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December 2, 2007
A New Patient in The Asylum
I could have sworn I'd mentioned The Asylum, the addictive and affecting web game by German programming team Parapluesch, before. But searching through the archives, I couldn't find anything. Well, better late than never.
I'm probably misremembering a post here because The Asylum is a game I've assigned to several of my classes, both here and back at Pitt. There's a reason for that -- it's easy to pick up for the non-gamer, yet it's deep and surprisingly emotional. It also has an interesting way of playing with narrative(s) within the game structure. As a teacher, gamer, and literary critic, I think it's tremendous fun.
You play as a psychiatrist for abandoned and/or abused "cuddly toys." (That's German for stuffed animals, apparently.) Dr. Kindermann (child-man) is away in Japan on research, leaving you to treat the patients as best you can. If you get stuck, Dr. Kindermann was kind enough to leave you his therapy notes on each patient, which may give you the hints you need to help each of the cuddly toys regain his or her precious sanity.
Joining Lilo, Sly, Kroko, and Dolly, is new patient Dub, a turtle with a compulsive exercise habit. Helping Dub requires a slightly different approach than with any of the other animals. I'm not going to give anything away, but if you need assistance, the helpful readers at JayIsGames have all kinds of hints for you for Dub and the other animals.
Thanks, Jay, for getting the word out on the latest chapter in the Asylum mental health saga!
Posted by reparent at December 2, 2007 3:04 PM
Comments
Must get dressed. Must brush teeth. But wait! My patients need me!
Posted by: sster at December 3, 2007 9:11 AM