Haha, no I didn't feel like you were "bashing" it. The game was designed mostly for kids, and the feedback we got from kids that played it was very positive. I thought this video was a fun look at it through the eyes of someone more like me (but that hadn't been involved in the game's development). I found it very entertaining and also very helpful. For example, the save points were totally my idea. The designers argued with me on it and I, being the lead programmer and therefore far more suited to make a design decision like this, insisted that we have save points because that would be so much better! Hearing you talk about it as such an obvious flaw made me realize just what an idiot I was in that situation. Hopefully I will be that much less of an idiot on future projects. Hopefully. Seriously, thank you so much for playing the game and for sharing your opinions of it.
Lance McKee I'm glad you responded to the video and that you enjoyed it. Also thank you for having such a positive attitude and sharing your experience making the game.
Wow, you worked on the game? That's cool. It's kind of, um, well for smaller children maybe it's OK but I can't help but compare it unfavorably to Diablo or other third person action RPGs. IMO, what we really need is a steampunk-infused Book of Mormon inspired manga, anime and jRPG. I'd do it myself if I was a good enough artist.
The giant glowing rocks thing is actually slightly different... The Barges were done shortly after the Tower of Babel, with one family, different from the one with Nephi and Laman, remaining faithful to God, then going to the Americas. The stones were touched by the finger of God in order to glow. The Nephites and Lamanites left Jerusalem around 600 BC. The glowing rocks in the cave are more likely to be video game logic. I must also give you congrats. Most on the Internet would use this as a chance to bash Religion, you focused mainly on the quality of the game itself. Kudos to you.
I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with Helam: A Stripling Warrior Quest--Pan Flute Enthusiast Magazine's Game of the Year 2011, or Helam: A Stripling Warrior Quest--Pan Flute Enthusiast Magazine's Pan Flute of the Year 2011, so pick the one you like and that's what I'm going with...but I know both are stupid. In all seriousness, very interesting, humorous video. I enjoy the occasional thrift store visit, and have found many good and interesting games, but no oddity quite like Helam. It seems like battles in this game kind of function like the duels in Suikoden I and II...except broken.
Both of those lines gave me a pretty good laugh. The game's combat is so bad, eventually you get people to join you on your quest and it still doesn't change the combat at all! I don't think i'll ever revisit the game because its so dull.
According to the Book of Mormon's narrative, the glowing rocks (yes, that is what they are, you did get that much correct) were never given to any Jewish people and in fact predate Judah. They were given to the Jaredites who fled from the Tower of Babel. Helam would have lived in the 2nd century B.C. and had no connection to the Jaredites so there is no reason in the narrative to suppose that any of the glowing rocks would have been around at that time. The glowing rocks in this game are pure video game floating question mark box weirdness. I am familiar with the Book of Mormon but have never seen this game before ... or if I did then it wasn't out yet, cause I vaguely remember hearing that a Book of Mormon game was being developed many years ago and I had ultra-low expectations because the only competently written Mormon stuff that gets done always has Orson Scott Card involved. If it doesn't have Card then you can bet it's going to be cheesy ultra-super-extra-religious with no respect for the medium it's working in. It's also extremely likely (even if it does have Card) to open with a heavy orchestral string soundtrack and a super calm sounding male voiceover, because every Mormon project does that. Why don't they use the Osmonds or the Killers every once in a while? They're Mormons. But no. It always has to be the stereotypical string-heavy orchestral soundtrack and the cheesy taking-itself-way-too-seriously male voiceover.
Wait wait wait...you're telling me the Mormons are religious people. All this time I was singing the theme tune wrong: ua-cam.com/video/BO7fV62Gt1U/v-deo.html
Yours has a pc section I'm jealous I have to pick through the DVD CD and board games to find games at my di. I am here because I just got this at my di.
LOL You're critique of Mormonism and video games kills me! You're a funny guy! I'm hard on video games too (Empire Earth II IS the BEST RTS game ever built and Battlefield 1942 is the BEST MMOFPS!) I may pay that $3 to see what you're talking about! :)
Jon Studebaker Thats awesome. Is that army men on it? Or are you a skilled at making it look 3d? If I had that class I think I would be caught staring straight up lol.
No, it's real army men! $200 worth and 2 trips to Detroit and 1/2 year painting it with toothpicks in parts! I was 40 when I did it, so the kids nicknamed me the 40-year-old virgin! LOL
Jon Studebaker That is hilarious! I thought I saw Empire Earth 2 on stream....I guess its not there anymore. I will have to find alternative method to find the game.
This was the most fun I've ever had watching a review of a game I helped make.
That's awesome! You worked on the game? I hope my review didn't come off as bashing it. It was a unique experience.
Haha, no I didn't feel like you were "bashing" it. The game was designed mostly for kids, and the feedback we got from kids that played it was very positive. I thought this video was a fun look at it through the eyes of someone more like me (but that hadn't been involved in the game's development). I found it very entertaining and also very helpful. For example, the save points were totally my idea. The designers argued with me on it and I, being the lead programmer and therefore far more suited to make a design decision like this, insisted that we have save points because that would be so much better! Hearing you talk about it as such an obvious flaw made me realize just what an idiot I was in that situation. Hopefully I will be that much less of an idiot on future projects. Hopefully.
Seriously, thank you so much for playing the game and for sharing your opinions of it.
Lance McKee I'm glad you responded to the video and that you enjoyed it. Also thank you for having such a positive attitude and sharing your experience making the game.
Thank you!
Wow, you worked on the game? That's cool. It's kind of, um, well for smaller children maybe it's OK but I can't help but compare it unfavorably to Diablo or other third person action RPGs.
IMO, what we really need is a steampunk-infused Book of Mormon inspired manga, anime and jRPG. I'd do it myself if I was a good enough artist.
Found this through Retroware and I'm glad I did, awesome video!
Thanks for dropping by ^.^
I'm not trying to hate on Mormon beliefs, or anything, but this game just has GIANT TURD!! written all over it.
You are completely right.
The giant glowing rocks thing is actually slightly different... The Barges were done shortly after the Tower of Babel, with one family, different from the one with Nephi and Laman, remaining faithful to God, then going to the Americas. The stones were touched by the finger of God in order to glow. The Nephites and Lamanites left Jerusalem around 600 BC. The glowing rocks in the cave are more likely to be video game logic.
I must also give you congrats. Most on the Internet would use this as a chance to bash Religion, you focused mainly on the quality of the game itself. Kudos to you.
Thank you for sharing that information. I'm not one to bash the beliefs of others.
Fantastic Video Capture that was made even better by the muting of an all powerful pan flute. Thank You for describing instead of sharing.
I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with Helam: A Stripling Warrior Quest--Pan Flute Enthusiast Magazine's Game of the Year 2011, or Helam: A Stripling Warrior Quest--Pan Flute Enthusiast Magazine's Pan Flute of the Year 2011, so pick the one you like and that's what I'm going with...but I know both are stupid.
In all seriousness, very interesting, humorous video. I enjoy the occasional thrift store visit, and have found many good and interesting games, but no oddity quite like Helam. It seems like battles in this game kind of function like the duels in Suikoden I and II...except broken.
Both of those lines gave me a pretty good laugh. The game's combat is so bad, eventually you get people to join you on your quest and it still doesn't change the combat at all! I don't think i'll ever revisit the game because its so dull.
According to the Book of Mormon's narrative, the glowing rocks (yes, that is what they are, you did get that much correct) were never given to any Jewish people and in fact predate Judah. They were given to the Jaredites who fled from the Tower of Babel. Helam would have lived in the 2nd century B.C. and had no connection to the Jaredites so there is no reason in the narrative to suppose that any of the glowing rocks would have been around at that time. The glowing rocks in this game are pure video game floating question mark box weirdness.
I am familiar with the Book of Mormon but have never seen this game before ... or if I did then it wasn't out yet, cause I vaguely remember hearing that a Book of Mormon game was being developed many years ago and I had ultra-low expectations because the only competently written Mormon stuff that gets done always has Orson Scott Card involved. If it doesn't have Card then you can bet it's going to be cheesy ultra-super-extra-religious with no respect for the medium it's working in. It's also extremely likely (even if it does have Card) to open with a heavy orchestral string soundtrack and a super calm sounding male voiceover, because every Mormon project does that. Why don't they use the Osmonds or the Killers every once in a while? They're Mormons. But no. It always has to be the stereotypical string-heavy orchestral soundtrack and the cheesy taking-itself-way-too-seriously male voiceover.
I was really hoping this was related to the award winning musical 😀
Baron von Quiply I think that might have made for a game with deeper game play...also the music wouldn't have just been Pan flute...
Wait wait wait...you're telling me the Mormons are religious people. All this time I was singing the theme tune wrong: ua-cam.com/video/BO7fV62Gt1U/v-deo.html
Yours has a pc section I'm jealous I have to pick through the DVD CD and board games to find games at my di. I am here because I just got this at my di.
Oh fun. You're in for a interesting experience. Thanks for dropping by
@@HistoricNerd I enjoyed the video I will be checking out more.
LOL You're critique of Mormonism and video games kills me! You're a funny guy! I'm hard on video games too (Empire Earth II IS the BEST RTS game ever built and Battlefield 1942 is the BEST MMOFPS!) I may pay that $3 to see what you're talking about! :)
Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. I LOVED Empire Earth. I however didn't play Empire Earth II. I honestly still need to check it out.
Check out this ceiling tile I painted in my classroom!
www.artsonia.com/museum/art.asp?id=1067739&artist=614086&gallery=y
Jon Studebaker Thats awesome. Is that army men on it? Or are you a skilled at making it look 3d? If I had that class I think I would be caught staring straight up lol.
No, it's real army men! $200 worth and 2 trips to Detroit and 1/2 year painting it with toothpicks in parts! I was 40 when I did it, so the kids nicknamed me the 40-year-old virgin! LOL
Jon Studebaker That is hilarious! I thought I saw Empire Earth 2 on stream....I guess its not there anymore. I will have to find alternative method to find the game.
Are you the guy who does regular car reviews? Because you sound exactly like that dude.
jimartz I think the video would be a bit funnier if I was the guy from RCR videos ^.^