Kudos (video game)
| Kudos | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | Positech Games |
| Publisher(s) | Positech Games |
| Designer(s) | Cliff "Cliffski" Harris |
| Platform(s) | Macintosh, Windows |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Life simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Kudos is a video game developed by British-based Positech Games (the makers of Democracy). Its gameplay is very similar to games like The Sims. The game spawned a sequel, called Kudos: Rock Legend. In October 2008, a sequel to the game Kudos 2 was released, featuring much improved character art by comic artist Jamie McKelvie.
Gameplay
The basic principle of Kudos is that the player controls a 'virtual life' for ten years, starting at age 20, and ending at age 30. An accelerated calendar system plays out each day of those ten years (with only actually 7 days in each month). During each turn (which is a single day, or half-day at weekends) the player chooses from a range of solo and social activities, and responds to phone calls from his friends regarding social invitations. The key to the game is that every single decision the player makes affects multiple aspects of their personality, mind and body, so that (for example) going bowling may improve their fitness, their happiness, and reduce their level of energy, as well as having other subtler effects depending who else attended the event, and the characters 'state' when they embark on the activity.
Modding
Kudos 2 was designed to be extremely easy to mod. Unlike many video games that require 3D editors and complex tools, any player of the game can carry out easy user mods using just a word processor or simple text editor to change the values in the game's many configuration files. Much of the game is stored in 'comma-separated value' (csv) files.
Design
Kudos 2 is a game designed around a 'holistic' theory of personality and development. The game assumes that all external stimulus affects many aspects of our attitudes, personalities and even our health. The game allows the personalities of your friends to influence you in positive and negative ways. Everything, even down to which TV channel you watch has effects coded into it so that your character becomes truly the sum of their experiences and the decisions they have made.
Funding
Kudos 2 is an independently made and sold PC game, meaning it was not funded by a large publishing company such as provide the funding and distribution for most PC games. The game is sold through a number of on-line 'portals' such as gamersgate and stardock's Impulse system.
Kudos 2
| Kudos (video game) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Positech Games |
| Publisher(s) | Positech Games |
| Release date(s) | October 2008 |
| Genre(s) | Life simulation |
Kudos 2 is the sequel to Kudos. Its development began in January 2008 by Positech Games, and features many improvements over the previous game, including new 2d character art, more life choices, and an upgraded audio system.[1]
Gameplay
Kudos 2 has many choices that affect both the player and the player's friends. The player can get a drink at the bar, go shopping, clean his/her house, and even start dating. Some activities requires the player to have a specific relationship or item before they can be unlocked. While shopping, the player can shop in four different categories: music, general, pets, and books. They made a big improvement on the books and general section, because they used realistic images for magazines, and made over 60 books to buy. The player can even socialize with his/her friends and go see a movie(of the player's choice), or even to a restaurant, with a fully interactive menu and realistic prices. The player can also take new courses for a small fee including IT skills, Advanced Biology, and Public Speaking. With a good education and high IQ and confidence, the player can pursue in over 200 different jobs in more than 10 fields including computing, sales, legal, and medicine. Overall, the player can do many new things in Kudos 2.
Dating
The dating system in this game is pretty much the same as the one in the first game. The player can not marry, move in, or have kids. But having a girlfriend/boyfriend in the game can really boost the player's confidence and happiness. To obtain a partner, the player must have the relationship bar full by doing activities with them. The player will receive a romantic proposal from the player's partner, and can choose if he/she want to start dating, or if he/she just want to stay friends. Its fully up to the player. While dating the player can unlock new activities like romantic movie, or candlelit dinner.
Reception
Reception for Kudos 2 has been limited but is positive. Metacritic [2] defines the game based on two reviews between 7 and 7.5 out of 10. UK PC Gamer garners the game as a perfect time waster.