Zwok

June 21, 2006 4:44 PM

Zwok! In an unknown place, at an unknown time...Blooz vs. Grienz. A simple, free multiplayer online game.
posted by edgeways (29 comments total)

Sort of like a team based Worms clone. It's ok.
posted by Orange Goblin at 5:01 PM on June 21, 2006

Nice graphics and interface, but the game is a bit lacking... not much in the way of way of multiplayer goodness, like in-game chat, teams, forums/rooms/something, or anything in fact. With a bit of improvement I'd really enjoy this as a distraction, but I found it basically uncompelling.

<rant>Why are there no really cool multiplayer flash/java games? Where I can log in, chat some, kill some, hang out and so forth. I tried RuneScape but it's too RPG, I'm thinking more with the killing and the competition and the immediate gratfication, but framed in a space where there is some element of persistency and progression. Done right, I think it could real popular.</rant>
posted by MetaMonkey at 5:12 PM on June 21, 2006

If you really want a high quality "mutually assured destruction" multiplayer game of this sort, you want to go old-school and play the new-school Scorched Earth 3D.
posted by nightchrome at 5:14 PM on June 21, 2006

MetaMonkey, have you tried Stick Arena?
posted by edgeways at 5:16 PM on June 21, 2006

I actually liked that. Reminded me of Cannon Fodder on the old ][+. But yeah, some chat function would make it more interesting since the gameplay is so, ahem, paced.
posted by slogger at 5:26 PM on June 21, 2006

i suck at it : <
posted by amberglow at 5:31 PM on June 21, 2006

Best person there's played 735 times...
posted by RufusW at 5:33 PM on June 21, 2006

It's a Worms clone, as noted, but it's much, much worse than Worms was six or more years ago. I don't know whether it's possible / convenient to play (2D) Worms online anymore, though.
posted by grobstein at 5:45 PM on June 21, 2006

nightchrome, that scorched earth thingy looks good, thanks, I'll give it a go. Only disadvantage is that it's not browser based.

edgeways, I did enjoy stick arena for a bit, but the game doesn't have much lasting appeal, and it doesn't have enough of the social, team or progression aspects I'm after. It did kill a good few hours when I found it though (I'm resisting the temptation to click your link now).

The more I think about it, the more certain I am there is fame and fortune in this angle. If no-one else does it I'm damn well gonna learn flash and sort it out.
posted by MetaMonkey at 6:30 PM on June 21, 2006

Also, is anyone else a little suspicious how multi-player it is? I played three games, and each time all the user names were very similar (but not the same) and very normal, unlike most other multiplayer games I've played.
posted by MetaMonkey at 6:31 PM on June 21, 2006

MetaMonkey: I'm one of those rare Luddites who believes a browser is meant to view web pages, not do everything under the sun.
posted by nightchrome at 6:37 PM on June 21, 2006

nightchrome: heh, I think my browser preference is merely because it seems less like real procrastination if I don't have to double-click an executable. Also, browser-based games generally have to be very simple, which makes it easier to pick up and put down. I was scared by the lush 3D screenshots on the page you linked to - too tempting to just play for hours.
posted by MetaMonkey at 6:44 PM on June 21, 2006

It really is highly addictive, even if you're just playing the bots. The only real beef I have with it is that, like all turn-based games, you have to wait for the other people to make their move. However, there is a timer, so if they don't act within a certain period of time they get skipped (and can eventually be booted from the server if they don't respond three times in a row).
There is something extremely satisfying about using the high-powered weapons such as Death's Head missile on an island map. The deafening roar, the comically large missile, the complete and utter destruction of all land in the firing zone. Very rewarding.
posted by nightchrome at 6:52 PM on June 21, 2006

Scorched 3D is great fun, and I consider it a bonus its not in a browser...

.. and the reason there aren't any good java games? Cos it's in Java! :)
posted by lundman at 6:53 PM on June 21, 2006

I got "kicked out" for not gaining levels in multi player games right after i hit all 3 ppl on the opposing team.
posted by MrLint at 7:00 PM on June 21, 2006

Is there a Scorch 2D anywhere around? Especially for osx? (And there's a flash game called Tanks that's the same thing around somewhere...)
posted by klangklangston at 7:19 PM on June 21, 2006

here it is.
posted by klangklangston at 7:23 PM on June 21, 2006

I kicked much ass at that.
posted by ColdChef at 7:30 PM on June 21, 2006

Scorched/Scorched Earth was the predecessor to Scorched Earth 3D I believe, in terms of recent work.. but as you point out, there are flash variants too.
posted by lundman at 7:41 PM on June 21, 2006

Well, yeah, on my ol' 486, I played lots of Scorched. But now I have a Mac. And I don't have a floppy drive. So what'm I to do?
posted by klangklangston at 7:49 PM on June 21, 2006

"You have been kicked for not achieving performance levels within game."

What the fuck does that mean?
posted by ColdChef at 8:01 PM on June 21, 2006

I just played a game with somebody named I Love Tacos.

And I won! Last Teem Blooz member standing!
posted by yhbc at 8:28 PM on June 21, 2006

I've been playing a bit of Zwok lately. It's kinda fun. But I'm still inexplicably and helplessly addicted to Nanaca Crash!!

I really have no idea why.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:43 PM on June 21, 2006

It's not even muliplayer.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:47 PM on June 21, 2006

2819.56m Beat that Metafilter. Will take me years to master...
posted by RufusW at 9:30 PM on June 21, 2006

4310.15
posted by klangklangston at 3:33 AM on June 22, 2006

6659.41
posted by MetaMonkey at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2006

I've gotten north of 40k in Nanaca Crash, but I'm not finding my screenshot... I may have deleted it. (!)

May end up being my fish-that-got-away story.

It is very addictive, and I don't know why either.
posted by Malor at 5:33 AM on June 22, 2006

Malor, is there more to it than strategic use of the ariel crash?
posted by MetaMonkey at 7:03 AM on June 22, 2006