Quick Look: Frozen Synapse

101st?

I love you 3 guys' quicklooks- but man you play some wierd games!

Man, this game looks pretty sweet! Little buggy with it's line of sight and such, but that'll be ironed out, hopefully!

this game looks
BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-RING.
 
anybody on the planet will have the longest, loudest, most open-mouth-ed yawn halfway through a description of this game. 
but as soon as you hear "Indie game" suddenly everyone says the game is "kinda interesting".
 
pfffffftt. i scoff.

 

"Hmm, very interesting...  Am I crazy, or should the game description be "synchronous" (without the "a")?  Asynchronous would mean that the turns are not done at the same time. "

 
Usually turn based games have player 1 go first, then player 2 react, etc.  In this case both turns happen at the same time.  Geeky use of the async word, but appropriate.  If the game was on steam it would be popular... "

Asynchronous means NOT at the same time. You've got it backwards.

 
 
Also, I love these weird-ass QLs. If I knew someone to play it with, I'd be so on this. Hey, idea! Someone buy this and give me the 2nd code! I promise to play it with you all the time. Unless you turn out to be a jerk. Or I turn out to be a jerk.

Couple of things that I thought I'd clear up for people who are interested in this game.
 
One round = 5 seconds. You can queue up as many actions as you like but the units will only achieve 5 seconds worth of those actions each round.
 
The element that forces players to play less defensively is the fact that each game is only 5 rounds long (or 25 seconds). So in order to win you have to attack, you can't just hide and wait for the other player to find you for the whole game.... unless they find you within 25 seconds. It's kindof like a fighting game in this way, in that a player who simply blocks all match isn't going to be capable of winning.
 
As for the Hostage mode they played... the player can set the position of their units at the start of the game. You may have noticed the big green box near Dave's units and the red box along the bottom of the screen near Mike's units. Those were the zones within which the players can place their units at the start of the game.
 
The game doesn't expect you to play with the pre-existing set ups where Dave's units were clearly disadvantaged by being out in the open. What he was supposed to do was hide his units in the green zone so that Mike wouldn't know where his defenders were positioned. 
 
As for what they're adding for the full version over the beta... the devs have stated that they're creating a proper single player campaign. Also the sound is completely temporary in the beta. It will have a better sound design and music when it's finished.
 
Anyway, I thoroughly recommend this game.

I like the idea of this game as I enjoy turn-based strategy games.  This reminds me of a WW2 combat game where you place orders and let it ride for a minute before setting new orders.  
 
However, I don't like how poorly the players strafe or sweep rooms.  It looks like everyone has horse blinders on and doesn't know how to watch for corners.  This gives a distinct advantage to campers or anyone already set up waiting for intruders.  Maybe they'll fix this for final release, but if they don't it's a pass for me.  Also, I know it's an indie game but smoke, flashbangs, and lobbing grenades around cover would be a good way to flush out a camped room.  And I think a game with rocket and grenade launchers are inherent cheese for tactical shooters as you can negate cover.  Finally it seems like the game does nothing to simulate panic or surprise.  You just bead in on each other and someone has to die.  I guess you don't really miss except for the MG which still gets you after a few bullets.    
 
It looks interesting but there are some very basic flaws that hopefully will be fixed by launch.

Looks pretty good. I love games like Jagged Alliance 2, so I will probably like this one too.

This looks good.  I'm going to go check it out. 
 
@eccentrix:  
Laser Chess = shot of  nostalgia.  Thanks.

"Also please pump out as many Vinny/Dave/Mike QL's as possible.  "

Really wish they would stop comparing it to chess.  The fact that the moves are resolved at the same time makes it distinctively different than any games in which players take their turns one after the other.  This kind of simultaneous action selection mechanic have a long history in boardgames.  The most notable example is RoboRally from Wizards of the Coast, designed by Richard Garfield, the man that created Magic the Gathering.
 
I really appreciate Vinny in these quick look videos.  He seems to be a lot more open to the non-mainstream titles than the rest of the GB crew.

I'd play this game fho sho, looks like a blast!

looks awesome.

If this was on Steam for $10 I'd snatch it up right quick. As it is, I'll wait until it gets there.

Can't wait. I have been keeping up with this game. I think that more games should have you think more about the outcome of going in shooting.

Looks pretty sweet; if I had time for it, or when I have time for it, I'll check it out. For sure when it shows up on Steam I'll jump on it.

Thank for GB for this Quick Look - it was really helpful to finally see it in action after having read about it over on RPS where the response was very positive.  I might have friends that I can play this with but I'll have to see how things play out once it's got it's official release.  I'm glad this exists at the very least.

" This is basically Robosport. A Maxis game from 1991. Same simultaneous turn structure, same "fuzzy" AI commands. "

Vinny's strategies as for reals. :P

Interesting...

"I really appreciate Vinny in these quick look videos.  He seems to be a lot more open to the non-mainstream titles than the rest of the GB crew. "

This game looks pretty awesome although I doubt I'd enjoy it much because of its slow pace. I suppose I'll have to try it someday if the price ever comes down.

Stress Chess looks great. Turn based, man. Turn based.

This was posted a year before the game came out?

Seems pretty cool, but I doubt I'd play it for more than a couple of hours. 
 
Also, 2010 what the fuck?!

This video had to have been made before the game came out. Some of the UI stuff has changed and the game has a full 55 mission campaign. Also, it IS available on Steam for $25 and you still get the free copy to gift. I've been hooked on this for the past week or so, it's awesome. It's much faster paced when you're in the swing of it. 

@Mr_Skeleton said:

This was posted a year before the game came out?

Yeah, there was a "pay for the open beta"/Minecraft type thing

Only 5 EUR/USD on Steam now (for another 23hours)!