Videoball

Videoball

App icon
Developer(s) Action Button Entertainment
Release date(s) TBA 2015
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Local multiplayer, online multiplayer

Videoball is a minimalist sports video game by Action Button Entertainment. Players use a single analog stick and button to control a triangle that shoots charged projectiles at a ball and at other players. The objective is to move the ball into the opposing team's goal. The game descended from a dare to make a "one-button StarCraft", which later added an analog stick. The game is expected for release in 2015 on multiple platforms.

Gameplay

A four-player game of Videoball, as the ball is propelled towards the left side of the screen

Videoball plays as a two-dimensional hybrid of air hockey and soccer on a single screen.[1] Using solely one analog stick and one button, players control triangles that shoot projectiles[2] to knock a circular ball into the opposing team's endzone.[3] Holding the button creates a projectile (a "unit") that fires upon release. The projectile can propel the ball, nullify other projectiles, or incapacitate opponents.[2] The projectile charges the longer the button is held—short charges barely affect the ball, while charged shots will increasingly work like "a solid kick", or when held longer, "a slam" that can propel the ball across the full screen.[4] If held for an additional second, the fourth level of a charged shot is "a defensive block".[4] A charge cannot be held forever. Games last an average of four minutes, though they can last several times more.[4]

The game's triangles and projectiles are not known as metaphors such as "ship" or "bullet".[2] Videoball is meant to be conceived as a sport without narrative or artifice.[2] Its art is in all solid colors and basic shapes.[3]

Development

Action Button Entertainment's Videoball designer Tim Rogers describes the game as "an abstract minimalist electronic sport".[3] Its development began as a dare from QWOP developer Bennett Foddy, Rogers's friend, to make a "one-button StarCraft".[3] Rogers made what he estimated to be 40 or 50 inconsequential prototypes before adding an analog stick to the button.[3] While Videoball played as a slower strategy game in early prototypes, it became more fast-paced in later revisions as it became a sports game.[3]

Rogers compared the game's design process to Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, where Ramsay convinces failing restaurants to provide fewer menu options and to make those dishes well.[2] Rogers commented that the level of polish and attention to detail is harder with fewer elements.[2] He also cited the balance between making it like Mario Party (for those who just want fun) and like Bomberman (for those who want a frustrating competition).[3] He applied his conception of Super Mario Bros. 3‍‍ '​‍s "sticky friction" to the game's controls.[5] Polygon‍‍ '​‍s Tracey Lien described the development team's process as "chasing a certain purity" and mentioned the strong role of strategy in playing the game.[2] Rogers noted basketball-like strategy in prototype games, with players positioned as center or forward positions or playing zone defense.[4] He wanted the game to be accessible to newcomers but still fun and strategic for experts.[1]

Rogers has livestreamed prerelease sessions of Videoball via Twitch.[2] He broadcast gameplay from Twitch's booth at PAX East 2014 with indie publisher Midnight City.[6] In February 2014, PC Gamer‍‍ '​‍s Wes Fenlon reported that the game still had work left in its artwork, soundtrack, new arenas, and online multiplayer mode.[4] The game was selected for the July 2014 Evolution Championship Series fighting game tournament's Indie Showcase.[7] The game is expected for release in 2015 with cross-platform multiplayer,[2] support for more than six simultaneous players,[4] and campaign mode.[1]

Reception

Reviewers all cited Videoball‍‍ '​‍s minimalism both in aesthetics and gameplay, and compared the game with the skill and strategy of football and basketball.[3][2] Before its release, PC Gamer‍‍ '​‍s Wes Fenlon found himself thinking about Videoball daily after last playing two weeks prior. He credited its "addictive sort of fun" and his own excitement for local multiplayer on PC alongside titles such as Hokra and TowerFall.[3] He felt that the game's tagline of being appropriate for both a child's birthday party and prison was correct albeit silly.[3] Fenlon praised the game's minimalist visuals, "peppy music, and chirpy sound effects".[3] He compared the player's controls to that of Asteroids and contrasted its simplicity with the 100-hour onboarding process for League of Legends,[3] having learned how to play Videoball in just "a couple minutes".[4] Polygon‍‍ '​‍s Tracey Lien compared the game's feel to basketball, football, and hockey. Citing the strong role of strategy in playing the game, she compared the array of projectiles fired to military strategy or a football play.[2] Game Informer‍‍ '​‍s Kyle Hilliard said his time with the game left him "wanting more".[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hilliard, Kyle (February 19, 2014). "If It’s One Word, It’s A Real Sport' - Videoball - PC". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 Lien, Tracey (February 19, 2014). "It's a sport, it's four to five flavors on a plate, it's Videoball". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 Fenlon, Wes (February 25, 2014). "Hands-on with Videoball: a local multiplayer electronic sport for the living room". PC Gamer. Future Publishing. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Fenlon, Wes (February 25, 2014). "Hands-on with Videoball: a local multiplayer electronic sport for the living room". PC Gamer. Future Publishing. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ Sheridan, Connor (April 5, 2014). "Off Radar: The Best Stories You Missed This Week – Read… Embed With Tim Rogers". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ Tach, Dave (April 8, 2014). "Here's what indie publisher Midnight City is bringing to PAX East 2014". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ Tach, Dave (June 19, 2014). "Evo 2014 Indie Showcase to host Nidhogg, TowerFall and more". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.

External links