Tower defense
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tower defense or TD is a subgenre of real-time strategy computer games.[1][2] The goal is to try to stop enemies from crossing the map by building towers which shoot at them as they pass. Enemies and towers usually have varied abilities and costs. When an enemy is defeated the player earns money or points, which are used to buy or upgrade towers.[3]
The choice and positioning of the towers is the essential strategy of the game. Many games, such as Flash Element Tower Defense, feature enemies that run through a "maze", which allows the player to strategically place towers for optimal effectiveness.[4]. However, some versions of the genre force the user to create the maze out of their own towers, such as Desktop Tower Defense.[5] Some versions are a hybrid of these two types, with preset paths that can be modified to some extent by tower placement.
[edit] History
Tower defense finds its roots in the strategy classic Rampart, an arcade game from 1990. The game involved defending a castle by placing cannons, and making repairs between several rounds of attacks.[6][7] By the new millennium, tower defense games began to appear in user-created maps for StarCraft, Age of Empires II, and WarCraft III.[6]
Eventually, independent game developers began using Adobe Flash to make stand-alone tower defense browser games,[8] which led to the release of Flash Element Tower Defense in January 2007 [9] and then Desktop Tower Defense in March of the same year.[10][11][12] Desktop Tower Defense became immensely popular and earned an Independent Games Festival award,[13] and its success led to a version created for the mobile phone.[14] Several other tower defense computer games achieved a level of fame, including Protector,[12] Immortal Defense,[15] and GemCraft.[16]
By 2008, the genre's success led to tower defense games on video game consoles such as Defense Grid: The Awakening on the PC and Xbox 360,[17] and PixelJunk Monsters and Savage Moon for the PlayStation 3[6] Tower defense games have also appeared on handheld game consoles such as Lock's Quest and Ninjatown on the Nintendo DS,[18] and Crystal Defenders for iPod.[19]
[edit] References
- ^ Patrick Dugan (2007-01-30). "Slamdance, Post-Columbine - Personal Conversations with Freaks and Geeks". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1728/slamdance_postcolumbine__.php. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Chris Remo and Brandon Sheffield (2008-07-11). "Interview: Soren Johnson - Spore's Strategist". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3722/interview_soren_johnson__spores_.php?page=5. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Rutkoff, Aaron (2007-06-20). "Strategy Game Pits Players Against Desktop Invasion". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117987060189311315-X7F9b2kgxKbL1y0fZbnAHkOurR0_20080619.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ^ Scott, David. "Flash Element Tower Defense (on novelconcepts.co.uk)". David Scott. http://www.novelconcepts.co.uk/FlashElementTD/. Retrieved on 2009-04-15.
- ^ Preece, Paul. "Desktop Tower Defense (on handdrawngames.com)". Paul Preece. http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/game.asp. Retrieved on 2008-09-25.
- ^ a b c Luke Mitchell (2008-06-22). "Tower Defense: Bringing the genre back". PALGN. http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=11898. Retrieved on 2008-12-24.
- ^ Nick Suttner (2008-02-01). "PixelJunk Monsters Review". 1up.com. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3165843. Retrieved on 2008-12-24.
- ^ Michael Walbridge (2008-06-12). "Analysis: Defense of the Ancients - An Underground Revolution". GamaSutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18863. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Jay (2007-01-11). "Flash Element TD". Jayisgames. http://jayisgames.com/archives/2007/01/flash_element_td.php. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
- ^ Erwan Cario (10 November 2007). "Jouer plus pour travailler moins Jeux vidéo. Sélection de petites douceurs en ligne, dangereusement addictives.". Libération. http://www.liberation.fr/actualite/ecrans/290440.FR.php?mode=PRINTERFRIENDLY.
- ^ Chris Remo (2008-11-18). "Interview: Flash Tower Defense Creators On VC Deal, Social Gaming Site". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21102. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ a b Alistair Wallis (2008-08-01). "Q&A: Kongregate's Greer And Sirlin On Metagame Hopes With Kongai". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18164.
- ^ "2008 IGF Awards Topped By Crayon Physics Deluxe". Gamasutra. 2008-02-21. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17541. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Roush, George (2007-12-05). "Tower Defense Review". IGN. http://uk.wireless.ign.com/articles/839/839846p1.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
- ^ Tim W. (2008-10-24). "Best Of Indie Games: Ready, Set, Jill Off". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20798. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Tim W. (2008-06-13). "Best Of Indie Games: Rose, Camellia, Ziczac & Nameless". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19009. Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ Kevin Kelly (2008-08-30). "PAX 2008 hands-on: Defense Grid: The Awakening". Joystiq. Weblogs. http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/pax-2008-hands-on-defense-grid-the-awakening/.
- ^ Daemon Hatfield (2008-09-22). "Ninjatown Multiplayer Hands-on". IGN. http://ds.ign.com/articles/912/912110p1.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
- ^ Levi Buchanan. "Crystal Defenders iPhone Review". IGN. http://wireless.ign.com/articles/941/941019p1.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-22.
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