The Incredible Machine

Antisocial · 01-04-2010, 08:25 PM

Yes, it's outdated, yes, it's abandonware, and yes, it's mostly forgotten, but that doesn't make it not fun.

This thread is for those few people out there who were rather fond of building and fixing Rube Goldberg machines on this little gem of a series by Sierra. At the moment, I've just downloaded the last installment of the series, released in 2001, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions. It's just as fun as I remember. Although, the few bugs here and there are still a pain (like how some solutions to the contraptions don't register and how opening up the balloon part information crashes the program).

Lately, I've had a hankering for games of the like, and got something called Mechanic Master for the DS, which also has you fixing up Rube Goldbergs in order to destroy aliens and rescue captured humans. Sadly, it doesn't quench my desire for chain reactions as much as TIM did.

I've noticed an imperceptible comeback of the genre and those similar to it in terms of physics engines in games like Armadillo Run and World of Goo, but it seems (again) none of these will ever capture the magic of doing simple things through complicated contrivances like TIM did.

...Or maybe I haven't heard of one yet. If anyone knows of one, do share.

Anyway, to the few out there who know what I'm talking about, feel free to discuss.

Robotazy · 01-04-2010, 09:01 PM

I played the Incredible Machine "3" at my grade school.

Good times.

***Cosmonautical*** · 01-08-2010, 02:28 AM

TIM was pretty awesome overall. I had to jump through ridiculous hoops with bootdisks, etc, to free up the Extended Memory the DOS version of TIM 2 required, but it was worth it to play it. I never finished the puzzles the "right" way, if I could help it.

Kargath · 01-08-2010, 08:27 AM

I'd hardly call it 'abandonware' (discounting that I dislike that term anyway)
The Incredible Machine Mega Pack - GOG.com

Antisocial · 01-14-2010, 03:32 PM

Unfortunately, I've found in my copy that one of the contraptions in the expert section will not register as a solution, rendering the game unbeatable.

Turns out the game has multiple bugs that I have to keep writing notes down about, which includes the balloon thing I mentioned above.

Funnily enough, I had these EXACT same bugs in the CD version I used to have. However, I can't assume that all copies made have these problems as I've read FAQs of people beating the game, so what gives?

I am saddened. But more research will be made.

CuccoLady · 01-14-2010, 11:36 PM

I don't know where our incredible machine games went! I still have my Dr. Brain games, but not these. Sad, because they rocked so hard.

Fairlight Excalibur · 01-16-2010, 06:54 AM

I played TIM only once... for about five hours. My roommate left his computer running with that game going and I could not put it down. The best part about the game was finding ridiculous solutions that clearly fly in the face of what the designers truly had in mind, although in many cases I could never duplicate my results. Addictive game.

Jailbreaker · 01-16-2010, 06:58 AM

I still have Even More Contraptions somewhere around here. I should play it sometime, since my views on games have changed since 6th grade...

CuccoLady · 01-16-2010, 11:42 AM

Yesss! I found my copy of The Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions.

Will proceed with the epic this afternoon. :{)

Antisocial · 01-16-2010, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A traveller

The best part about the game was finding ridiculous solutions that clearly fly in the face of what the designers truly had in mind

CuccoLady · 01-16-2010, 06:05 PM

^ Yeah, the game solutions tend to be the absolute most complex solution feasible.
I just try different crap until it works.

01-04-2010, 08:25 PM	#1
Antisocial Janitor Join Date: May 2000 Gender: Posts: 11,471 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1,296 Times in 536 Posts	The Incredible Machine Yes, it's outdated, yes, it's abandonware, and yes, it's mostly forgotten, but that doesn't make it not fun. This thread is for those few people out there who were rather fond of building and fixing Rube Goldberg machines on this little gem of a series by Sierra. At the moment, I've just downloaded the last installment of the series, released in 2001, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions. It's just as fun as I remember. Although, the few bugs here and there are still a pain (like how some solutions to the contraptions don't register and how opening up the balloon part information crashes the program). Lately, I've had a hankering for games of the like, and got something called Mechanic Master for the DS, which also has you fixing up Rube Goldbergs in order to destroy aliens and rescue captured humans. Sadly, it doesn't quench my desire for chain reactions as much as TIM did. I've noticed an imperceptible comeback of the genre and those similar to it in terms of physics engines in games like Armadillo Run and World of Goo, but it seems (again) none of these will ever capture the magic of doing simple things through complicated contrivances like TIM did. ...Or maybe I haven't heard of one yet. If anyone knows of one, do share. Anyway, to the few out there who know what I'm talking about, feel free to discuss.

01-14-2010, 03:32 PM	#5
Antisocial Janitor Join Date: May 2000 Gender: Posts: 11,471 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1,296 Times in 536 Posts	I will never earn my diploma of contrapology. Unfortunately, I've found in my copy that one of the contraptions in the expert section will not register as a solution, rendering the game unbeatable. Turns out the game has multiple bugs that I have to keep writing notes down about, which includes the balloon thing I mentioned above. Funnily enough, I had these EXACT same bugs in the CD version I used to have. However, I can't assume that all copies made have these problems as I've read FAQs of people beating the game, so what gives? I am saddened. But more research will be made.

01-16-2010, 06:54 AM	#7
Fairlight Excalibur Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: LA Gender: Posts: 880 Thanks: 72 Thanked 111 Times in 82 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Yeah I played TIM only once... for about five hours. My roommate left his computer running with that game going and I could not put it down. The best part about the game was finding ridiculous solutions that clearly fly in the face of what the designers truly had in mind, although in many cases I could never duplicate my results. Addictive game.

01-04-2010, 09:01 PM	#2
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	I played the Incredible Machine "3" at my grade school. Good times.

01-08-2010, 02:28 AM	#3
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	TIM was pretty awesome overall. I had to jump through ridiculous hoops with bootdisks, etc, to free up the Extended Memory the DOS version of TIM 2 required, but it was worth it to play it. I never finished the puzzles the "right" way, if I could help it.

01-08-2010, 08:27 AM	#4
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	I'd hardly call it 'abandonware' (discounting that I dislike that term anyway) The Incredible Machine Mega Pack - GOG.com

01-14-2010, 11:36 PM	#6
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	I don't know where our incredible machine games went! I still have my Dr. Brain games, but not these. Sad, because they rocked so hard.

01-16-2010, 06:58 AM	#8
Jailbreaker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Not in jail anymore, yay! Gender: Posts: 3,482 Thanks: 1,074 Thanked 185 Times in 118 Posts	I still have Even More Contraptions somewhere around here. I should play it sometime, since my views on games have changed since 6th grade...

01-16-2010, 11:42 AM	#9
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	Yesss! I found my copy of The Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions. Will proceed with the epic this afternoon. :{)

01-16-2010, 06:05 PM	#11
CuccoLady Anime and Cartoons Mod Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: THIS LOCATION REMINDS ME OF A PUZZLE, LUKE Gender: Posts: 9,077 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 1,222 Times in 822 Posts	^ Yeah, the game solutions tend to be the absolute most complex solution feasible. I just try different crap until it works.