Prison Architect

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Prison Architect
Studio Introversion software , Double Eleven
Publisher Introversion Software , Paradox Interactive , Double Eleven
Senior Developer Chris Delay
Erstveröffent-
lichung
  • September 25, 2012 (Alpha)
  • October 6, 2015 (Release)
  • January 20, 2016 (Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4)
  • May 25, 2017 (Android and iOS)
  • August 20, 2018 (Nintendo Switch)
platform Windows , MacOS , Linux , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Android , iOS , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4
genre Prison simulation
Game mode Single player , multiplayer
control Mouse, keyboard, controller
system advantages
preconditions
  • Intel Core2 Duo 2.4Ghz / AMD 3Ghz CPU
  • 6 GB RAM
  • Nvidia 8600 / comparable Radeon (from 2009) GPU
  • 400 MB hard disk space
  • DirectX 9
    		•
    medium Download
    language adjustable
    copy protection Steam
    Age rating
    USK released from 12
    PEGI recommended for ages 16+

    Prison Architect is a building strategy - computer game in which the player has the task of a prison set up and manage. The game was released on October 6, 2015 after a multi-year Early Access phase and can be purchased via the online sales platform Steam or directly from Introversion.

    Gameplay

    In Prison Architect, the player takes on the role of a prison director and takes care of the administration and architecture of the prison. Here, the game in a two-dimensional top-down is supervision viewable and held optics comic in one. The inmates have needs that are influenced by their general mood and that you have to pay attention to as a player. It is also possible to gain insight into biographies and criminal records. The player's task is also to generate income through z. B. new inmates and expenses by z. B. to keep an overview of personnel and buildings and to prevent outbreaks or violent crimes. It is also possible for the player to manage the daily plans and tasks of the inmates. In the construction menu, the player can take care of the design of cells and rooms (such as offices, large showers, common rooms, storage rooms or canteens), water and power supply, leisure facilities, parks and the design of the outdoor area. The staff include security guards, doctors, administrators and mechanics. Every inmate is financed by the state and workplaces such as sawing and pressing plants, laundries, cleaning rooms or kitchens can be set up.

    The game also has a story mode.

    In the escape mode, the player also has the opportunity to take on the role of an inmate and plan an escape. Here you have the possibility to be violent towards guards and prisoners, to dig tunnels, to steal objects or to found gangs. Since Alpha 31 there have also been lawyers, death row, executions and pardons that can be issued.

    The game was inspired by Dungeon Keeper , Theme Hospital and Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress .

    Saves can be shared via the Steam Workshop.

    development

    Prison Architect was developed by British developer Introversion Software and was first announced in October 2011. The game was released on September 25, 2012 as an early access title in the alpha version on Steam . At the end of 2012, the developers began to collect money on their website for the development process ( crowdfunding ) and generated over 270,000 US $ in just 2 weeks. In December 2013, the developers had raised over $ 9 million. By the end of September 2015 (and thus before release ), over 1,250,000 copies of the game had been sold, generating revenues of more than 19 million US dollars. The game Subversion, which has been in development since 2007, was discontinued in 2011 in favor of Prison Architect.

    On October 6, 2015, it was officially released for Windows , MacOS and Linux .

    A console version for Xbox 360 , Xbox One and PlayStation 4 was announced by Introversion on January 20, 2016 and was released on June 28, 2016 by the British computer game developer Double Eleven .

    On May 25, 2017, Paradox Interactive released a mobile version for Android and IOS . Since smartphone displays are too small, use on tablets and comparable devices is recommended. It had previously been tested as an early access title in Sweden and the Netherlands .

    On August 20, 2018, the Nintendo Switch version of the game was released. Like the other console versions, this version was released by Double Eleven.

    On September 4, 2018, the developer released an alpha version of a co-op mode, which was also announced for the first time at the same time. In this mode it is possible for up to 8 players to build a prison at the same time. The alpha version is currently only available for the Mac and Windows versions.

    On November 21, 2019 the paid DLC Psych Ward: Warden's Edition was released, which expands the main game to include psychiatric departments. The main characteristics include "unpredictable" prisoners who turn into insane prisoners if they are not treated with consideration. Furthermore, new customization objects such. B. added for the construction of padded cells .

    The next free DLC Cleared for Transfer was released on May 14, 2020 . This is free of charge and adds to the game, among other things, the possibility of assigning prisoners within the prison to new departments and of restricting certain actions such as raids to individual departments.

    Reception and external perception

    reviews
    publication Rating
    4players 83%
    GameStar 87%
    IGN 8.3 / 10
    PC Games 83%
    Meta-ratings
    Metacritic 83/100

    On April 7, 2016, the game won the BAFTA Game Award for Persistent Game. Prison Architect was also nominated in the British Game category, which, however, has already been won by Batman: Arkham Knight . IGN describes the game as one of the most captivating building simulations of the last few years, if you have familiarized yourself with it. The GameStar compares the game with the The Sims series . PC Games also makes comparisons to RollerCoaster Tycoon , Anno and SimCity and describes the game as an indie insider tip. The graphics are also described as charming and the comic-book look is used as good and appropriate. The soundscape was also received positively. However, the interface is described as a bit confusing and the lack of assistance is criticized. 4Players praises the communication with the community in the early access phase and considers the implementation of a development strategy for the console to be courageous and successful. PC Gamer describes the game as a complex and challenging simulator that is internally satisfying. In addition to the “cute” comic graphics, the standard also sees the game as dark and cynical , but sees the comment-free reflection on events as dangerous and criticizes the fading out of everyday prison reality. The game is a challenging and brilliant simulation, but the player should be asked more specifically before moral questions and think about them. The death penalty in the game is also described as macabre and sometimes criticized.

    The game got a Metascore of 83% on Metacritic . On Steam, 93% of user reviews are positive.

    As of July 2016, the game had sold over two million times and brought in approximately $ 25 million in revenue.

    In January 2019, the previous developer Introversion Software sold the rights to Prison Architect to the Swedish publisher Paradox Interactive , which had previously published the mobile versions for Android and IOS .

    controversy

    With a picture of the Red Cross, the producer Mark Morris and the designer Chris Delay came under criticism of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), because the symbol is a protected symbol. An accusation of violating the Geneva Conventions and British land law and thus bringing the two to justice as war criminals would have been possible. However, they did not want to take this risk and changed the color of the red cross to green. Prison Architect isn't the first game to have had to replace such symbols, however. Doom already replaced health packs with red pills and later titles in the Halo series replaced the symbol with a red H. The criticism is that the symbol is generally used in many films, comics and computer games and that it is funny to choose a comparably small game, as well as the question of what happens to charity donations to the organization, if such legal disputes also have to be financed.

    Trivia

    • The developers implemented a 3D mode in the game, which was only discovered by the players after five months. This was then further expanded and improved.

    Web links

    Individual evidence

    1. ↑ a b Benjamin Schäfer: Prison Architect in the test - punishment must be! In: GameStar . October 6, 2015, accessed July 26, 2017 .
    2. ↑ Marc C. Hatke: Prison Architect - supply, financing and planning. In: PC Games . June 19, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    3. ↑ Tobias Ritter: Prison Architect - Alpha 31 with lawyers and smaller cells. In: GameStar . April 2, 2015, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    4. ^ Select your platform »Prison Architect. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    5. ↑ Tom Senior: Introversion's new game is Prison Architect. In: PC Gamer . October 20, 2011, accessed July 26, 2017 .
    6. ↑ Jim Rossignol: Introversion Unveil Prison Architect's Alpha Launch. In: Rock, Paper, Shotgun. September 26, 2012, Retrieved July 25, 2017 (American English).
    7. ↑ Mike Rose: Who Needs Kickstarter? Prison Architect devs want total control. In: gamasutra.com. October 10, 2012, accessed July 26, 2017 .
    8. ↑ $ 9 million and counting: why Prison Architect underlines a changing tide. In: VG247.com. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    9. ↑ Andre Linken: Prison Architect - Even before the release, more than 19 million dollars in sales. In: GameStar . October 1, 2015, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    10. ↑ History of introversion (English)
    11. ↑ Sebastian Jäger: Prison Architect: Two Years of Early Access: Prison construction simulation will be released in October. In: gamona . September 21, 2015, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    12. ↑ Marcel Kleffmann: Prison Architect: End of June for PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. In: 4Players. May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    13. ↑ Marcel Kleffmann: Prison Architect: Mobile for Android and iOS published; Crashes create problems. In: 4players . May 27, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    14. ↑ Paradox Store | Paradox Interactive. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    15. ↑ Marcel Kleffmann: Prison Architect: Mobile: Tablet implementation on the iPad alluded to. In: 4Players . May 18, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    16. ↑ Jens Bischoff: Prison Architect: Switch Edition of the prison administration published. In: http://www.4players.de . August 20, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2018 .
    17. ↑ Update 16 released - multiplayer! September 4, 2018, accessed on September 23, 2018 .
    18. ↑ Dominic Tarason: Prison Architect adds online multiplayer as an opt-in alpha feature. In: www.rockpapershotgun.com. September 4, 2018, accessed on September 23, 2018 .
    19. ↑ Prison Architect - Psych Ward: Warden's Edition on Steam. Retrieved April 29, 2020 .
    20. ^ Prison Architect - Announcing "Cleared for Transfer", our next free DLC: Steam News. April 23, 2020, accessed on April 29, 2020 .
    21. ↑ Prison Architect (PC) - test, download, system requirements, release date, demo - GameStar. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    22. ↑ Prison Architect: Test, Tips, Videos, News, Release Date - PCGames.de. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    23. ^ A b Christopher Livingston: Prison Architect Review. In: PC Gamer . October 15, 2015, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    24. ^ A b Mathias Oertel: Test: Prison Achitect. In: 4Players . July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    25. ^ A b Richard Cobbett: Prison Architect Review. In: IGN. October 6, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2017 (American English).
    26. ↑ a b Prison Architect. In: Metacritic . Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    27. ↑ Games in 2016 | BAFTA Awards. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    28. ↑ Marc C. Hatke: Prison Architect: Uprising in the prison canteen - Behind bars with the indie insider tip - Update - Alpha 11 and 12. In: PC Games . August 12, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    29. ↑ Marc C. Hatke: Prison Architect - graphics, gameplay, Alpha. In: PC Games. August 12, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    30. ↑ Rainer Sigl: "Prison Architect" in the test: We are building a death row. In: DerStandard . October 25, 2015, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    31. ↑ Stefan Köhler: Prison Architect - Playing fun on probation. In: GameStar . January 30, 2014, accessed July 27, 2017 .
    32. ↑ Benjamin Jakobs: Scanner Sombre: Introversion's newest game was a failure. In: eurogamer.de. June 26, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    33. ↑ Christopher Lewerenz: Paradox Interactive: rights to Prison Architect acquired. Retrieved January 19, 2019 .
    34. ↑ Schossle: Paradox Interactive buys Prison Architect. In: wisim-planet.de. January 9, 2019, accessed on January 19, 2019 (German).
    35. ↑ Michael Krosta: Prison Architect: Violation of the Geneva Convention - "Red Cross" in pixel representation causes trouble. In: 4Players. January 18, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
    36. ↑ Andreas Link: How you can violate the Geneva Conventions with computer games. In: PC Games Hardware . January 17, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017 .
    37. ↑ Michael Günsch: Prison Architect: Again whirling around the red cross in video game. In: ComputerBase . January 17, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    38. ↑ Michael Herold: Prison Architect breaks the Geneva Conventions - Why the makers are now war criminals. In: GameStar . January 17, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017 .
    39. ↑ Mathia Dietrich: Prison Architect - Secret 3D mode found, was already five months in the game. In: GameStar . March 8, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017 .
    40. ↑ Dennis Reisdorf: Prison Architect: Update 5 brings improved 3D mode and warm water. In: PC Games . March 28, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017 .