BestGameEver Creator Talks Weekly Gaming

Thanks to GamersWithJobs for its interview with Dylan Fitterer of BestGameEver.com, a site which offers a new 3D-engine, freely downloadable Windows PC game every week, one which "either incorporates a new idea or is a refinement of a previous release based on feedback by the players." The FAQ on the official site explains: "The first mission of this site is to prototype all kinds of different games as quickly as possible. So - there will be a new game prototype up for you to try, love, hate, whatever - each Friday", and Dylan says of this: "The constant pressure keeps my productivity up and the regular releases keep me... releasing" - highlights of the many downloadable titles include Riders On The Board, a hoverboard game where the player "flies around the terrain by firing your harpoon into hillsides and giant lava lamps", as well as parking-attendant related "RTS hybrid" Free Parking.

Re:Since it isn't mentioned in the story,

[simoniker]

Some people argue that 'PC version' implies Windows version, but since this contention alone has sparked flamewars bigger than the one already in progress, I've added the word 'Windows' to the article. Better?

I'm all for originality...

[spaeschke]

But I think these games creators are more bhong than man: "a hoverboard game where the player "flies around the terrain by firing your harpoon into hillsides and giant lava lamps", as well as parking-attendant related "RTS hybrid" Drugs are bad, kids.

Re:I'm all for originality...

[escher]

Some drugs are bad.

Some are really, really fun.

Free Parking 2 is good

[magic]

I'm a believer: the gameplay in Free Parking 2 is pretty good for a 1 week game. I hope he keeps extending it.

I sure wish I had time to hack out a game a week. This project sounds like a blast to work on.

-m

I don't want to put down the efforts of the site

[mike_lynn]

... but I'm beginning to wonder how closely they're following their own mission.
They've released 11 games, 3 of which are sequels of prior games. I *know* there's more than 8 categories of game listed at http://www.mameworld.net/maws/ [mameworld.net]
I think they're falling into the trap of 'game improvement' instead of 'game development'. Please excuse me while I go play Mario Party 5 now.

Building on Basics

[MiceHead]

When I first began writing shareware games for Palm OS, I created a number of small puzzle games [dejobaan.com], among other things, and found that it was pretty difficult to come up with an interesting concept every week or so. So, I can't begrudge BestGameEver if some of their new games build on their previous efforts. Besides, sometimes the most enjoyable games [sierra.com] come about as refinements of previous (and possibly less-commercially-successful) ones [3dgamers.com].

But along those lines, Ludum Dare hosts 24- and 48-hour competitions to investigate innovative gameplay; folks who are interested in BGE's offerings for that reason might like to check them out [ludumdare.com].

Hmm.. sorry, no.

[AzraelKans]

This is the equivalent of making a site called "best movie ever" and then making a movie each week. No matter how original it may seem, you simply have no time to create something above average, what you get a long string of "could be better" to "lame" products, besides lets just face it, with the aid of modern tools (like flash and gamemaker) anyone with average (to no) coding skills can create a micro game in a week. (just like anyone with a handcam can create a movie in a week) I usually encourage indie

Re:Hmm.. sorry, no.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm pretty sure the title was meant to be ironic.

Did you even try any of the games? They're actually pretty fun and creative.

Anyone want to set up a mirror or torrent?

[BestGameEver.com]

Please do! The server is hanging in there, but it would be nice to have some better links up.

Re:Anyone want to set up a mirror or torrent?

[G-funk]

Boom :(

And a shame, I was looking forward to checking it out.

Mirroring some of the games

[skywalker404]

Riders on the Board [gregschwartz.net]
Very fun game. It does remind me a lot how I'd think 'pooning cars would be, although the speed you gather was unexpected. Try 'pooning one of the mountains; you start moving fast. I think it'd be more interesting to create an urban/cityscape to explore this way, though. And to not have 'pooning an unmoving object (ie: the ground) give you any momentum. Instead, only be able to pickup the momentum of the [moving] cars you 'poon. (Just make sure the cityscape has lots of them!)

Loop Hoops [gregschwartz.net]
Interesting idea (reminds me of a flash game that was out about a year ago, I think called Kick-ups), but gets boring fast. Might be more interesting as an arcade game, with lots of different tracks to "mix" with.

Free Parking 2 [gregschwartz.net]
Controls are kinda weird, but seems fun & innovative... Although I don't see a way to cancel after you've bought a tower. Oops.

You can check the directory itself [gregschwartz.net] for more, as I keep downloading them.