Comments on: Braid Previews in Magazines

By: Jonathan Blow

Jonathan Blow — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:52:51 +0000

I don’t mean for it to come across as gloating. It’s more a way to provide information about the game as to why people would want to try the demo or buy the game. Braid doesn’t have a marketing budget, so the only real way that people hear about it is from their friends on forums, or wherever like that. If someone says “why should I be interested in this game?” on a forum somewhere, then here’s one item that someone can point them at.

This same magazine has a review of Braid hitting the newsstands in about a week, so at that time we can see how the mood of the writing translates from preview to review.

By: LemmingLord

LemmingLord — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:11:54 +0000

Hey everyone, long time lurker and lover of Braid, first time poster. As much as I love Braid (or what the internet community has seen of it) it seems a tad arrogant to be gloating about ‘positive’ previews. A preview, by its very nature should be a non-judgmental piece of writing- a description of the game and the experience the reviewer had with it- not an early review. Just my two cents- feel free to comment back if you disagree.

P.S.: Are you serious when you say that you would be unhappy with a 9/10? That seems a little too over-the-top to me, but maybe I’m just a cynic at heart…

By: HurricaneJesus

HurricaneJesus — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:50:22 +0000

Just hearing about this game for the first time…..somehow…..

Buying this Day 1 when it releases on Xbox Live Arcade.

Looks absolutely beautiful in the screens. Amazing how quickly a game can shoot up to #1 on your most wanted list.

By: Jonathan Blow

Jonathan Blow — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:55:35 +0000

There are no upgrades in Braid; I don’t want to spoil anything else.

By: pkt-zer0

pkt-zer0 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:49:11 +0000

My computer just crashed horribly while watching that video. Seems Gamespot and Braid really is a bad combination.

Also, the guy doing the demo commented that you couldn’t get those two puzzle pieces at the end of the Cloud Bridge level (I think that was the name) until you acquire some new skills or pieces. Is it correct that you obtain new skills a la Metroid, or was this another mistake on their part. I was under the impression that the game only had the basic platformer mechanics and the different ways time behaved, and not upgrades of this sort.

By: Jonathan Blow

Jonathan Blow — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:47:15 +0000

Yep, I saw that. It’s cool that Braid is getting video coverage, but I am not a big fan of that particular spot — it doesn’t get into why the game is actually interesting, since they spend all their time in world 2; it’s an old build of the game with worse graphics than are in the final; and they once again manage to somehow not give David any credit for the art (and flub the phrasing such that it seems like they are saying I painted all the art). Also, the presenter went on a “learning” kick which just sounded pretentious given what the material he showed actually was.

Actually, both previews for Gamespot have been unfrtunate (there was one at GDC before this)… maybe Gamespot and Braid are just a bad combo.

By: Leroy

Leroy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:32:24 +0000

Here’s a Gamespot Stage Show Demo for the game:

http://www.gamespot.com/video/943284/6194163/videoplayerpop?rgroup=e32008_videos

By: Ilia Chentsov

Ilia Chentsov — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:46:59 +0000

Won’t a preview ruin this kind of game?
In other news, I asked David Hellman if we can reprint his “Art of Braid” in our magazine. He didn’t write back, maybe you can be of some assistance?

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:36:15 +0000

Do you know if Braid will get any E3 spotlight time, because so far, I’ve been watching and waiting. Also, when are you allowed to tell the release date? I’m just as excited by this as much as Fallout 3 (*which is a lot).

By: Jonathan Blow

Jonathan Blow — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:02:16 +0000

I never played Siren; hmm, I don’t have a PS3 but by the time the remake comes out maybe there will be enough critical mass to justify me getting one? I dunno, I hardly play anything on my 360 as it is…