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Viewfinder (video game)

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Viewfinder
Developer(s)Sad Owl Studios
Publisher(s)Thunderful Publishing
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)PlayStation 5, Windows, PlayStation 4
Release
  • PlayStation 5, Windows
  • July 18, 2023
  • PlayStation 4
  • December 12, 2023
Genre(s)Puzzle, photography
Mode(s)Single player

Viewfinder is a puzzle video game developed by Sad Owl Studios and published by Thunderful Publishing. The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in July 2023.

Viewfinder received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

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Viewfinder is based on mapping the images contained in photographs or other two-dimension works onto the three-dimensional space of the game's world, creating new geometries and layouts. These are used to solve puzzles and access teleporter devices at the end of each level. The player may be required to power the teleporter using batteries, or activation of other power devices, before using the teleport. The player later gains a Polaroid-style camera, and can use images taken in the same manner as other photographs.

Story

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The game is presented as part of a simulation used by a handful of researchers that were using the space to try to discover the means to revitalize plant life on Earth, as in the real world, all flora has been wiped out leaving the world without a viable source of oxygen. The player character, who works with a partner in the real world, explores the simulation, working through the puzzles, to try to find clues of the research that was being done, with the help of an artificial intelligence cheshire cat named Cait. The player-character finds that the scientists had failed in their grand experiment, and must force the simulated world to shutdown in order to leave the simulation, destroying the past work. However, as they leave, they encounter a seedling, which they still possess when they leave the simulation, giving hope for Earth's future.

Development

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External videos
video icon January 2020 demonstration video of the Polaroid Effect

Viewfinder started off as an experiment by indie game developer Matt Stark around November 2019. Stark posted a video to social media showing the ability to dynamically take a photograph in a game world and then place that photo to overwrite the world with the contents of the photo. At the time, while the player could explore the placed area from the photo, they could not interact with objects within that world. Later in January 2020, Stark was able to show the ability to interact with items within the photo, as well as using multiple photos. This initial work drew attention across social media, leading Stark to begin considering a game that utilized the "Polaroid Effect" as he called it.[2]

By June 2021, Stark had developed the basis of Viewfinder to establish a studio, Robot Turtle, to build out the game, along with support from another game developer, Robot Teddy.[3] The team took influence from other puzzle games such as Portal, including the means that Portal used to slowly introduce new mechanics to the player. At the same time, they did not want to make the Polaroid Effect too gimmicky and instead have a more cohesive experience for the player.[4][5]

Robot Teddy was acquired by Thunderful Publishing in October 2021, leading to Thunderful to provide publishing support for Viewfinder.[6] During this transition, Robot Turtle was renamed to Sad Owl Studios.

The game was formally announced for a 2023 release on PlayStation 5 and Windows at The Game Awards 2022.[7] Viewfinder was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on July 18, 2023,[8] and for PlayStation 4 on December 12, 2023.[9]

Reception

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Prior to release, Viewfinder won the UKIE UK Game of the Show held at the 2021 Gamescom.[4][23]

Viewfinder has received "generally favorable reviews" according to review score aggregator Metacritic.[10][11]

Critics generally praised the puzzle mechanic but considered the game to be on the short side.[15][18][22][19][17]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2023 Golden Joystick Awards Best Indie Game Nominated [24]
Best Visual Design Nominated
The Game Awards Best Debut Indie Game Nominated [25]
Best Independent Game Nominated
2024 24th Game Developers Choice Awards Best Debut Nominated [26][27]
Innovation Award Honorable mention
Audience Award Nominated
20th British Academy Games Awards British Game Won [28][29]
Debut Game Nominated
Game Design Nominated
New Intellectual Property Won
Game Beyond Entertainment Longlisted [30]
Technical Achievement Longlisted
Japan Game Awards 2024 Game Designers Award Won [31]

References

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  1. ^ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (January 4, 2024). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Bolding, Jonathan (January 4, 2020). "Take a picture, then walk into it, in this must-see game tech experiment". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Wallace, Chris (August 21, 2021). "UK-based Robot Turtle wins Europlay 2021 with Viewfinder". MCV. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Wallace, Chris (September 23, 2023). "Picture Perfect: Behind the scenes of the Europlay-winning, upcoming game Viewfinder". MCV. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Clayton, Natalie (June 2, 2021). "Viewfinder's mind-bending photography puzzles are shaping up nicely". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Batchelor, James (November 4, 2021). "Robot Teddy acquisition and new investment arm make Thunderful "a 360-degree" games firm". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (December 4, 2022). "Everything announced at The Game Awards 2022". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "Viewfinder launches July 18". Gematsu. June 8, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "Viewfinder now available for PS4". Gematsu. December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Viewfinder (PC)". Metacritic. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Viewfinder (PS5)". Metacritic. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Bloodworth, Daniel (July 17, 2023). "Review: Viewfinder". Easy Allies. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Barbosa, Alessandro (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder Review - One Perfect Shot". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Donnelly, Joe (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder review: "A breath of fresh air"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Lloret, Alberto (July 17, 2023). "Análisis de Viewfinder, una de las sorpresas del año que juega con la fotografía y la perspectiva como nunca has visto". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Ogilvie, Tristan (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder Review". IGN. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Valentine, Robin (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder Review". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Morley, Grayson (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder is puzzle game heaven". Polygon. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Tailby, Stephen (July 17, 2023). "Mini Review: Viewfinder (PS5) - Unique Puzzler Is a Snapshot of Great Puzzling Potential". Push Square. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  21. ^ Bell, Larryn (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder review: Now you're thinking with photos". Shacknews. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Packwood, Lewis (July 17, 2023). "Viewfinder review – the magic of stepping into a picture". The Guardian. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Scullion, Chris (August 25, 2021). "Viewfinder wins UKIE's UK Game of the Show award". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Harris, Iain (September 29, 2023). "Voting for The Golden Joystick Awards 2023 is now live – here are the nominees in full". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  25. ^ Jackson, Destiny (November 13, 2023). "The Game Awards Nominations: 'Baldur's Gate 3,' 'Alan Wake 2' And Nintendo Reign Supreme". Deadline. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  26. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (January 16, 2024). "Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 top GDC Award nominations". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  27. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (March 20, 2024). "Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 and Spider-Man lead nods". BBC News. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  29. ^ "20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. March 7, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "The 60 Best Video Games of 2023". bafta.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. December 14, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "【日本ゲーム大賞2024】年間作品部門大賞は 「ゼルダの伝説　ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム」 （任天堂株式会社）". PR Times (in Japanese). September 26, 2024.
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