Stack Genius: How Does It Stack Up?
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
It’s always exciting when a totally new concept comes into Home. In recent times, the onset of locomotion items has skyrocketed, and people have lapped them up like thirsty horses after a long ride. Atom Republic isn’t the oldest developer in Home, but they have become a leader in locomotion items recently. However, LMOs are now a very saturated market segment, and there’s always demand for something new in Home.
Atom Republic just added a really new idea for personal apartments.
Over the course of my time in Home, I’ve had many discussions with people about different concepts for this virtual world. These have covered a lot of different subjects, but personal spaces have always been a favorite, as many people are tired of pretty boxes, even if they are fun to decorate.
I have several friends in Home who glitch their apartments. For many it is an important meta-game, and they have gotten increasingly frustrated over the improvements to Home’s core that have taken many of their abilities away in the past few years. During the times we have discussed this issue in the past, I’ve always thought and talked about an apartment made for glitching. An apartment that could make a game out of it and allow them different ways to stretch their innate desire to glitch things.
It seems like Atom Republic has been reading my text or my mind, because they’ve announced Stack Genius.
I don’t know how my glitching friends will view this place. It does seem a bit like “legalized” glitching, but I am hoping that there are enough variations of the game to keep it fresh for many months to come. The one thing about many games in Home is that once you beat them, you never return to the space again. Some games have beaten this by updating regularly — or, with games like Sodium2, adding a leaderboard element. It appears in the video that this may also be a factor in Stack Genius, and that’s a smart move on Atom Republic’s part. We can only hope that sales will merit updates as well.
Atom Republic has tapped into the wishes of everyone who loves puzzles and glitching at the same time. I am not a glitcher myself, but I like this concept, I think — because I do like puzzles and puzzle games. Many video games have puzzles built in; games like Alundra always made me think, and this new Stack Genius is going to do the same for Home.
I like the way there is a timed segment to this new game. Timed challenges always add a bit of pressure to people who like to master things, like many of the other games in Home. Having to think on your feet as you run around figuring things out makes this a great deal of not only fun, but also a mental challenge. I think this is a new road for development in Home. Though there are many different ideas in personal spaces which include games, this is a new concept — and I believe it is going to be a big hit with many.
Can you beat the clock?
We’ve had a lot of different new concepts in Home over the past couple years when to comes to apartments — some better than others. Places like Blueprint, Home Tycoon and the spaces you can buy in pieces from nDreams have all found a place in the heart of Home’s population. This new one looks like it is very stark; you won’t be looking to furnish it conventionally, it seems, as it is truly a game unto itself (as opposed to something like Minibots which actually is funnier when working around a conventional estate design). I don’t know if this will be a drawback to some; we will have to see whether it has any impact on the sales.
I love the idea of Stack Genius; Atom Republic is breathing new life into the estates-as-games sub-genre in Home with it. We haven’t had one of these types of spaces come out in a while, really; though Lockwood’s Tundra has a great game attached, it is more a decorator’s delight than a game-focused space.
I haven’t bought much in Home lately, especially personal spaces, but I think I will get this one if the pricing isn’t too steep. With Home slowly losing momentum in recent months, this new space may be something that brings people back to the fold.
August 5th, 2014 by Burbie52 | 1 comment
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
Share
| Tweet |
Thank you Burbie52 for those encouraging comments! We are delighted that you are so positive about our game, and hope you’ll enjoy playing it.
Tanguy