Browser Game Pick: p0nd (The Peanut Gallery)
I've played numerous strange and twisted games in my time, but p0nd must surely rank up there with the weirdest I've seen. It's a one-button game, utilizing the space bar to make the protagonist breathe in and out.
Holding space will cause all the fresh air to enter his lungs - then you let go to make him breathe out. It's meant to be a very 'zen' experience, relaxing your nerves etc. In fact, it suggests you try breathing in and out with the character.
Then you get to a pond, and well, it all gets a bit silly. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but rest assured, you won't be expecting what happens next. Play it over at Peanut Gallery Games.
Source: DIYGamer
Comments
This is quite good!
Posted by: Foppy | July 12, 2010 11:06 PM
At first I tought that was somewhat interresting, but then realized it was awesome.
Posted by: Kapser | July 12, 2010 11:07 PM
I died! How did I die? : (
Posted by: increpare | July 12, 2010 11:24 PM
I was expecting him to get killed instantly by a bear or something, but it ended up a lot more awesome.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 12, 2010 11:31 PM
I died the first time, but I just got to the end this time. Gotta love the end.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 12, 2010 11:53 PM
now THIS is art
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2010 12:04 AM
Wow, just wow.
Posted by: Soli | July 13, 2010 12:13 AM
I'm confused. I get to the pond and he doesn't breathe via SPACE anymore. The music stopped playing, and he's not moving or anything....
Posted by: DesertDweller | July 13, 2010 12:40 AM
(ending) Yep, totally wrong d-bag.
Posted by: Yakatori | July 13, 2010 12:57 AM
The first time I played, after the third screen, the screen faded to black and crazy music started playing before resetting to the title screen. I checked to see if another browser tab was playing the music.
Posted by: David | July 13, 2010 1:24 AM
show THIS shit to david jaffe
Posted by: mike | July 13, 2010 1:37 AM
Well. It certainly was different.
Posted by: Chetyre | July 13, 2010 1:43 AM
I am deeply ashamed to admit that I didn't come up with the necessary patience to play the game a third time, after two completely unexplained failures.
Posted by: Zosh | July 13, 2010 1:44 AM
Made a playthrough video. Not sure why, I just felt obligated.
Huge spoilers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNoFnlC95Y0
Posted by: Soli | July 13, 2010 1:57 AM
Uh... yeeeah... weird. Why in the world are there alternate endings?
This is strange, to be sure. "I may be wrong..."? Where'd that come from? Is there a message or something? Like... all that happened and then he just casually walked back home and turned on the good old tele?
Posted by: Feryl | July 13, 2010 2:57 AM
This game is great.
Posted by: c5 | July 13, 2010 3:08 AM
For those of you wondering what the end quote is all about, "I may be wrong..." refers to an article Roger Ebert published where he said video games can never be art.
Needless to say, it created quite an uproar. The full context of the quote can be read here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/07/okay_kids_play_on_my_lawn.html
Posted by: Brian | July 13, 2010 4:30 AM
No game at that URL for me, just a "The Flash plug-in is required to play pOnd" message (and I do of course have it installed). Lucky there's a download option...
Posted by: Marcus | July 13, 2010 5:24 AM
Thanks for the posting the gameplay vid. The timing for the HOLD part of the end was strange and I didn't succeed, but I surely wasn't going to play it again.
Posted by: JM | July 13, 2010 6:04 AM
I know it's a parody, but it seems to use Ebert's statement at the end ironically. I mean, it pokes fun at the alternative games that try to relax or do anything other than produce violence. And it quotes the man who believes they can't be anything more than goofy and childish saying he was wrong. But the game gets goofy and childish, then immediately afterwards the character goes home tired, watches TV, almost casually or unaffected, then the quote.
Isn't this an odd juxtaposition at least?
Posted by: Aaron | July 13, 2010 6:53 AM
An amusing little thing, but surely saying it gets "silly" and that you won't spoil it for us, ummmm, kinda spoils it?
Please don't get me wrong, you guys do great work, but it seems rather strange to post what is essentially a gag hinged on subversion of expectation and then basically prime everyone to expect it.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2010 6:57 AM
Cute. I hope the author releases the meaning at some point.
So people can squabble over that instead.
Posted by: gamecreator | July 13, 2010 8:06 AM
I nearly died laughing playing this game.... awesome!
Posted by: Rekcahdam | July 13, 2010 8:43 AM
Was that ending really necessary?
Posted by: xander | July 13, 2010 10:12 AM
it's shit but since it wasn't made by cactus, it's actually good :)
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2010 1:12 PM
This Account Has Been Suspended
:(
Posted by: Nikica | July 13, 2010 3:16 PM
Is there an alternate place to play it?
Posted by: Carl Johan | July 13, 2010 4:49 PM
Does anyone happen to have a mirror? I'm dying to play this.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2010 4:54 PM
I'm sure once Peanut Gallery have realised the link is down, they will get it fixed.
Posted by: M Rose | July 13, 2010 5:02 PM
Account suspended, I want to play this. :(
Posted by: Anthony | July 13, 2010 5:19 PM
p0nd generated too much traffic and the host suspended their account :(
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2010 5:25 PM
Oh wow, guess I should have downloaded the game.
Posted by: Soli | July 13, 2010 5:49 PM
Hey guys,
While we get the site sorted, you can download the game for PC here: http://www.rjlayton.com/pond
or here: http://sites.google.com/site/p0ndtemp/home
We should have the site and browser version of the game back up soon. Thanks for playing the game!
Posted by: RJ | July 13, 2010 6:26 PM
There's a mirror for the PC version here: http://sites.google.com/site/p0ndtemp/home
Posted by: Boxcars | July 13, 2010 6:26 PM
Even if the site comes back up, play the PC download version as it had syncing problems for me too.
The first time through it didn't even load the final stage but the music kept playing. Second time through it froze etc etc.
Posted by: Pierre | July 14, 2010 3:02 PM
Is there a MAC version you can host as well?
Posted by: Pete | July 14, 2010 4:51 PM
The Mac version is up on both of those mirrors now. Feel free to download either one :)
Posted by: RJ | July 14, 2010 6:24 PM
Intentionally failing to breathe properly at the lake is the best ending, in my opinion.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 15, 2010 7:00 PM
I guess when you fail to make something original and successful you tear others work down? just sad...
Posted by: Anonymous | July 18, 2010 11:25 AM