Factorio
| Factorio | |
|---|---|
 The Factorio logo | |
| Developer(s) | Wube Software |
| Engine | Allegro |
| Platform(s) |
Microsoft Windows OS X Linux |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Action, real-time strategy, survival |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Factorio is an indie video game, still in development, by Wube Software. The completed version is scheduled to be released in 2016 for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux.[1][2]
Development
The game has been developed by a team of developers from Prague since mid 2012. The team originally consisted of one developer but has grown to six. To fund the game, they started an Indiegogo campaign, which started on 31 January 2013 and finished on 3 March 2013. The campaign raised €21,626 of the €17,000 goal.[3][4][5] Following the crowdfunding success, Wube sold early access editions of the game to raise further funds. As of December 2015, Factorio has sold 104,530 copies, the developer credits the April 2014 release of the game's trailer as a significant driver of those sales.[6]
Developer, Kovarex has cited Minecraft modifications (specifically BuildCraft and IndustrialCraft) as inspiration during the games development.[7]
The full game is planned to be released summer 2016.[8]
Plot
The game follows a spaceman who was sent to an alien planet ahead of colonists from Earth. He and his crew were to set up a base equipped with missile defense to defend the landing of earth's colony ships. Not everything goes according to plan as the protagonist crashes on the planet. Because of this he has to first harvest his resources by hand in order to build up an industrial infrastructure, and face inhabitants of the planet who defend their environment.[9]
Gameplay
Factorio is a resource gathering game with real-time strategy and survival elements, with influences from the BuildCraft and IndustrialCraft mods for the Minecraft computer game.[7] The player has to survive by finding and harvesting resources to build tools and machines, which can then create more advanced materials to allow for the creation of more sophisticated technologies. As further depth into the game is reached, the player may be building and managing an automated factory-style system, which can mine, transport, process and assemble resources. Players research advanced technologies that allow them to create new structures and items, starting with basic automation and leading to drones and exoskeletons.[10][11]
Combat
The player is concerned with defending themselves and their factory from the planet's increasingly aggressive indigenous fauna, who react hostile to pollution created by the industry, necessitating the player to consider the balance between his production and the enemy's aggressiveness.[12] There are three types of enemies; biters, spitters, and worms which spawn from bases that are generated randomly. Combat can be done in the early game with a pistol, which then leads to a submachine gun, a shotgun, and finally the combat shotgun. Ammunition also has multiple types, including 'penetrating' rounds which can pass through enemies and do damage to anything on the other side.
Early on, turret technology is available to the player, giving access to the construction of automated sub-machine gun turrets. These turrets will auto-fire at enemies and are great for setting up an early-game automated defense. Mid-game technology gives access to laser turrets which, unlike the sub-machine gun turret, do not consume ammunition, and instead consume electricity. They do more damage, and do not require re-loading, so they are ideal for a mid-game defense system. Late-game technology unlocks missile defense turrets. These do a massive amount of damage, but require reloading with missile ammunition. They are very expensive to make and maintain at first, and it isn't ideal as a replacement for the laser turret until near-end game.
Mid-to-Late game brings 2 types of vehicles, Cars and Tanks. The car is fast, lightly armored, equipped with a single sub-machine gun and a large inventory space, and is helpful in not only combating the natives, but also transporting the player and large quantities of items from place to place. The tank is heavily armored, equipped with a cannon and a sub-machine gun, and is much slower than the car. The tank is great at attacking native colonies to reduce the amount of local hostiles.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer mode allows people, both locally and via the internet to play together.[13]
Downloadable Content
The game was designed from the ground up to be customisable, via 'mods,' by the community of Factorio who are able to create lots of downloadable content, such as modifications to gameplay, re-texturing of visual elements, and more.
References
- ↑ "Factorio". Indie DB. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Kozelek, Tomas. "Friday Facts #59 - The new office". Factorio blog. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ↑ Smith, Graham. "Factorio Trailer Looks Like A Fun Factory, Has Demo". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ "Factorio". Indiegogo. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Kozelek, Tomas. "Here we are". Factorio blog. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Mike Rose (2014-05-27). "How a single game trailer turned the tide for Factorio". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
- 1 2 "kovarex comments on Nerd³ FW - Factorio". Reddit. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ↑ "Factorio FAQ". www.factorio.com. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ↑ Dobrovský, Pavel. "Zabijte planetu průmyslem v české budovatelské strategii Factorio". Games.cz. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ↑ Jauch, Daniel. "Our Nation's Factorio Review". APGNation. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Priestman, Chris. "Factorio Is A Machine-Fetishist’s Best Friend". Indie Statik. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ "Factorio – Content". www.factorio.com. Retrieved 10 Jan 2015.
- ↑ Rogers, Tristan (1 November 2014). "Factorio Gets Multiplayer". SandboxDB. Retrieved 21 November 2014.