Miegakure: Platforming in 4D

Nerdtendo

I did a search, and the only post I found about this game was in relation to a(n?) xkcd comic strip (which is how I found out about it)... So, fuck it, I'm quoting them.

crwth wrote: »

crwth wrote: »

BusterK wrote:

I can't live without stating that the fourth dimension is time
So all games travel in that dimension as well
What the fuck Miegakure?

miegakure's site wrote:

Miegakure is a platform game where you explore the fourth dimension to solve puzzles.

Our world is three-dimensional: width, depth, and height. But what if there was a fourth physical dimension that we cannot see, in addition to the other three?

This game is about exploring the consequences of being able to move in four spatial dimensions. It plays like a regular three-dimensional platformer, but at the press of a button one of the dimensions is exchanged with the fourth dimension, allowing for four-dimensional movement.


How to get on the other side? Exchange dimensions. Move to the other side. Exchange back.



Think about a two-dimensional character living on a horizontal, flat two-dimensional plane. To this character, height would be a foreign concept. A number of actions we three-dimensional beings take for granted feel like absolute magic to this two-dimensional character.

For example, if there is a wall in the shape of a circle around an object in 2D, it is essentially closed-off, since to reach it one would have to leave the 2D plane. It is also impossible for an outsider to know what is inside.

But us 3D beings can see the object from above, and also simply lift it off the ground to move it outside, essentially teleporting it. Now by analogy a four-dimensional being could perform many similar miracles to us living in only three-dimensions. This game allows you to perform these "miracles."

The games medium makes the mathematical concept of a fourth dimension easier to understand by allowing to experience it first-hand, using trial and error, as opposed to being told about it.

VIDEO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhBoY6s-Fhw

Plus, for possible Mac awesomeness:

The game is currently in development and the goal is to release it in downloadable form for consoles and PC/Mac. There is no announced date and platform yet. There is no publicly released demo at this point. There will be one when the game is released though, so please be patient Thanks.

The concept of the game basically sounds like Super Paper Mario for the Wii, but bumped up by one dimension on both sides of the ratio. That's right everyone, Super Paper Mario divided by zero, and this game happened.

Princepeach

Ew, don't compare this potentially good game to Super Paper Mario.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear this is coming to consoles. I was worried it was gonna be one of those awesome PC indie titles that we console plebs never get to see.

Xtarath

I'd like to point out that Super Paper Mario was also only in 3D. Never 4D.

Zombiemambo

This doesn't seem at all unique.

Davoid

Ha ha ha, XKCD. You are always the worst, XKCD.

Delzhand

Whatever happened to Fez? That always seemed like a Cave Story version of this concept.

Trus

Isn't the 4th dimension time?

Davoid

I like how the video calls it the "fourrth" dimension

randombattle

Xtarath wrote: »

I'd like to point out that Super Paper Mario was also only in 3D. Never 4D.

Anything that moves is in "4d" :...:

Xtarath

randombattle wrote: »

Xtarath wrote: »

I'd like to point out that Super Paper Mario was also only in 3D. Never 4D.

Anything that moves is in "4d" :...:

Yes, but regardless, in SPM you switched from "2D" to "3D, and not Miegakure's "4D"

Raoulduke20

randombattle wrote: »

Xtarath wrote: »

I'd like to point out that Super Paper Mario was also only in 3D. Never 4D.

Anything that moves is in "4d" :...:

Time is not a fourth physical dimension, though. The dimensions don't necessarily have a number assigned to them, or anything.

Satsumomo

Fez has been in development forever, what the hell is taking them so long?

Nerdtendo

Xtarath wrote: »

I'd like to point out that Super Paper Mario was also only in 3D. Never 4D.

I preemptively agree with you.

I'm definitely more interested in Fez than this, but this looks like it might be entertaining. I'm also enjoying the art style and atmosphere of this game.

Darmak

This looks interesting, I'll be looking forward to this and Fez too since I enjoy games with twists like this.

Mojo_Jojo

Trus wrote: »

Isn't the 4th dimension time?

No. We're talking about spatial dimensions.

Alfred J. Kwak

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

agoaj

Alfred J. Kwak wrote: »

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0

Ayulin

Alfred J. Kwak wrote: »

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

The animation they have on the wiki page hurts my brain. Hopefully Carl Sagan does a better job of explaining :P

EDIT: Oh, I see. It still hurts to try and comprehend, though.

Mr Fuzzbutt

Little-known fact: Time is actually the 5th dimension, not the 4th.

Vic

agoaj wrote: »

Alfred J. Kwak wrote: »

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0

I heard a pretty interesting visualisation that is kind of an extention of that movie. A sphere passing through flatland would appear to the flatlander as a point appearing, becoming a growing circle until it reaches maximum size after which it starts to shrink to a dot and disappear.

A fourth dimentional "sphere" passing through our three dimensional world would appear as a dot and become a growing sphere, which would then shrink back into a dot and disappear. Not very useful perhaps, but interesting.

I'd also like to note that from my impression the concept of time as a dimension is rather flawed. Time is a mental construct, representing the rates of enthropy and change.

durandal4532

Vic wrote: »

I heard a pretty interesting visualisation that is kind of an extention of that movie. A sphere passing through flatland would appear to the flatlander as a point appearing, becoming a growing circle until it reaches maximum size after which it starts to shrink to a dot and disappear.

A fourth dimentional "sphere" passing through our three dimensional world would appear as a dot and become a growing sphere, which would then shrink back into a dot and disappear. Not very useful perhaps, but interesting.

I'd also like to note that from my impression the concept of time as a dimension is rather flawed. Time is a mental construct, representing the rates of enthropy and change.

That's the analogy I've heard a few times to explain it.

Actually, there's also a wonderfully weird comic that has a faux-Fantastic Four fighting a beeeing from the 5th dimension! who can reach around panels to attack them.

Also time gets brought up as the 4th dimension because you tag things with (X,Y,Z, 5:00), and I suppose in games since you can move back and forth in it if you wanted to, it counts more.

jothki

I hear that time is actually the second dimension, and that x, y, and z are the first, third, and fourth.

Echo

Mr Fuzzbutt wrote: »

Little-known fact: Time is actually the 5th dimension, not the 4th.

Weeell. Depends on your definitions and stuff. But yeah, you need five dimensions for "real" time travel, otherwise you have three dimensions and just move back and forth in a straight line on the fourth - like rewinding a tape, you can go back but nothing changes when you press play and it starts moving forward again. You need a fifth dimension for alternate timelines, making time 2-dimensional.

I have no problems visualizing five dimensions, but then my head asplodes.

edit: here's a movie I just remembered.

Raiden333

None of you really understand time...

Jaunty

Raiden333 wrote: »

None of you really understand time...

I wonder how many pageviews that's gotten
and if the guy who made it is still alive, or missing/presumed dead

Edit: oh holy shit it was updated with stuff about obama!

Dracil

Meh, when I think of a 4D game, I think of something like Achron (RTS game with time travel)

Darmak

That's why I think it's interesting, because in the few games that use a 4th dimension it's always time instead of a spatial dimension. A 4th spatial dimension is usually something that's pretty hard for most people to grasp, whereas traveling back and forth through time is something that's usually easier to understand.

Mr.Brick

I understand how its adding another level of travel, but I fail to see how this is an actual demension. Im interested, but slightly suspicious that this isn't an actual 4th demension.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjsgoXvnStY

Darmak

But even in that video the fourth dimension is just time, I'm talking about an actual, physical, fourth spatial dimension.

Jaunty

Goddammit people mathematically the fourth dimension does not refer to time

Put "4th Dimension Not Necessarily Time" in the OP or this is going to go on forever

Teriferin

Duh, come on guys, time is the 0th dimension.

At least that's how I label it in my 4-vectors.

Mr.Brick

Ok im starting to understand a bit more (mathematically anyways). Does this game really represent a 4th demension though? Or is it just a "lol extra geometry you couldn't see before" gimick?

ill check it out when I get home from work though regardless.

Æthelred

Turns out the 4th dimension is just noclip..

Lars_Domus

agoaj wrote: »

Alfred J. Kwak wrote: »

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0

Monsty

Mr.Brick wrote: »

Ok im starting to understand a bit more (mathematically anyways). Does this game really represent a 4th demension though? Or is it just a "lol extra geometry you couldn't see before" gimick?

ill check it out when I get home from work though regardless.

But to us, isn't that exactly what it is? Ack! This shit makes my head asplode.

I must know more!

jothki

Pity that the transitions are discrete instead of continuous.

At some point, I'd like to see a game where you can roam freely in a 4-d environment. It'd be similar to Descent, but in addition to moving forward and turning up or down, you could also turn along a fourth axis. Instead of transitioning between discrete worlds, you'd move through a complete, geometrically realised environment.

Okasvi

jothki wrote: »

Pity that the transitions are discrete instead of continuous.

At some point, I'd like to see a game where you can roam freely in a 4-d environment. It'd be similar to Descent, but in addition to moving forward and turning up or down, you could also turn along a fourth axis. Instead of transitioning between discrete worlds, you'd move through a complete, geometrically realised environment.

There is a 4D space sim called Adnaxis but I haven't tried it. I only know about it from seeing it in passing in ubuntu software center's game section, altough they apparently have a commercial windows version with better graphics and sound too.

http://www.mushware.com/portal.php#mushware_shop

jothki

Okasvi wrote: »

jothki wrote: »

Pity that the transitions are discrete instead of continuous.

At some point, I'd like to see a game where you can roam freely in a 4-d environment. It'd be similar to Descent, but in addition to moving forward and turning up or down, you could also turn along a fourth axis. Instead of transitioning between discrete worlds, you'd move through a complete, geometrically realised environment.

There is a 4D space sim called Adnaxis but I haven't tried it. I only know about it from seeing it in passing in ubuntu software center's game section, altough they apparently have a commercial windows version with better graphics and sound too.

http://www.mushware.com/portal.php#mushware_shop

Nice, that's pretty much exactly what I'm talking about.

Tamin

Lars_Domus wrote: »

agoaj wrote: »

Alfred J. Kwak wrote: »

I read the description, I watched the video, and I still don't understand what the 4th dimension actually is (a quick visit to wiki would probably help).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0

I am needing to study his method of talking. It is excellent.