Limbo (computer game)
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| Limbo logo | |||
| Studio |
 Playdead Double Eleven ( ports )
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| Publisher |
Playdead Microsoft Game Studios (Xbox 360) Merge Games ( Retail ) Headup Games (Retail) 505 Games (Retail)  
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| Senior Developer | Arnt Jensen | ||
| composer | Martin Stig Andersen | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
Xbox 360: July 21, 2010 Playstation 3: July 19, 2011 Windows: August 2, 2011 macOS: December 21, 2011 iOS: July 3, 2013 Linux: June 23, 2014 Xbox One: December 5, 2014 Android: February 11 2015 Playstation 4: February 24, 2015 Nintendo Switch: June 28, 2018 |
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| platform | Xbox 360 , Xbox One , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation Vita , Windows , macOS , Linux , iOS , Android , Nintendo Switch | ||
| genre | Thinking game, jump 'n' run | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control |
Gamepad (console) Keyboard (PC, Mac, Linux) Touchscreen (iOS, Android) |
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| system advantages preconditions |
Windows 2 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, graphics card with ShaderModel 3.0 and DirectX 9.0c , 185 MB storage space Mac macOS 10.6.0 or newer, Intel processor, 1 GB RAM, 256 MB graphics card with Open GL 2.0 , 150 MB storage space |
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| Age rating |
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| information | PEGI 16 refers to versions for Xbox One, PS4 and PS Vita. The Android version of Limbo was approved by the USK for ages 12 and up. | ||
Limbo is a 2D - side-scroller - computer game of the Danish Independent -Entwicklerstudios Play Dead, which was published on 21 July 2010 and initially only through the online distribution platform Xbox Live Arcade available was. The PlayStation 3 version was released in Europe on July 20, 2011, and the Windows version followed on August 2. On March 15, 2012, a Collector's Edition was published in German-speaking countries via the publisher Headup Games. In June 2012 Limbo became part of the Humble Indie Bundle V with a version also playable on Linux. Compared to other Xbox Live arcade games, Limbo sold well and won several game awards. The entire game environment is displayed achromatic , each element has a shade of gray. The gloomy surroundings, depressing background noise and the sparse background music create a creepy atmosphere. The look of the game is reminiscent of Lotte Reiniger's cartoons . In 2016, Playdead released a similarly designed follow-up game called Inside . A version of Limbo was released for the Nintendo Switch in June 2018 .
Game principle and plot
A nameless boy wakes up in a forest and goes looking for his sister. During the game the boy only occasionally meets other people and animals who either attack him, flee from him or are already dead.
There is no history and no plot. The games Description of the developers is: "Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy Enters Limbo" ( "Des fate of his sister uncertain enters a boy the limbus "). The end of the game is open and leaves room for interpretation.
In order to advance within the game world, the player has to solve puzzles and avoid sudden dangers such as a giant spider. Problems based on physical events such as electricity, gravity or magnetism, which were created with the help of a specially developed physics engine , are part of the puzzles.
If the nameless one falls into a trap, he dies. In the mostly cruel animation of death, he is shown as a mere silhouette. The player is now returned to a point shortly before death. The developers of the video game deliberately placed some traps in such a way that the player can only avoid the trap after a few attempts.
development
In 2004 Arnt Jensen, now director of Playdead Studios, already came up with the visual concept for the game, which he captured with the help of a few sketches. He orientated himself on German Expressionism and the style of film noir . According to Jensen's concept, the protagonist of the game was only allowed to master two additional actions in addition to movement: moving objects and jumping. Jensen tried to implement his idea with Visual Basic , but soon realized that he needed professional help. Because he added a video of his designs to the job description he announced, Jensen's concept was well received in the internet community . During this event Jensen got to know the developer Dino Patti, with whom he then founded the company Playdead Studios.
While working together, the duo realized that more developers needed to join the team. Jensen and Patti were able to realize this project because, in addition to their own savings, they also received Danish subsidies for financing. The development team consisted of eight to 16 members depending on the point in time. The team around Arnt Jensen ignored the advice of investors and therefore rejected the wish to make Limbo a multiplayer game . Because around 70 percent of the game ideas devised by the team did not fit into the game concept, they were discarded.
According to Jensen's concept, the player should get to know the game mechanics on their own. If test subjects were of the opinion, for example, that it would be difficult to get the idea of pulling a parked boat out of the water in order to use it as a platform, the developers designed a puzzle to demonstrate the movement mechanics to the player beforehand.
reception
Overall, Limbo was received positively by critics, and the simple controls also received good feedback. Some critics were disgruntled by the fact that Limbo offers too many points to which the player jumps back in the event of death (respawn point). Critical voices also complained about the relatively short playing time for a converted price of around 15 euros, with some magazines also speaking of an ideal playing time, such as Tom Hoggins in the Daily Telegraph . The multimedia network IGN named Limbo in September 2010 as the third best game for Xbox Live Arcade. In the first month after its release in June 2010, the game sold over 300,000 times.
- Awards
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Independent Games Festival 2010
- Technical Excellence
- Excellence in Visual Art
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Video Game Awards 2010
- Best Independent Game
- Summer of Arcade 2010 Winner
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Game Developers Choice Awards 2011
- Best Visual Art
- Nomination in six other categories
- Apple Design Award 2012 - Mac Developer Showcase
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/PC-CDROM/20678/2091947/Limbo%7CRetail-Version_datiert.html
- ↑ Bernd Fetsch: moments of horror in black and white on stern.de, accessed on March 19, 2017
- ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/limbo-review
- ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/personal-tech/controller-freak/playing-in-limbo/article1648709/
- ↑ http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/games/blogs/screenplay/split-screen-looking-good/20100730-10yc8.html
- ↑ http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/03/igf_finalist_limbo_to_release.php
- ↑ http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/videogames/2010/07/23/14805056.html
- ↑ http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27043/Road_To_The_IGF_Limbos_Dino_Patti.php
- ↑ a b Limbo: A game of skill with heart and soul. Computer Bild Spiele , accessed June 17, 2012 .
- ↑ daemon: The Top 25 Xbox Live Arcade Games. In: IGN . Ziff Davis, LLC , September 16, 2010, p. 24 , accessed May 10, 2019 (American English).
- ↑ GDC Europe: Limbo's Carlsen On Making Players Your Worst Enemy And Your Best Friend on Gamasutra (2010, English)
- ↑ http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/107/1077086p1.html
- ↑ http://www.4players.de/4players.php/tvplayer/4PlayersTV/Alle/25438/67029/Video_Game_Awards/Gewinner.html VGA2010 winner
- ^ Winners: 2011 Game Developers Choice Awards