Dum-Dum

[b]dum-dum[/b] is one of those [b]fake operating system-based games[/b], set in 1985, running in glorious 426x240, but can go up to [i]*gasp*[/i] 640x360 if your hardware can handle it. there are various customization options (background, font, mouse cursor), as well as a single volume setting for all programs, of which there are plenty, and I've definitely seen worse versions of some of them. there are [b]about two dozen mini-games[/b], including a pretty good solitaire, a pretty bad minesweeper (no right click for marking), some more run-of-the-mill stuff (peg, word-guessing, tic-tac-toe), and a bunch of others. my favorite is [b]hogowiz keep[/b], a platformer/building hybrid that could easily be released as a standalone product (reach your cat, lead it to the cauldron, then build the way to the portal using blocks from the level to access the next area). also included are [b]a number of apps[/b] (calculator, piano, animator, clock, etc.), you can even [b]write your own programs in basic[/b]. there's [b]lots to read[/b] too, 'lore' and helpful info written by in-game characters, and random public domain e-books. I spent about an hour just messing around with everything but the game itself, though to be fair, I tend to do that anyway. I'd recommend [b]skimming at least the game-specific text files, they're pretty funny[/b], especially the history of hogo. [b]the operating system mostly works as you'd expect[/b], though there can't be more than 3 windows open and you can't resize windows, they adjust to the selected in-game resolution. also, the [b]mouse wheel wasn't widespread in the 80s[/b], so no way to scroll using that, and can't hold the button over an arrow either, gotta keep clicking or bothering the scroll bar. people have it so good these days... as for the actual [b]dum-dum[/b] game, also opened from within the operating system, it starts out as [i]'answer yes/no/I don't know'[/i] to a low-res digital lady's question (no, I didn't expect fmv either), but you'll eventually find out that she and her co-workers are trapped at the hogo offices and forced to work on [i]electro-sharing[/i], which is essentially the internet, and there's a socks-only policy, no shoes. the horror! [b]dialog is often only heard once and there are no subtitles[/b], which is a pretty big accessibility issue. not that 'doctorer' hogo p. rugnant would care, but [b]seeing as this is also a real video game and all the text is available among the game's files, I'd vote for functionality over 'immersion'[/b]. windowed mode also isn't something you'd expect from the operating system itself, yet it's available with alt+enter, and subtitles or captions could be another app. anyway, since employees at the company are geniuses, the apparently evil hogo, bent on world domination by unleashing who knows what kind of technology, can predict their every move, hence the need for a dum-dum to foil his plans. not sure how a dumb person, much like myself in and out of game, would be able to hack the system, as it is requested, but whatever. let's just say it's easier than it sounds. then it gets trickier, but you'll eventually unlock electro-sharing and help the poor employees, and more importantly, buy more apps and e-books for yourself, and find out how to move icons around on the desktop. the point is, [b]it's an adventure game of sorts with lots of different puzzles disguised mostly as hacking[/b], and unlike [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/]her story[/url], just to name another game involving going through a computer's contents, you're not completely alone, as [b]the girl usually has something to say[/b] (sometimes repeatedly, which is annoying), plus there's a lot more to do here than just watching random video clips. and when you thought the story was already over, well, that's just the beginning. [b]the game saves constantly[/b], which is excellent news. closed dum-dum periodically when it felt like a good stopping point (or when I had enough repetitive chit-chat) and I didn't have to re-do anything, but I didn't want to risk certain longer/more tedious mini-games or puzzles with multiple stages, so in one case I left the game running instead of quitting, just in case. I have to say, [b]things can be a bit unintuitive at times[/b]. I usually knew what to do, not necesarily [i]how[/i] to do it, and the 3-window limit was pretty frustrating. it's not a sign of great puzzle (or game) design when you have to fight the ui or the controls instead of concentrating on puzzle-solving, but managing stuff with 3 windows is often part of the challenge and it all jells with the theme and time period (and it's also entirely possible that I'm just a dum-dum). still, I was glad to find a [b]hint system[/b]: hold del during startup to access the fake os's bios and turn on hints there. as neat as it is cumbersome, but again, who above a certain age isn't shell-shocked by all the reboots after editing autoexec.bat and config.sys to accommodate the latest game that needed a very specific amount of a very specific memory type? [b]the main story should take several hours[/b], but the optional stuff is interesting and amusing for the most part as well, it's worth exploring to find more and more of them. then there are the mini-games, done reasonably well (again, for the most part) and can be played endlessly if that's your thing. I didn't know what to expect besides the fake os and random mini-games, but it was a really pleasant surprise and [b]a lot of fun from beginning to end and beyond[/b]. I kept waiting for something (most likely multiple things) to ruin everything, but not this time. sure, there were a few tedious puzzles and unintuitiveness here and there, but ymmv and the overall experience was great. there's only one section that requires a bit of timing, but even that wasn't too bad. if you like cheesy stories with fmv and/or have fond (or any other) memories of the 80s, the game will most likely be even more enjoyable, but it's recommended regardless. [b]a great package at a reasonable price, you'd have to be a real dum-dum to miss it.[/b]

Found out about this game through Vinny from Vinesauce. As he was playing it on stream I had to stop watching and just go buy it myself and play it. This game is really good. Thoroughly enjoyed the story and some of the included HOGO OS games are genuinely fun.

I'd like to start off saying that yes, hesitantly I recommend this game for anyone who's interested in these OS/internet/tech simulation/mystery/puzzle games. It's an extremely niche genre, and I think this game did a good enough job to deserve a recommendation (albeit with some caveats) to anyone looking at the genre. That said, there is a serious asterisk at the end of that recommendation, as this game could be absolutely infuriating and opaque as all hell at times. This is despite the fact that when this game is good, it's really good. At best, I think calling it a 7 outta 10 is fair, but those rough patches will really try your patience. So, what is Dum-Dum: The Story of Hogo OS 1985 Edition? This is a game that tries to replicate an old Apple computer, something like an Apple II-GS. You have your AppleLink early proto-internet (HogoNet in this game) where you can browse some forums, go on a click adventure, browse a store catalog, etc. You have some desktop games, some text files with hints hidden within, a few bizarre applications, an early messaging service, email, BASIC programming (this was pretty impressive to see, to be honest, even if I don't really have the skill to take full advantage of it), and a bunch of customization options. All in all, I'd say this is the meat of the game, just messing around and having fun. Kinda the same vibes I get from playing something like Sim City or Mario Paint, where you just aimlessly entertain yourself with the options given to you. It's quaint, to be sure, but I'd say there is a value there and an appeal to be had. The main story of the game, as you'll discover, is a conspiracy within the company that manufactured the OS and accompanying computer that you need to figure out as you maintain contact with and help the employees at the company. Your reward for doing this, each step of the way, is more lore and more functionality of the OS, in the form of games, connectivity, and applications. Overall, I think this is a really cool system! For the most part this held my interest, and I was able to alternate between the casual exploration of the OS and the main story each time one was getting a bit stale. Now... for the bad part (and for the record, I want to absolutely love this game and give it a solid recommendation, so I hope the dev changes some things before the official release): 1. The main quest giver can be more than a little grating. The main concept of the game is that everyone at the company is a genius and you are not, so you're able to think outside the box to come up with unorthodox solutions. The main quest giver, as a result, is very condescending and nagging at times, which was fine later on, and funny at first, but I think the dialog could have been [u] seriously [/u] trimmed down, and I think the character's arc could have been a little faster (i.e., she should think more highly of you after helping her the first few times, and not only after half the game is over) 2. Some of the mandatory puzzle segments can overstay their welcome. The stairway segment immediately comes to mind here, as this feeds into the problem with the quest giver. This segment is pretty dry, and goes on for 8 levels, when it really should be like, 5. Every step of the way you have your ear talked off, and the whole thing starts with her giving you a step by step tutorial that goes on for what feels like hours. 3. Some sections of the game are as opaque and cryptic as you could possibly get. Now, this gripe is weird, because a lot of the game outright tells you what you need to do, although other points feel like you need to try every possibility blind, until you happen to land on the solution. Talking to the older OS (was it really necessary for me to go through the 5x Dum-Dum app everytime I had to try a different solution?) and messing with the AI egg (using the project app based off an off-hand comment by the antagonist? Really) come to mind here. It's a fine line, to be sure, between spelling out the solution and being too cryptic, I get that, but some of the puzzles needed some stronger pointers. When you start the game, you can hold the delete-key to enter the in-game BIOS interface and find some hints right there, which is appreciated, but towards the end I started using that non-stop out of frustration. There just needs to be a better solution to this problem. So, there you go. Those are my gripes. I still like this game, but I don't love it. I think it is decent and has some very strong aspects to it. I don't point out the problems to bash the game at all, but just because I hope these problems get ironed out before the game comes out of early access. I look at the games number of reviews and wonder why it's not more popular, but at the same time I see these issues and wonder what the review score would be it it [b] was [/b] more popular, as I feel the percentage would be closer to 70 as it stands now. (hence why I've edited this review. 100% is just... Not realistic, not an honest assessment of this game.) Once again, really underrated game, I do recommend it to people who are VERY enthusiastic about the genre, just go into it with a grain of salt. Hopefully the issues get fixed.

Minor spoiler for the first puzzle of the game You have to like hack the OS so I tried dividing by zero because the manual says not to do that Then I tried infinitely adding to a string cause that might cause a memory overflow and put it in a safe mode or something Then I tried accessing BIOS settings and seeing if there was something in there, and I found the hint menu, and decided to consult it The solution is to type "hack" in the console

Hypnospace but 14 years earlier and more underrated.

If you get past the terrible "command with dum dum" puzzle, it's one of the best puzzle games I've played lately. Insanely underrated. Pls buy!!

It's a shame this game doesn't have more recognition

Have you played the incredible Hypnospace Outlaw and want more of that? Here it is! It's very good

This game really took me for a ride. At first I was expecting a short, low-budget game. But boy was I happy to be proven wrong. This game was one of those rare diamonds in the rough that had me laughing out load at certain moments. Combining absurdist humor with a cohesive story is something I haven't seen in a while, this game is a must buy! Plus the dev is really nice from what I've seen!

This game was a crazy ride! I thought I had known where the game was going, story-wise, but it definitely threw me a couple times. Can't say I'm disappointed, though. My favorite part of the entire game was the story, after all. I liked that this game offered a variety of mini games along with a lot of different programs to interact with. I thoroughly enjoyed myself while playing this game. I loved the nostalgic type feel to the game as well, which only added to the fun. My only issue with the game is that some mini games were a bit hard to beat, but if you enjoy a challenge, you won't probably won't mind it. Overall, the price tag is a bit high for this game at first glance (many might not see the appeal or understand why it's so expensive and skip it). However, I feel that the fun does justify the price, HOWEVER, I'm also realistic and would recommend waiting for a sale of some kind (ideally probably $9.99 USD or less). But do I recommend this game? Heck yeah, my friends!