Ambrosia Software Web Board: cythera- why is it so good? - Ambrosia Software Web Board

I am neither a stranger to cythera or to the weboards and i have not touched the game for more than a year. But even now just thinking about it wraps me in circles, the plots, the intrigue, the great story. I feel that cythera has been underapreciated and is a truely worthwile game, f(or a period of two months i was totally addicted to it.)
its sad that a game with so much to offer is now dying, and even though it was a bit of a flop once released I know many people that have played this great game and been simaly affected by it.

I know that there will probably never be a cythera two and that in a few years no one will play it and few will remember it but I just wanted to make it known just how great I think the little world the programers at ambrosia created way back in 1995 is.

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Mel Brooks rocks

Ahh. I was also effected in this way with Cythera. It is such a great for several reasons.

1) Pretty much everything you think you can do, you can. Flour water mixed and put on the stove make bread. You can butter this bread. You can milk thte goats, and climb down into dark holes with the help of rope.

2) The makers of the game appreciated the fact that we (the players) are just as intelligent as most people, and made the challenges accordiangly difficult. These aren't challenges that come down to a decision of which road you should take, or which door you should open. These challenges depened on what your morale values are, what quests you've completed and other such important factors.

3) The game was made with reasonable common sense in mind. You can't go kill some one in the middle of a bar and not have everyone else around you get grumpy. If people see you stealing, they will naturally go after you. And (one of the most important) your followers aren't blindly loyal. You hit one of friends, then the rest will leave. You steal while they're around, they'll yell.

4) The somewhat realistic scale of things. If you want to go to the ruins, you go journey through the bush till you find em. Then you need to avoid various obstacles like fallen pillars. There isn't anyone living there, hence the name "ruins".

5) You aren't just given things like spells. You have to work for them. None of this "free give away cuase you might save the world" type of stuff. Although there is a bit of this, it is all in character i think.

6) The ability to type in your own responses. On several occasions the different things you type will end in different answers. Very realistic and believable.

7) (One of the most important) The story line. It is full of nice twists and turns, not just some crappy "You killed my girlfriend/boyfriend and now im grumpy" type thing.

You said that just thinking of the game made you go round in circles. I feel similarly about Cythera, but more so about the prospect of a Cythera Editor. One where easy to use controls allow you to make your own maps, people, missions and items. Hot damn it'd be good. But i have my doubts.
Glenn Andreas said "We consider Cythera a finished project". What gloomy words. Such a terrible thing to think. These words really shut down any hope of future Cythera like things. Pillars of Garendel was sorta built in Cytheras memeory, but hardly stands up to the might of Cythera.

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Yesterday, we bent our necks to kings and emperors. But today, we kneel only to truth -Kahil Gibran

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If it was released, I doubt any of us could use the Cythera editor to create anything worthwhile.

Glenn Andreas was seen browsing the Coldstone forums some weeks ago.

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Beware the substance '[url="http://"http://www.EVula.com/"]e[/url]'
[url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/vftp/show.pl?product=evn&category=utilities&display=date&file=ID.formulas.sit"]EVN ID formulas[/url]

[This message has been edited by Blackdog (edited 06-26-2002).]

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We've got three programers among us, and possibly a fourth on the way, so I disagree.

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"Why do these candles say T-N-T?" - (famous last words 104)
     
Where do you want to [url="http://"http://www.macclassics.com/cythera/tricks/rJade.htm"]teleport[/url] today?
  

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Start pestering Andrew, then.
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Beware the substance '[url="http://"http://www.EVula.com/"]e[/url]'
[url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/vftp/show.pl?product=evn&category=utilities&display=date&file=ID.formulas.sit"]EVN ID formulas[/url]

[This message has been edited by Blackdog (edited 06-27-2002).]

Believe me, i've tried. I've send various emails referrring to the prospect of a Cythera ediotr, none of whihc has had even a no thanks.

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Yesterday, we bent our necks to kings and emperors. But today, we kneel only to truth -Kahil Gibran

Glenn has commented on the subject of an editor before on these forums, I believe. Apparently an editor does exist, but was developed by Glenn for his own use, and is too rudimentary or complicated for him to consider releasing without a lot of work - which he doesn't have the time or inclination to put into it. I can't fault him for that; he has a life apart from Cythera, you know.

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Kobayashi Maru!

*gasp* He does?!

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Life is not but a chatroom

[quote]Originally posted by cache22:
he has a life apart from Cythera, you know.   And that's just the fun part of the job. He's got to deal with villigers coming to his castle probobly every week with pitchforks and torches, trying to end his work.
It's sad, really.


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"Why do these candles say T-N-T?" - (famous last words 104)
     
Where do you want to [url="http://"http://www.macclassics.com/cythera/tricks/rJade.htm"]teleport[/url] today?
  

I definitely agree that Cythera is a terrific and underappreciated game.

Andreas was seen at Coldstone? Seriously??

We'll have to trace him down and lynch him for leaving us alone for so long.

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-TDD-
[url="http://"http://homepage.mac.com/thedarkdragon/"]Visit the Dragon's Den[/url]
Actual quote from my band class, Bob: "Let's kick the kid with one shoe!" -begins kicking Eric- Eric: "But Bob, I have two shoes!" -Bob continues kicking Eric- Bob: "I'll kick ya twice then!"

All these replies, and none of us thought to welcome Loki to the boards!

So anyway, welcome to the boards, Loki!

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Kobayashi Maru!

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I think we figured that since Loki has already been here, a welcome was unneeded. However, a "welcome back" seems fine.

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Life is not but a chatroom

I think that the main reason that Cythera is not as popular as it should be because it has many bugs, (although I like the "fetch" one...) and it also is not as graphical as could be, however, if I could make a game with the Delver engine or the Coldstone engine, I would go with Delver for the sake of a better story line. Seldane Bless Cythera!

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"I have a personal life, y'know! I just don't use it."
The Shadow is coming to Nova...

All these replies, and none of us thought to welcome Loki to the boards!

So anyway, welcome to the boards, Loki!

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Kobayashi Maru!

actually i am pretty new the last time i was on the web boards was when cythera was still young *sigh*
so thanks for the welcome

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Mel Brooks rocks

say now how do i get that "quote* thing going i cant work it out...

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Mel Brooks rocks

Cythera is good for this and only this reason:
One of the Cythera board mods is called Slayer. I only just noticed this when looking at the board overview thing and had to say something. That is so metal. I wish I was cool enough to be called Slayer.

m/

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Yeah...me too.

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"Next time you want a revelation, could you chose a method that is perhaps less uncomfortable?"

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I wouldn't want to be called that in real life.

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luck is beating the odds, bad luck is when they are the odds of having something bad happen to you.

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But just think of being in school, with the teacher reading the roll... "Bob, Mary, John, Julia, Slayer, Fred..." tell me that wouldn't be elite.