penny-arcade-adventures-on-the-rain-slick-precipice-of-darkness posts

In Big Versus we tackle multiplatform releases that land on PC and console and weigh the pros and cons of the PC version against its console sibling. In each installment we compare games based on included content (such as single and multiplayer features), visuals and everything in between. While our mascot may show an admiration for PC gaming, we're all about telling you the truth in Big Versus.

In our first installment of Big Versus we're tackling the recently released episodic title, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Episode One. In this feature we'll compare both the PC and Xbox Live Arcade releases and pinpoint any differences that could affect your purchase decision.

Grab your boot straps, equip your sharpest rake and get ready for attack. This is Big Versus.

Having just downloaded and tried out the demo for (deep breath) Hothead Games's Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One, we had the chance to scan the End-User License Agreement (or EULA). Typically a standard boilerplate document that notifies the player of the constraints under which she must abide to play the game, this one was a bit different.

Each section features a couple of sentences about the content of that section, written in non-legalese, distinguished by italic (or in this case, underlined) text. For example:

3. Intellectual Property Ownership. In order to keep making cool games in the future, we need to make sure that you understand who owns the intellectual property rights to the Program. All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Program and any and all copies thereof (including but not limited to all copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, trade names, proprietary rights, patents, titles, computer code, themes ...

This is a welcome feature, and fits right in with Tycho's philosophy of wanting the user to be able to get unique text for everything she clicks on. And what's more, it's just a nice gesture. Hothead cares!