Jason Rohrer's 'agonizing' new real-money game, Cordial Minuet

- Jason Rohrer Jason Rohrer was catapulted to indie game development fame with the reflective Passage, but his recent games have been more disquieting. Over at Kotaku, there's a very detailed look at his latest, Cordial Minuet, which is a multiplayer game of skill in which players put their own money on the line. Players who prevail can receive a check for their winnings. "I like games that can reach into real life in a palpable way," Rohrer told Kotaku. His most recent game prior to Cordial Minuet, was The Castle Doctrine, which Leigh Alexander called his "darkest work yet." Cordial Minuet grew out of his fascination with Texas hold 'em poker -- and the effect gameplay decisions had on him when there's money on the line. But online gambling is tightly regulated, and Cordial Minuet is designed to be "100 percent" a game of skill, he says. Still, says Rohrer, "The decisions you make in the game should be agonizing." Rohrer flirted with the effect real money has on player experience with a special "steal real money" promotion within The Castle Doctrine, a game that was, itself, deeply rooted in his real-life experiences. If you want to learn more about Cordial Minuet, Kotaku's write-up is very detailed and worth exploring.