Eco (computer game)
| Eco | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Strange loop games |
| Publisher | Strange loop games |
| Senior Developer | John Krajewski, Milenko Tunjic, Eric Anderson |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
February 6, 2018 ( Early access ) |
| platform | Windows |
| genre | Simulation , open world game |
| control | Mouse keyboard |
| medium | Download |
| language | English |
Eco is a computer game by the American game developer Strange Loop Games. In the simulation game you have to build a civilization on a virtual planet in cooperation with other players. The game attaches importance to the fact that natural resources are conserved and serves not only entertainment but also educational purposes.
action
The game world of Eco is threatened by an impending asteroid impact. The player's task is to research a technology level that enables him to destroy the meteor before it hits, without damaging the ecosystem of the game world through excessive exploitation of resources or pollution. The game world is a very small planet in relation to the earth . It consists of earth, stone and other underground resources and is covered by various landforms, such as forests, meadows or rivers. The planet offers a suitable habitat for various animals as well as various plants; these can be hunted or collected by the player.
Game principle and technology
Eco is a multiplayer survival game. The players play online in the same game world and can interact with it, but also with other players. The main idea of the game is to simulate a sustainable way of life. You have to eat a varied diet and pay attention to the sustainable extraction of natural resources in order not to upset the ecosystem. For example, if the players cut too many trees, the air pollution generated by high-tech machines can hardly be compensated for, which can lead to rising sea levels. Animal and plant species can become extinct if too many are hunted or collected. To prevent this from happening, players need to establish a functioning society. You have the option of introducing currencies and establishing an economic system, electing a government and proposing laws that prevent other players from performing certain game actions or use taxes or subsidies to dissuade or encourage them to behave in a certain way. In contrast to other survial games, in Eco there is no possibility of fighting other players or monsters, the game characters cannot die. The game also encourages players to work hard with other players.
Production notes
Eco was originally an educational tool designed purely for middle school students , for which Strange Loop Games intermittently worked with the University of Illinois . The US Department of Education contributed over $ 1 million to the project development. Strange Loop had only produced two games up to that point, the puzzle game Vessel released in 2012 and the serious game Sim Cell from 2013. When designing the game, the creators let themselves be drawn from the open-world games Minecraft and Rust as well as the dynamic processes of the Inspire the community around the game EVE Online .
In August 2015, Strange Loop managing director and eco-designer John Krajewski tried to raise $ 100,000 for the expansion of the game using the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter . The campaign was successful, with Strange Loop raising over $ 200,000. The target completion date for the first alpha version was September 2015. Ultimately, it was released in February 2018, initially as an early access game, i.e. a playable version was sold while development was still ongoing, in order to finance further development. A final version has not yet been published (as of July 2020).
reception
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The Gamestar called Eco as "ambitious Survival" with "innovative approach". Rock, Paper, Shotgun calls the game a “Minecraft beautiful” and emphasizes as a unique selling point that sandbox games usually encourage a careless use of resources, while Eco effects of the player's actions on his environment have to be considered.
Web links
- Site of the game
- Eco at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ ECO - Strange Loop Games. Retrieved February 23, 2018 .
- ^ The government is helping fund a Minecraft-style game for teaching kids about the environment. Retrieved November 11, 2018 .
- ↑ ECO - How Player-Created Laws Work - Strange Loop Games. Retrieved November 11, 2018 .
- ↑ Liane M. Dubowy: c't zockt game review: Eco. Retrieved November 11, 2018 (German).
- ^ Prototype Eco. In: Illinois.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2018 .
- ↑ ECO is like Minecraft - only with a climate catastrophe. In: Wired.de. Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
- ^ Eco - Global Survival Game. In: Kickstarter.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
- ↑ JeuxVideo.com: Eco: Le Minecraft communautaire pour adultes. Retrieved January 1, 2019 .
- ↑ Eco - Ecosystem Survival Sim Reaches Kickstarter Goal. In: GameStar.de. Retrieved February 25, 2018 .
- ^ Premature Evaluation: Eco. In: RockPaperShotgun.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018 .