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About the StoryThe aquarium: 29 gallons of water, black gravel, a large, moss-covered rock on one side of the tank, a dense grove of Vallisneria grass on the other. In the foreground, a treasure chest lazily opens, then shuts. Behind the moss rock, an air stone creates a rippling curtain of bubbles. There are neon tetras here and somewhere, out of sight, an algae eater. Game Details |
Awards
Entrant - Neo-Twiny Jam
37th Place, Best in Show - The IF Short Games Showcase 2023
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Member Reviews
| Average Rating:  Number of Reviews: 3 Write a review |
The Neo Twiny Jam and its word limit were good for mood pieces where, dang it, you don't have to explain yourself, and it would feel wrong to, and it'd go over the word count anyway. So it provoked a number of fun entries where, well, a variety of main characters couldn't explain themselves!
In the case of Scale, you're a fish in a tank which isn’t very big. Not much happens, allegedly. But it’s surprisingly absorbing. There are the typical things you find in a tank, like a rock, or bubbles, and you get fed every night, with seasons turning at an alarming rate. There’s also a chest you may be lucky enough to see open. It took me a while, and I’m not sure if it was out of skill or luck or just persistence.
There’s some nice humor in here. It’s slightly surreal and yet feels like you expect a goldfish-pet’s life would feel. I was sort of worried I would die, so I kept playing, and it says something that I kept playing for a while that I looked at the source. It's one of those works you remember with a smile. The lack of (meaningful) agency charmed me and never felt oppressive.
It was disturbing to take a step back and realize my own leisure could be described similarly: "you go to the library/athletic center/store/tinker around at your computer." But I still enjoyed the experience.
Simple but effective goldfish simulator, July 17, 2023This game manages to fit a lot into its 500 words, written for the Neo Twiny Jam.
You play as a goldfish in your little world, a 29 gallon tank. There isn't much to do, but even your small routines take up the whole day, and soon you're sleeping, ready for more.
I found some nice little surprises, the tone varying from amiable to disturbing to contemplative. Does our goldfish dream of a higher realm, or is it merely troubled by thoughts of other possibilities?
Swimming around in an aquarium, living the (goldfish) life., June 23, 2023
In this endless game, you play an unnamed goldfish, waking up doing some activities (from a choice of 4), having dinner, and doing it all over again the day after. But doing the same thing again and again does not always yield the same result… It was simple, short (at least when I played), and quite fun!
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This is version 3 of this page, edited by manonamora on 11 January 2024 at 10:39am. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item - Delete This Page