Prismata
| Prismata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Lunarch Studios |
| Designer(s) | Elyot Grant, Will Ma, David Rhee, Shalev Ben David, and Alex Wice |
| Artist(s) | Dan Hunter |
| Writer(s) | Mike Fong |
| Engine | Starling |
| Platform(s) | Web browser, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player and Multiplayer |
Prismata is a hybrid strategy game. It was released on Steam on March 8, 2018, following a successful Kickstarter campaign. [1] A lite free-to-play edition will be released in coming months. The game features a combination of mechanics from Real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, and card games.[2]
Basic Two-Player Gameplay
Prismata is a turn-based, perfect information game. The game begins with the reveal of a "random set" of 5 or more units, randomly chosen from a list of about 100 units. Each turn, players may purchase units from the random set and the "base set", a set of 11 units available every game. Units may attack, block, produce gold or other resources, or have special abilities. The goal of the game is to destroy all of your opponents units by producing attack and using abilities.
Campaign
Resources
Development
Development began in late 2010 by several part-time students at MIT. Originally, a physical prototype game was built, titled MCDS, which featured many of the mechanics that would later make it into Prismata. The game later evolved through several digital prototypes and in 2011 a standalone application was constructed. In 2013, following the announcement of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft at PAX East the three Canadian developers quit their PhD studies to begin work on Prismata full-time.[3][4] On November 14, 2014 Lunarch Studios launched a Kickstarter campaign for 140,000 Canadian dollars. Prismata received a large amount of attention of social media attention after a post about the developers became the highest rated post ever on the popular Reddit board, /r/bestof.[5][6] It received 100% funding at the end of the campaign with additional funds being raised through Paypal.[7] A development version of the game is currently being sold through their website, but will be made free-to-play upon release.
Reception
The development versions of the game have been well received. It is frequently referred to as a combination of Starcraft and Hearthstone. PCGamer referred to it as, "StarCraft without the RTS element" saying that "it does provide strategic depth without the necessity of mechanical skill."[2] Comparisons have also been drawn to Magic: The Gathering and Dominion.[6] Professional poker player, Michael McDonald is also an outspoken player of the game.[8] It has also been placed on The Globe and Mail's "Top 10 Canadian crowdfunding campaigns of the year" list[9] and it won a Curse award at PAX East 2015.[10]
References
- ^ "Steam Greenlight :: Prismata: Hybrid Strategy Game". steamcommunity.com. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ a b Marks, Tom (December 18, 2014). "Prismata hands-on: The best parts of StarCraft and Hearthstone". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ Bellemare, Andrea (December 16, 2014). "Waterloo friends quit PhDs at MIT to make online strategy game". CBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ Grant, Elyot. "Origins, Part 1: Why I quit my PhD at MIT to start a gaming studio". Prismata Blog. Lunarch Studios. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "/r/bestof/top". reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ a b Ponce, Tony (December 19, 2014). "Prismata Is a Turn-Based Strategy Card Game That's Blowing Up on reddit". Gameranx. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "PRISMATA: A New Hybrid Game of Pure Strategy". Kickstarter.com. Lunarch Studios. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ Cypra, Dan (December 11, 2014). "Mike McDonald (Timex): "I've Been Playing Prismata 40 Hours a Week"". Pocketfives. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ "Top 10 Canadian crowdfunding campaigns of the year". The Globe and Mail. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ Khalija. "The PAX East 2015 Curse Awards!". Curse.com. Curse. Retrieved 14 June 2015.