ND White Wolf of Icicle Creek - I'm amazed and puzzled (maid duty spoilers within)

....that so many playing this one have not succeeded in avoiding the 'chores' by manipulating Nancy's clock correctly. AND, it amazes me too that so many have not tried using Mag's excellent walkthrough to avoid getting 'stuck'......how about you?
Love, Betty Lou

I've only glanced at this game and manipulating the time struck me as an odd thing to do. To me a clock indicates a way of knowing when to do things, not a way to get out of doing them. As for the chores, how does one know that making a bed will not cause some kind of clue to fall out from under a pillow. Nope, cannot make sense of an adjustable time.

In real life, you don't get out of doing chores by sleeping through them. Instead you face consequences. Unpleasant ones. And as BillyBob said, how do you know that one day you won't find a clue while doing your chores? And if you sleep through the time when you were supposed to find the item or spot a clue, how do you know it won't cause a dead end?

Also consulting a walkthrough may be OK when you're stuck, but having to follow one step by step from the beginning of the game kind of puts a damper on the experience. I have nothing against using a walkthrough, but I kind of like to see how much of the game I can figure out on my own.

I use my trustworthy MaG WT its great and made by a great person with a knowledge that I could never acquire..
Thanks to MaG

You know, it never occurred to me to try to get out of doing the chores, because Nancy is so conscientious and would never shirk from doing the duties that she had agreed to do. When I get into a game I really get into playing the character in terms of what I believe they would do/not do in any given situation. Nancy Drew, the slacker? I think not.

All this talk of ND games, made be download the demo for ND Danger by design and as well for ND White Wolf (or ICE). Apart from tech problems installing the demos, it went rather well.
Or at least it looked that way to me .

First, let me say this: When I get loads and loads of money (in a distant future ) I'm definitely buying ND games The stories are great, the plot are well thought out, and the characters are also very well written. You care to find out what happens next to the characters in the game(s).

Next, let me say, that it never really would strike me that Nancy Drew would skip any chores or tasks she previously would have agreed to doing. After all, when she's done with a job, she's putting checkmarks next to the job. That's a sign of very organized person who is also very conscentious about doing her duties. Nancy Drew is not a slacker, I think. She would do what she promised she would do.

It therefore somewhat breaks her character that you as the player can decide that Nancy Drew just can skip her chores and duties. But I guess that this means that Her Interactive developers found these chores to be repetitive, too, and not bringing much to the gameplay. I'm of course just making an educated guess here.

As for the new design choices. I like the new speech interface, that it is the new textboxt. You can clearly see the text now and you know where it is placed on the screen so that's a for me. I miss the ability to rotate around in WW like you could in Danger by Design but that's maybe just a question of altering something in the options menu.

I don't much like the new character models. They look more chunky and blocky than the chique elegant character models in Danger by Design. (maybe they are using 3D characters in 2D environment). Also, the game's control felt a bit clunky at times. (but that may just have been me --- ).

As for the books and music. I was surprised that it wasn't there and even more surprised to see a Her Interative logo on screen before Nancy wanders up the stairs to her room. For better or worse, the new start interface definitely has a modern and more streamlined feel to it. The same goes for the in-game interface.
I almost couldn't find my way around it, but luckily I had played some other (great) adventure games so I knew my way around the new interface.

It is sometimes hard to see what the icons in the bottom of the screen represents, but that may have been explained in the game's manual.

And someday --- I might just get the ND games

Ah, yes, but you all are trying to make me feel guilty for doing just that, manipulating the clock and avoiding those tedious chores (I actually "got into" the cooking, used to work as a lunch cook - about 3 years - and found myself trying to shorten the cook chore time by doubling up on the orders) but have you read all the other threads in Hints where everyone else is complaining and whining about those same chores? I posted this as a 'sidestep' for them so they would not be so unhappy with this game and its new format.....I thoroughly enjoyed it and only avoided the chores (you see I already knew that no clues would pop up from them because of the w/t) so I could get on with the story and the more interesting stuff....AND I love you all anyway...(in real life I hate the chores as much as anyone who has done it for so long, only do what I have to, when I have to)
Love, Betty Lou

Hi Betty Lou -- none of us, I feel confident, would ever try to make someone do virtual chores simply out of guilt! If you can skip the housework, in real life or in gaming, do so with joyous abandon! (Becky happily ignores the dirty dishes on her counter and the dust bunnies under the computer desk).

I think people are reacting to your amazement (you did say you were amazed) that some people played The White Wolf of Icicle Creek straight up, doing all the chores, because they didn't use a walkthrough and therefore didn't know that there is nothing to discover while doing the chores.

Gamers approach games differently. It's okay to use the walkthrough, and it's also okay to try to play without one.

The White Wolf of Icicle Creek provided a way for people to skip chores, but neglected to tell them (in the game anyway) that there is no negative consequence for doing so. It would have been better -- perhaps in the Junior Level -- to explain to gamers that skipping the chores will not mean missing an important clue. Then gamers could elect to do so, or not, depending on their own enjoyment of domestic chores and their interpretation of what the conscientious Nancy would have done if she were in their shoes. (Or is it vice versa? )

Hmmm. I'm adding a spoiler warning to the title of this thread, as it has just occurred to me that some people may not want to know about the clock manipulation in advance of playing the game.

Thanks Becky. I should have thought to do that...guess I figured that since this is DISCUSSIONS those who have not finished the game would avoid reading any of these comments..."never assume" I will add that I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and believe it to be the best of the ND with maybe the exception of getting to drive Nancy's car - what fun! I WAS able to go back to a previous save before going fishing and play for the Easter Egg, nice touch! And as for the puzzles in this one, was at first leery of the FoxNGeese game but find I am quite good at it - especially when I can 'start it over'....as often as I needed to. This was a really good game
Love, Betty Lou

Hey Betty Lou -- I'm glad you liked it. And (honestly) now that I know there's a way to skip the housework chores and not be penalized for it, I will enjoy the game much more than I would have otherwise.

Yes, Becky, it helps those who would be "put off" from BAAGing this game and trying it to know just what to expect where those chores and the alarm clock are concerned. Several have posted they will NOT buy this one because of the negative comments about just this subject. That would be a shame, they will be missing out on a wonderful game.
Love, Betty Lou

You're right, Betty Lou; it's good for people to know that you aren't stuck with the cooking and the chores. I'm glad you enjoyed the game so much; it's not my favorite, but I still thought it was a darn good game. I'm looking forward to Crystal Skull.

So should I un-spoiler-ize this thread? What is more important -- to get out the word that you don't have to do the chores? Or to keep the secret, thereby giving people the right to find that out only at the end of the game?

Is this a paradox? I've always wanted one.

I was playing the game with no help, and I just assumed I'd get fired if I didn't do all the lousy chores--that's what would happen to an actual employee!

You do get officially released from the cooking at a latter point of the game. The later parts of the game were a lot better than the earlier parts, I thought. The puzzles actually got a bit interesting. I'm glad I didn't go with my impulse to quit altogether out of frustration!



I still don't think this was a great game, but it wasn't awful either. I am sure my final opinion is strongly colored by my early, very negative impressions--I don't expect other people to react with so much crankyness!

Too funny Becky! Here you go then.
This sentence is false.

Nickie -- ARGHGHGHGH!

I am officially ignoring that sentence.

If I put "maid duty spoilers within" in the title instead of just spoilers, would that be more helpful? Or would the spoiler itself spoil?

It would be a spoiler, paradox and an ethical dilemma all in one. I say go for it!

I will apologize as one who spread the bad information about needing to complete the chores to progress in this game. Obviously, I gave up and didn't realize there was an alternative. However, I don't consider it whining and complaining. These boards are here to express our opinions on games, good or bad. Also, even though I don't visit the boards at Herinteractive, I'm sure they are getting tons of feedback about what the gamers did and didn't like about this game. If gamers don't speak up, how will they know what to change for next time? We are not all going to like the same games all the time.

Jema -- expressing your frustration when you are frustrated is definitely part of the process! I agree that "whining" is perhaps too strong a word.

I am sorry, I apologize for that word "whining"....I did not intend to hurt anyones feelings. I think it is funny that one feels afraid to get fired from this job - Nancy was originally hired (that means paid) as a detective to solve Chandal's problems at the Lodge so she can stay open and in business. I did get fired a couple of times for crashing the snowmobile and something else but it had nothing to do with the chores, just got yelled at...and getting fired doesn't mean the game is over - it's like Nancy has the upper hand, can tell her 'boss' (of the chores) to go "fly a kite" and laugh and laugh and laugh. If Chantal wants Nancy to help her stay in business she can't really fire her - and this game is not supposed to emulate 'real life' now is it? It is all fantasy, and one can do anything one wants to in a fantasy.....after all, who can go fishing in a lake and 'catch an egg' in real life? Enjoy your games, and have a great day.
Becky, "spoilers" is just fine in my book......paradox away girl.

Love, Betty Lou

Thanks Betty Lou! Next up -- the Ethical Dilemma. Should Nancy figure out a way to keep doing chores even after she's fired?

I suggest a Philosophy Retreat somewhere in the Canadian Rockies, where we can discuss these issues at length. We'll draw straws to select which of us has to do the chores and which of us gets to drive the snowmobile.

Sounds great! Er, I'll hold the straws, shall I?

Did anyone else have cravings for burgers and bacon & cheese omelettes while playing this game?

no food cravings, but I did enjoy filling the orders when I was in the 'right mood',,,funny, I really don't like cooking for real anymore. NOTE> Nancy only gets fired when she crashes the snowmobile or blows something up, she does NOT get fired for goofing off on those chores - only yelled at....
I'll bring the wine to that session of discussing all this.....what kind do y'all like?
Love, Betty Lou

I know this little vineyard in Cape May, New Jersey, where the wine tastes like roses smell...

Are we off-topic yet?

No you aren't off topic Becky, not at all. Funny I played the game and don't remember any booze in it. Did ya'll play a different game maybe?

Sue

So far, I've only seen a preview version. And the wine reference was to a speculative real-life "Philosophy of Nancy Drew" meeting sometime, perhaps in the future, around a roaring fire in a lodge in the woods...

Has anyone figured out exactly how old Nancy Drew is in the games? Is she still a high school student?

I loved the cooking, but quickly learned that the French toast cooked the fastest! Actually started a fire one time trying to cook other things.

Has any one seen the face of the Nancy Drew voice

Mobygames has a couple of pictures
http://www.mobygames.com/developer/shots/developerId,432/

Darn! I never got to start a fire, Mystery Lover. Makes me want to go back and see if I can burn down the kitchen.

I've always assumed that Nancy was perpetually 18. I remember reading the books as a kid and wondering just how long it was taking her to solve all those mysteries in her 18th year. There were 56 original books so she was solving one in a little under a week! Busy young lady!

I read that Lani Minella has done around 450 voices for games. If that's not an exaggeration, that's pretty amazing.

Thanks for that .Did nt think she would be blonde.Not that as any thing to do with the price of milk lol

Having just got the game (it's now in a queue as I haven't had much time to play over the last few months) & reading this thread I don't think there are any spoilers at all! I'd rather know beforehand that I can avoid the chores without any penaly & make the choice of doing them or not!! I suspect I will get some perverse satisfaction out of doing 'boring' chores in the game instead of getting on with real chores while I'm playing it!

I would be happy to join you in the Rockies! - I can pour wine, drink it & put logs on the fire - just make sure there are plenty of fire extinguishers around!

Nancy Drew books were the hottest thing around when I was growing up but I was a depression baby and could not own them. I was able to borrow them and I seem to remember that the library may have had some. Nancy was my heroine because she was so independant and had adventures. I do not remember her doing housework- but I do remember her yellow convertible coupe ( with a rumble seat?).

I loved all the Nancy Drew books as a kid to. Bouv, we had to get them at the library, but luckily, our library was well stocked.

I never read any of the Nancy Drew books as a child, so when I started playing the games, the ND world was wonderful and new to me. I did read Trixie Belden. Don't know why Nancy didn't enter my reading world, however, or how it happened that it was Trixie --and not Nancy-- whose mysteries I read. All of you who did read ND & are now playing the games are doubly enriched!