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{{about|the 2013 video game|other uses of the term|Novelist}}
{{About|the 2013 video game|other uses of the term|Novelist}}
{{Infobox video game
{{Infobox video game
| image = [[File:TheNovelist2013GameLogo.jpg]]
| image = TheNovelist2013GameLogo.jpg
| caption = Official game logo
| caption =
| developer = Kent Hudson
| developer = Kent Hudson
| publisher = Orthogonal Games
| publisher = Orthogonal Games
⚫
| series =
| distributor = [[Steam (software)|Steam]]
⚫
| series =
| composer = Kent Hudson
| composer = Kent Hudson
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]]
| released = {{Start date|2013|12|10}}
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|12|10}}
| genre =
| genre =
| modes = First-person storytelling, first-person stealth
| modes = First-person storytelling, first-person stealth
}}
}}
'''''The Novelist''''' is a 2013 [[independent video game]] by Kent Hudson through his company Orthogonal Games. The game was first released on Dec 10, 2013 through [[Steam (software)|Steam]]. ''The Novelist'' can be played in two formats: in stealth or storytelling mode. The game's story line is told through the viewpoint of a spectral figure that oversees the Kaplan family's daily life while on vacation.
'''''The Novelist''''' is a 2013 [[independent video game]] by Kent Hudson through his company Orthogonal Games. The game was first released on 10 December 2013 through [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. ''The Novelist'' can be played in two formats: in stealth or storytelling mode. The game's story line is told through the viewpoint of a spectral figure that oversees the Kaplan family's daily life while on vacation.


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
Line 19: Line 18:


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
In storytelling mode the player chooses the direction they want the game's plot to proceed by making several choices that would impact one or more of the Kaplans. Information about the characters' desires and secrets are revealed through a series of diaries, letters, and pictures hidden throughout the Kaplans' vacation home. Players can also learn additional data by accessing the characters' memories at various points in the game. During this mode the player can be seen, but this aspect does not have any impact on the gameplay.
In storytelling mode the player chooses the direction they want the game's plot to proceed by making several choices that would impact one or more of the Kaplans. Information about the characters' desires and secrets are revealed through a series of diaries, letters, and pictures hidden throughout the Kaplans' vacation home. Players can also learn additional data by accessing the characters' memories at various points in the game. During this mode the player can be seen, but this aspect does not have any impact on the gameplay.


In stealth mode the Kaplans can detect the player, who must avoid being seen by either going behind the characters' backs or by possessing light fixtures.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist (review)|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/games/review/the-novelist|publisher=Slant Magazine|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> If the player is seen more than twice in one chapter, they lose the ability to influence the Kaplan's choices.
In stealth mode the Kaplans can detect the player, who must avoid being seen by either going behind the characters' backs or by possessing light fixtures.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist (review)|date=14 December 2013|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/games/review/the-novelist|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> If the player is seen more than twice in one chapter, they lose the ability to influence the Kaplan's choices.


==Reception==
==Reception==
Line 29: Line 28:
| MC = 66<ref name=MC />
| MC = 66<ref name=MC />
<!-- Reviewers -->
<!-- Reviewers -->
| IGN = 6.5<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|title=The Novelist Review|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/11/the-novelist-review|publisher=IGN|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref>
| IGN = 6.5<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|title=The Novelist Review|date=11 December 2013|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/12/11/the-novelist-review|publisher=IGN|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref>
}}
}}
Critical reception for ''The Novelist'' has been mixed and the game holds a rating of 66 on ''[[Metacritic]]'', based upon 18 reviews.<ref name=MC>{{cite web|title=The Novelist|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-novelist|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> In their review ''[[IGN]]'' expressed disappointment over the game only having limited endings, as they felt that this "oversimplifies what is otherwise a nuanced portrayal of the balancing act that goes on within families".<ref name=IGN /> ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' criticized what they saw as an overuse of personal notes, diaries, and pictures to show what the characters are thinking or feeling, as they found that this felt "ungenuine". ''Wired'' also panned ''The Novelist's'' stealth mode, and commented that it was "a mostly meaningless obstacle to the story".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Limits of Videogame Storytelling Reveal Themselves in The Novelist|url=http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/12/the-novelist/|publisher=Wired|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref>
Critical reception for ''The Novelist'' has been mixed and the game holds a rating of 66 on ''[[Metacritic]]'', based upon 18 reviews.<ref name=MC>{{cite web|title=The Novelist|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-novelist/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> In their review ''[[IGN]]'' expressed disappointment over the game only having limited endings, as they felt that this "oversimplifies what is otherwise a nuanced portrayal of the balancing act that goes on within families".<ref name=IGN /> ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' criticized what they saw as an overuse of personal notes, diaries, and pictures to show what the characters are thinking or feeling, as they found that this felt "ungenuine". ''Wired'' also panned ''The Novelist's'' stealth mode, and commented that it was "a mostly meaningless obstacle to the story".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Limits of Videogame Storytelling Reveal Themselves in The Novelist|url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/12/the-novelist/|magazine=Wired|accessdate=24 January 2014|last1=Rigney|first1=Ryan}}</ref>


In contrast, ''[[GameSpot]]'' praised the game for the choices made during play, as they viewed that these decisions had "meaningful consequences" and that it "confronts real-life issues in a way that rings true".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist Review|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-novelist-review/1900-6415591/|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' also gave a mostly positive review, remarking that it had "sincere, realistic writing and an inspired approach to player choice".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist review: compromise|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/11/5201512/the-novelist-review-compromise|publisher=Polygon|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref>
In contrast, ''[[GameSpot]]'' praised the game for the choices made during play, as they viewed that these decisions had "meaningful consequences" and that it "confronts real-life issues in a way that rings true".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist Review|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-novelist-review/1900-6415591/|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' also gave a mostly positive review, remarking that it had "sincere, realistic writing and an inspired approach to player choice".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Novelist review: compromise|date=11 December 2013|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/11/5201512/the-novelist-review-compromise|publisher=Polygon|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref>

Despite the mixed reception, the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated ''The Novelist'' for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Story|Outstanding Achievement in Story]]" during the [[17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2014&idGame=1360 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details The Novelist |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.thenovelistgame.com/}}
* {{official website|http://www.thenovelistgame.com/}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Novelist , The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Novelist, The}}
[[Category:2013 video games]]
[[Category:2013 video games]]
[[Category:English-language-only video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Video games about vacationing]]

[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Metafictional video games]]
[[Category:Stealth video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Video games about ghosts]]

Latest revision as of 16:12, 23 June 2024

This article is about the 2013 video game. For other uses of the term, see Novelist.
The Novelist
Developer(s)Kent Hudson
Publisher(s)Orthogonal Games
Composer(s)Kent Hudson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Release10 December 2013 (2013-12-10)
Mode(s)First-person storytelling, first-person stealth

The Novelist is a 2013 independent video game by Kent Hudson through his company Orthogonal Games. The game was first released on 10 December 2013 through Steam. The Novelist can be played in two formats: in stealth or storytelling mode. The game's story line is told through the viewpoint of a spectral figure that oversees the Kaplan family's daily life while on vacation.

Synopsis

[edit]

Novelist Dan Kaplan has decided to take his family on vacation in the hopes of not only reconnecting with them, but also defeating his crippling writer's block. His agent wants him to complete his promised novel while Dan's wife Linda wants to work on their failing marriage and develop a career as an artist. During all of this Dan and Linda's sensitive and incredibly lonely son Tommy is desperate to gain his father's attention by way of several crayon drawings.

Gameplay

[edit]

In storytelling mode the player chooses the direction they want the game's plot to proceed by making several choices that would impact one or more of the Kaplans. Information about the characters' desires and secrets are revealed through a series of diaries, letters, and pictures hidden throughout the Kaplans' vacation home. Players can also learn additional data by accessing the characters' memories at various points in the game. During this mode the player can be seen, but this aspect does not have any impact on the gameplay.

In stealth mode the Kaplans can detect the player, who must avoid being seen by either going behind the characters' backs or by possessing light fixtures.[1] If the player is seen more than twice in one chapter, they lose the ability to influence the Kaplan's choices.

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception for The Novelist has been mixed and the game holds a rating of 66 on Metacritic, based upon 18 reviews.[3] In their review IGN expressed disappointment over the game only having limited endings, as they felt that this "oversimplifies what is otherwise a nuanced portrayal of the balancing act that goes on within families".[4] Wired criticized what they saw as an overuse of personal notes, diaries, and pictures to show what the characters are thinking or feeling, as they found that this felt "ungenuine". Wired also panned The Novelist's stealth mode, and commented that it was "a mostly meaningless obstacle to the story".[5]

In contrast, GameSpot praised the game for the choices made during play, as they viewed that these decisions had "meaningful consequences" and that it "confronts real-life issues in a way that rings true".[6] Polygon also gave a mostly positive review, remarking that it had "sincere, realistic writing and an inspired approach to player choice".[7]

Despite the mixed reception, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated The Novelist for "Outstanding Achievement in Story" during the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Novelist (review)". Slant Magazine. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  2. ^ "The Novelist". GameRankings. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b "The Novelist". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b "The Novelist Review". IGN. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ^ Rigney, Ryan. "The Limits of Videogame Storytelling Reveal Themselves in The Novelist". Wired. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  6. ^ "The Novelist Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  7. ^ "The Novelist review: compromise". Polygon. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  8. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details The Novelist". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
[edit]

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