Darwinia+ Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 10 February, 2010

Flat mates.

Version tested: Xbox 360

For gamers of a certain age, Darwinia can be an overwhelming experience. So many familiar ideas, references and images are stirred into its pulsating digital broth that it feels like your brain's been soaked in a gravy of pure nostalgia. Sentinel. Tron. Centipede. Worms. Space Invaders. 3D Ant Attack. Syndicate. Fat Worm Blows A Sparky. Lemmings. The Settlers. Chaos. The retro flavours pile up, bounce off each other and spiral away in joyful new directions. Yet for a game so clearly assembled from traditional ingredients it still feels bracingly new, even in this revamped console edition.

Accidentally hacking your way into the digital domain of Dr Sepulveda, you discover a glowing neon world overrun with an evil virus. The good doctor, looking not unlike Sir Clive Sinclair, quickly schools you in the ways of his virtual creation. An artificial life experiment gone horribly awry, your task is to rid the land of the virus and make it safe for the stiff, inanimate, yet strangely lovable green stick-men known as Darwinians.

To aid you, there are two main tools at your disposal, one being a squad of gun-toting soldiers who can blast away at the snaking virii, and later lob grenades and call in airstrikes to remove more persistent manifestations of the infection like ants, spiders, centipedes and hovering undulating octopus things.

The flipside to the brute force of the squad is the mechanic, a floating Tron-style machine that will reprogram useful control towers and harvest the souls of defeated enemies, ferrying them back to incubators to be reborn as Darwinians. Even these innocent creatures have their uses, able to operate the machinery that keeps Darwinia humming, and as a result most levels become a question of eradicating enemies, restarting mechanisms and then steering the Darwinians into the right place.

'Darwinia+' Screenshot 1

The squad gets to work, protecting those vulnerable Darwinians from the evils of jaggy red snakes.

So far, so familiar to anyone who played the award-winning PC original. Darwinia+ doesn't reinvent something that already worked to most people's satisfaction, but the changes that have been made are mostly for the better. The game now boasts a tutorial, which eases you in far more seductively than the crude "press H for help" intro of old. It also helps to explain the new joypad-based control system, which is surprisingly effective.

Darwinia was never a game burdened with complex control, so everything maps rather neatly to the buttons. A selects things, B deselects them, X makes them interact with each other. From these core functions pretty much anything you need to do is instinctively obvious, helped along by some helpful AI. Spawn a mechanic near an unconverted gizmo and it'll get to work on it without any prodding from the player. Once it's finished it'll get to work gathering souls, if there are any nearby.

Squads left to their own devices will open fire on enemies that get too close. It's only the Darwinians who are out of your direct control. You can upgrade them into officers - initially waypoints to redirect their brethren along straight paths to where you need them to go - but their meandering free will is the source of both the game's charm and some of its frustrations.

'Darwinia+' Screenshot 2

Darwinia doesn't have many levels, but they're interlinked and substantial in size.

The biggest change to the controls comes with the squads. Point-and-click automatons on the PC, they take on elements of twin-stick shooter here, with the left directly guiding them across the jagged polygon terrain while the right directs their fire. It's not entirely successful, abandoning the pleasantly fluid free-floating camera and replacing it with a slightly slow and fixed chasecam viewpoint that tends to be obscured by larger structures.

Aiming is also diminished. Whereas once you could have your laser blasts land where you clicked, now you're steering a more random barrage of shots in a general direction. It doesn't always line up with the crosshairs, which are skittish and slippery, and while precision aim isn't that important when faced with a host of enemies, it makes the disembodied centipede segments something of a chore, and spiders prove especially tricky to pin down.

But Darwinia isn't a shooter. Nor is it an RTS, though the poor pathfinding of the Darwinians remains a minor annoyance. Does it really matter that they're still incapable of making their way around the smallest inlet, if their path ventures a few pixels over it? Should we be cross at the way they can disperse into useless disparate groups, or ignore officer directions unless they're really close by? Arguably not, but it doesn't exactly streamline the gameplay either. Almost five years after the game first appeared, it's the kind of marginal yet persistent issue you'd hope would have been polished up.

That these hiccups provoke only fleeting grumbles says much about how well Introversion has honed and balanced its gameworld in other areas. New abilities are introduced at just the right time, either through research crates within the levels or via a passive research menu that steadily improves various stats from the number of units you can have active at any time, through to the effectiveness of your attacks.

Each level is a discrete challenge in and of itself, but plays into a larger virtual ecosystem that is compellingly fleshed out the deeper you play. The virus behaves like an actual virus, for example. Get sloppy with your squad, miss just one tiny piece, and the map can quickly refill with red monstrosities while you're busy elsewhere, each virus creature able to replicate more of the other viral forms, a tesseract of ruthless survival that tests your ability to clean house efficiently.

'Darwinia+' Screenshot 3

One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly.

Darwinia is only half the story, however, and the online battle mode Multiwinia is hampered more by the move to consoles than its sibling title. Once again it's the exact same package as on the PC - the same game modes, the same maps - but while the joypad is surprisingly adept at handling most of what the single-player campaign throws at you, it's not as good at keeping up with the blistering skirmish pace of multiplayer.

Released as a low-priced standalone title on the PC, where Multiwinia succeeds is in its addictively paced take on RTS warfare. Matches are short and savage, with few lasting more than 15 minutes. Those lengthy standoffs that blight more typical strategy games in the online space are nimbly avoided.

The connection between the two halves is more visual than conceptual. It's all combat, all the time, and elements from the single-player are remixed as bonuses and hazards for online play, with viral creatures that were once the bane of your existence now available as weapons with which to batter rival Darwinian tribes.

'Darwinia+' Screenshot 4

Darwinia and Multiwinia are kept completely separate, and share the twelve Achievements equally between them.

It's still brutally difficult though. While solo play gives you time to stop and take stock, planning your next move, there are no such luxuries in these tightly timed assaults. Enemies swell and swarm from all sides, and the constant need to group and direct platoons of Darwinians in multiple directions quickly proves wearying. There's no shortage of smart ideas at play, it just takes a patient soul to get past the overwhelming odds to appreciate them.

Those who already enjoyed Darwinia and Multiwinia on the PC won't find anything new here to justify a 1200 Microsoft Points purchase. These are the exact same games with a mostly agreeable interface upgrade for the console crowd. Multiwinia is the very definition of an acquired taste, so there's little doubt that it's the single-player campaign, with its oddball mix of arcade, strategy and adventure influences, that provides the most compelling bait for newcomers.

Introversion's strange brew has stood the test of time, despite a few lingering minor complaints, and after a troubled gestation has crossed the mouse-to-joypad divide with its unmistakable personality intact. Innovative, unique and utterly charming in its self-contained universe, it comes highly recommended to open-minded 360 owners.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (93) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Beano #1 2 years ago

    he he he... he said "evolved" !
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 07:50

  • Apostle #2 2 years ago

    I know I'll get negatives here, but 1200 points, really? I have a thousand MS points waiting and would of bought this had it been 800. Still, I played it on Pc back in the day, for any newbs it's gotta be a must buy. Great game.

  • Retroid #3 2 years ago

    I bought this on Steam for pennies, that's the main problem for them right there.

    1200? Really?

  • Tomo #4 2 years ago

    I think if it was brand-spanking new, it would easily be worth 1200, perhaps even 1600, but you lot above are right; it's pretty hard to justify buying it when you can get it for next to nothing on PC.

  • KillerMonkey #5 2 years ago

    "One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly."
    Because it is of course absolutely, physically impossible to hook up a PC to a HD telly?

  • GamesConnoisseur #6 2 years ago

    Agree should have been 800, still going to download it as I never got further than the menu on PC for some reason then forgotten all about this gem of a game.

    Sure nothing new or worthwhile for those who played PC version.

  • Quint2020 #7 2 years ago

    Definitely picking this up, if only to support Introversion.

  • Sunyavadin #8 2 years ago

    This sounds annoying... I had a hard enough time as it was getting past that level with a field full of spiders in it. With those parts made more difficult? Ouch. This may end up being one of those games I buy as a downpayment on their next title. Subversion's been delayed enough by this project...
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 08:57

  • Krusty #9 2 years ago

    I bought it twice on the PC, once from Introversion direct and again on Steam; it really is that good!

    If you have a PC buy it on Steam, if not buy it on 360.
    Just buy it! :D
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 09:24

  • Jackface #10 2 years ago

    I may never play this as I got my fill on the Mac when it first came out, but apparently the future of Introversion Software rides on the success of this release so I'll be buying it anyway to help fund their next project.

  • Krusty #11 2 years ago

    Oh, there's a Mac version too? Hmm...

  • Jackface #12 2 years ago

    Actually I've just seen the price. Maybe I won't be buying it after all, sorry Introversion. I'll happily send you a tenner of my own cash though... I just don't want MS profiting from my support of your products.

  • MrMarbles #13 2 years ago

    "...apparently the future of Introversion Software rides on the success of this release so I'll be buying it anyway to help fund their next project."

    Three minutes later...

    "Actually I've just seen the price. Maybe I won't be buying it after all, sorry Introversion."

    I know, I'm quoting out of context, but it still made me laugh.

    Regarding the review, as throw-away a comment as it was, I still don't think the "troubled gestation" should've been mentioned - it gives the allusion that this has been taken into account when delivering the final score. 99% of games have a troubled gestation - it's just that the majority of devs don't openly moan about it because, y'know, they want to keep publishers on-side.

  • smoothpete #14 2 years ago

    You should have just copied and pasted the old (legendary / notorious) Darwinia review :)

  • jebus #15 2 years ago

    1200 hundred is too expensive IMO

    I'll wait them out for the price drop. Why do publishers have to be greedy like this? 800 I'm sure would entice people

    a) who haven't played it and fancy a punt.
    and
    b) people who have played it but would prefer it on XBLA for the vegging out on the sofa type gaming - i.e. me :)

  • el_pollo_diablo #16 2 years ago

    DEFCON for iphone please Introversion.

  • miiiguel #17 2 years ago

    I don't understand the few pc players who get annoyed when someone comments about the positive aspect of consoles which is the fact that they are more user friendly and they are - please don't spin it - easier and look better (less cables, no keyboard) on a living room. Yes it's possible to hook a PC to a TV, but I, in my case (and many, as far as I know), I'm not interrested.
    Thanks anyway.

  • Quak #18 2 years ago

    Jackface, grow up.

    This game looks pretty sweet. I'll pick it up tonight.

  • gav_and_the_gavster #19 2 years ago

    Does anyoe know which point of purchase (e.g. steam, direct, LIVE arcade etc) will make the dev the most money? For projects like this I'd like to suport the dev by purchasing in a way that gives them the biggest cut.

  • muscleblade #20 2 years ago

    Agree with Miguel. I have a PC in my home office where it belongs. I prefer consoles for gaming and in this gen the 360.
    Lying down on my couch with wireless controller in my hands is how i like it.

  • geeza2020 #21 2 years ago

    ^^^^ this +1

  • Jackface #22 2 years ago

    Jackface, grow up.

    This game looks pretty sweet. I'll pick it up tonight.

    Grow up? Why, because I think it's too expensive? It is! I also want to support Introversion and I don't think it's them that have put the price at 1200, therefore I would rather directly contribut to their coffers rather than MS skimming a significant amount off the top for a game I know I won't play because I've already played it.

    I don't see what's immature about that. I think it's a perfectly grown up attitude to have, to want to support an independent company. But then I also think that 95% of people posting comments on the internet are quite pathetic about hiding behind their anonymity and judging other users based on a few words they themselves have posted. Call me cynical if you like, but childish? Bad call.

  • mingster #23 2 years ago

    I play my PC lying down on the Sofa watching it through 42" using a wireless xbox 360 controller and remote control for XBMC.
    Going through an AV surround sound amp.
    Why does everyone run out that tired old argument of i like to play my games sitting on the sofa?
    Are you all poor or something and cant affrord a £10 dvi - hdmi converter.

  • Dizzy #24 2 years ago

    Everybody needs to play this game. It is seriously good. I have it for Pc and now on 360 for some nice couch play.

  • Sunyavadin #25 2 years ago

    One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly.

    Are you fucking kidding me? Or is this 1998 again?

    Yeah, what the hell is this getting at anyway? One of my mates bought a 32" TV and ever since then has used the DVI input on it to use it as his PC monitor. He's been playing 1080p Darwinia on a full sized TV for over a year now... Hardly a 360 exclusive...

  • Quak #26 2 years ago

    Grow up? Why, because I think it's too expensive? It is! I also want to support Introversion and I don't think it's them that have put the price at 1200, therefore I would rather directly contribut to their coffers rather than MS skimming a significant amount off the top for a game I know I won't play because I've already played it.

    Yes it would be nice if Microsoft paid for servers and bandwidth and gave 100% of their takings to poor little developers, just like it would be nice if every other service provider provided their wares to us for free, but that's living in a fantasy world and is not going to happen. Microsoft has a service that reaches out to millions of homes, and if you want to be on that service to get your percentage of sales then you need to let them take their cut. The service cost MS millions of dollars to set up over a period of YEARS, so they have a right to capitalise on that and make a return. It's called capitalism.

    The percentage they get will be the same whether you pay 800 points or 1200, so if you're really all about supporting them then just buy the game and stop whining. After all, let's say they get 50% just for argument's sake. 50% of 1200 is much better for them than 50% of 800, and while Microsoft will also be making money from that to pay for the service that they provide, a) that's justifiable because of what I said above and; b) the independents STILL get more from that than if their game doesn't sell at all thanks to people like you.

    So yeah, grow up.
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/10 @ 11:02

  • Dizzy #27 2 years ago

    15 euro too much for a game like this? Some of you guys are crazy. There is a lot of game in this and plenty of hours of playtime.

    Oh and btw it is 14.99 euro on steam.
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/10 @ 11:08

  • Quak #28 2 years ago

    Yeah, what the hell is this getting at anyway? One of my mates bought a 32" TV and ever since then has used the DVI input on it to use it as his PC monitor. He's been playing 1080p Darwinia on a full sized TV for over a year now... Hardly a 360 exclusive...

    3DTV is about to me marketed to hell and back, yet people who work with million-pound simulators in the aircraft industry have been using this technology for YEARS. Why weren't these simulators advertised in Comet for the average consumer? Because they're not mass-market because they're too big and too expensive.

    Does your mate represent the majority? Does the average consumer want to hook up their noisy gaming PC to their HDTV in the living room? No and no.

    Marketing material like this is designed to appeal to the majority - it always has and always will. Technology is advertised to the mass market once it can be sold for a mass market price.

    A HDTV and a 360 is more obtainable and more practical to the average Joe today than connecting a gaming PC to a HDTV was two years ago.

    I'm sure both you and Jackface could work all this stuff out yourselves if you just paused and THOUGHT about what you're about to say before posting your rants. If you didn't get any last night then vent your frustrations in ways that don't clog discussion boards with idiotic BS.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 11:18

  • miiiguel #29 2 years ago

    One of my mates bought a 32" TV and ever since then has used the DVI input on it to use it as his PC monitor.

    True, a friend of a friend of a friend also uses his PC with a TV, I heard it's cool and all, drivers and cables, upgrades and virus in a nutshell the whole "office experience" in your living room, sounds exciting.
    On a less cinical tone, I don't understand this, I'm the 1st to admit PC use has the positive point of being easier to upgrade and can be more performant (if one wishes, pays for it) than closed systems (aka consoles), but ffs, they are not living-room friendly.

  • sneetch #30 2 years ago

    @Jackface
    Grow up? Why, because I think it's too expensive? It is! I also want to support Introversion and I don't think it's them that have put the price at 1200, therefore I would rather directly contribut to their coffers rather than MS skimming a significant amount off the top for a game I know I won't play because I've already played it.

    Baffling. Microsofts get the same percentage regardless of the point cost and are certainly no worse than any other "publishers" and MS are for all intents and purposes the ones publishing this on LIVE. Sony, Nintendo, Apple, Steam all take similar percentages it's the way this kind of business works. Calling it "skimming" is derogatory and a bit petulant.

    Most people have moved on from the "LOL, I have a t-shirt with Bill Gates as a borg" phase you know.

  • miiiguel #31 2 years ago

    I'm not familiar with medical terms, does "down syndrome" means expressing an opinion without resorting to personal comments on a public forum ?
    Guilty.

  • Jackface #32 2 years ago

    @ Quak

    Nah, you're totally ignoring the fact that I've decided I'd rather support Introversion directly, completely cutting out the middleman. It serves your Internet Hard Man persona much better to do so, obviously.

    :)

  • miiiguel #33 2 years ago

    @ Bloodkult:

    Next time you have to have an opinion miiiguel, try to make it one I agree with

    Fixed that for you. Anyway, this is not meant to be a dialog, you don't agree with me, that's perfectly fine, personal judgements not so much.
    Later.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 11:29

  • Jackface #34 2 years ago

    @ sneetch

    Again, completely missing the point that I'd like to support Introversion directly rather than there being a middle man. You're also ignoring the fact that people like Apple (just one example) allow developers to set their own price on the market place. MS don't. This isn't some kind of Micro$oftLOL statement - it's about doing what I can to support Introversion as much as possible.

    I already have the game. Therefore, which wouyld serve Introversion better? Buying the game I already have and them getting a little bit of money? Or donating money directly to them? I think the latter.

    But like I say, I understand folks round here and elsewhere on the net get through the day by leaping on other's perfectly reasonable opinions, tearing them apart and making themselves feel superior. I hope I've been of service to you and you feel bigger now. :)

  • speedjack #35 2 years ago

    Jesus - I'm sick to death of the moaning idiots (I'm guessing mainly willy waving PC owners), who think that just because this game (or its parts) have been out before in one shape or another it should be cheaper now, or even free.

    Anyone who is remotely familiar with this project will know the amount of hours and love that went into reworking this title for XBLA... And guess what ? Last time I checked Introversion were businesses, with employees to pay and (ideally) profits to make. Profits which hopefully will be invested into making new and excellent games just like this.

    If you have a problem with the price then by all means vote with your wallet, but maybe you might want to re-asses your obviously misplaced sense of entitlement too ?

  • Quak #36 2 years ago

    @Jackface

    It's always entertaining to watch someone back-pedal and change their argument once they see how wrong they've been. Supporting indie developers directly is great, but that's not at all what you were saying in your earlier posts. Your beef was with MS and you were banging on and on about them taking a cut and how you weren't going to buy the game at 1200 points because you didn't want to give MS any money. That is why you received the various responses that you did, and not because you believe supporting indies directly is a better alternative.

    Various people have tried to alter history in the past but none have succeeded. As your original posts are but a scroll-bar away I don't think you'll enjoy much success with your attempt either, but good luck to you all the same.

  • Dizzy #37 2 years ago

    Jackface don't give your money directly to Introversion, the banks and the goverment take a cut on that. Drive to their frontdoor and hand over your Incredibly hard earned 10 quid note personally!
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 11:51

  • muscleblade #38 2 years ago

    "they are not living-room friendly"

    I dont think their friendly at all. Too much hassle imo. I also like Xbox Live. I use a PC for Facebook though not the 360.
    I think PC gaming is for people that have special interests in High tech stuff. Im only interested in playing games without any effort outside the game itself.

    "Are you all poor or something and cant affrord a £10 dvi - hdmi converter."

    Im far from poor but i dont even know what that is. ;-). I dont even want to know. I want to play games.

  • nickthegun #39 2 years ago

    "But then I also think that 95% of people posting comments on the internet are quite pathetic about hiding behind their anonymity"

    Says the man who changes his alts more than he changes his socks in a continuous effort to keep wiping the slate clean, you hypocrite.

    ;)

  • Quak #40 2 years ago

    @Bloodkult

    It's *possible* to tell the time of day by looking at the sun's position in the sky too, yet most people prefer to just look at their watch.

    We all know that it's possible to hook a PC up to your HDTV in the living room, but the point is that most people would rather use a console. Why? They're cheaper, smaller, quieter (normally), and neater. They boot into games quicker, their interfaces are designed for TVs and it's a lot easier to set up local multiplayer games on them. There's no hassle with drivers and you can be reasonably sure that the people you're playing against online aren't using modded hardware/hacked games.

    The evidence that simplicity is king when it comes to the market is evident everywhere: console games sales dwarf those of PC, and Wii sales dwarf those of the other consoles.

    To call someone names because they're pointing out pretty obvious facts that you're too stupid to understand is bad enough, but to continue to do so when each and every one of your posts gets buried just makes you look like a total prick.

  • tachometer #41 2 years ago

    1200pts? Darwins theory of survival of the greediest!! When are we going to see sensible pricing on XBLA? Seems old M$ can count on stupidrich kids!!

  • monkeywithnoeyes #42 2 years ago

    it looked interesting on the GB quick look.. but 1200points is the wrong price for this game, 800 would of been more reasonable, and attracted alot more people...shame greed showed it's ugly head, as they sounded like decent guys

  • Dizzy #43 2 years ago

    Once and for all, it is the same price on Steam.

  • sneetch #44 2 years ago

    @Jackface
    Again, completely missing the point that I'd like to support Introversion directly rather than there being a middle man. You're also ignoring the fact that people like Apple (just one example) allow developers to set their own price on the market place. MS don't.

    I'm not ignoring that, it's just irrelevant to the discussion at hand: you seem to be assuming that Microsoft forced them to charge this price. 1200 MS Points works out at about €14 and Darwinia on PC direct from the Introversion website costs €13.30. So if anything this seems to be about the price Introversion would want to charge. So why assume that Microsoft are forcing them to do anything?

    This isn't some kind of Micro$oftLOL statement - it's about doing what I can to support Introversion as much as possible.

    You sure it's not a "Micro$oftLOL statement"?

    "I just don't want MS profiting from my support of your products."
    "rather than MS skimming a significant amount off the top"

    I already have the game. Therefore, which wouyld serve Introversion better? Buying the game I already have and them getting a little bit of money? Or donating money directly to them? I think the latter.

    Can you donate money to them? They are a company after all, not a charity, I can't see anything on their website requesting donations. The best thing you can do is buy one of their products.

    But like I say, I understand folks round here and elsewhere on the net get through the day by leaping on other's perfectly reasonable opinions, tearing them apart and making themselves feel superior. I hope I've been of service to you and you feel bigger now. :)

    Now that's a bit pathetic of you. First of all you back-peddle and then try to make out that I've been some kind of cyber-bully for calling you up on your original post. Not everyone views the web as some kind of one-upmanship competition.

    Edit: anythign to anything
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 12:28

  • Gearskin #45 2 years ago

    I've bought both games on PC. Darwinia I bought 3 times, Multiwinia twice.

    I've still set this up in my DL que. Great games, and I've money to spend.

  • KDR_11k #46 2 years ago

    Does anyoe know which point of purchase (e.g. steam, direct, LIVE arcade etc) will make the dev the most money? For projects like this I'd like to suport the dev by purchasing in a way that gives them the biggest cut.

    I'd wager direct. I think XBLA takes a significant percentage (something between 30 and 50, I believe it takes 70% when the game is promoted in the UI), no idea about Steam

  • sneetch #47 2 years ago

    @KDR_11k
    I'd wager direct. I think XBLA takes a significant percentage (something between 30 and 50, I believe it takes 70% when the game is promoted in the UI), no idea about Steam

    Steam is about 30% IIRC an interview I read with Gabe Newell a while ago, significantly lower than retails cut obviously.

    Edit: I meant lower. :)
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 12:59

  • darleysam #48 2 years ago

    Okay but.. DEFCON please?
    pleeeeease?

  • ccfb #49 2 years ago

    " You should have just copied and pasted the old (legendary / notorious) Darwinia review :) "

    Amd miss the oppurtunity to use the word 'tesseract'? Loco talk.

  • Sunyavadin #50 2 years ago

    Okay but.. DEFCON please?
    pleeeeease?

    YES

    Then we can have a Digital foundry PS3/360 Defcon-off, if what I heard from my PS3 owning friends about them adapting it for PSN was true.

    No matter which version wins, everyone dies.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 13:47

  • Quak #51 2 years ago

    @Bloodkult

    Incredible to see you're still trying to fight this battle, but sure, here you go:

    The numbers are separated into console and handheld game sales, and then PC game sales. The console and handheld hardware, software, and accessory sales were $19.66 billion, down 8 percent from $21.4 billion in 2008. PC game sales were $538 million in 2009, down 23 percent.

    Source: [link url=http ://games.venturebeat.com/2010/01/14/that-screeching-sound-u- s-video-game-industry-sales-decline-in-2009/
    ]http://ga mes.venturebeat.com/2010/01/14/...[/link]

    PORT WASHINGTON, NY, January 14, 2010 - According to leading market research company, The NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of video games, which includes portable and console hardware, software and accessories, generated revenues of close to $19.66 billion, an 8 percent decline over the $21.4 billion generated in 2008.

    Retail sales in the PC game software industry also experienced declines, with revenues down 23 percent, generating $538 million in 2009. The total console, portable and PC game software industry generated $10.5 billion, an 11 percent decline vs. the $11.7 billion generated in 2008.

    Source: [link url=h ttp://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_100114.html
    ]http://ww w.npd.com/press/releases/press_...[/link]

    According to the official statistics Crysis only sold 86,633 copies on its first month of release in the United States, Unreal Tournament 3 faired worse only managing 33,995 copies in its first month. However it isn't all bad news as we can compare this to the first month sales of Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare on the Xbox 360 which sold over 1.57 million copies.

    Source: [link url=http://clanbase.ggl.com/news.php?nid=282988&Source=rss
    ]http://cl anbase.ggl.com/news.php?nid=282...[/link]

    There have been various articles on EG as well about games not selling as well on the PC, as well as various attempts to explain why (more casual gamers, piracy on PC) etc., not to mention the fact that various developers/publishers are pulling out of the PC market because the margins just aren't there.

    PC gaming has its fans - and in fact just a few months ago I spent £1,200 upgrading my gaming rig to a Core i7, 12GB RAM and 2x Geforce 280 graphics cards, but that doesn't alter the fact that I spend more time playing on the consoles than I do on my PC and the above figures would suggest that I'm in the majority.

    If you want more examples then you'll just have to learn how to use Google yourself, I'm afraid. I'm done talking to retards for today.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 14:00

  • Jackface #52 2 years ago

    @Quak

    I understand you're sticking to your guns but you undermined everything by saying I backpedalled. If you could just let me know at what point I backpedalled, ideally outlining what my original point was as you understood it, as well as what it is I'm not attempting to retroactively change my stance to, that would be great, because as far as I can tell my initial two posts basically said, "I want to support Introversion so I'll be buying this even though I've already got it" and then "Oh, actually that's quite a lot of money MS are asking - maybe I'll jsut find another way to support Introversion so they're getting the full benefit."

    I've said that all along.

    I'm just trying to get you to calm down and see the perfectly normal, rational and personal point I was making. I believe the fact is that MS does pick the price point - to whit, see the case of Braid, which the developer has openly said MS set the price point for. I agree the best way to support Introversion is to buy their products so that they get both sales figures and cash - however I'm not made of money and if this was cheaper I would buy it again in a heart beat.

    Furthermore it's been stated and proved many times that this game is vastly cheaper on PCs these days. If someone wants to pay £15 or whatever for it, they're losing out because it's much cheaper on Steam for example.

    Anyway, I've made my point, you've made yours. Just leave it now, dude, what are you doing, trying to correct the entire interwebz all by yourself?

    Cheers all.
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/10 @ 14:09

  • sneetch #53 2 years ago

    @Quak

    Interesting numbers really, apparently PC sales only make up approx 5% of the entire retail game industry software sales. That doesn't take into account digital download sales though. I wonder how much they are. Of course companies like Valves Steam refuse point blank to release sales figures, preferring to go with something like "they're awesome". :)

  • muscleblade #54 2 years ago

    "Quiet" HA!

    When i install games on the HDD my 360 is pretty quiet.

    "BTW, what's the most popular game right now?
    Farmville? World of Warcraft?"

    Thats missing the point completely. People that play those games usually dont play much else.
    Everybody has a PC. You need one for work, email and that kind of stuff. All PCs can run those games. Easy math.
    Do you think the people that play World of Warcraft or Farmville every day buy lots of games and is a lot on sites like this. I think not.


  • Jackface #55 2 years ago

    "But then I also think that 95% of people posting comments on the internet are quite pathetic about hiding behind their anonymity"

    Says the man who changes his alts more than he changes his socks in a continuous effort to keep wiping the slate clean, you hypocrite.

    ;)

    You'd have a point if I'd been remotely secretive about who I was - I used to be owen-b and then I changed it many years ago to MrED209 as that was my Xbox Live name and it made more sense. Then I closed both accounts because people like you make EG quite an aggressive and unfriendly place to shoot the shit, and stayed off EG for a few weeks, fully intending to never post again. Then Lost came back on and I created a Lost-centric account purely to chat about Lost with fellow fans. I broke my Lost-only rule to comment on this story and as is commonplace on the web someone leapt on the comment to prove some kind of point in a really snarky way.

    Snark on the net is fucking boring. Can't people just get along like they tend to in real life? No, because people prefer to be snarky. Bo-ring.

    I'm sure you'll find something else to have a go at me about, it's one of your very few functions on the EG forum. That's your business though, I'm just happy to enthuse about Lost. And Introversion. :)
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 14:14

  • MasterNameless #56 2 years ago

    I must say my 360 is definitely quieter than my PC, and they're both pretty quiet. Running installed games of course, spinning the disc makes a racket, but thankfully that's easily avoided nowadays.

    We shouldn't be feeding the trolll though, although he may have found a different bridge to hide under by now.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 14:23

  • Quak #57 2 years ago

    Jackface, I'm not the only person to pick up on your backpedaling. I'm not going to copy and paste your previous posts here because I have better things to do and it's easier for you to just go back and read what you said. I already justified my criticism in my previous post - which others have agreed with and added to - so why can't you just take it from there? I'm not here to wipe your arse.

  • CosmicGypsy #58 2 years ago

    I wish people could STFU about whether a PC is living room friendly. the point people were trying to make was that the statement ""One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly", is complete bollox.

    You CAN NOT argue this point. (Well apparently a lot of you can, so maybe I should just say "Only an absolute cretin would argue this point";)

    this is a great game, on any platform. If you can afford it, then buy it. this dev deserves all the support this community can muster, platform bickering serves no purpose here.

  • Quak #59 2 years ago

    @Bloodkult

    Argue all you like against the viability of those sites, their sources or their figures, but the point that remains is this: if the PC was such an awesome gaming platform that was profitable beyond the extreme then why exactly would developers and publishers alike be ditching it as their platform of choice? Why are Modern Warfare and the Colin McRae series to name just two OBVIOUSLY more geared towards the console markets than the PC market if PC is where it's at?

    You're just a stupid troll; nothing more.

    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 14:45

  • sneetch #60 2 years ago

    @ CosmicGypsy
    I wish people could STFU about whether a PC is living room friendly. the point people were trying to make was that the statement ""One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly", is complete bollox.

    You CAN NOT argue this point. (Well apparently a lot of you can, so maybe I should just say "Only an absolute cretin would argue this point";)

    I'm amazed that people are arguing about whether a fairly obvious (to me) throw away joke is true or not. Look again at the screenshot guys, would you notice much of an improvement in that between a 1960s TV and a quatum-phase-positron holographic system? :)

  • mingster #61 2 years ago

    Ok i am amazed at the lack of home PC knowledge in this thread.
    New PC's have BluRay, HDMI and 7.1 surround sound.
    They are totally silent or as quiet as a Ps3 and quieter than an Xbox.
    Using solidstate drives as your boot drive you can boot into windows7 in about 20 seconds from pressing on.
    You can use a wireless xbox pad. you can use a remote control as well.
    They are small and available in all colours and look like hifi equipment.
    They aren't as cheap as an xbox but you can buy all of the above for less than £500.

  • muscleblade #62 2 years ago

    @sneetch

    Of course it was a joke the important thing is that we got a fun discussion out of it too.

  • RedSparrows #63 2 years ago

    Just tried the trial. Lovely stuff. Enjoyed the multi too, more than I thought. Will probably get it later. I know I could get it cheaper on PC, but I won MSP from 1vs100 and I like the 360 environment.

  • sneetch #64 2 years ago

    @muscleblade

    Ah... in that case: I only ever play games on PC from my hover couch on my quatum-phase-positron holographic system whilst making love to beautiful models who swoon at my manly prowess in all avenues of life and the entire experience is far superior to anything you console gaming primitives can ever aspire to.

    Mind you, gaming whilst making love does affect your aim.

  • Quak #65 2 years ago

    Ah, now you've got no figures it's all speculation and rumour. Way to go.

    READ the articles yourself you fuckwit. Use Google to search or RSS feeds to read through your favourite news sites. Declining PC game sales is news EVERYWHERE - it has been for years. Don't take my word for it - seriously, don't - do the research yourself if you can get your head out of your arse long enough to do so.

    That "dumbed-down console FPS" you're talking about happens to be the fastest selling game of all time. It smashed pretty much every record going. If you're going to try and belittle that game in your "argument" then you've failed before you even started.

    MW2 just sold better on PC than the first did.

    And? Whether it sold twice, three times as much or TEN times as much as the first - who cares? It sold a shitload more on console than it did on PC, which is why the consoles were the lead platform, and since your "argument" here is that the PC is a more viable platform you've failed.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 15:08

  • charliemouse #66 2 years ago

    Can I have it without multiwinia and so a bit cheaper please? There's lots of retail games out and I have no interest in playing it online y'see? Thanksverymuch.

  • mingster #67 2 years ago

    Don't even rise to it Bloodkult.
    Quak is obviously trying to say that the death of the PC is common knowledge.
    Which actualy it isn't proven at all.
    The PC is the largest installed user base.
    It's larger than combined PS3/Wii and Xbox user base.
    PC game sales aren't properly tracked as you know.
    Steam is very cagey about how many they sell as they don't like to let on how much they are making.
    The biggest selling game and highest earning as everyone knows is World of Warcraft which is PC only.
    All this bollocks about piracy holding back PC game sales is bull as well.
    None of it is proven.

  • Quak #68 2 years ago

    It must be from all the shit you have in your eyes from having your head rammed up your own arse, but the figures in those articles actually referenced north American sales as a whole - not a single store. I know that doesn't tie in with the bullshit that you want to believe, but who cares?

    You don't need precise sales figures to see why companies are pulling out of the PC games market. They wouldn't be pulling out if it was more profitable than console, would they you retard? These companies go where the money is. If a market is profitable, they invest; if not, they pull out. EA's Peter Moore offered an insight into why this is a growing trend at the links below:

    [link url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/peter -moore-explains-ea-sports-pc-snub/
    ]http://ww w.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/peter-...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.easports.com/blogs/its inthegame/post/slug/addressing-the-core-issues
    ]http://ww w.easports.com/blogs/itsinthega...[/link]

    I suppose none of that's true either is it? That's just another conspiracy from PC-haters, right? In reality, this is a trend that will grow year on year as console technology becomes more and more central to people's entertainment needs.

    Anyway, as insightful as it has been communicating with something as stupid as you, it's clear that trying to talk some sense into a fucking moron is a fruitless task. Give your nurse both my sympathies in having to tend to you and my congratulations for not having stabbed you in the face yet.

  • Quak #69 2 years ago

    @mingster

    Have you actually read any of the posts here? I'm not saying PC gaming is dying at all. I invite you to go back and actually read the discussion before attaching your mouth to his cock.

    Actually, don't bother - you're both on ignore now. I'm not going to continue arguing with retards.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 16:02

  • CosmicGypsy #70 2 years ago

    @sneetch

    I suppose some people just like to argue rather than having a constructive discussion.

    As long as people BUY THE GAME, I don't care
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 16:10

  • mingster #71 2 years ago

    Cool l can talk about Quak without him realising now..
    /points at Quak and calls him a joey while pushing bottom lip out with tongue.

  • Stop-gap #72 2 years ago

    All this froth over a throw-away comment about HDTVs... wasn't it revealed that only about 50% of console owners are
    using them after the Mass Effect 2 SD text problem came to light? And that they can't even fix it? That's some problem-free
    "just works" gaming right there.

    You're better off just buying a game if you want to support a company, that way they can say "Look at our sales!" to future
    investors rather than "Wait, where did this come from?" to the accountants.

  • andromeda #73 2 years ago

    "One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly"

    or my shiny new 720p dlp projector ;)

    this looks and sounds fab, will get this

  • thelzdking #74 2 years ago

    You'd have to be a complete simpleton to find hooking a PC up to a nice TV significantly harder than doing so with a console.

  • Pablo2k5 #75 2 years ago

    @ Quak, you said... "console games sales dwarf those of PC"

    Completely and utterly wrong.

    The PC gaming market is bigger than that of any single console.

    I quote... "the PC gaming market is bigger, worth more money, growing faster, and has better technology than the console market."

    Sources...

    [link url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/study-claims-pc-ma rket-largest
    ]http://ww w.edge-online.com/news/study-cl...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblo g/2009/mar/24/pc-games
    ]http://ww w.guardian.co.uk/technology/gam...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.videogamer.com/news /pc_gaming_markets_annual_revenue_is_11_billion.html
    ]http://ww w.videogamer.com/news/pc_gaming...[/link]

    Also, Steam Realizes Extraordinary Growth in 2009...

    <a href="http://store .steampowered.com/news/3390/
    ">http://store .steampowered.com/news/3390/
    </a>

    How can PC gaming be a minority market with figures like this?

    [link url=http://www.wow.com/2008/01/22/world- of-warcraft-hits-10-million-subscribers/
    ]http://ww w.wow.com/2008/01/22/world-of-w...[/link]
    [link url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story =21319
    ]http://ww w.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_in...[/link]
    [link url=http://gamer.blor ge.com/2008/04/16/the-sims-hits-100-million-sales-biggest-pc -game-series-ever/
    ]http://ga mer.blorge.com/2008/04/16/the-s...[/link]

    The Sims = 100 million sales!

    Edit: Two points I'd like to make... the links you provided don't seem to take into account digital distribution which MOST PC gamers use these days. Also, those stats are for the US game market, ever heard of the "world?" ...oh dear...

    Your post = embarrassing badly reserched console fanboy rant
    Edited by 7 at 10/02/10 @ 20:07

  • JohnnyFireBlade #76 2 years ago

    "Why do publishers have to be greedy like this?"

    We don't know how the pricing structure breaks down though, do we? For all we know, Mircrosoft's cut may be fairly hefty and the Introversion boys could be making a minimal profit on it. I know they're hoping the XBLA version will be a big seller though and they are relying on sales to keep making these games. Nowt wrong with supporting them, I reckon.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #77 2 years ago

    Great. I'm buying this again.

  • Trafford #78 2 years ago

    I will pick this up,again.
    Defcon on xbla would be nice.Please?

  • Lawlost #79 2 years ago

    bought this on the pc a few years back and never quite got into it. Is there a demo? If not I might wait till it pops up on a 50% discount like I did with Splosion man which I am loving.

  • RedSparrows #80 2 years ago

    There's a demo for every single Arcade release.

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #81 2 years ago

    Who remembers "Zarch?"

  • StrafeMcgee #82 2 years ago

    Whilst this has been said several times already, 1200 points isn't really all that much for two games of such high calibre. Translated into pounds, 1200 points is £10.20, which surely isn't too much to ask for an exceptional pair of games.

    Are Microsoft gonna get a cut? Yup. Will buying this game via xbla help introversion? Yup. Will having the game on xbla introduce an utterly fantastic game to a bigger audience? Undoubtedly, and that's the most important thing here, a bigger audience for a struggling developer that deserves to succeed far more than many major games companies do.

    If you don't like the pricing here then go buy it somewhere else. I, for one, couldn't give a shit so long as I help intoversion. The games are well worth the money unless you're extremely stingy.

    Right, that said, who wants to kick my ass
    At multiwinia?

  • Quak #83 2 years ago

    The PC gaming market is bigger than that of any single console.

    Oh so you're comparing against *single* consoles now? I'm sorry, I thought "console" meant any console - not just the GameCube. Since it seems we're now free to limit the meaning of our words to the smallest denominator, what if I limit the word "PC" to mean AMD PCs with ATi graphics cards only? What, I can't do that? Then neither can you. PC = all PCs and consoles = all consoles.

    I quote... "the PC gaming market is bigger, worth more money, growing faster, and has better technology than the console market."

    It's bigger if you include all the casual-playing soccer moms who play Bejeweled or Sims yes, but in terms of ROI by EA, Activision, Sega, Microsoft, Epic etc. then the consoles are a better market. When they say the PC market is growing faster, again they're talking about the casual-gaming office worker who wants a game of Tower Defence in their lunch break - not the guys who buy proper retail games week in, week out. PCs have better technology yes, due to their very nature, but I don't see how that comes into the argument of which medium is offering the best return to publishers.

    Also, those stats are for the US game market, ever heard of the "world?" ...oh dear...

    What the fuck has that got to do with anything? Of course I've heard of the "world" you moron, but what am I going to do? Hack those websites and change their figures from US to globe? If you want global figures, you know how to use Google. If you want UK figures, you know how to use Google. I don't think the rest of the world is going to be acting in exact opposites to the US though, so if you're hoping that Europe or Asia is going to bail out the PC sales figures vs console then you're in for a disappointment.

    I think it's hilarious when you idiots use the Sims games in your arguments. Real PC gamers hate the franchise and think it's below them, yet they're all too happy to use it in their arguments against consoles. The Sims is not a game though - it's a franchise with dozens of sequels and expansions that first came out in 2000 - so when you're comparing like for like you need to compare against a console franchise as well and not just a single game - and from as far back as 2000. So what franchise would you like? Fifa? Madden? Mario? The game isn't quite so favourable when the rules are fair, is it arsehole?

    Oh and another point you - rather spastically - seem to have missed is that I'm not here to belittle PC gaming. As I said in a previous post (that thing in your hand is a mouse - learn how to use it), it's not long since I invested over £1,200 in my PC specifically for gaming (and I do so every 18 months). I therefore use my PC to game - FPS games mostly, but also RTS occasionally. But is it going to take over from the consoles in the living room? Is it more likely that Joe Average is going to buy a gaming PC than a console? Which is the whole fucking point of this argument? NO IT ISN'T. What you think of your PC and what I think of mine is irrelevant. I don't care if you prefer to play your FPS games on your PC. No-one gives a shit. The average consumer is buying consoles - and that's why publishers are leaving the PC.

    Now fuck off.
    Edited by 2 at 11/02/10 @ 10:03

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #84 2 years ago

    Personally I think 1200 points is a bit too much. I think that isn't helped by the fact that a large amount of games are now being sold at that price and they all add together to give the feeling of "XBLA games have had a price hike".

    I'm not going to guess at who has pushed 1200pts to be more common but IF it was MS then Jackface may have had a point even if people think he didn't word it too well. ;)

    50% of 1200 may be more than 50% of 800 BUT1000 sales at 800 points is more than 500 sales at 1200 points, and some of the comments here suggest lost sales due to the price point.

    Also Quak, after one articles comments I've taken an immediate dislike to you. Sorry, but you couldn't sound any more patronising and rude if you tried. Are you trying to be the new World of Stuart??

    Doesn't mean I love you any less though miiiguel. :)

  • Sunyavadin #85 2 years ago

    the point people were trying to make was that the statement ""One of the pleasures exclusive to the 360 version is the ability to drink in views like this on a full-sized HD telly", is complete bollox.

    You CAN NOT argue this point. (Well apparently a lot of you can, so maybe I should just say "Only an absolute cretin would argue this point";)

    THANK YOU.

    Someone who bothered to READ my post before responding to it.

    It's by no means an exclusive feature.

  • TeaFiend #86 2 years ago

    A lot of this article is complaing over the price of a McDonalds. Is that what we are reduced to?

  • etherfiend #87 2 years ago

    Every game at 1200 points thus far has been a total disappointment compared to the others I've thoroughly enjoyed at 800. Self-imposed restriction on coughing up 1200 points I'm afraid. No sale until deal of the week especially if they haven't actually added anything new to the mix.

  • Quak #88 2 years ago

    Also Quak, after one articles comments I've taken an immediate dislike to you.

    Oops, sorry SpaceMidget75, I guess I must have missed the part where I'm supposed to give a shit about you or what you think.

    Vote this down if you like cocks! ;)

  • StrafeMcgee #89 2 years ago

    @etherfiend

    Take it you didn't play Shadow Complex then?

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #90 2 years ago

    "Oops, sorry SpaceMidget75, I guess I must have missed the part where I'm supposed to give a shit about you or what you think. "

    Haha, no one said you had to give a shit.

  • KillerMonkey #91 2 years ago

    "Vote this down if you like cocks! ;)"
    I'll vote it down because I think it's worthless and juvenile.
    You may not like hearing this, but you have no say in why or if someone will vote down your post.

    (well, in a way you do, by being a total idiot you invite people to vote your post down)

  • Demiath #92 2 years ago

    I own the original self-published digital download version of Darwinia, the Steam copies of Darwinia and Multiwinia and today I bought Darwinia+ as well, so if Introversion doesn't get Subversion released it won't be because of me.

    As for the price, it's definitely not unreasonable considering the sheer amount of content included, which is quite a lot for an Arcade game. Also, as deserves to be repeated over and over again, indie development cannot survive if customers simply refuse to venture outside the 0,99$-9,99$ price range. Developers who aren't lucky enough to sell ten zillion copies of their (good) games also need to eat once in a while...
    Edited by 1 at 12/02/10 @ 15:42

  • rosshuts #93 2 years ago

    Well the PC version was awesome and I will be spending my MS points on this game this weekend! Can't wait! Plus they deserve the money after the eurogamer article today mantioning its low sales for such an awesome game.