Prismata

Prismata
Official Prismata logo
Developer(s) Lunarch Studios
Designer(s) Elyot Grant, Will Ma, David Rhee, Shalev Ben David, and Alex Wice
Artist(s) Dan Hunter
Writer(s) Mike Fong
Engine Starling
Platform(s) Web browser, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Genre(s) Strategy
Mode(s) Single-player and Multiplayer

Prismata is a hybrid strategy game which is currently in development, but has been released to the public following a successful Kickstarter campaign. It will be released as a free-to-play game on Steam in coming months.[1] The game features a combination of mechanics from Real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, and card games.[2]

Development

Development begin in late 2010 by several part-time students at MIT. Originally, a physical prototype game was built, titled MCDS, it featured many of the mechanics that would later make it into Prismata. The game later evolved through several digital prototypes and in 2011 a standalone application was constructed. In 2013, following the announcement of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft at PAX East the three Canadian developers quit their PhD studies to begin work on Prismata full-time.[3][4] On November 14, 2014 Lunarch Studios launched a Kickstarter campaign for 140,000 Canadian dollars. Prismata received a large amount of attention of social media attention after a post about the developers became the highest rated post ever on the popular Reddit board, /r/bestof.[5][6] It received 100% funding at the end of the campaign with additional funds being raised through Paypal.[7] A development version of the game is currently being sold through their website, but will be made free-to-play upon release.

Gameplay

The main gamemode of Prismata, called Arena, features turn based gameplay between two players. At the start of the game both players are given a basic set of cards to purchase, an additional random set of cards, and a number of "drone" units which produce gold. All units in Prismata are represented by cards that appear on the screen. These players then use the gold to purchase more units and units can have both attack, health, and/or an ability. The goal of the game is to destroy all of your opponents units by producing attack and using your units abilities.[2]

Reception

The development versions of the game have been well received. It is frequently referred to as a combination of Starcraft and Hearthstone. PCGamer referred to it as, "StarCraft without the RTS element" saying that "it does provide strategic depth without the necessity of mechanical skill."[2] Comparisons have also been drawn to Magic: The Gathering and Dominion.[6] Professional poker player, Michael McDonald is also an outspoken player of the game.[8] It has also been placed on The Globe and Mail's "Top 10 Canadian crowdfunding campaigns of the year" list[9] and it won a Curse award at PAX East 2015.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Steam Greenlight :: Prismata: Hybrid Strategy Game". steamcommunity.com. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Marks, Tom (December 18, 2014). "Prismata hands-on: The best parts of StarCraft and Hearthstone". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. ↑ Bellemare, Andrea (December 16, 2014). "Waterloo friends quit PhDs at MIT to make online strategy game". CBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Grant, Elyot. "Origins, Part 1: Why I quit my PhD at MIT to start a gaming studio". Prismata Blog. Lunarch Studios. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "/r/bestof/top". reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 Ponce, Tony (December 19, 2014). "Prismata Is a Turn-Based Strategy Card Game That's Blowing Up on reddit". Gameranx. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "PRISMATA: A New Hybrid Game of Pure Strategy". Kickstarter.com. Lunarch Studios. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  8. ↑ Cypra, Dan (December 11, 2014). "Mike McDonald (Timex): "I've Been Playing Prismata 40 Hours a Week"". Pocketfives. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Top 10 Canadian crowdfunding campaigns of the year". The Globe and Mail. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Khalija. "The PAX East 2015 Curse Awards!". Curse.com. Curse. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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