The Machine
The Machine is OUT NOW! You can get your copy here:
Please enjoy this playable DEMO build! Controls:
| GAMEBOY | KEYBOARD |
|---|---|
| A | Z |
| B | X |
| START | ENTER |
| SELECT | SHIFT |
The Machine is a game about a little guy named Girt. Girt lives in the machine. The machine isn't perfect but it's the only thing Girt knows. Girt can choose any career he wants... as long as he has good enough test scores! By the way, Girt forgot to study for his tests. Good luck! :)
The Machine is a non-linear adventure where you can get different jobs, meet new characters, and try to survive inside the machine. As you progress along different career paths you can learn more about the world and unlock new careers by scoring higher on the test the next time you play. Your choices affect the direction the machine's society goes. If you rise through the ranks you can change the course of the machine's history.
I am calling the genre a 'pancake adventure' because the story tree is an experimental format where it is short but very wide so that on subsequent play-throughs things can be totally different. If you play through the demo a couple of times and make different decision you will start to see the flexibility of the story!
Thanks for playing!
You can also now get the DIGITAL EDITION here: https://incube8games.com/collections/digital-editions/products/the-machine-gbc-d...
Download
Install instructions
If you download the rom file you can play it in a Game Boy emulator. I suggest more accurate ones like BGB. Some ones for phones are way too saturated. I like GBC.emu on android.
Development log
- The Machine is out now!Jun 03, 2022
- The Machine is now available for pre-order!Feb 17, 2022
Comments
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I found a bug (I betted on horses and i wasted al my money on charity)
Do you know which version of the game you have? Is it digital or physical? Do you use discord? Would love to discuss this bug a little bit more with you.
It's the demo. Yes, i use Discord.
Ah the demo is ancient and hasn't been updated since the first version but maybe this is a good time to update it.
Which form of charity did you give all of your money to?
I gave all my money to M.A.W.A (In the game)
I NEED TO PLAY THE FULL VERSION
I doubt you'll see this, but I am unsure if the digital version of The Machine can be played online in the same way the demo can be. like, can I play the digital version on a MacOS?
You can play it on MacOS using a program called an emulator. It pretends to be a Gameboy and runs the rom file. Here is one example of a free Gameboy emulator for MacOS: https://sameboy.github.io/downloads/
I played the demo and I'm definitely intrigued by the setting of the machine. I feel like this concept exploring a corrupt world/government has been done many times, but the unique setting and storytelling make this a fresh experience. Wish this were on steam but maybe I'll buy the digital edition. Also fuck you Toe.
SPOILERS
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I became a cop, then the police chief hired me to do sketchy 'odd jobs' and framed me for murder lolI bought the full game and it’s pretty cool, haven’t found a ‘good’ ending yet if there even is one. There’s so many different paths you can take! Toe is still an asshole
Thanks for the support! Some endings are better than others but it also depends on your perspective
Impressive GameBoy Game! The colors, sprites and background work are all really creative, cohesive, and detailed. Great job, lots of fun!
I bought this game a while back and I still havent found every ending. This is a masterfully crafted game and its been a blast so far. Thanks for making this.
Thanks so much! I am glad you liked it.
i loved tis game 😭
Me too
great job, honestly.
Very nice game. However, there is a bug where when you press shift when working, the entire thing get bug and do not know what shift you are at.
Is this in the demo? The demo was made from an old build so has more bugs than the final game.
What job were you doing and where were you?
It is in the demo. I was working in the factory for the first shift, but then, I press shift. The quota restarted and when I finished, the game things that I have already done 2 shifts, so I get back home. The next day, when I finish the first shift of the second day, the 'cutscene' where the factory friend tells that that is basically the job appears.
OK I'll take a look but it's probably been fixed already it's just been a while since I made the game now so I can't remember.
It's taken me a while to get to this one but it hasn't disappointed. Really impressive scope for a 'lil GB game.
Unfortunately my first playthrough ended in a bug, which sounds the same as one already reported here:
I failed the test. Then got kicked out of the police academy. Then I ate the capsule I was asked to deliver, and was later thrown out of the squat for becoming a junkie. There was nobody there to meet me outside, and the game wouldn't let me enter the drug squat building despite the text box welcoming me. After that I couldn't progress in any of my objectives, nor could I find anywhere to sleep until the next day.
My second and third playthrough went great though, and I look forward to my fourth!
Hey there do you have the most recent version of the full game from Incube8? Or was this the demo or an older version?
I'm actually not sure! Am 90% certain my wife bought it through the Incube8 store and loaded it onto the Everdrive. I've been looking at the rom in my game list for a while though, so it could be an older version if the Incube8 one hasn't been updated. She's away on a work trip right now so I'll try and ask her when I get a chance!
I have figured out the cause of the bug after a really long time trying to replicate it. Basically I overlooked that it is possible to get kicked out if you get hooked but then don't return home until chapter 3. Since the code depended on it being chapter 2, it broke. I will fix it now and there should be an update at the link you got when you bought the game.
Oh, wow, incredible, thank you so much for the quick response and the patch! I'll re-download the game and give myself the excuse to play again this evening.
Sorry it's not out quite yet but will be sometime this week. I have to test it out to make sure the fix didn't introduce any new bugs. It's a very complicated game haha
Sorry about the bug. I have been working on reproducing it on my end.
In the way to the MSS there is a cop saying that i can enter in one area because is secure,we can enter in there or is like that because of the way the map is made?
There's no way to enter there. It's just a high security area.
Are incube8 doing another run of the carts or are they gone forever? Sadly they are all sold out
Hey it looks like they are back in stock now! :)
is there anywhere i can pay for this other than the machine website? shopify wont take paypal : (
Hi Mabel, do you use Discord? If you join my Discord i can try to help you figure out a way to buy it. https://discord.gg/8sqHXZBA
I don't have a particular interest in retro gaming, so I feel extremely lucky to have stumbled upon this masterpiece. The premise of this so-called 'pancake' game is great. Each playthrough may only be an hour or two, but that is actually perfect since it gives you a chance to explore the many life paths to discover in the Machine. The amount of breadth this game has to offer constantly surprises me. Just when I think I've encountered all that a particular route has to offer, I'll do something slightly differently and it branches off into something entirely new.
That said, I do have a couple minor gripes:
1. There isn't an easy way to see which endings you've discovered. The achievement system does this to some extent, but I really wish there was some kind of Ending Gallery where I could re-watch the ending cutscenes from my previous playthroughs.
2. Although there is an astonishing level of replay value, eventually it will get boring having to repeat early sections of the game to get to a path you haven't taken before. While it is initially important to make people replay the early sections so they don't miss many of the hidden paths to discover, after a player has encountered a certain number of endings, it would be nice to unlock a way to skip certain sections like in Detroit: Become Human or visualize where there may be more to find like in Outer Wilds.
That aside, I am blown away by The Machine. It is truly a unique game which deserves to be experienced by far more than just a relatively niche retro gaming crowd. The way the story diverges feels more organic than most choice-based games. The paths and endings are not simply determined by a few dialogue options, but also by where you go, who you speak with, what you purchase, and how well or poorly you complete the many tasks you will encounter in the game.
The Machine has captured my interest in a way no game has for a long time. I hope to see further experimentation and expansion of this genre of 'pancake' games in the future.
Very cool game with a great atmosphere. It's a good game to come back to every once in awhile and try different things to get different endings.
Question:
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Is it possible to win the crane game? I feel like I've tried it a million times and I can never get all the balls.
The crane game requires both luck and skill. You have to get the arm directly over the capsule and then after that the arm will often fail to pick up the capsule like a real claw machine. If you do it enough times you can definitely get it but like a real claw machine it's kind of a scam.
I love this game, would love to have it on steam too. Ben do you think one day the machine will be on steam?
It might be but I haven't taken any steps towards doing it yet.
Recently, I bought this game and I really enjoy it. This game is delightful. Hard to believe that a game developed for a 25year old device is able to hold a candle to the new games developed for the recent platforms. So again a proof that story matters more than graphics and special effects.
Unfortunately, I have to report a small bug.
Attention SPOILER:
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Steps to reproduce:
1) fuck up at the test
2) work at the factory
3) join the union
4) decline the leadership for the union
On the day of the strike, when you step out of the factory where all holding the strike signs, talk first to the police officer. Then there is no way to continue, because the actual leader of the union thinks you were the leader but you cannot talk to the police again to negotiate.
The good thing is, the game autosaves when you were entering the yard. So turning it off and on again, you don’t loose relevant progress but can continue when you then talk to the union leader first.
Thanks so much for your kind words and your detailed bug report! This will be addressed in the next patch but unfortunately the saves don't translate between versions of the game. I'm relieved that there's a smooth workaround.
The definition of "trying hard" at its best
This game is incredible, i love the flexibility of the story
I love this game, but I can't have such a good experience because of the language.
Ben do you have plans to expand language localizations like portuguese for example, the brazil community finds interesting games like yours.
Congratulations on your work, I look forward to more surprises from you.Because of the interest I have been seriously considering it but it is a huge project so unfortunately since I am only one person if it ever does happen it might not be for some time.
I understand, thanks for the answer.
In what language was this game programmed? I'm not sure how a cartridge for GBC would run on modern languages
It was made using a program called GB Studio which converts a visual scripting system into assembly and html 5 automatically.
What's the difference between the Demo and the full version?
In the full version the story goes further and there's a bunch more paths you can get to.
OK thanks
I gamered so hard on that test, I gotred 30/100 thats above the average for geussing
Menuda pasada la demo, me ha encantado!!
hey, does the password for yokai's secret room in the full version work in the demo?
also if anyone has a physical version and knows the mss safe code i'd appreciate if you told me. i only have a digital edition because i'm broke lol
I'm going to take all questions about my games in this discord now so I can refer people to pinned answers but I'll be happy to answer here: https://discord.gg/4Z66GCjahv
I've looked all around the box I got the game in, and I can't find the code for the safe.
I don't want to spoil it for you but I can assure you you have the password. You might need a flashlight?...
Ive looked everywhere inside the box and the manual. Where is this damn code lol...
Using a flashlight is the first thing I thought of doing.
You find it? Im still looking...
Email me at benjelter -at- gmail.com if you want more spoilery hints
is the download the complete or demo still?
The download is the demo. If you want the full game click themachinegame.com link.
Have been playing the heck out of this on the Analogue Pocket, which it’s been a lovely fit for. Great style of gameplay and storytelling, and while I still have a few things to figure out, like a certain Safe and a certain locked door, it’s been great to delve into this world, and has me considering tinkering around with GB Studios to tell some stories soon.
I'm so glad you liked it!
I little puzzle *spoiler/hint* about the safe
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The safe in the MSS can only be solved with a physical copy of the game. If you have a digital copy maybe ask someone who has a physical copy if they know the answer ;)
That was obvious since the message about the code was about requiring real "inside the box thinking".
Dang that's really cool. I never thought about that! Unfortunately I only have digital and getting physical is basically impossible where I live :(
Hey! I also just got a pocket, I wanted to ask how you have been running these games? Are you using a flash cart or an sd card? Sorry for the questions!! I couldn't find anything simple on reddit lol
The physical edition plays on the pocket but also the digital edition comes with a .pocket file that works on pocket!
I played this game when it was a wee demo and finally got the full digital version a few days ago! somehow, I love it even more than the demo. I especially like the mechanic that allows you to see the right answers for the test once you uncover them.
SPOILERS
I need help with the puzzle at the job fair for the MSS job. any help anyone?Hey thanks for playing! Really glad you liked it!
Also for anyone who is too stuck on the MSS puzzle I can give you a vague hint that the solution involves starting by sort of working your way from the lower right to the upper left.
i did end up figuring it out after a while, but thanks! Also, are there any playthroughs anyone has made with the full game that you know of?
I think it might actually be too nonlinear to cleanly do a playthrough of the entire game including all branches. Sometimes you can get back to the same path from multiple starting points and end up with different results. I don't know how someone would approach trying to record everything without a ton of overlapping footage.
The way I solved it was by solving the puzzle one row at a time
Hi Ben,
Great game. I managed to cause a game-breaking bug. Mild spoilers below. The recollections below might be wrong or out of order. I'm working on nailing down the steps to reproduce.
Chapter 2, after joining the commune. I was living in the slum, had interacted with the commune a bit, ratted out Art when walking past the druggy house immediately east of the commune (police spontaneously arrived as I was walking past). I had taken Duo's pill myself and not delivered it to the arcade. I got myself hooked and kicked out of the slum. Duo _was not_ waiting outside to apologize for making me homeless. As a result, I had no home (the tent had someone else in it). No home means no bed means no advancing to the next day. Evol was blocking the commune telling me to go inside because something was about to go down.
On an earlier run I had discovered the secret behind the railway track. So naturally I experimented with assigning myself to the tent and advancing the day using the debug tools.
I couldn't get this to work, I think (perhaps in part) because no matter what I adjusted I couldn't unset the addicted flag.
I ended up throwing away my save.
Hopefully there are enough clues here for you to be able to reproduce the issue.
I've also noticed a small town/down typo elsewhere.
Thanks for the great game.
Hey thanks so much for reporting the bug! I will try to find it in the game. In case this happened I did include a failsafe mechanism to restart the game without losing your achievements. You input the Konami code on the map screen and you can jump to the start of the game without losing them.
Ha! I should have tried that.
Hi! Thanks for the most aweinspiring experience the little Game Boy has ever had! :D
But alas, I have to report a bug. And this bug wasn't resolved with the Konami code reset. It seems that despite resetting, not all variables or switches are reset. For example the railroad chains are permanently cut in my game, even after a restart. And for some reason Art won't remove the ethics chip no matter how much I tell him to do it. He gives the normal dialogue which implies that he did it if I tell him to remove the chip. But once I'm in prison he will not come to save me anymore... He is not in the prison but the news says that the police apprehended him BECAUSE he was equipped with an ethics chip. (If I tell him to keep it, he will be in the prison)
I should add that this was probably caused by me tinkering with the options found in the secret lab.
Hey thanks for the high praise! I really appreciate it! And thanks for playing!
Basically bugs should be expected at any point in your game if you have used the computers. They're to mess around with the game but in a game breaking way. If you start a fresh playthrough from the beginning and you still find this issue it could be something for me to look into but what you are describing doesn't seem possible without using the computers. That variable definitely gets cleared. I will comb through the code though. Do you have a digital or physical copy?
If you found the secret room it is stored across playthroughs so that you can easily access it. I did that intentionally so that if you wanted to use the computers you wouldn't have to go through that process every time.
Thanks for the reply. Your avatar in the game did clearly warn me of messing up with the game, but I didn't take it seriously. :D I was time traveling a lot because I tried to win the lottery. Well, I guess I'll make a backup of the old save and start afresh. It's okay, I understand the risk involved with wantonly messing up with the settings.
I haven't encountered any bugs before using the computers, so I don't think you need to comb the code for now. I have the digital copy which I'm playing on a Super Famicom through SD2SNES flash cartridge. It has Super Game Boy functionality so I can play GB games on the TV. :D
What a cool way to play! I think my games made in the future with GB Studio 3.0 are going to have pretty nice SGB support. It's kind of somewhere in between an original Gameboy and a Gameboy Color. What palette are you using for the game?
I don't want to spoil too much but it is mainly luck. I will say that your odds are better than 0.1% but just remember that you don't have to get all of the achievements if they're not fun for you. They're purely optional and I think you've seen most of what the game has to offer. Thanks for playing so much! I'm glad you liked it enough to see so much of the game!
I didn't get all endings/achievements yet, but I'm amazed by this game. Great work!
Glad you liked it! Make sure to tell people about it! :)
will there be a steam version? the currency of my country is pretty weak.
Theres's no plans at this time but maybe someday.
Wow! Even as a demo, this is one of those games that makes you want to play it over and over again to get every detail. I love this unique game type with so many different branches to play. It's almost overwhelming the sheer amount of choices you seem to get constantly. The world-building is also very well done, making it effectively addictive and interesting to play. Great work! I loved it.
Um ótimo jogo merecia até um filme , a história é muito boa, uma dica se tiver versão traduzida para português Brasil pt BR vai vender muito.
Eu realmente quero, mas há muito texto, então, se eu conseguir fazer isso, levará algum tempo.
Esperando lançar ptbr para comprar
I already hate terp with a passion.
Can i play the digital verion on PC?
Yes with a Gameboy emulator like bgb!
Great. Would this work on GBA though?
Yes in Gameboy Color mode. It won't work on a GB Micro because it's not backwards compatible with GBC but it should work on a regular GBA.
Do you plan to translate it into Spanish in the future?
Hopefully at some point but we are not currently working on that.
Thanks
I am an English/Portuguese interpreter and translator. I could translate this game for free if you would like. Get in touch if you are interested
YES! I would really like you to translate this game. How could I get in touch?
What language did you want to translate it to?
Portuguese