Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Deus Ex Machina C64

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    ServBot (Level 11) Custom rank graphic
    Graham Mitchell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    3,623
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    Psygnosis8
    PSN
    Psygnosis8
    Steam
    Psygnosis8

    Default Deus Ex Machina C64

    First off, I'm posting this in the classic gaming, on not the classic computer gaming section because I think some console gamers will be interested as well.

    I received a book for Christmas called "1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die", edited by Tony Mott. It's a collection of short reviews and absolutely GORGEOUS screenshots of games from the 70's to the present, written by various reviewers. What's particularly interesting about the book (for me, anyway) is that I'm pretty sure it's a product of the U.K. As such, a lot of the games are listed in their European or Japanese titles (ie--Another World and Puzzle Bobble). It also features a lot of games that either weren't released in the U.S. or just never caught on here to a great degree. This is pretty interesting stuff for a Yank such as myself.

    Anyway, one of the games that really caught my eye was one called Deus Ex Machina, released in 1984 for the C64 and ZX Spectrum. The game is described as "not so much a game as a bizarre multimedia experience". It came with a cassette featuring music and narration from Jon Pertwee of Doctor Who, Ian Dury (Sex and Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll) and comedian Frankie Howard. The tape is an accompaniment with the game and it describes what's going on in the confines of the game. From what I can tell of the youtube video, the game itself is silent, and the tape is the only audio you experience.

    The game itself requires the player to guide the development of a mutant organism born "...in the confines of a computerized Orwellian society". You start by weaving it's DNA, then guiding its development as a fetus, and protecting it from ailments in old age. The gameplay itself is a collection of bizarre minigames, which I can't really understand from the youtube footage.

    Check it out here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Py_TyhXYY

    I'm sure there are some older gamers here from the PAL regions who remember this game, but it's pretty shocking to a Westerner like me. Some of these concepts weren't seriously revisited in gaming until Bioshock in 2007.

    Enjoy!

  2. #2
    Great Puma (Level 12)
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    4,278
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3
    Thanked in
    2 Posts

    Default

    I actually imported this one in the mid-80s. It really sounds cooler than it is. I played it a few times and then promptly boxed it away where it has remained for 25 years. In any event, there were a lot of similar experimental games of this type in the 80s including Worms?, Game of Life, Evolution, etc...I would say it's interesting, but it would not go on my top 1000 games of all time or something you need to play before you die.

  3. #3
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    40
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    This is one of the strangest games I have ever seen.
    I really enjoyed watching those videos. Thank you for sharing this.

    I love bizarre and experimental games. Ever tried the LSD game for PS1?

  4. #4
    ServBot (Level 11) Custom rank graphic
    Graham Mitchell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    3,623
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    Psygnosis8
    PSN
    Psygnosis8
    Steam
    Psygnosis8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Platypus View Post
    This is one of the strangest games I have ever seen.
    I really enjoyed watching those videos. Thank you for sharing this.

    I love bizarre and experimental games. Ever tried the LSD game for PS1?
    No I haven't tried LSD but I've watched some videos and read about it quite a bit. There's apparently a notable demand for the game in the US, so I'm hoping that Sony or whoever puts it on PSN in the imports section. I'd get it for sure.

    Glad somebody enjoyed the vids! I thought this game looked mind-boggling.

  5. #5
    Apple (Level 5)
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    1,000
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    That looks pretty cool. I really want that game now, too bad it's so expensive.

  6. #6
    Great Puma (Level 12)
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    4,278
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3
    Thanked in
    2 Posts

    Default

    Sorry for the necro bump, but it looks like the original creator of Deus Ex Machina is actually kickstarting a release of a sequel. While I wasn't in love with the first one, I backed this because it just looks really neat to me.

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ina-2?ref=live

  7. #7
    ServBot (Level 11) Custom rank graphic
    Graham Mitchell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    3,623
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    Psygnosis8
    PSN
    Psygnosis8
    Steam
    Psygnosis8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bojay1997 View Post
    Sorry for the necro bump, but it looks like the original creator of Deus Ex Machina is actually kickstarting a release of a sequel. While I wasn't in love with the first one, I backed this because it just looks really neat to me.

    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...ina-2?ref=live
    It looks interesting, I just don't know how I feel about playing as a hairless naked dude. Regardless, I'm intrigued. I may back it as well. I'm definitely into off-the-beaten-path games.

Similar Threads

  1. Deus Ex: Invisible War
    By Lozza in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 02-28-2007, 04:35 PM
  2. Anyone interested in deus ex machina for the c64
    By majinbuu in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-12-2006, 12:00 AM
  3. STELLAAAAAAAA!!! ... Deus.
    By Funkenstein in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 04-30-2005, 02:21 AM
  4. Stella Deus
    By BigGeorgeJohnson in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 04-17-2005, 10:27 AM
  5. So what is the verdict on Deus Ex 2?
    By Jorpho in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 08-12-2004, 11:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •