The Act is an attempt at revitalizing the “interactive movie” arcade game made popular by games like Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace in the 1980s. The Act attempts to do this by fixing the one problem that these games always had: direct control. Instead of using a joystick and buttons to tell the character which way to turn or what action to take, the player uses a simple knob to determine the emotions of the player character, a shy man named Edgar. For instance, to get a date with a beautiful woman, the player must use the knob to control the amount of charm Edgar emits. Turn too far to the left, and Edgar appears uninterested. Turn too far to the right, and Edgar appears too overbearing.
The Act is the first game by Cecropia. The animation for the act was provided by several ex-Disney animators. The game has been in development for over six years, and is currently on location test in several locations in the New England area. To find out what locations are showcasing the game, check out the website for The Act.
It’s about time someone came out with something a bit more compelling for arcades. Sure, racers, light-gun games and fighters are nice, but arcades have been depending on those kind of games for far too long – more fresh ideas are needed.
When it will be continued?
Where were some of the locations that had one of “The Act” in the New England area?