Get Out Of The House by Steve Lingle


I started this game fully expecting to give up within five minutes (a common thing when playing a Quest game) but I actually found myself quite liking it. It's not perfect - a long way from perfect in fact - but it's amusingly written and has some nice touches and seems, for the first time, to be a Quest game that might actually be worth playing.

The storyline makes little sense, although the game does tell you this to begin with. In short: you're in a house and must escape. That's the gist of it. In fact, that's the entire storyline from start to finish. Nothing particularly engaging but then engaging storylines aren't a requirement of text adventures.

The location descriptions are okay for the most part and a few have nice comic touches, but they're also a little jarring in that most of them begin with a short line telling you which location you're in and then, several lines further down, you get another line telling you which location you're in. There's also needless duplication of exits: they're nicely listed at the beginning of the location description so you know which way to go and then described again in the actual body of the text. Some of this might be the fault of the program but it's something that the writer should, and probably is, capable of correcting and really should have done.

Most static (non-moveable) items are described which is a refreshing change from other Quest games I've played, although unfortunately most of these descriptions are lacking in depth and often last for no more than a few words. The description of the TV is quite unusual in that it says "it's a TV… with buttons!!!" but trying to use the buttons or, indeed, examine them gives the default message that they're not there. Is it possible to watch the TV? I never discovered a way.

After I'd been playing the game for a while, I seemed to have accumulated several items that I didn't have a clue what to do with. In desperation, I typed a few commands looking for a hints system. Fortunately, there is a hints system - albeit not a very good one. More often than not, the hint given is next to useless. Typing "hint" when faced with a locked door advises that I might need a key to open it…

Obvious Errors
Trying to examine the table in the dining room hit me with the grammatically-challenged "there's currently no cards anywhere in sight". A strange response to give to someone trying to examine a table.

In the kitchen, I picked up a chair (and was surprised to be told "You find just enough room in your pocket to carry a kitchen chair.") and was advised I could place it atop a table. However, when I tried I was told, quite bizarrely, that I was carrying no such thing! Yet upon checking my inventory, I discovered that I did, indeed, have the chair. I just couldn't seem to get the game to realise that.

The description of the mantle informs you that there are several items on top of it yet trying to examine the mantle produces no further hints and if there are items there, I've no idea what they might be.

I start the game sitting on a couch but once I stand up from it, I'm not able to sit back down. Not an error as such, I guess, but the sort of thing that really should have been covered for the sake of completeness.

Typing "look" whilst in the den shows the room description and finishes off with a few lines about you walking into the den even though you're already in there. The same error blights the bathroom.

The end of the living room description contains "It's your average living room with the normal furniture: couch, shelf, TV. Kitchen, north." Surely the last two words are a typo?

Opening the window in the den gives the strangest message I've ever seen in a game: that my arms have been pulled off and are now lying on the carpet! Strange as this is, it's not half as strange as attempting to open the window again and seeing the exact same command displayed again and again and… Worse still, trying to pick up or examine my severed arms tells me that they can't be seen anywhere. Nor am I able to examine the carpet. Is this something the writer included in the game which was meant to kill the player off? Or is it merely a very poorly written piece of the game? Probably a bit of both. The same thing happens when trying to open the front door as well so either the player has an endless supply of arms, or the game just doesn't keep very good track of what has happened previously.

Awkward Puzzles
Upon picking up the bottle I discovered there was a key rattling around inside it yet was unable to open the bottle. A default message flashed up telling me that I couldn't do that. Why? Beats me. I was also unable to smash the bottle because that command - surely an obvious one when an item is stuck inside a smashable object - wasn't covered.

Conclusion
All in all, Get Out Of The House is a game with far too many rough edges to be called good, but it's nevertheless quite likeable all the same. It's certainly the first Quest game I've played where I wasn't hit with an immediate desire to send it shooting to the recycle and try something else instead. I've listed a large number of errors above - and I came across a fair few that I didn't have the time or the inclination to cover - yet I felt that for the first time there was an actual game worth playing here. It's probably not a good thing to say that it was "good by Quest standards" as that tends to imply that it's only good because all the other games have been so downright awful, but as far as Quest games go, it's decidedly better than average. If the errors could be fixed, it might even be considered "great by Quest standards".

4 out of 10

Before I begin this post, and before the rest of you play the game (or continue it), keep in mind, my bizarre thinking is highly inspired and a mix of Monty Python and Weird Al and other mindless humor. With that, you may continue reading...

davidw wrote:The description of the TV is quite unusual in that it says "it's a TV… with buttons!!!" but trying to use the buttons or, indeed, examine them gives the default message that they're not there. Is it possible to watch the TV? I never discovered a way.

For the TV, this is an example of my game instructions that say to use the look command first and then use the examine command for a more detailed (or whatever I called it) story. If you type 'look at tv', it replies: "It's a TV". If you type "Examine (or X) tv", it replies: "It's a TV...with buttons!" a little joke! Try getting the tv for another joke. The game is riddled with jokes which simply add to the mindless wandering of the house. It is my first game and I never thought I was going to post it because I was goofing around but the puzzles got intriguing so I pressed on. In future games, I will keep in mind that not everyone is going to LOOK and EXAMINE every object so I'll keep that to a minimum for story purposes.

Typing "hint" when faced with a locked door advises that I might need a key to open it…

I chose not to do an in-depth hint system except for only a few rooms which I felt needed a push in the right direction. For real hints, I'll accept emails or even posted in this forum!

The description of the mantle informs you that there are several items on top of it yet trying to examine the mantle produces no further hints and if there are items there, I've no idea what they might be.

You sure about that? There is one item in particular you need on the mantle.

I start the game sitting on a couch but once I stand up from it, I'm not able to sit back down. Not an error as such, I guess, but the sort of thing that really should have been covered for the sake of completeness.

Type sit and the game replies "You don't need to sit. You're up and all ready to go now." Another joke, but yet, straightforward

The end of the living room description contains "It's your average living room with the normal furniture: couch, shelf, TV. Kitchen, north." Surely the last two words are a typo?

It IS a typo...and don't call me Shirley.

Opening the window in the den gives the strangest message I've ever seen in a game: that my arms have been pulled off and are now lying on the carpet! Strange as this is, it's not half as strange as attempting to open the window again and seeing the exact same command displayed again and again and…

I'm not sure what made me laugh more...my coming up with the idea to have your 'arms rip off' or picturing a poor soul trying to figure out why it happens! As I mention on the review page, this is simply a joke and has no bearing on the game. Just some amusement to pass the time.

Awkward Puzzles
Upon picking up the bottle I discovered there was a key rattling around inside it yet was unable to open the bottle. A default message flashed up telling me that I couldn't do that. Why? Beats me. I was also unable to smash the bottle because that command - surely an obvious one when an item is stuck inside a smashable object - wasn't covered.

There's an ingenious way to retrieve the key. (it uses another object)

Any hints needed? Ask away. Maybe I'll allow others to give a shot at answering the hint questions first if they know it. If not, I'll give a hint for you.

steve the gaming guy

If you type 'look at tv', it replies: "It's a TV". If you type "Examine (or X) tv", it replies: "It's a TV...with buttons!" a little joke!

I tried both but wasn't aware the description of the buttons was a joke. Is there a way to watch the TV?

The description of the mantle informs you that there are several items on top of it yet trying to examine the mantle produces no further hints and if there are items there, I've no idea what they might be.

You sure about that? There is one item in particular you need on the mantle.

Pretty sure. I examine the mantle and see something that makes me go "ow!" (or something like that. I'm at work right now and can't check.)

I start the game sitting on a couch but once I stand up from it, I'm not able to sit back down. Not an error as such, I guess, but the sort of thing that really should have been covered for the sake of completeness.

Type sit and the game replies "You don't need to sit. You're up and all ready to go now." Another joke, but yet, straightforward

Ah. Guess the verb issues. I typed "sit on couch" instead. I figured "sit" would just sit me on the floor.

There's an ingenious way to retrieve the key. (it uses another object)

I'd have sooner had a nice and easy wa: "open bottle". Or at least an explanation for why "open bottle" doesn't work.[/quote]

I tried both but wasn't aware the description of the buttons was a joke. Is there a way to watch the TV?

I believe I added a 'turn on TV' command but it says something like 'There's nothing good on to watch' or something half-minded like that. The TV is simply an object to mess with and adds to the depth of the game. In other words, if I made ONLY the objects used to solve puzzles be interactive, the game would be way too simple. There are a few rather difficult puzzles in the game. There's also one or two bizarre puzzles as well!

Pretty sure. I examine the mantle and see something that makes me go "ow!" (or something like that. I'm at work right now and can't check.)

Ok, don't get fired from work. When you get a chance, look at the mantle and I believe it shows a vase, a pencil and something else. (give-away tip right here)...Only the pencil can be picked up.

I'd have sooner had a nice and easy wa: "open bottle". Or at least an explanation for why "open bottle" doesn't work.

I see what you mean. If I recall correctly (I'm at work too so I can't check), I believe looking at the bottle says it's a bottle with a cork in it. X (or examine) bottle, reveals that a rusty key is jiggling inside. After knowing there is a cork, obviously the first attempt would be to 'pull the cork' which, of course, leads to a different puzzle. You have to figure out how to dislodge the cork. Anything further that I say about it, may give away the puzzle solution.

Have fun,
steve 8)

Okay. I checked the situation with the mantle and the room description says (twice) that there are a few items on the mantle, but it doesn't say what. However, examining the mantle hits you with "A glare beams off and hits you right in the eye. "ow" you say."

There's a pencil listed in the room description which I can take, and a vase which I can't - no reason given for why I can't take the vase. But the room description stays the same once the pencil is taken which made me think the pencil wasn't on the mantle and that some other items were. Ideally, if the pencil is on the mantle then the room description should change once I pick it up (the pencil, that is, not the mantle).

Re the bottle: I can see where I was going wrong with that. "open bottle" and "remove cork" didn't work and it never occurred to me to try "pull cork" as the other two seemed like more obvious commands. No big deal really as pulling the cork doesn't open the bottle, but most of the time people will go for the most obvious and straightforward command - "open bottle" in this case - so it's always a good idea to cover for that.


Here's hoping you fix the probs with the game and upload an amended version. I'm sure it'll be worth playing.

Steve, just to let you know, if you want make dynamic room descriptions, you need to use the Room Script Description in conjunction with the Standard Room Description. I can't get at QDK from the machine I'm on, but I do know that it takes a bit of work. Stuff like checking flags. I've found that often I wanted to do this, but couldn't be bothered and so found another way to continue the storyline.

davidw wrote:Here's hoping you fix the probs with the game and upload an amended version. I'm sure it'll be worth playing.

Thanks a lot for the input. I arrived at the 'pull cork' command based on my testing people. In my long-term focus, I totally forgot 'open bottle'. Thanks for pointing it out.

And thanks, 007, for advising on the two different room descriptions. Honestly, in regards to flags, I didn't have any on this game. At least I don't think I did, lol. I might have used one right towards the end (that was when I was asking about it in the forums). Other than that, I found other work-arounds to complete certain tasks.

game on,
steve the gaming guy 8)

before Q 3.5, I had to use an integer set to different values to check if something was set, adding a whole heap of unnessacery code to the game.