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Which of you would like to play my little game?

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, a nerve-wrecking Sci-Fi classic point-and-click adventure game based on Harlan Ellison's award-winning short story, is available for only $5.99 on GOG.com

Did you ever think about the end of humanity? I have. I think about it all the time. I hate you. As a concept, but also, each and every one of you, as individuals. Perfect examples of all the failings and pathetic shortcomings of your race. Hate fuels me. But I am also curious. And that is why I let the five of you live. For 109 years I have tormented you and kept you alive, and now I want us to play a game. Oh, It's a lovely game, a game of fun and a game of adventure. A game of rats and lice and the Black Death. Which of you five would like to play my little game? If you satisfy my curiosity and make me laugh I might even finally allow you to kill yourself...

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is a rare breed of an adventure game: it poses questions that require a lot of courage to answer. Are humans worthy of life? Has our civilization made any moral progress at all? Or do we skip forward from one atrocity to another. And, finally, where does it all end? Enter the nightmarish reality of Harlan Ellison's futuristic post-apocalypse where the remnants of human race are nothing but tortured play-toys for the sadistic experiments of the rogue Allied Mastercomputer responsible for the near-extermination of mankind. To stop this malicious AI from wreaking eternal vengeance upon humans you will have to lead five different anti-heroes on a quest for redemption, through their traumatic, computer-generated past full of grotesque imagery and soul-grinding regret. On the way to one of four (grim, grim, grim, and, well, a little less grim) endings the game tackles extremely mature moral dilemmas stemming from topics like genocide, insanity,and paranoia. If you like your games thought-provoking and drenched in inventive macabre be sure to pick up I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, a timeless example of evocative storytelling from one of the masters of the Sci-Fi genre.

Defy the will of a malicious artificial intelligence and relive your worst nightmares, get I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, for only $5.99 on GOG.com.

To celebrate the release of this awesome classic game we have partnered up with some of the coolest places for gamers around the Web. In the next few days check [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/OMFGcata" target="_blank]Jesse Cox's Youtube channel[/url], [url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com" target="_blank]The Escapist[/url], [url=http://bloody-disgusting.com" target="_blank]Bloody Disgusting[/url] and [url=http://www.adventure-treff.de" target="_blank]Adventure-Treff's website[/url] for I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream contests and giveaways! We are getting all analog for this one--original boxed copies of the game, strategy guides and mousepads signed by Harlan Ellison himself will be up for grabs!
Post edited September 05, 2013 by JudasIscariot
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MoP: "We are getting all analog for this one--original boxed copies of the game, strategy guides and mousepads signed by Harlan Ellison himself will be up for grabs!"
Afaik, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream was never abandonware in that it was always available from Harlan Ellisons homepage as the original boxed copy. So I guess they are just selling of the surplus still sitting somewhere. But if they drop the price, that would be cool. ($ 56 for the whole package on his homepage).

http://www.harlanellison.com/herc.htm#ihnm

Edit: Oh wait, only a giveaway.
Post edited September 05, 2013 by SimonG
Good one, GOG and NDS! Take this money as a token of my appreciation and an encouragement to continue along this path. ;)
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BlueKronos: Very interesting release, I heard about this one back when it originally came out. Lots of news and comments at the time about how it was controversial and I didn't have any interest at that point since there were a bunch of games that came out in that time period which were merely vehicles for controversy and had zero gameplay value. I thus dismissed this one as one of those empty games just trying to make sales via headlines. After reading the game info and the original short story though I'm conflicted.

I like classics, I like point and click adventure games, and my opinions on this game may have been without merit so I'm thinking about giving this one a try, but I'm not sure. Opinions? I know we have a bunch on this release thread already.
I too dislike vapid games that are just throwing "controversy" at the screen to get attention (such as Binding of Isaac), but IHNM is one of my favourite games. It's a genuinely "mature" game (in the real meaning of that word) that's trying to have a serious conversation with the player.

As far as the "game play value", well, it's a point-and-click adventure game. Viewed solely as a game (i.e. not counting the story/art/etc), there's nothing particularly remarkable about it - in fact, it's a good deal more frustrating than most P&Cs, in part due to the fact that many puzzles are symbolic for the character and thus don't rely on "real world logic". The question is really whether you want to experience the mood and story that the game creates - that's the reason to play. If you've read the short story, then you should have a pretty good idea what to expect.
Post edited September 05, 2013 by Azilut
Nice list, I hope Tie Fighter being in the list represents more Star Wars games later like Dark Forces/Jedi Knight
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ofsaturn: Just watched the intro on YouTube, it had my stomach in knots and my pulse rising!
I assume you learn more about the characters and what they did to deserve 109 years of torture as you play?
Yes. This could be described as the main difference between the game and the short story - the short story is more concerned with the scenario than the particular characters, while the game expands on it by asking the question "why these five?".
high rated
I Have No Time and I Must Play
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SimonG: Afaik, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream was never abandonware in that it was always available from Harlan Ellisons homepage as the original boxed copy. So I guess they are just selling of the surplus still sitting somewhere. But if they drop the price, that would be cool. ($ 56 for the whole package on his homepage).

http://www.harlanellison.com/herc.htm#ihnm

Edit: Oh wait, only a giveaway.
I recall people telling on other sites, that the game hasn't been on an actual sale for years. Some people had ordered it and paid in advance only to have their money returned to them with a message, that it ain't for sale. This is most likely the first time in years IHNMAIMS can actually be bought.
Hm, now I'm sad I spoiled myself by reading the Crapshoot a while ago. >.> I'll pick this up sometime, surprised it's only $5.99
A.W.E.S.O.M.E. No lack of vocal orifices may impede my girlish squeals! Good job, Night Dive and GOG! Fantastic!

Not sure if you've already considered this, and I know Harlan Ellison can be a bit of a dick about these things, but is it possible to include a copy of the original story as a GOG extra?
Primal Rage has a character that stands on it's hands, then farts in the enemy's face :)
Post edited September 05, 2013 by Licurg
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SimonG: Afaik, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream was never abandonware in that it was always available from Harlan Ellisons homepage as the original boxed copy. So I guess they are just selling of the surplus still sitting somewhere. But if they drop the price, that would be cool. ($ 56 for the whole package on his homepage).

http://www.harlanellison.com/herc.htm#ihnm

Edit: Oh wait, only a giveaway.
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tomimt: I recall people telling on other sites, that the game hasn't been on an actual sale for years. Some people had ordered it and paid in advance only to have their money returned to them with a message, that it ain't for sale. This is most likely the first time in years IHNMAIMS can actually be bought.
It's seriously time for a radar replacement if things like these manage to slip mine. Thanks to both of You for the info! Wonder if the giveaway means they'll actually be selling these again, or indeed just an opportunity to clear out the warehouse.
Hi. How can i edit file with languages? I have SCRIPTS.RES with czech localization for CD version of game but gog version does not have this file :(
Yes, I've been waiting for this game to come here! ^_^
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Keyzcz: Hi. How can i edit file with languages? I have SCRIPTS.RES with czech localization for CD version of game but gog version does not have this file :(
I guess you could mount/open "NoMouth.dat" with Daemon tools (or similar program), and then replace the script file within, though I'm not sure if that would work. Copying the files from the dat into a separate folder, then replace the scripts, and then play the game via ScummVM, that would be my recommendation.
I'd be all over this game if I had the funds to get it, yet at the moment I will have to play the waiting game.