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Week 5 [18.04 - 24.04] - Keep talking and nobody explodes

I am not a big fan of computer games, but I love board games!
Last week I had a pleasure to play something totally different, a game called „Keep talking and nobody explodes”. 
Source: http://www.downrightgaming.com

The game was a mix of… both! A computer and let’s say an “analog” game (not particularly a board game, because there was no board). The whole game lasts 5 minutes and your task is to disarm a bomb, but... Only one person sees a bomb on a computer screen, but he has no clue how to disarm it. Other participants are experts, that have a bomb manual (it can be either printed or you can use it on your computer or mobile phone) and they give advice how to disarm a bomb.


It is absolutely amazing because once you have the manual, you have no idea about anything – how much time is left (unless you ask), nor what you need to know to go ahead. In fact, you can’t watch your friend’s screen, but you can listen to stressful sounds of a ticking bomb and communicate with each other :D
The main advantage of this game is that you have to cooperate with others, you don’t play against people but you play with them.

There are some types of bomb modules that you have to deal with. The manual for experts is available here: http://www.bombmanual.com/manual/1/html/index.html
Source: tumblr

These modules are mostly types of logical games, so after one hour of playing, you really feel exhausted! You need to associate facts, deduce, remember things, cooperate with others in a limited time – a lot of hard work for your brain and fun at the same time :D At first the game seems to be super hard, but the level is adjusted to the time you are playing. The longer you play, the harder it gets. So at the beginning it is super easy to understand all the rules and get through the manual during a game – no need to read it before.
I highly recommend this one!


Do you know any similar games that combine the spirit of board games and use the computer to make fun even better? What are your favorites?

Comments

Well, I am quite a fan of board games, and yet i never heard about this. This game sounds like fun. My personal favourite game is Resistance - game where you, and your team "do some insurgency mission" and there are agents among you. Players need to expose agents before they blow up the game. Its also very stressful sometimes.
Unknown said…
I played "Keep talking and nobody explodes" when it was first released and it's a really great idea and I think it's a cool and thrilling game. It includes a different way of thinking than in a typical computer game for two players and it's really immersive.
Moode said…
What i like about this game, is the idea by merging computer game with board game. I know this game, i never played but i was watching live streaming on Twitch.
It was really entertaining to watch, and it shows how teamwork is the main success on this game.
I know a lot of great games that transformed from board game to computer game and become more famous as everyone know this game Heart Of Storm by Blizzard.
and i never heard about other games that combine the board game with computer.
Unknown said…
It's great that it takes only 5 minutes. It can't be boring also cool is a game keeps us in suspense all the time. In board games or card games is good that it forces us to think. Unlike computer games you cooperate with real players. This game about which you are writing seems really cool and I would like to play it :)
Michał Pycek said…
As I have watched the video it seems like a great deal of fun. :)
If I was to compare board games to computer games, I prefer to play computer games on my own or with my other half, however boardgames are most fun while being played by a bunch of friends, which is entertaining because everybody takes it seriously and wants to win. :) I have never heard of this game though, but I woudn't mind trying it. It seems like it's also a bit stressful, since the game takes only 5 minutes and participants rely on each other totally.
Marcin Konarski said…
Well I grow up some time ago and I don’t play in games anymore, mostly because I am full-time worker and still studying. When it comes to games like this I remember little bit geeky game that had purpose of teaching how to use vim console. I had to write vim commands to play and it was pretty good way of learning something hard to understand. The other game I liked a lot was Ingress. Playing outdoors with friends and working agains opposite team was great fun.
Unknown said…
Yeah, I am also a full-time worker and I still study ;) But I treat this more like spending time with friends more than playing a game, especially when it only lasts 5 minutes ;) But I respect a fact, that you prefer to spend this time on something different. The only thing I want to say is, that it is not a typical time-wasting game - it is impossible to waste hours a week on this game ;) What is kind of typical when it comes to computer games.
What is Ingress about? Sounds cool, but I have never heard of it before, could you explain how to play it? :) Is it some kind of a city game?
Unknown said…
Oh wow, how do you play computer games with your other half? What kind of games do you play?
Yeah, I totally agree - board games are perfect for a nice evening with friends :) And as I said, this game is not about to compete but to cooperate, so when someone take games too serious, it is totally for him :D And yes, it is a lil stressful, but in a good way :D I highly recommend!
Unknown said…
I hope you will have an opportunity to play, because it's really cool :) And 5 minutes gameplay is awesome, because many board games can take definitely too long ;P Sometimes even few hours! :)
Unknown said…
Live stream on Twitch? What was it look like? :D Did you feel this emotions? ^^
Could you say a little more about this transformation of Heart of Storm? Never heard of it. Was it successful? Did you play both versions? Which one do you recommend?
Unknown said…
I am glad someone played it! And I have to say that agree with your opinion :) It seems that you liked it, that's good :D
Unknown said…
Sounds really interesting :> I remember I played as a child a game called "mafia" where during a night one person was about to kill one person from the village, when other players were "sleeping" :D Is it similar to this game? Could you describe? :)
Unknown said…
I'm not a fan of computer games, but this game encourages you to play. Advantage of this game is to cooperate with other players. Most of games consist of competition with other players, so „Keep talking and nobody explodes” is a nice change.
With pleasure I try to play this game:)
Sometimes I play board game and I really enjoy it, so definitely try this one. It looks like pretty hard but giving very much fun.
Great idea! I must admit that I had not heard of this type of games. There was a time when I was playing with friends in a variety of board games. My favorite game is Cluedo. It is a criminal game. Players must guess who and where the murder happened. Each player conducts its investigation. It is also a game that you need to rest after an hour. I have to tell my friends about the game "Keep talking and nobody explodes." I think it might be hit our meetings !! I must find this type of games that combine a computer game with a board (although without the board). Thanks for inspiration!
Unknown said…
Thanks for my new idea for my next week with friends :) I'm a big fan of board games and not so much - computer games. 'Keep talking and nobody explodes' sounds like ideal combination of both. I have never heard about 'Keep talking and nobody explodes' but your description encourage me that I would like to play. I like games which integrate people and force interaction between participants of game. Often I play with my friends in board game called Bang!, it's similar but more complicated version of well-known Mafia. You must garnish a role of sheriff, undersheriff, renegat or bandit. Every figure has main and different aim in game (e.g. renegat must stay alone in a game area throug killing everybody) and specific skills. This game has no interaction of computer but also develop out creativity and integrate people (bandit must cooperate such as sheriff and undersheriff, but nobody know who is who, only everybody know who is sheriff).
Unknown said…
I love that game, the cooperation between players is so awesome, and game just gets harder and harder making the reward (defusing the bomb) sooo much more rewarding. I recommend you to try Tabletop simulator (http://store.steampowered.com/app/286160/?l=polish), its a great game and we (me and my friends) have a blast playing it. Quoting the description on steam "There are no rules to follow: just you, a physics sandbox, and your friends. Make your own games and play how YOU want! Unlimited gaming possibilities!" should explain really well what is this game all about. Theres tons of mods and maps that community made so finding something new and innovative is really easy.
Unknown said…
I do play board games, but I must admit I have never heard of "Keep talking and nobody explodes". But it sounds like a great idea. I like cooperative games, maybe I'll have a chance to try it out some day.
Unknown said…
Glad to hear that!
Unknown said…
Ohh I once played Cluedo when I was really really young and I remember this was quite to hard for me as a 7 years old child :D But now it sound like a lot of fun, must try Cluedo after these years, thanks! :D Hope you and your friends will enjoy "Keep talking" ^^ I'm glad you like it :)
Unknown said…
What are your favourite board games? :D
I don't think I played any videogames that crossover with board games. I've heard about this one. Seems interesting, but might be boring after a while. As I read it's worth a try, so I'll probably do that in the near future. Thanks for the recommendation!
Unknown said…
Oh, that really sounds nice :) I remember playing Mafia and it was cool that you don't need any board, when you are 7y old and you decide to play with friends somewhere outside :D But Bang! seems to be nice extension of this idea :D I must check it out and remind some memories from the childhood 😁
Unknown said…
Oooo you played it! :D Happy to hear that :D I must try Tabletop simulator, could you tell me whether is it a combination on both (I mean all players play on 1 computer?) or is it online? I checked stream website but I can't say what interaction looks like :D And I wonder what about this "no rules" rule :> These are games that are quite well known and they do have rules, how does it work? :D
Unknown said…
I highly recommend :)
Unknown said…
Yeah, I guess that after some time it can get boring, because you already know every clue by heart. But I noticed that a game looks totally different with you play with different people, especially with ones that have never played the game before :D Because in one group of people you have your own "language" so you don't have to explain some things, there are some keywords that means more than a 100 words :D So that can be an option not to get too bored :D Let me know if you try it one day and how did you like it :)
Unknown said…
More often I played games as a child, because now I prefer to spend my free time other ways (more actively). But short games it's really cool idea and it can be a good way to relax and have some fun time.
Pat said…
I haven't played that game (yet), but the description reminds me of some escape rooms - surely you've heard about them, they became so popular recently - you have 60 minutes and need to leave a room.

Recently I've been to one of such rooms (main theme was the movie 'Saw') and we were chained to the different parts of the room. In order to escape, one person had to use a PC keyboard to remotely steer a mini-car through a labirynth - the problem was, that person didn't see the labirynth, so he had to rely on other person who saw it, giving him commands like "left... more left... nope, too far".

If you like collaborative games, I'd recommend escape rooms ^_^
I am not a huge fan of games - neither computer, nor board. I don't know why, maybe because I have trouble making decisions and when I have to make strategic and complex ones I get very stressed. This is not the idea of fun for me. This is why I don't play games, but I really enjoy watching my friends play. My favourite ones are based on teamwork - just like in Keep talking. One of them is Pandemic - you have to cooperate and figure out a strategy to stop four deadly diseases from annihilating human race. Gamers draw their character cards and everyone has a different function in a mission to develop four vaccines. Keep talking and nobody explodes seems like a lot of fun and MAYBE I would be willing to play it. But for sure I'd like to watch someone play it;)
Unknown said…
I've never heard of this game but it sounds pretty neat; I'll be sure to check it out. There are so many games out there it's so easy to miss something. I love games, although I'm much better at board games :D Like Paulina, I prefer to watch my friends play.

I think it's a great idea to combine digital and traditional media; it feels retro and modern at the same time. And the game is short too, which is a bonus, considering our attention span these days.
Unknown said…
I am a great fan of board games, with many titles played and owned I can say that this game looks like real fun. And the neatest part is that while for some board games we have to wait until they are available on our market, this one can be bought even on steam. It's very nice to find something that I can actually play, not after waiting for half year.
Unknown said…
Well VR seems to be a running topic this week huh?
I saw a video of this game and it seems really fun (and stressful). Im sure I would fail miserably at it both as an expert or as the bomb diffuser. The comedy created by problems in communication look incredibly silly here. Id love to play it some time just to get yelled at by everyone around.
Unknown said…
Oh I have been to escape room, and yes, it is kind of similar :) BTW great fun, as well! But not that "casual" like keep talking :D
Unknown said…
Oh I have to say, that keep talking is quite stressing, because of a time limit :D But there are a lot board games that are not stressful at all! You can try dixit (one of my personal favourite) :) It can be very funny and just nice :D Hope it won't be stressful for you too :D
Unknown said…
Well said, totally agree :)
Unknown said…
Good point :) The access to have this game is really easy, everything is in internet :D You can just buy it, download and start playing with friends :)
Unknown said…
I guess VR in this game is just a fancy bonus :) Actually the game helps you learn how to play, when I was before my first play I thought exactly the same :D But it was super easy and it was getting harder and harder with every play :) And from my observations - it's not a game you would yell at each other, it's more to say the little you can to give chance for other players to communicate with a person with a bomb :D Especially in bigger groups :) :D
Unknown said…
i've played only online, didnt try local multiplayer. Its just how u imagine it - no rules mean no rules, if u wanna play chess as checkers, you can. You can do whatever you want, you can flip table if you are mad after loosing. :D
OlaScislewska said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
OlaScislewska said…
I love board games! I discovered it not so long time ago. Previously i thought that this kind of games are quite boring but i was strongly wrong. It's a perfect idea to spend time plaing with friends or family. The only problem is when I lose because i hate being the worst and sometimes i can't stand it for a while.. haha i take it too serious i guess. Anyway board games can develop our different skills. One of my favorite "I Konw" is focused on our general knowledge, another cool game "DiXit" is about imagination. Everyone can find the best game for himself, i recomed this type of spending free time to everyone. For sure i ll check your proposition "Keep talking and nobody explodes" which looks like a lot of fun.

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