Wizorb

Wizorb
Developer(s) Tribute Games
Publisher(s) Tribute Games
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Linux, OS X, iOS
Release XBLIG
September 29, 2011
Windows
November 7, 2011
Linux, OS X
December 19, 2011
PS Minis
July 25, 2012
iOS
August 3, 2012
OUYA
March 28, 2013
Genre(s) Breakout clone
Mode(s) Single-player

Wizorb is a role-playing video game created and published by the independent developer Tribute Games. The game was released on the Xbox 360 Xbox Live Marketplace on September 29, 2011. The gameplay is a cross between Breakout and a role-playing game. Wizorb was ported to Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. It was released for Microsoft Windows through Steam on March 14, 2012, with added achievements and cloud storage.[1] Upon release, Wizorb saw favorable reviews from critics, with VentureBeat's Jacob Siegal listing it as one of the top 10 independent video games of 2011.[2]

Gameplay

Wizorb is a cross between Breakout and a role-playing game.[3] The core of the game takes place in a Breakout clone where the player can use magic to control the ball and help destroy the bricks and enemies.[4] The RPG elements concern rebuilding a town, restoring its citizens and leadership, and fighting mini-bosses and bosses within the primary block-breaking gameplay.[5]

Development

Wizorb was developed by Tribute Games and first released for the Xbox 360 through the Xbox Live Marketplace's Xbox Live Indie Games section on September 29, 2011.[6] The game is the first title by the independent developer Tribute Games.[7] Destructoid's Jordan Devore noted that high quality Xbox 360 indie games are often ported to the PC, praising, "Wizorb is one such game".[8] A port for Microsoft Windows was released on November 7, 2011, through the digital distribution website GamersGate.[7] The computer version can be controlled by a gamepad, keyboard, or mouse.[5][7] The entire game can be played using only a mouse, and the developer recommends this method as it "makes Wizorb rely even more on reflexes which feels great and makes the game a tad easier."[7]

Even before the Windows release, the developers were working on porting the game to OS X and Linux.[7] On October 29, 2011, the developers stated they were considering porting the game to a smartphone platform, to which GameSetWatch's Eric Caoili exclaimed, "This thing needs to be on every device ever!"[3] Using the MonoGame programming library, ports were released for OS X and Linux.[9] The Windows version was made available through the Steam digital distribution platform on March 14, 2012.[10]

Reception

The game receive favorable reviews from critics, garnering an 81% on review aggregation site Metacritic.[11] The game was rated as one of the top 10 independent video games of 2011 by VentureBeat's Jacob Siegal.[2]

Legacy

Cyrus will be appearing as a playable cameo character in the upcoming Wii U and PC game Hex Heroes.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Smashes Onto Steam!
  2. 1 2 Siegal, Jacob (Dec 24, 2011). "The best indie games of 2011". VentureBeat. Retrieved Dec 17, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Caoili, Eric (Oct 28, 2011). "Wizorb Releasing To Windows On Nov. 7 Through GamersGate". GameSetWatch. Retrieved Dec 16, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lamotte, Sarah (Jan 18, 2012). "Wizorb Review". PC PowerPlay. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  5. 1 2 Podgorski, Daniel (September 9, 2015). "Through the Looking Orb: Wizorb and the Tradition of Short, High-quality, Arcade-style Games". The Gemsbok. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (Sep 23, 2011). "Tribute Games' Wizorb paddling to XBLIG Sept. 29". Joystiq. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Conditt, Jessica (Oct 30, 2011). "Wizorb smashing into PC on Nov.7, more ports to follow". Joystiq. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ Devore, Jordan (Oct 29, 2011). "Wizorb prepped for a November release on PC". Destructoid. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ Makeout (Dec 20, 2011). "Wizorb". CodePlex. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012. Note: Forum user Makeout is the creator of Wizorb.
  10. ↑ Hinkle, David (Mar 14, 2012). "Wizorb works its magic on Steam". Joystiq. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Wizorb Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved Dec 16, 2012.
  12. ↑ Prismatic Games LLC (2014-04-13). "Classes, Cameos, and Carousels". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
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