VideoGame_Discussion

Topic Secret Satan 2024! Start weeping, because it's time to play!

benstylus

* 23-Feb(#1)

We're getting close to March which means 1 month away from April Fool's Day.

Who all is interested in doing a Secret Satan gift exchange this year?

If you haven't heard of it before, it's like Secret Santa except the aim is to get someone a game they will absolutely hate. Then we all play it on April 1st and share our misery (or surprise joy).

Going to put a $10 price charting value minimum like last year. In fact, last year's rules worked pretty well so I'll keep them the same:

Your game must have a minimum value of $10 based on Price charting for a game in similar condition. (If it's on the cusp, take a screenshot for proof). That makes things interesting so that we don't just buy the cheapest craptiest game in the gamestop bargain bin. Note you don't necessarily have to pay $10, that just needs to be its pricecharting value. If you have a poop game already that fits the bill, by all means feel free to use it

You can send multiple games if you want, but at least one of them must individually meet that $10 threshold. (So a $10 game plus a $2 bonus game is fine, but sending five $2 games by themselves is not).

Creativity in packaging or sending bonus items may be fun and hilarious, but is by no means required. If you do receive something creative, please take pics and share, it will be more fun for all of us.

Post a message saying you're in, or send me a PM and I'll get you on the list! If we get at least 8 participants (we had 10 last year) it's a go!

We'll get everyone assigned in the first week or so of March, and then everyone will have 2-3 weeks to find and send something to their target.

As a reminder, one of the survey questions will be whether you are uncomfortable being paired with any of the other participants. That way if there is a certain user (or multiple users) on the site, you can privately let me know. I will keep that request confidential and make sure that they won't be your Satan.

Past years:
2023 https://m.gametz.com/VideoGame_Discussion/secret-s...
2022 https://m.gametz.com/VideoGame_Discussion/secret-s...

This year's group:

benstylus - Homie Rollerz

Bleed_DukeBlue - Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX

brian9824 - Flatout 3: Chaos & Destruction

citizen_zane - Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly

Frank - Charlie's Angels

Gypsy - Magic: The Gathering - BattleMage

no metacritic score
Heavyd814life - Agony

Kommie - Hunt Down The Freeman

no metacritic listing
Oduomega - Yoda Stories (Game Boy Color) This version doesn't even have a metacritic listing
ryanflucas - King's Knight

no metacritic listing
sailorneorune - Spice World

, Smurf Racer

, Sesame Street Sports

, Deal or No Deal Special Edition

, and The Dukes of Hazzard: The Return of the General Lee

SupremeSarna - Rollerblade Racer

and Mickey’s Safari in Letterland

no metacritic listings

Didn't play but needs an invite next year
tigg

....................................... Skipping Messages Here .......................................

benstylus

27-Feb(#21)

Giving s couple more days if anyone else wants to sign up. Will be sending out surveys on the 1st, then everyone has a week to complete them. After the week is up (or sooner if everyone gets them done quickly) I'll send out the assignments.

You should make sure to have your game shipped by May 23rd to give it enough time to reach its destination by April 1.

HEHEHATE

* 27-Feb(#22)

@benstylus

I’m gonna bow out as I won’t be active on the site during this time.

benstylus

27-Feb(#23)

HEHEHATE wrote:

> @benstylus

> I’m gonna bow out as I won’t be active on the site during this time.

No problem, maybe next year

benstylus

29-Feb(#24)

Last call to get your Sat-on! Sign-ups close tonight

sailorneorune

29-Feb(#25)

People have called me evil before. Might as well make the best (worst) of it!

image

ryanflucas

1-Mar(#26)

Watch everyone exchange copies of Balan Wonderworld.

SupremeSarna

1-Mar(#27)

Oh, I have something VERY different in mind. If my partner ends up having the required system, that is.

Speaking of which, is it still possible/convenient to play PC games made for Windows 95 or 98? I have no clue how PC stuff works.

benstylus

1-Mar(#28)

Sign-ups are now closed, and we have a dozen devils. I'll get the surveys sent out sometime this weekend.

benstylus

2-Mar(#29)

Surveys sent to everyone via PM.

Pretty sure I got everyone (I counted 11 not including me). But if somehow I missed you let me know.

Gypsy

2-Mar(#30)

Survey fully replied to.

@SupremeSarna It's a pain unless someone has an older pc tower generally. All kinds of compatibility stuff.

benstylus

2-Mar(#31)

ryanflucas wrote:

> Watch everyone exchange copies of Balan Wonderworld.

image

It is below the threshold. You could always include it as a bonus game though!

benstylus

2-Mar(#32)

Question for all of you:

How do you feel about steam/digital codes for this? We have had a user request only steam games from their Satan.

It definitely makes it harder to go by pricecharting value in that case, since you can't resell digital games once the code is used.

Looking for group feedback before I decide how to proceed.

SupremeSarna

2-Mar(#33)

Survey sent.

Gypsy

2-Mar(#34)

benstylus wrote:

> Question for all of you:

> How do you feel about steam/digital codes for this? We have had a user request only

> steam games from their Satan.

> It definitely makes it harder to go by pricecharting value in that case, since you

> can't resell digital games once the code is used.

> Looking for group feedback before I decide how to proceed.

I've never even bought a steam code before and don't have an account there. I wouldn't want to make one either, but I think you can get codes through other sites?

The idea itself seems fine since the person wants a steam code. Would just have to go off the current price and do a $10 minimum I guess. Though true CRAP might be cheaper.

Frank

2-Mar(#35)

benstylus wrote:

> Question for all of you:

> How do you feel about steam/digital codes for this? We have had a user request only

> steam games from their Satan.

> It definitely makes it harder to go by pricecharting value in that case, since you

> can't resell digital games once the code is used.

> Looking for group feedback before I decide how to proceed.

For that special case, I'd say the game has to be accepted by you, before being purchased for the recipient. That way you can see if it hits this exchange's limit.

I'd say steamdb.info is a good rough gauge for the current value of a Steam game.

brian9824

2-Mar(#36)

benstylus wrote:

> Question for all of you:

> How do you feel about steam/digital codes for this? We have had a user request only

> steam games from their Satan.

> It definitely makes it harder to go by pricecharting value in that case, since you

> can't resell digital games once the code is used.

> Looking for group feedback before I decide how to proceed.

I'm perfectly fine with it, would make things alot easier for someone to pick for me probably

benstylus

2-Mar(#37)

Ok I'm going to allow digital if it's something people specifically request. But I'm lowering the threshold to $9.99 purchase price for digital instead of $10 pricecharting because (a) digital games typically end in .99 and (b) no used copies so no real means of pricecharting them.

I suppose you can research it's lowest sale price or how often it goes on sale, but it's simpler just to say if your victim is OK with digital, and you are sending digital, you're spending $9.99 or more (but you don't have to pay shipping, so there's that).

If you don't have a digital account and need to send someone a game, you can either send a gift code for that game, or a digital currency code for that amount with instructions on the game to buy, or we can work something where someone else buys and gifts the game on your behalf and you reimburse them (lots of people have steam so that should be easy)

SupremeSarna

2-Mar(#38)

benstylus wrote:

> Ok I'm going to allow digital if it's something people specifically request. But

> I'm lowering the threshold to $9.99 purchase price for digital instead of $10 pricecharting

> because (a) digital games typically end in .99 and (b) no used copies so no real

> means of pricecharting them.

> I suppose you can research it's lowest sale price or how often it goes on sale, but

> it's simpler just to say if your victim is OK with digital, and you are sending digital,

> you're spending $9.99 or more (but you don't have to pay shipping, so there's that).

> If you don't have a digital account and need to send someone a game, you can either

> send a gift code for that game, or a digital currency code for that amount with instructions

> on the game to buy, or we can work something where someone else buys and gifts the

> game on your behalf and you reimburse them (lots of people have steam so that should

> be easy)

Wouldn't it be easier to just make $9.99 the requirement for every game? I was considering a physical game that is worth that exact amount on VGPC.

Bleed_DukeBlue

3-Mar(#39)

gg.deals is a great place to look for Steam game prices. It gives current low officially and through the grey market as well as historical lows.

benstylus

4-Mar(#40)

Just waiting on @Heavyd814life's survey then I'll fill one out for myself and we will get this devilish disco started

brian9824

5-Mar(#41)

benstylus wrote:

> ryanflucas wrote:

>> Watch everyone exchange copies of Balan Wonderworld.

> [imgt w=640 h=1387]https://i.ibb.co/3BtdWFT/Screenshot-20240302-10274...[/imgt]

> It is below the threshold. You could always include it as a bonus game though!

https://www.pricecharting.com/game/nintendo-switch...

Looks like new copies of Balan Wonderworld isn't below the threshold

Kommie

5-Mar(#42)

The real problem is actual crapty games are usually only obtainable digitally, and if it exists physically it might be some stupid expensive LRG release.

brian9824

5-Mar(#43)

Kommie wrote:

> The real problem is actual crapty games are usually only obtainable digitally, and

> if it exists physically it might be some stupid expensive LRG release.

Yeah i'm really glad we are having the option of a digital gift if the person is ok with it. It opens up some real possibilities. Like i use Steam and there are a TON of options on Steam that would make for some true torture.

benstylus

5-Mar(#44)

All surveys are now in, so tonight or tomorrow will be matching you up with your victims

benstylus

6-Mar(#45)

All victims have been assigned.

citizen_zane

7-Mar(#46)

In about an hour, I'm going to go to a couple of used game stores and see if they have the sweet gem that I've picked out for my victim fellow gamer. I've got to try this game out too, just to get a taste of what I'm going to be putting that person through. I like to know what kind of experience they're going to have.

SupremeSarna

7-Mar(#47)

Game obtained! I look forward to shipping it out. Should we send our games at the earliest opportunity? Or should we all send them around the same time?

benstylus

7-Mar(#48)

You can send as early as you want. Might want to double wrap it and mark the inner wrapping so they know it's from Satan though.

benstylus

* 8-Mar(#49)

Last year, citizen zane had me as his victim, and since that element of surprise was gone, he sent me snippets of reviews of the game he was sending (obviously with any info identifying the exact game removed).

As a way to keep the fun energy in this thread going, feel free to post them here once you've decided on the game you are sending to your victim.

And for anyone reading, don't do a Google search on the snippets and spoil the fun (at least not until after April 1).

So here is my first snippet:

[GAME] for the [SYSTEM] is one of many [POPULAR IP] games that is just a wonder. As in, it's a wonder how this game ever passed quality control.
~ N. Durham on Amazon.com, rated 1 star

citizen_zane

* 8-Mar(#50)

benstylus wrote:

> Last year, citizen zane had me as his victim, and since that element of surprise

> was gone, he sent me snippets of reviews of the game he was sending (obviously with

> any info identifying the exact game removed).

> As a way to keep the fun energy in this thread going, feel free to post them here

> once you've decided on the game you are sending to your victim.

> And for anyone reading, don't do a Google search on the snippets and spoil the fun

> (at least not until after April 1).

Wonderful idea! I was wanting to do this again, but wasn't quite sure how to go about it. I plan on doing this until April 1st.

Graphics were a nightmare, choppy, and the levels and character models I could have done in Photoshop! The sound was just as horrid! Bad music, bad voice acting, and well it was just bad!

brian9824

8-Mar(#51)

I'll give a pair of snippets for mine

Only buy it if you need convincing that your life is not worth living.

I got this game for free and still want a refund

benstylus

* 8-Mar(#52)

Updating the OP next to the victims' names once I have confirmation that the gift to them has been sent. That way no one can use this info to deduce who their Satan is

Frank

8-Mar(#53)

"The story is far, far, FAR too short. It feels like fanfiction written by a fourth-grader"

“I would suggest you not get this game. It was really bad. The only thing that was good was the change in the quality of the graphics compared to the other games"

"Anything that can be wrong with a game is in this one. Looks like [redacted] released this game before they even tested it because as far as I'm concerned this game is unplayable."

benstylus

8-Mar(#54)

Frank wrote:

> "The story is far, far, FAR too short. It feels like fanfiction written by a fourth-grader"

> “I would suggest you not get this game. It was really bad. The only thing that

> was good was the change in the quality of the graphics compared to the other games"

> "Anything that can be wrong with a game is in this one. Looks like [redacted] released

> this game before they even tested it because as far as I'm concerned this game is

> unplayable."

So far none of these criticism apply to balan wonderworld.

Kommie

8-Mar(#55)

I'm sure Balan is bad but not quite worst game of all time, The Quiet Man level of bad.

benstylus

* 8-Mar(#56)

Maybe one year we should do a high roller secret Satan. Get some NES Chubby Cherub and Game Boy Shaq Fu up in here

Turn Kusoge into Kusogold

sailorneorune

8-Mar(#57)

"We can't pretend this isn't a disappointment."

Oduomega

8-Mar(#58)

sailorneorune wrote:

> "We can't pretend this isn't a disappointment."

Sure we can. Anything's possible.

Frank

8-Mar(#59)

benstylus wrote:

> Maybe one year we should do a high roller secret Satan. Get some NES Chubby Cherub

> and Game Boy Shaq Fu up in here

> Turn Kusoge into Kusogold

You, my friend, would be getting a sealed copy of E.T. and must be forced to open the shrink wrap and play it.

Bleed_DukeBlue

9-Mar(#60)

“…negative fun.”

“New underwear on Christmas is better than this.”

benstylus

9-Mar(#61)

Frank wrote:

> benstylus wrote:

>> Maybe one year we should do a high roller secret Satan. Get some NES Chubby Cherub

>> and Game Boy Shaq Fu up in here

>> Turn Kusoge into Kusogold

> You, my friend, would be getting a sealed copy of E.T. and must be forced to open

> the shrink wrap and play it.

Note to self: sell my 2600 before running high roller secret Satan.

Frank decides to also send a 2600 console because high roller

Well poo