Cloud (computer game)

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Cloud

Developer(s)	Students from the USC EA Game Innovation Lab
Publisher(s)	thatgamecompany
Engine	Bushido engine
Release date(s)	October 24, 2005
Genre(s)	Third-person action
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	Windows
Media	CD-ROM(1), Web Downloadable
Input	Keyboard, Mouse with Scroll wheel

For other uses, see Cloud (disambiguation).

Cloud, also known as That Cloud Game or Cloud: The Game, is a third-person computer puzzle game, designed by Jenova Chen, based on weather and atmospheric aesthetics. The game features distinctive hand-drawn art, as well as non-violent, whimsical play inspired by Keita Takahashi's Katamari Damacy. The URL for Cloud, thatcloudgame.com is drawn from a remark by Bing Gordon, who referred to Katamari Damacy as "that garbage game."

The first version of Cloud was released as a free download on the web in the fall of 2005. Designed in the Interactive Media Division at the University of Southern California, Cloud was funded by a grant from Electronic Arts, and built using the student-developed Bushido engine evolved from a previous Independent Games Festival submission, Dyadin.

1 Gameplay
2 Awards
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Gameplay

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The object of Cloud varies between the four "missions" presented in the game. In the early missions, the player is freely allowed to become accustomed to the controls in a type of tutorial. The player experiments with flight, which occurs on a 2D plane. Speed depends on the distance of the cursor from the player's avatar. 3D flight can be attained by holding the 3rd mouse button.^[1]

There are three types of clouds in Cloud:

White and Dark clouds clash, creating a thunderstorm.

Neutral Clouds: Gray in color, these clouds do not respond to the player. If they come into contact with white clouds, they will be "purified" and turn into white clouds.

White Clouds: White in color, these clouds "belong" to the player and will follow the player in flight. If the player travels too quickly, however, these clouds will break away from the player's "pull." A connection can be reestablished by flying close to the white clouds.

Dark Clouds: Black in color, these clouds can be considered the game's "enemies." When the player flies into a collection of black clouds, the player's white clouds will combine with the dark clouds, eliminating both of them and forming rain. Numbers play an important role in this aspect of the gameplay; a large number of white clouds will more easily overpower a small number of dark clouds, and vice versa.

The shift+mouse1 key combination is utilized to gather white clouds inside the player (only a limited number can be held). If the player holds the control key while stationary, a single cloud will form that will increase in height; a short white cloud cannot purify a tall dark cloud, and so the white cloud must be made taller in order to conquer a large dark cloud. If the control+mouse1 key combination is pressed while moving, individual white clouds will be released one by one along the flight path; this allows the player to draw intricate "drawings" in the air for both primary mission-based objectives and secondary puzzle levels.

Game Modification: Any time during gameplay, through any level, modification of the playig field can be accomplished by pressing the "backspace" key. This will bring you to an edit mode. The following keys are usd to edit the gamespace: "`", 1, 2, 3, "-" and "+". These keys will allow you to create white, grey and black couds of differing shapes anywhere through the gamespace.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Awards

On March 22nd 2006, Cloud and flOw were presented at the 5th Experimental Gameplay Workshop during the March 2006 Game Developers Conference.
On Jan 25th 2006, Cloud won Slamdance Film Festival Guerilla Gamemaker Competition Best Student Philosophy Award.
Cloud is a winner of the Independent Games Festival 2006 Student Showcase competition.
In the winter of 2005, Cloud won the "Internet Download Game of the Month" designation from the UK magazine Edge in their issue number 156.
Cloud was featured on Free-Play Friday on the TV show, Attack of the Show on the G4 network.
"Top Ten Games You've Never Heard Of" Game Informer Magazine, Issue 156