The Joystiq Free Game Club: I Wish I Were The Moon
by Justin McElroy 
{ Sep 29th 2008 at 3:55PM }
In the simplest terms, you're manipulating a short story with the use of a camera frame that can relocate objects from one location to another. With a few clicks, you can alter how the story of a boy, a girl, the moon and a seagull comes to an end.
By Benmergui's own admission there are some failings, but the central idea is really solid. In fact, the designer went on to use a similar mechanic in a more fully-formed concept called Storyteller.
So please, play around with IWIWTM and then come back to let us know what you think. We're curious as to whether you see this as more of a toy or the possible cornerstone of a full, compelling game.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Knight Marquise @ Sep 29th 2008 4:03PM
Seeing that picture reminds me to go rewatch some Code Monkeys. :)
Jason @ Sep 29th 2008 7:37PM
Seeing your comment reminded me to go watch the rest of the code monkeys episodes I never got around to.
Will @ Sep 29th 2008 4:08PM
It's really a neat idea. Imagine a more complete game where you just arrange some pieces and watch the story unfold accordingly.
Or is there already a game like that?
Will @ Sep 29th 2008 4:14PM
Ooo, I need to RTFA. I just wanted to play the game and didn't notice Storyteller, I'll go give that a shot.
It'd still be interesting to see this gameplay in a bigger name game.
Elijah Grey @ Sep 29th 2008 4:14PM
Played this on Newgrounds yesterday, but I could only find 3 out of 4 endings.
Drew @ Sep 29th 2008 4:12PM
I wish the fracking LBP Beta Codes you prophets spoke of would happen. Pressure 1UP and the Official Site, Joystiq overlords!
Elijah Grey @ Sep 29th 2008 4:15PM
sorry, I meant 4 out of 5
Yourself @ Sep 29th 2008 4:19PM
Seagull ride was the best.
Will @ Sep 29th 2008 4:21PM
Meh, I got 3 out of 5 and then went and looked up the other 2 because I didn't feel like fiddling with it.
Yourself @ Sep 29th 2008 4:18PM
Huh, that was actually pretty neat (if not a bit easy), trying to get all the endings. Sort of like trial-and-error adventure game puzzle-solving.
Duke @ Sep 29th 2008 4:42PM
Very nice little game for a quick distraction.
Abscissa @ Sep 29th 2008 9:18PM
I gave it the benefit of the doubt and tried it. That's the most pointless thing I've ever seen.
Dom @ Sep 29th 2008 5:45PM
The moon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fXWdyPJ6UA
spookysqueak @ Sep 29th 2008 7:38PM
Holy Christ the Mighty Boosh! And the best episode at that. Americans, do yourselves a favor and go YouTube "The Mighty Boosh - Old Greg."
Linkario @ Sep 29th 2008 9:26PM
I'm going to crack open a fresh bottle of baileys
Donald Duck @ Sep 29th 2008 8:06PM
Great, yet another pretentious minigame for the neckbeards to proclaim as art.
Delgado @ Sep 29th 2008 8:28PM
Good thing I could care less about a douchebag's opinions.
Ducks either for that matter.
hitsthings @ Sep 30th 2008 3:37AM
I approve of anything that
1.) Doesn't involve huge, stupid guns
2.) Tries to do something new and interesting
3.) Looks like Sierra made it in 1987
Pointless? Yes, but I've spent five minutes doing far stupider things. Like your mom.
watchthatman @ Sep 30th 2008 5:48PM
I really enjoyed messing around with it. It reminded me of Sierra's "Mixed-Up Mother Goose," which I played a lot in elementary school (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-Up_Mother_Goose). I really liked discovering all of the different endings, especially "Bring Me the Moon." It could be a great tool for little kids in story telling. It's a cool experiment, sort of a Sesame Street meets Scott McCloud type of thing.
Daniel Benmergui @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:28AM
I know it's not very comfortable to spend some effort to adapt to a 2 minutes game, but since I believe that your time has value, I usually err on the side of making my games short :)
Thanks everybody for trying the game!