The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Multiwinia - Survival of the flattest
LewieP
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Introversion are back, with a multiplayer follow up to the incredible Darwinia. Available on PC/MAC/Linux, from Steam, Retail, or directly from the Dev. Demo here
Here's what they say about the game:
Long ago a computer scientist called Dr Sepulveda created a beautiful digital world existing entirely within a computer network of his own invention. This world was called Darwinia and it was inhabited by a peaceful, law-abiding digital life-form called the Darwinians.
As the years wore on however the Darwinians became ever more aggressive and autonomous. They divided into factions, squabbling over Darwinia’s limited natural resources. Tribes began to roam the fractal voids hell bent on each other’s destruction, drunk on power and unswerving in the pursuit of world supremacy.
Far and wide, they became known as the Multiwinians….
Welcome to Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest – the ultimate retro-arcade multiplayer experience! Choose from a selection of six hilariously fun, action-packed game modes, set in one of the most beautiful game environs you will ever set eyes on.
Challenge your opponent to a game of stick-man slaughter, and watch digital-war unfold, as your Multiwinian army struggles to complete a chosen task faster and better than your rival’s. It’s fast, it’s furious, and only the flattest will survive!
Screens:
A bunch of really high quality videos here
Eurogamer Review:
Eurogamer wrote:The change in tone is necessitated by the demands of hot multiplayer action, but I can't help missing the earnest underdog charm that these stiff little creatures displayed in 2005. Seeing them as hordes of bloodthirsty warriors feels... Odd. Of course, the fact that I've formed an emotional attachment to a virtual species that looks like the Blair Witch logo drawn on the ZX81 says a lot for just how good Introversion are at this sort of thing.
I'd rather play a strategy game like this, where depth comes from a focussed and fluid challenge within tightly controlled parameters, than plough through a deluge of sprawling drop-down menus and constant resource grinding. Multiwinia, thankfully, continues to bang the drum for microcosmic strategy, and in fine style.
It's incredibly fun. Very stylistic, and exactly as unique and different as you'd expect an introversion game to be. I'm so up for playing some multiplayer of this, although with my stand alone build I'm not exactly sure how to do it. Head to 2nd post for multiplayer stuff.
My review
The SavyGamer Podcast, with an interview with the guys from Introversion.
LewieP on
0
Posts
Also, the game is out in like 15 minutes.
WANNA GET
My Backloggery
They are only a tiny company, there is like 14 people in the whole company, including freelancers who work for them too.
They are very well respected by gamers, but they aren't a big deal in PR terms.
Yeah, I know, I just remember seeing a lot more about Darwinia and Defcon before they came out. Perhaps I was just paying a lot more attention back then, though. Either way, I think I'll have to get this, even though I suck at RTS games. Of course, Darwinia certainly wasn't a typical RTS.
My Backloggery
COME FORTH, AMATERASU! - Switch Friend Code SW-5465-2458-5696 - Twitch
are the reqs steep?
According to the devs, you need a 'decent' graphics card, the rest of your specs don't matter that much. I am on a Radeon X1600 at 1280x1024 at basically full setting and the framerate is smooth as hell.
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire,
IIRC, Darwinia+ (Darwinia and Multiwinia) are out before the end of the year.
I wrote up a huge thread for this game at Gaming Age and it left the first page in about 2 minutes without a single post
Fix'd
I loved Darwinia, but never completed it because my CD copy was bugged to hell. It would be superb to get both games in one package on Steam.
They were throwing in Darwinia with Multiwinia for steam pre-orders, but that's no longer available since it released. I'll have a look for any other similar deals.
I may try experimenting with other formations, say staggered phalanxes to deny a flank.
Just multiplayer. If you want singleplayer pick up a copy of Darwinia.
do i get an awesome little flat guy keychain thing
Do you mean the Foam Darwinians?
You only get them with the Limited Edition Box-set, which you have to buy direct from them. It costs £30/$49.80/€39.90, and comes with:
Boxed Multiwinia Game(CD in DVD case)
Boxed Darwinia Game (CD in DVD case)
Multiwinia Coffee Table Artbook showcasing award-winning graphics from Darwinia and Multiwinia, plus original design docs and early prototype screens.
2 x the infamous Foam Darwinians! (differing colours)
All 8 of the Multiwinian vs Darwinian Postcards
Played the demo for a bit though, and I really enjoyed it. The gameplay is obviously a lot different, and there isn't a charming plot anymore, but it's really fun in a different way. It feels almost like Heroes of Might and Magic, where you run around the map trying to claim resources (spawn hubs) and deny your opponent(s) from doing the same. There's a lot of back and forth, trying not to spread yourself too thin but at the same time staying proactive in countering your opponents. It's fun, and it still has those crazy visuals and retro-throwbacks that made Darwinia so notable.
I do have to say though, that the whole crate system seems to be unbalanced. Certain ones are practically useless (Airstrike, and sadly Squad) while others will completely mess you up (Ant colony at your spawn hub, well placed turrets). I also hate Evilwinians. I especially hate Futurwinians. And I especially hate when I'm on the verge of wiping them out and *plop a crate falls on them, they get reinforcements, take a spawn hub, and start to multiply (and then they only go after me, It's a god damn computer conspiracy)
It's ridiculously fun though, I'll definitely pick it up when I get more monies and time.
My Backloggery
No, actually, the demo just has the tutorial and a couple of skirmish modes.
Yeah, it's pretty much amazing. Just be aware that the graphics have been upgraded quite a bit since Darwinia, so if you had to run Darwinia on the lowest settings, you won't be able to run this at all.
On my Intel X3100, I start out getting ~60 FPS, but as soon as there are 500 guys on the map lighting things on fire, dropping air strikes, etc, etc, it all goes to heck with ~6 FPS.
why the fuck is no one talking about it?