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timeon
> simplified version of DnD mechanics

Isn't Fallout based on GURPS?

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jprete
My reading is that the author made a world and campaign in the Fallout style but implemented mechanics more like D&D.
amiga386
It was meant to be, but:

1) they found it too complex for a game user interface, so they started to create a "GURPS-lite"

2) it was licensed from Steve Jackson Games, who didn't like the level of violence in the game. Thus began a fight over whether licensing even included veto rights on the entire game

So in the end, they tweaked their "GURPS-lite" further, named it "SPECIAL", and abandoned the licensing deal

https://web.archive.org/web/20151004175725/http://www.nma-fa...

hombre_fatal
> it was licensed from Steve Jackson Games, who didn't like the level of violence in the game.

Some people can't get over themselves.

prophesi
Is there a demonstration of this anywhere? I'd be hesitant to open a random Excel file.
__s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh-42-7L7B0
lawlessone
omg it's actually interactive, i was expecting a spreadsheet.
jeromechoo
This actually looks 100% playable in the office.
Arrath
Me considering playing Aurora at work as long as I stay away from the map screen.
_akhe
I was hoping someone would link to a Google Sheets :D
beeboobaa3
Somehow you don't see these complaints when people just straight up have you download an .exe of their video game.
Anduia
Actually, we see similar concerns in Game Jams. Many people actually avoid downloading .exe files and often complain if there isn’t a web version available on itch.io
madrox
I recognize it's irrational but I'm more afraid of excel files than executables in many ways
justinclift
Agreed. Hesitant is the nicest way to put it. "How do I get people to run my MS Office macros virus? Oh yeah, tell them it's a game or something..."

The Youtube video in a sibling comment helps though, giving a good idea of what it's about and how it looks. No need to download it to find out. :)

atum47
Some screenshots or even a video would be nice.
hu3
This is great! With that said, I'm not going to open random Excel Spreadsheets.

But I imported to Google Sheets because I couldn't contain my curiosity.

The game didn't work on Google Sheets but I could take some screenshots:

Intro: https://i.imgur.com/m5NJuPn.png

Map: https://i.imgur.com/GHUSpnv.png

Stats: https://i.imgur.com/lMQPPdz.png

Battle: https://i.imgur.com/NIXnxKD.png

Information: https://i.imgur.com/fdn4aO4.png

If this could be ported to Google Sheets, it would be sensational. Players could copy the sheet online and play. No Excel needed.

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dschuetz
Download this excel file, haha, no.
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[dead] non-chalad
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amarant
"Spreadsheets in space on a spreadsheet" is my new favourite expletive for expressing shock!
shagie
For a just spreadsheets (with a Bloomberg Terminal inspired interface) that scratches some of the EVE industry itches, give Prosperous Universe a glance https://prosperousuniverse.com .

Remember that you're a CEO checks in once a day, says do these things and then goes and plays golf or mows the lawn - not a space ship pilot that needs to worry about gankers at the jump points.

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ethbr1
If anyone is in the mood for throwback gaming, I highly recommend Pathways into Darkness (1993). [0]

This was Bungie before Halo... before Marathon!

Specifically, the UI, in which you see game designers grappling with resource and development limitations and creating a weird hybrid of a filesystem-storing-game-objects + HUD-via-multiple-tiled-windows.

In the same way that the original Mac Myst was a collection of Hypercard stacks. [1]

Proto-GUIs are kinda my jam. Gotta know where we came from, and the paths (into darkness) not explored!

And it's nice to have a reminder that everything doesn't have to start with building or buying a game engine. Weird is needed too.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathways_into_Darkness#Gamep...

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst#Production

cactusplant7374
Is there an emscripten version of Pathways into Darkness?
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2Gkashmiri
I wonder how much efforts would it take libreoffice team to bring calc up to feature party with excel regarding vba in order to run files like these
martinlexow
“We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us”
galkk
That's what I really want quite often. Have a game, but also enable to connect excel to stats/progress/merchants whatever data of it.

It would be much faster and easier to work with some of it in the excel than navigate cumbersome game UIs

KingOfCoders
OT: Bought Wasteland from the 80s today for $2.50 on Steam.
bronzekaiser
Wanted to look at the VBA code but looks like its password protected A shame
CamatHN
Reminds me of when I was younger and creating games in whatever tools I could get my hands on. Made some hover-mouse maze games in PowerPoint
metaxy2
Hey, the original Myst was made in HyperCard!
tetris11
I do miss actionscript in FlashMX, where you could click on an entity you just drew and insert entity specific code, independent from the main script, which was at tied to a specific global frame.

It sounds horrendous now that I type it out, but ah it was such a free and chaotic way to program

beezlebroxxxxxx
One of my older brother's friend was a great drawer and I remember him making very elaborate and impressively rendered animations using powerpoint when I was younger. He had a whole "series" going that I realize now, in hindsight, was an obvious DBZ knockoff. But, the creativity and the spirit of it all still stands out to me some 20 years later.
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wmab
Watching the new Fallout show on Prime has made me miss the original Fallout and Fallout 2 games. This is great!