Last Call BBS: Puzzle Games for the Retro-Inclined

The last game from the makers of TIS-100, SpaceChem, Exapunks and many other puzzle games feels like a Greatest Hits collection.

October 26, 2024 · 6 min · 1158 words · Tipa

EXAPUNKS Finished! Here's my solutions...

Okay, I have been working on EXAPUNKS the last few weekends, and dreaming about it most nights. But I’m done with the main plot; got the achievement for proof, and I’m going to exorcise the game by writing down how I solved each puzzle. First, some of my solutions are optimal, some are terrible, most fall somewhere in between. The first rule of programming is to get something working. Once you have an implementation, then you can go back and refactor; many times, your first pass is good enough. My boss used to tell me not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good; a good solution that produces the desired results is better than a perfect solution that is never finished. You’ll see what I mean by that when I get to some of my solutions. ...

January 10, 2021 · 21 min · 4455 words · Tipa

Quick Takes: Exapunks

Basically Cyberpunk 2077, except you never leave your bedroom.

December 30, 2020 · 3 min · 575 words · Tipa

Too Many Games in my Queue

One really nice thing about playing a long, involved game like Assassins Creed Valhalla is that I don’t have to think about what game I want to play when I’m done work and chores in the evening. For the past month, it’s been off to Valhalla for a few hours. It’s the same feeling I get when I’m seriously into an MMO and logging in and saying hello to the guild is just a great start to an evening. ...

December 8, 2020 · 4 min · 823 words · Tipa