WorldBox
| WorldBox | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Maxim Karpenko |
| Designer(s) | Hugo Vaz |
| Programmer(s) | Mastef Maxim Karpenko |
| Artist(s) | Hugo Vaz Alifanov Ilia |
| Composer(s) | Milan Milosevic John Pata |
| Engine | |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Browser
|
| Genre(s) | Sandbox, god game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
WorldBox is a 2012 sandbox game by Maxim Karpenko. The game allows the use of different elements to create, change, and destroy virtual worlds.
Gameplay
[edit]The game's main feature is the ability to create worlds, using godlike tools known as "God powers" provided in the game. These are divided into several groups: World Creation, Civilizations, Creatures, Nature and Disasters, Destruction Powers, and Other Powers.[1] Conversely, the game also allows the destruction of worlds, ranging from explosives to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and acid rain. Populations can also be reduced with hostile entities, illnesses, etc.[2] Worlds can also, as of version 0.21, go through "ages", which can affect biomes and creatures, both negatively and positively.[3]
Some creatures are able to create civilizations (humans, orcs, elves and dwarves). Such civilizations can grow, declare war on each other, and suffer rebellions.[1][4]
Beginning with version 0.14, players are also able to customise the banners and symbols of kingdoms, along with the ability to control the traits of creatures, adding more content and depth to the gameplay.[5][6] Beginning with version 0.21, kingdoms can form alliances, and kings and leaders can form clans.[3]
Development
[edit]Russian game developer Maxim Karpenko started working on the game back in 2011, and published the first prototype on Flash in the same year. In 2012, he released it on Newgrounds. He continued working on the game for several years, and released it on IOS in December 2018, with the Android version coming in early February 2019. He proceeded to work on the game and released it for Windows in October 2019.
Reception
[edit]Graham Smith of Rock Paper Shotgun wrote: "I'd probably had my fill of WorldBox after around 4 hours, but it was a happy four hours."[7] Joseph Knoop of PC Gamer wrote: "It's funny how much WorldBox shares with big strategy games, despite not presenting an ultimate goal to the player, and almost always ending with a boredom-killing nuclear bomb. Watching the borders of a kingdom stretch, retract, and suddenly disappear tickles a part of my brain that really likes to be tickled. Considering WorldBox is about to become an Early Access game on Steam, I'm eager to see what other maniacal tools get added to the toybox."[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bell, Alice (2022-01-10). "In WorldBox, I am a terrible scientist studying the collapse of fantastical nations". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ a b Knoop, Joseph (2021-08-25). "This new god game has an actual Thanos snap button". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ a b "0.21.0 - MegaBox - Major Update!". Steam. 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ "Be god of your own Middle-earth in WorldBox - God Simulator". Eurogamer.net. 2022-01-15. Archived from the original on 2022-07-07. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ "WorldBox - God Simulator on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
- ^ "WorldBox - Changelog (0.14.3 - 0.14.5)". www.superworldbox.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
- ^ Smith, Graham (2022-01-08). "WorldBox is a god sim too smart to give you goals". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
Further reading
[edit]- Laine, Martin. "How a Russian Mobile App Developer Recruited Phones into a Secret Ad-Watching Robot Army". OCCRP. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- Bitner, Jon (2020-11-03). "Worldbox Solo Developer Says Their Game Was Stolen By Shell Company After Eight Years Of Work". TheGamer. Retrieved 2024-08-26.