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ChildsPlay.zblorb
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introcomp06.zip
Contains Child's Play/Child's Play.zblorb
The original Introcomp entry.
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Child's Play

by Stephen Granade profile

Humor/Slice of life
2006

Web Site

(based on 20 ratings)
2 member reviews

About the Story

It is playgroup day and playgroup day is normally a good day but ever since that little red-haired girl started coming she always wants your toys.

She shouldn't get your toys.

You tried telling the mom this but she doesn't understand you. She mostly ignored you but then she just shoved a pacifier in your mouth and changed your diaper.

Child's Play was an entry in the 2006 Introcomp, where it took second place. The complete version was released on the 31st of December 2007.

Game Details

Language: English (en)
Current Version: 4
License: Freeware
Development System: Inform 7
Baf's Guide ID: 2916
IFIDs:  0EBBDFDA-B7FF-4325-8A6D-3A4E1071EB23
EC5B5EF7-98AA-4972-8253-C6C6A82CC50E
C967D3EE-B0DD-4219-AD57-0C35C4ED782B
TUID: 6a23xff9er4s83pl

Awards

Nominee, Best Game; Nominee, Best Writing; Nominee, Best Puzzles; Winner, Best NPCs; Nominee, Best Individual Puzzle; Nominee, Best Individual NPC - 2007 XYZZY Awards

Editorial Reviews

IF-Review
The star of the game is your nemesis, the little red-haired baby Zoe, who wants your favorite toy. Her behavior is so well-integrated into the rest of the game that it doesn't really stick out as an experiment in goal-seeking behavior or application of AI, but that's a sign of its technical success: Zoe, and to a lesser extent the other children, actively modify the environment and respond to the player's actions, carry out their own small plans, and display personality, without any verbal communication at all.
See the full review

Jay Is Games
Granade does an excellent job imbuing an adult sort of awareness into the unique mindset of a young child; the protagonist is entirely self-aware (as well as savvy enough to realize that adults will be of no help whatsoever) but must contend with limited abilities (cannot talk, cannot walk, etc). So, instead of relying upon strength or sophistication, you as baby must watch the world around yourself, observe patterns of behavior and learn how to manipulate the other children and adults into doing your will. Surprisingly Machiavellian!
See the full review

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Member Reviews

5 star:
(6)
4 star:
(10)
3 star:
(3)
2 star:
(1)
1 star:
(0)
Average Rating:
Number of Reviews: 2
Write a review


4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Sometimes it's what you CANT do that shows what you CAN do., April 13, 2010
by tggdan3 (Michigan)
That's how I feel about this game. In it you are a baby. You can't talk. You can't walk. You can't even go to the bathroom on command. (Hence the diaper). Yet you're mind is active- you know the diaper is just the MAN'S way of keeping you down.

The writing is very cute, and the plot puts you in the mind of the child. People don't take you seriously, there are in-game reasons why PUNCH NPC doesn't get you a result. You can only carry a couple of items at a time, the smallest inventory limit I've seen, yet still makes the game fun and make sense.

And you have to be smart to figure out how to get at that toy and make sure the little red head doesn't get at it. Very clever!

The writing is great. The parents have silly conversations with each other, and the descriptions of people are great. Definately a fun game with more thought behind it than you might originally think. Long live Alphadog!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
So very entertaining!, March 24, 2008
by Grunion Guy (Portland)
This is one of the best IF games I've played in awhile. Well-written with great NPC conversations and well thought out characters. All of the babies have different personalities and attitudes which you must get to know in order to solve the puzzles. The game isn't difficult, mainly because all of the puzzles are actually logical and rely on things you learn as the baby learns. Great humor throughout. (Spoiler - click to show)It's also well worth a 2nd playthrough with the Commentary track on.

I also wrote a Walkthrough for it at: http://www.placesandpredators.com/tads/ChildsPlayWalkthrough.txt

If you enjoyed Child's Play...

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Recommended Lists

Child's Play appears in the following Recommended Lists:

Active Non-player Characters by Emily Short
Games which make use of non-player characters that have a great deal of independence, often moving around and acting on their own, or taking the lead in conversation. Some of these are more successful than others, but all are likely to...

Highly Recommended by Wendymoon
I like great writing, interesting characters, a little mystery, romance and sci-fi.

Polls

The following polls include votes for Child's Play:

AI developments, particularly NPC-AI by breslin
Doesn't need to be satisfying as a conventional game, but must be interesting as an experiment. The idea being that AI work in IF is something that still needs work. Name the games you think which are contributing to this area of genre...




This is version 13 of this page, edited by Dave Chapeskie on 10 August 2010 at 2:56pm. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item