... cause that would have been awesome.

[Serapth]

Wonder if Kefkataran is gonna go on a banning spree while he still has the power.

Plus, we should use this time to mock and insult bapenguin as much as we want. Well... that and hope he has bad short term memory.

[Mister Pie]

This actually sounds pretty cool.

[HumpYourWay]

That game is going to be a breeding ground for furries.

How true. When I read the press release this game began to sound like an idea that was born on some kind of furry message board. One of those creepy boards featured on somethingawful.com where people exchange their sick wanking fantasies

__________________
"There can be only one!"
"Then there should have been only one!"

[gzsfrk]

It's all a bunch of deer-humping hippie crap.

[Returner]

Just tried it out. I felt dirty running around as a deer with a human face.

[jacktion]

Do you think people are being so negative about this because it is human nature to fear that which is different?

[Serapth]

Do you think people are being so negative about this because it is human nature to fear that which is different?

Nah, I think its more the lameness of it all causing the negativity.

[Stormwatcher]

Nah, I think its more the lameness of it all causing the negativity.

Agreed, That game makes me cringe.

[XenonCJ]

Chuck Norris doesn't play The Endless Forrest, we should all follow his example.

[ElPresidente]

Furries scare me so much. Someone hold me.

No not you... oi! Getorf!

[Paltry]

you guys are all stupid

[Serapth]

you guys are all stupid
...and your point is?

[aversion2k]

I'm pretty sure something aweful made fun of this. Sorry if thats already been posted

[netcraazzy]

I think this game is pretty strange but everybody here should try to be supportive of it. One of the biggest points of contention that game censorship advocates like to use in the US is the claim that games are not a form of art and thus don't deserve the same free speech protections as things like cinema, novels, paintings and music. How can we bash the politicians and child advocate groups for making these claims yet be so negative towards efforts such as this? You can't have your cake and eat it too folks.

[Zeal]

I really like this game and the developer's approach to creating videogames as art.

We need more of this.

[ElectricMonk]

that deer on the main page is a little too close to being a furry for my taste

[Shifteh]

Thank God people just said "fuck it" and did something original.

I'd take this over another Tom Clancy's Rainbow Recon Cell: Adjective Noun any day.

[Neosho]

I think this game is pretty strange but everybody here should try to be supportive of it. One of the biggest points of contention that game censorship advocates like to use in the US is the claim that games are not a form of art and thus don't deserve the same free speech protections as things like cinema, novels, paintings and music. How can we bash the politicians and child advocate groups for making these claims yet be so negative towards efforts such as this? You can't have your cake and eat it too folks.

Because there's a difference between being negative and calling for the banning of something. I, for one, think this entire program is fucking retarded. However, nowhere will you see me call for the banning of it's sale to minors.

I don't have a habit of supporting things i don't like.

[netcraazzy]

Because there's a difference between being negative and calling for the banning of something. I, for one, think this entire program is fucking retarded. However, nowhere will you see me call for the banning of it's sale to minors.

I don't have a habit of supporting things i don't like.

You don't have to like it. I just wanted to add my perspective since I believe many gamers would argue that this game shouldn't have been made yet we need games like this to add credibility to the argument that games are art too.

[ddbrown30]

Forest not Forrest.

[Lizard Dude]

I'd take this over another Tom Clancy's Rainbow Recon Cell: Adjective Noun any day.

Yes, yes, and yes.

[RandomViolence]

You don't have to like it. I just wanted to add my perspective since I believe many gamers would argue that this game shouldn't have been made yet we need games like this to add credibility to the argument that games are art too.

Explain to me how this game is art. I'm actually curious.

[netcraazzy]

Explain to me how this game is art. I'm actually curious.

If I or anybody for that matter was capable of doing that then I'm pretty sure it would put an end to a lot of the anti game mud slinging going on right now.

I would say this game is as close to an attempt at artistic expression through games as you can get these days. Heck, a lot of art has no real purpose or objective other than to exist and be admired, or hated, and I'd say this game fits that mold fairly well. The development was also funded by government art grants and the developers clearly state (http://tale-of-tales.com/TheEndlessForest/statement.html) that they wanted to make a game that's different and promotes the "evolution of games towards a medium with the artistic expressiveness of cinema and literature."

It's ironic, I had never heard of this game until today and the concept does sound pretty boring but here I am defending the game.

[PacerDawn]

Hmm, I'm thinking this site may have nefarious purposes... I clicked on "Name your Deer" and it chose (I kid you not) this symbol for me:

http://internettrash.com/users/pacersilverfang/chubb.jpg

All I can say is... sweet! Be sure to look for me in game. I won't be hard to miss, just look for the GIANT ERECTION OVER MY HEAD!

Nice...

[ElPresidente]

Okay... I thought I was scared before but that's just plain terrifying. :P

[Metro]

The deer look like like the freaky Forest God (http://hypno-toad.com/images/082_deergod.jpg) from Princess Mononoke.

[Wasson_]

I would play this game with one concession.

That my antlers shot lasers and missiles at the other deer and when they were dead, it perminantly deleted their game files and installed .dll things from hell that made reinstallation completely impossible.

THIS...IS...NESSESSARY. LIFE, FEEDS ON LIFE, FEEDS ON LIFE, FEEDS ON LIFE, FEEDS ON LIFE.

[shnastybiznastic]

I never knew that hippies would learn computer programing, somehow the two always seemed like oil and water.
I would like to point to the FSF and the free software movement in general. Mabye they are a certan species of hippie.

Given the fact that the exploration aspect of the elder scrolls games works so well, it would be interesting to see this sort of thing done without the constraint of just being able to run around in a forest. Mabye a huge MMO style world that is centered around exploring.

[LilEvilFish]

I digress, what exactly is so bad about this game? So far all complaints have mainly gone thusly:

"There is nothing to do" - to that I say, use your imagination, or maybe this game isn't for you.

"It's made by hippies!!!1" - Just because it doesn't contain violence, and instead promotes nature, doesn't mean it was designed by "hippies".

However, if the attitude displayed (albeit, without the ol' sarcasm detector switched on) is representive of current feelings towards games that don't follow the grain of what is expected, the industry has a lot more to contend with than just legislation in the courts.