Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

76 Comments

Double Fine's Stacking Priced and Dated

How much does a game about Russian matryoshka dolls run a fella nowadays? About 15 bucks.

Double Fine’s second downloadable project will be available next month. Publisher THQ has announced that Stacking will hit PSN on February 8 and Xbox Live Arcade the following day on February 9. It also announced that the game would cost just under $15 on both platforms.

In case you missed the unveil a couple of months ago, Stacking is an adventure puzzle title that puts you in the shoes of a boy named Charlie, the world’s smallest Russian stacking doll. The game revolves around Charlie’s ability to thrust himself into dolls one size bigger than himself. These bigger dolls, which give Charlie unique special powers, are essentially the tools that you’ll need to use in order to interact with the game world and solve the puzzles therein.

Strange, right? Ryan and Brad got their hands on the title not too long ago with some special guests from Double Fine. Check out the EX Quick Look and see if Stacking is something you should consider checking out next month. [You should. -Ed.]

    

76 Comments

Avatar image for raginglion
RagingLion

1395

Forum Posts

6600

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 9

Edited By RagingLion

Please come to PC.  Pretty please.

Avatar image for ubergeekygirl
UberGeekyGirl

19

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By UberGeekyGirl

I really like the look of this game. I'm putting it on my list of games to play. 
 
Using Russian dolls in a game is awesome and I love the use of "people stuff" to create this world that the Russian dolls live in. 
 
Looks and sounds great.

Avatar image for george_hukas
George_Hukas

1319

Forum Posts

3735

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By George_Hukas

God, I can't wait for this game.. Looks hilarious and quirky!

Avatar image for radioactivez0r
radioactivez0r

949

Forum Posts

95

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 1

Edited By radioactivez0r

I've got most of my disc games packed up in storage right now, so XBLA is where most of my gaming is coming from.  Really excited for this, and I loved Costume Quest so much I'll happily pay full price for the next DF game.

Avatar image for a_cute_squirtle
A_Cute_Squirtle

902

Forum Posts

697

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By A_Cute_Squirtle

I was hoping for ten dollars. I'll wait and see how the reviews are. 

Avatar image for wuddel
Wuddel

2436

Forum Posts

1448

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Wuddel

I'll pass - way too much in the backlog.

Avatar image for bbqbram
BBQBram

2497

Forum Posts

88

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By BBQBram

Support originality, buy Stacking!

Avatar image for kalmis
kalmis

1745

Forum Posts

6127

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 115

User Lists: 6

Edited By kalmis

Looks good and I will get it one day. When its cheaper. Got more than enough games to play so I can wait.

Avatar image for jambones
Jambones

1726

Forum Posts

10015

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 2

Edited By Jambones

 I just love the aesthetic and the game looks really neat. I have to say the folks at Double Fine are hitting the right spot with their smaller games.    

Avatar image for jambones
Jambones

1726

Forum Posts

10015

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 2

Edited By Jambones

I just love the aesthetic and the game looks really neat. I have to say the folks at Double Fine are hitting the right spot with their smaller games.

Avatar image for mbkish
mbkish

255

Forum Posts

3

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By mbkish

After re-watching that quicklook I am definitely buying this.

Avatar image for honeycut1
honeycut1

153

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By honeycut1

Yep I'll be picking this up

Avatar image for alphonzo
Alphonzo

798

Forum Posts

545

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Alphonzo

I'm more interested in this game than I was in the last Halo and Call of Duty and Gears of War 3

Avatar image for ribeye
ribeye

479

Forum Posts

1610

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 10

Edited By ribeye
@jonnyboy said:
" Alright I'm in. Like I said before I'll have no problem paying money if there's a chance it will go to fund a Psychonauts sequel. "
count me in
Avatar image for jonnyboy
jonnyboy

2867

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 2

Edited By jonnyboy

Alright I'm in. Like I said before I'll have no problem paying money if there's a chance it will go to fund a Psychonauts sequel.

Avatar image for hydraham
HydraHam

1380

Forum Posts

675

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By HydraHam

Very interesting and a unique idea but 15? i wouldn't pay more then 10.

Avatar image for xaveri
xaveri

169

Forum Posts

63

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

Edited By xaveri

Been waiting for this one. Let me get my wallet... wait... damn, a few weeks to go.

Avatar image for undeadpool
Undeadpool

8418

Forum Posts

10761

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 18

Edited By Undeadpool
@Purple_Proletarius said:
" @Undeadpool said:

" @YoungFrey said:

" My least favorite part of any downloadable release is listening to people complain about the price per length.  Until I hear people complain about a $60 being less than 12 hours long.  I won't accept any "$15 for 3 hours" complaints either.    "
Agreed. People will happily shell out $10 for a two hour movie (or even $15 for a 3D movie), but $15 for a game that will last 3+ hours is suddenly an insurmountable concept. "
Length =/= Value. For example, I would much rather see Blue Valentine and Rabbit Hole than play Monday Night Combat.  Also, I never pay $10 for a movie. Netflix/matinee pricing.     "
I was just using that as a roughly comparative metric to make the point. It's just weird to me that 3 or so hours of excellent gameplay isn't worth $15, but 2-3 hours of excellent storytelling in a movie is worth anywhere from $8-15, assuming excellence from both products.
Avatar image for jacksukeru
jacksukeru

6864

Forum Posts

131

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 22

Edited By jacksukeru

I never did try out Costume Quest :( The demo is still sitting on my crossmedia bar. I do love what I've seen of this game though so maybe.

Avatar image for demontium
demontium

5084

Forum Posts

1801

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 5

Edited By demontium

This is gonna be great?

Avatar image for s2333
S2333

107

Forum Posts

53

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By S2333

There are times I wish I had a 360 or PS3. I could also hope this comes to PC but I doubt that is going to happen.

Avatar image for nowsaypillow
NowSayPillow

196

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By NowSayPillow

Can't wait for this to come out.

Avatar image for lollisloth
lollisloth

15

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By lollisloth

Looking forward to it.

Avatar image for animateria
animateria

3341

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By animateria

Good price. 
 
I'll get it.

Avatar image for incrediblebulk92
IncredibleBulk92

948

Forum Posts

-1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 6

Edited By IncredibleBulk92

I hope this is as much fun as costume quest.  Tim Shafer makes quality short games, Brutal Legend was fun but just too long.  Love the art style, more of this please Tim :)

Avatar image for justinsane311
JustinSane311

358

Forum Posts

15

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By JustinSane311

This game looks like alot of fun, but I'll probably buy  the game when its on sale as "deal of the week".

Avatar image for sooperspy
Sooperspy

6485

Forum Posts

935

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 17

Edited By Sooperspy

I'm gonna get this.

Avatar image for mrredwine
MrRedwine

446

Forum Posts

131

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By MrRedwine

After playing the demo, I passed on Costume Quest.  Mostly because I couldn't read the word bubbles fast enough and the point of double fine games is the world they are in and the humor.
 
This game is still looking pretty enticing.  I want to get my hands on a demo though, just in case.

Avatar image for purple_proletarius
Purple_Proletarius

181

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Undeadpool said:

" @YoungFrey said:

" My least favorite part of any downloadable release is listening to people complain about the price per length.  Until I hear people complain about a $60 being less than 12 hours long.  I won't accept any "$15 for 3 hours" complaints either.    "
Agreed. People will happily shell out $10 for a two hour movie (or even $15 for a 3D movie), but $15 for a game that will last 3+ hours is suddenly an insurmountable concept. "
Length =/= Value. For example, I would much rather see Blue Valentine and Rabbit Hole than play Monday Night Combat. 
 
Also, I never pay $10 for a movie. Netflix/matinee pricing.    
Avatar image for sharpless
Sharpless

505

Forum Posts

51

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Sharpless

I want to smack anyone who dares complain about the price of this game. It looks gorgeous, it sounds brilliant. Even if it's just two hours long, quality is what's important, not quantity. I've put $20 into Costume Quest and gotten around 6-7 hours of entertainment from it. I regret nothing. Watching that Quick Look, I can already confidently say that Stacking is worth $15, if not more.
 
I'd love to live in a world where all new downloadable games cost $5-10, but I'm not entitled to that, and neither is anyone else. Double Fine puts out quality products (though, perhaps, Brutal Legend was never quite worth $60) and should be paid fairly for them.

Avatar image for mephiles1990
Mephiles1990

34

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Mephiles1990

Strange, but that's what you get when you're dealin' with... 
 
DOUBLE FIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!! *guitar riff*

Avatar image for deactivated-5b531a34b946c
deactivated-5b531a34b946c

1251

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

@DivineCC said:
" @SuperSambo said:
@DivineCC said:
" @SuperSambo said:
" @nintendoeats
It's strange, I think this looks totally awesome...and yet it doesn't interest me in the slightest...
What? That's... Odd. I can't imagine those two feelings colliding. After how amazing (up until the bugger glitched on me) Costume Quest was, then watching the quick look ex, I'm getting this on launch. "
Its not really odd at all. I feel the same way. Game looks awesome yet I have no desire to actually play it. "
How can you not want to play something 'awesome'? "
Because the gameplay doesn't really interest me. The art style and concept are great, the gameplay just doesn't seem all that fun to me. I kind of feel the same way about all of Double Fine's games. Brutal Legend's concept, characters, design, etc were great. The gameplay did nothing for me. Same for Costume Quest. "
I'm really stoked for Stacked, but I can definitely see someone really liking the dialogue and charm but being completely turned off of the gameplay. It's different.. and weird, but it scratches a certain puzzle itch in my brain (at least from what I've seen in the Quick Look.)
Avatar image for klei
Klei

1798

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 4

Edited By Klei

I'm in the same boat. I really love Tim's work, but this game seems so uninteresting and not fun to me. I guess i'll wait for the trial.

Avatar image for williamhenry
williamhenry

1324

Forum Posts

555

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 6

Edited By williamhenry
@SuperSambo said:
@DivineCC said:
" @SuperSambo said:
" @nintendoeats
It's strange, I think this looks totally awesome...and yet it doesn't interest me in the slightest...
What? That's... Odd. I can't imagine those two feelings colliding. After how amazing (up until the bugger glitched on me) Costume Quest was, then watching the quick look ex, I'm getting this on launch. "
Its not really odd at all. I feel the same way. Game looks awesome yet I have no desire to actually play it. "
How can you not want to play something 'awesome'? "

Because the gameplay doesn't really interest me. The art style and concept are great, the gameplay just doesn't seem all that fun to me. I kind of feel the same way about all of Double Fine's games. Brutal Legend's concept, characters, design, etc were great. The gameplay did nothing for me. Same for Costume Quest.
Avatar image for matt
matt

1094

Forum Posts

32

Wiki Points

512

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By matt
@TonyBlue87:  Hi five!
Avatar image for tonyblue87
TonyBlue87

464

Forum Posts

156

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By TonyBlue87
@Matt: It's the day AFTER my birthday.  Hi five Feb bro!
Avatar image for genjai
Genjai

311

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Genjai

I've really liked Double Fine's other games. $15 might be steep - but it also might be low, too. 
 
Guys, it's really hard to tell how much content is in a game until you see a review or play it for yourself. If you have a really awesome experience with a game, how much is that worth to you? Would you pay $10 for that experience or $15? Or would you pay $20 if that awesome experience was longer? I passed on Limbo because reviews said it was short; personally, I would pay $10 for that experience. I loved the trial for ilomilo and, based on the promised content, was not willing to pay $15. Fortunately, when I checked the price it was $10. 
 

Awesomeness + Length = Price
 
Not,   
Price / Length = Dollars per Hour 
 

Ultimately, you pick which metric is important to you. As a child, #2 used to be important to me during the SNES days. As an adult with comparatively more money, #1 is so much more important.
Avatar image for undeadpool
Undeadpool

8418

Forum Posts

10761

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 18

Edited By Undeadpool
@HarlequinRiot: True, but I feel like that value proposition can be extended roughly to $10/2 hrs of entertainment. This is, of course, a general, sweeping statement and doesn't always apply.
Avatar image for enemymouse
enemymouse

530

Forum Posts

18

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 14

Edited By enemymouse
@Zoombini said:
...   
 "I still wish it does well enough sales-wise to inspire more companies to make other real bizarre but kinda cool games on the download services. "
I guess you'd better buy it then ;)
Avatar image for jmfinamore
jmfinamore

1092

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By jmfinamore
@Undeadpool:  It has to do with the cost of comparable products available. All movies in the theater cost $10 (roughly). But when it comes to video games, you can pick up something like ME2 for about $20. The thing is, all movies cost the same but all games don't. So the pricing comparisons can get wonky, as illogical as it sounds.
Avatar image for zoombini
Zoombini

69

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Zoombini

The aesthetics and concepts behind this game looks great, however the general gameplay doesn't really click with my fried and twitchy action orientated brain. Although I still wish it does well enough sales-wise to inspire more companies to make other real bizarre but kinda cool games on the download services.

Avatar image for lettert
LetterT

35

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By LetterT

Nice! Will most likely pick this up.

Avatar image for standstrong
StandStrong

127

Forum Posts

192

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By StandStrong

Best news all week. I really look forward to this game.

Avatar image for undeadpool
Undeadpool

8418

Forum Posts

10761

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 20

User Lists: 18

Edited By Undeadpool
@YoungFrey said:
" My least favorite part of any downloadable release is listening to people complain about the price per length.  Until I hear people complain about a $60 being less than 12 hours long.  I won't accept any "$15 for 3 hours" complaints either.    "
Agreed. People will happily shell out $10 for a two hour movie (or even $15 for a 3D movie), but $15 for a game that will last 3+ hours is suddenly an insurmountable concept.
Avatar image for pie
Pie

7370

Forum Posts

515

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

Edited By Pie

People are complaining about the price of this?

Avatar image for julmust
Julmust

1650

Forum Posts

108

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 15

Edited By Julmust

Day 1, bitch! Double Fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Avatar image for mystyr_e
Mystyr_E

1475

Forum Posts

24

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 93

User Lists: 4

Edited By Mystyr_E
@YoungFrey: 
it's not the pricing that bugs me, it's how little I'll actually play it if I get it. When games like Super Meat Boy can go over 10 hours and way more trying to do everything or MNC with long multiplayer component, I'd play this, S rank it then never touch it again
Avatar image for haltiamreptar
HaltIamReptar

2038

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By HaltIamReptar
@DriveupLife said:
" NOOOOPE.  I spent 15 bucks on an overhyped artsy game already, LIMBO.  Not making the same mistake twice. "
This game looks artsy to you.
Avatar image for metalbaofu
MetalBaofu

1710

Forum Posts

1270

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 15

Edited By MetalBaofu
@Valwryn said:
" @Mystyr_E
Not interested, especially if it's as short as Costume Quest was
I'm right there with you. The grubbins on ice expansion was $10 for 2 hours of similar gameplay. I'm going to need to see some good faith from Double Fine before I pay $15 for what I presume to be 3 hours then? "
Grubbins on Ice is 5 dollars, not 10.