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|caption= |caption=
|developer = ] |developer = ]
|publisher=Introversion Software (Windows/Linux)<br>] (Mac OS X)<br>]/] (U.S.)<br> Stomp (Australia) |publisher=Introversion Software (Windows/Linux)<br />] (Mac OS X)<br />]/] (U.S.)<br />Stomp (Australia)
|designer = Chris Delay |designer = Chris Delay
|composer = ] <br /> Mathieu Stempell |composer = ]<br />Mathieu Stempell
|engine = |engine =
|released='''Windows'''<br>{{vgrelease|EU|4 March 2005}}'''Mac'''<br>{{vgrelease|EU|30 March 2005}}'''Steam'''<br>14 December 2005<br>'''MSN Games'''<br>31 January 2007<br>'''Xbox 360'''<br>11 February 2010 |released='''Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|EU|4 March 2005|NA|12 June 2006}}'''Linux'''<br />18 March 2005<br />'''Mac'''<br />30 March 2005<br />'''Steam'''<br />14 December 2005<ref name=Steam/><br />'''MSN Games'''<br />31 January 2007<br />'''Xbox 360'''<br />10 February 2010
|genre = ], ] |genre = ], ]
|modes = ] |modes = ]
|platforms=]<br />]<br />]<br />] |platforms=]<br />]<br />]<br />]
}} }}


'''''Darwinia''''' is a 2005 ] and ] ] for ], ] and ]. It is the second game developed by ], and is set within a computer environment that simulates artificial intelligence. It received favorable reviews and won three awards at the 2006 ]. A multiplayer sequel, '']'', was released for Windows in 2008. ''Darwinia'' and ''Multiwinia'' were released together as ''Darwinia+'' for the ] in 2010. '''''Darwinia''''' is a 2005 ] and ] ] for ], ] and ]. It is the second game developed by ], and is set within a computer environment that simulates artificial intelligence. It received favorable reviews and won three awards at the 2006 ]. A multiplayer sequel, '']'', was released for Windows in 2008. ''Darwinia'' and ''Multiwinia'' were released together as '''''Darwinia+''''' for the ] in 2010.


==Plot== ==Plot==
''Darwinia'' was created as a digital theme world for ] ]s by Dr Sepulveda. Housed in a massive network of surplus Protologic 68000 machines from the 1980s, Darwinia is a world where the single-poly Darwinians, with their simple, but growing AI, can grow and evolve. Darwinia is also where the world can visit to see them frolicking in their natural, fractal habitat. A Darwinian lives a life working and growing, until the eventual death of the Darwinian, which releases their digital soul to later be reincarnated. ''Darwinia'' was created as a digital theme world for ] ]s by Dr Sepulveda. Housed in a massive network of surplus Protologic 68000 machines from the 1980s, Darwinia is a world where the single-poly Darwinians, with their simple, but growing AI, can grow and evolve. Darwinia is also where the world can visit to see them frolicking in their natural, fractal habitat. A Darwinian lives a life working and growing, until the eventual death of the Darwinian, which releases their digital soul to later be reincarnated.


However, the player arrives in the midst of an emergency. Darwinia has been infected by a ], and Sepulveda is in near panic, watching decades of research being corrupted and being used up. Sepulveda enlists the player, a curious hacker who stumbled across Darwinia by accident, to aid him in rescuing the Darwinians and drive off the computer virus. The player is given access to the combat programs, simple tools that originally began as mini-games. These are now the only means of attack against the virus. As the player progresses, it soon becomes clear this is not enough, and that triggers the third aspect of the gameplay, which is evolution. However, the player arrives in the midst of an emergency. Darwinia has been infected by a ], and Sepulveda is in near panic, watching decades of research being corrupted and being used up. Sepulveda enlists the player, a curious hacker who stumbled across Darwinia by accident, to aid him in rescuing the Darwinians and drive off the computer virus. The player is given access to the combat programs, simple tools that originally began as mini-games. These are now the only means of attack against the virus. As the player progresses, it soon becomes clear this is not enough, and that triggers the third aspect of the gameplay, which is evolution.
Line 30: Line 30:
==Gameplay== ==Gameplay==
] ]
''Darwinia'' mixes elements from ], ], ], ] and ]s alike, meaning that it does not fall under a specific ].<ref>Stone, T: "PC Gamer UK", pages 80, 81. Future Publishing, 2005</ref> The player has the ability to run several programs through the Task Manager, similar to units used in many ] games. Research allows the player to upgrade programs and weapons, which is critical as the enemy develops. Mission Objectives are given at each location/level, as the player and the Darwinians attempt to wipe out the Viruses. ''Darwinia'' mixes elements from strategy, action, puzzle, ] and ]s alike, meaning that it does not fall under a specific ].<ref name="PCGUK">{{cite magazine | author = Stone, T | title = Darwinia | magazine = ] | publisher = ] | date = March 2005 | pages = 80-81}}</ref> The player has the ability to run several programs through the Task Manager, similar to units used in many ] games. Research allows the player to upgrade programs and weapons, which is critical as the enemy develops. Mission Objectives are given at each location/level, as the player and the Darwinians attempt to wipe out the Viruses.


==Development== ==Development==
''Darwinia'' was inspired by the theme of the first ], where a group of programmers experimented with generating tens of thousands of sprites on screen at once. Introversion began prototyping a war game with more units on screen than had ever been done at that point. After months of iteration and development, this coalesced into the gameplay for ''Darwinia''.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://archive.gamedev.net/archive/columns/interviews/introversion.html | title = Interview with Introversion Software | publisher = gamedev.net | first = Drew "Gaiiden" | last = Sikora | accessdate= 11 October 2016}}</ref> ''Darwinia'' was inspired by the theme of the first ], where a group of programmers experimented with generating tens of thousands of sprites on screen at once. Introversion began prototyping a war game with more units on screen than had ever been done at that point. After months of iteration and development, this coalesced into the gameplay for ''Darwinia''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.gamedev.net/archive/columns/interviews/introversion.html | title = Interview with Introversion Software | website = GameDev.net | first = Drew "Gaiiden" | last = Sikora | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref>


The initial ] of ''Darwinia'' begun on 27 August 2004, and the beta testing of the full game started on 26 November, the same year. A demo level of ''Darwinia'' was released 3 months later on 21 January, and can be downloaded from the ''Darwinia'' website. ''Darwinia'' was released on 4 March 2005, while the ] version was released 30 March 2005 by publisher ]. A ] was released on 28 April 2005 for ], bringing the version to 1.2. New features included an improved unit selection system, as well as numerous modding updates including the ability to create custom strings. Another patch (version 1.3) was released in September 2005, which includes the option (enabled by default) of clicking icons or using keyboard shortcuts to create units instead of using the gesture system. A new demo, using features of the above-mentioned version 1.3 patch and an entirely new level "Launchpad" not in the full game, was released in September 2005. The initial ] of ''Darwinia'' begun on 27 August 2004, and the beta testing of the full game started on 26 November, the same year. A demo level of ''Darwinia'' was released 3 months later on 21 January, and can be downloaded from the ''Darwinia'' website. ''Darwinia'' was released in Europe on 4 March 2005 (the U.S. version followed on 12 June 2006), while the ] version was released 30 March 2005 by publisher ]. A ] was released on 28 April 2005 for ], bringing the version to 1.2. New features included an improved unit selection system, as well as numerous modding updates including the ability to create custom strings. Another patch (version 1.3) was released in September 2005, which includes the option (enabled by default) of clicking icons or using keyboard shortcuts to create units instead of using the gesture system. A new demo, using features of the above-mentioned version 1.3 patch and an entirely new level "Launchpad" not in the full game, was released in September 2005.


''Darwinia'' was released on ] on 14 December 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://store.steampowered.com/news/493/ | title = Darwinia Available Now On Steam | publisher = Valve Software | date = 14 December 2005 | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref> This helped solve some of Introversion's distribution problems, and allowed for localized versions to be developed; a German translation was included with the Steam release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steamreview.org/?p=27 |title=Darwinia and Steam: an Interview with Introversion – The Steam Review |publisher=Steamreview.org |date=23 November 2005 |accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> A new patch was released on 10 March 2006 bringing the version up to 1.42 and adding difficulty settings ranging from 1 to 10. Higher difficulties increase the number, speed, and health of monsters. It also increases the speed of the player's own units.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darwinia.co.uk/support/changes.txt |title=VERSION 1.42 |publisher=Introversion |date= |accessdate=25 July 2009}}</ref> ]-owned ] on 4 April 2006 issued a press release announcing they would bring ''Darwinia'' to US markets in June 2006. Beta testing signups for version 1.5.x started on 15 December 2006.<ref>{{cite web|first1=John |last1=Knottenbelt |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/darwinia/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=562 |title=Darwinia Update Testing |publisher=Introversion |date=15 December 2006 |accessdate=25 July 2009}}</ref> A Windows Vista exclusive version of ''Darwinia'' with extra eye candy and 3 additional levels was released on 31 January 2007. Version 1.5.1.1 patch released on 18 June 2007, providing support for DirectX 9c, including extra eye candy and the "Launchpad" level. ''Darwinia'' was released on ] on 14 December 2005.<ref name=Steam>{{cite web | url = http://store.steampowered.com/news/493/ | title = Darwinia Available Now On Steam | website = ] | publisher = ] | date = 14 December 2005 | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref> This helped solve some of Introversion's distribution problems, and allowed for localized versions to be developed; a German translation was included with the Steam release.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://steamreview.org/posts/darwiniainterview/ | title = Darwinia and Steam: an Interview with Introversion | website = The Steam Review | date = 23 November 2005 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref> A new patch was released on 10 March 2006 bringing the version up to 1.42 and adding difficulty settings ranging from 1 to 10. Higher difficulties increase the number, speed, and health of monsters. It also increases the speed of the player's own units.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwinia/support/changes.txt | title = VERSION 1.42 | website = ] | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref> ]-owned ] on 4 April 2006 issued a press release announcing they would bring ''Darwinia'' to US markets in June 2006. Beta testing signups for version 1.5.x started on 15 December 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://forums.introversion.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=40359 | title = Darwinia Update Testing | website = Introversion Software | first = John | last = Knottenbelt | date = 15 December 2006 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref> A Windows Vista exclusive version of ''Darwinia'' with extra eye candy and 3 additional levels was released on 31 January 2007. Version 1.5.1.1 patch released on 18 June 2007, providing support for DirectX 9c, including extra eye candy and the "Launchpad" level.


In 2010 in context of a Bundle sale the ] of the game ] for purchase under a non-].<ref> by Kieron Gillen on ] (July 10th, 2010)</ref> In 2010 in context of a Bundle sale the ] of the game ] for purchase under a non-].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/10/be-beside-the-c-side-darwinia-source-code/ | title = Be Beside The C-Side: Darwinia Source Code | website = ] | first = Kieron | last = Gillen | date = 10 July 2010}}</ref>


==''Darwinia+''== ==''Darwinia+''==
''Darwinia+'' is the version of ''Darwinia'' for the ], released on the ] on 11 February 2010. It includes updated versions of both ''Darwinia'' and '']''. This was Introversion Software's first venture onto a video games console.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus/ |title=Darwinia+ XBLA Xbox Live Arcade |publisher=Introversion.co.uk |date=10 February 2010 |accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> ''Darwinia+'' is the version of ''Darwinia'' for the ], released on the ] on 11 February 2010. It includes updated versions of both ''Darwinia'' and '']''. This was Introversion Software's first venture onto a video games console.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus/ | title = Darwinia+ XBLA Xbox Live Arcade | website = Introversion Software | date = 10 February 2010 | accessdate = 17 November 2012}}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==
{{Video game reviews {{Video game reviews
| state = | PC = true
| title = Darwinia | X360 = true
| na = true
<!-- Aggregators -->
| EuroG_PC = 9/10<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_darwinia_pc | title = Darwinia | website = ] | publisher = Gamer Network | first = Kieron | last = Gillen | date = 7 March 2005 | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref>
| MC = wikidata
| EuroG_X360 = 8/10<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/darwinia-review | title = Darwinia+ | website = Eurogamer | publisher = Gamer Network | first = Dan | last = Whitehead | date = 10 February 2010 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref>
<!-- Reviewers -->
| IGN = 8.8/10<ref name="ignreview">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/25/darwinia | title=Darwinia | first=Dan| last=Adams | date=25 March 2005 | publisher=] | accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref> | GSpot_PC = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/darwinia-review/1900-6131968/ | title=Darwinia Review | website = ] | publisher = ] | first = Greg | last = Mueller | date = 25 August 2005 | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10<ref name="eurogamer">{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_darwinia_pc | title=Darwinia | first=Kieron | last=Gillen | date=7 March 2005 |website=] | publisher=Gamer Network | accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref> | GSpot_X360 = 8/10<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/darwinia-review/1900-6251060/ | title = Darwinia+ Review | website = GameSpot | publisher = CBS Interactive | first = Brett | last = Todd | date = 17 February 2010 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.5/10<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/darwinia-review/1900-6131968/ | title=Darwinia Review | first=Greg| last=Mueller | date=25 August 2005 | publisher=] | accessdate=11 October 2016}}</ref> | IGN_PC = 8.8/10<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/25/darwinia | title = Darwinia | website = ] | publisher = ] | first = Dan | last = Adams | date = 25 March 2005 | accessdate = 11 October 2016}}</ref>
| IGN_X360 = 8.9/10<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/10/darwinia-review | title = Darwinia+ Review | website = IGN | publisher = Ziff Davis | first = Daemon | last = Hatfield | date = 9 February 2010 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref>
| MC_PC = 84/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web | url = http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/darwinia | title = Darwinia for PC Reviews | website = ] | publisher = CBS Interactive | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref>
| MC_X360 = 80/100<ref name="MCX360">{{cite web | url = http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/darwinia+ | title = Darwinia+ for Xbox 360 Reviews | website = Metacritic | publisher = CBS Interactive | accessdate=24 March 2018}}</ref>
<!-- Awards No limit --> <!-- Awards No limit -->
| award1Pub = ] | award1Pub = ]
| award1 = ]<ref name="igfawards">{{cite web|url=http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html|title=2006 Independent Games Festival Winners|access-date=11 October 2016|publisher=]|dead-url=yes|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604201241/http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html}}</ref> | award1 = ]<ref name="igfawards">{{cite web | url = http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html | title = 2006 Independent Games Festival Winners | website = ] | accessdate = 11 October 2016 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160604201241/http://www.igf.com/2006finalistswinners.html | archivedate = 4 June 2016 |deadurl = yes}}</ref>
| award2Pub = ] | award2Pub = Independent Games Festival
| award2 = Technical Excellence | award2 = Technical Excellence
| award3Pub = ] | award3Pub = Independent Games Festival
| award3 = Innovation in Visual Art | award3 = Innovation in Visual Art
}} }}


Darwinia was positively received by critics, garnering "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="Darwinia-MCPC"/> It won the ] at ] 2006, as well as the Technical Excellence and Innovation in Visual Art awards.<ref name="igfawards"/> ''Darwinia'' and ''Darwinia+'' were positively received by critics, garnering "generally favorable reviews" according to ].<ref name="MCPC"/><ref name="MCX360"/> The PC version won the ] at ] 2006, as well as the Technical Excellence and Innovation in Visual Art awards.<ref name="igfawards"/>


*Nominated for Best Game in the ] Innovation in Games Awards 2006 *Nominated for Best Game in the ] Innovation in Games Awards 2006{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
*Scored 90% from '']'' UK and reached number 21 on its 'Top 100 PC Games' list. *Scored 90% from '']'' UK and reached number 21 on its 'Top 100 PC Games' list.<ref name="PCGUK" />
*"Has to be played" by PCReview.co.uk<ref></ref> *"Has to be played" by PC Review<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcreview.co.uk/articles/darwinia.169/ | title = Darwinia | website = PC Review | first = Chris | last = Pickering | date = 5 September 2005}}</ref>
⚫ *New Age Gaming magazine awarded ''Darwinia'' a score of 97, its highest ever, and an Editor's Choice award. No other game has exceeded 96 as of June 2007. A scan of the review can be found on the official site.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwinia/exposure/nag_april_2005/review.jpg | title = Darwinia Review | magazine = New Age Gaming | date = April 2005 | page = 66 | format = JPEG | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}</ref> It also received a video review included on NAG's cover DVD.{{cn|date=October 2017}}
*Earned a 5 out of 5 on ].{{cn|date=October 2017}}
⚫ *New Age Gaming magazine awarded ''Darwinia'' a score of 97, its highest ever, and an Editor's Choice award. No other game has exceeded 96 as of June 2007. A scan of the review can be found on the official site.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.darwinia.co.uk/exposure/nag_april_2005/review.jpg |title=Darwinia Review |pages=66 |date=April 2005 |work=New Age Gaming |format=JPEG |accessdate=12 January 2009}}</ref> It also received a video review included on NAG's cover DVD.{{cn|date=October 2017}}
* Named one of the ].{{cn|date=October 2017}} * Named one of the ].{{cn|date=October 2017}}


''Darwinia'' won '']''{{'}}s 2005 "Special Achievement in Creativity" award. The editors wrote, "Part RTS game, part sandbox, part Sea Monkeys — ''Darwinia''{{'}}s retro-cool is backed up with intense and often surprising strategic moments."<ref name=pcgamerusawards2005>{{cite journal |date=March 2006 | title=The Twelfth Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards | volume=13 | number=3 | pages=33-36, 38, 40-42, 44 | journal=] | author=Staff }}</ref> ''Darwinia'' won '']''{{'}}s 2005 "Special Achievement in Creativity" award. The editors wrote, "Part RTS game, part sandbox, part Sea Monkeys — ''Darwinia''{{'}}s retro-cool is backed up with intense and often surprising strategic moments."<ref>{{cite magazine | title = The Twelfth Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards | magazine = ] | publisher = ] | volume = 13 | issue = 3 | date = March 2006 | pages = 33-36, 38, 40-42, 44}}</ref>

{{clear}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*{{moby game|id=/darwinia}}
*{{moby game|id=/xbox360/darwinia_|name=''Darwinia+''}}


{{Introversion Software}} {{Introversion Software}}

Revision as of 18:52, 24 March 2018

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2005 video game
Darwinia
Developer(s)Introversion Software
Publisher(s)Introversion Software (Windows/Linux)
Ambrosia Software (Mac OS X)
Cinemaware Marquee/eGames (U.S.)
Stomp (Australia)
Designer(s)Chris Delay
Composer(s)Timothy Lamb
Mathieu Stempell
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Linux
Mac OS X
Xbox 360
ReleaseWindows
  • EU: 4 March 2005
  • NA: 12 June 2006
Linux
18 March 2005
Mac
30 March 2005
Steam
14 December 2005
MSN Games
31 January 2007
Xbox 360
10 February 2010
Genre(s)Real-time tactics, real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Darwinia is a 2005 real-time tactics and real-time strategy video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It is the second game developed by Introversion Software, and is set within a computer environment that simulates artificial intelligence. It received favorable reviews and won three awards at the 2006 Independent Games Festival. A multiplayer sequel, Multiwinia, was released for Windows in 2008. Darwinia and Multiwinia were released together as Darwinia+ for the Xbox 360 in 2010.

Plot

Darwinia was created as a digital theme world for artificially intelligent polygons by Dr Sepulveda. Housed in a massive network of surplus Protologic 68000 machines from the 1980s, Darwinia is a world where the single-poly Darwinians, with their simple, but growing AI, can grow and evolve. Darwinia is also where the world can visit to see them frolicking in their natural, fractal habitat. A Darwinian lives a life working and growing, until the eventual death of the Darwinian, which releases their digital soul to later be reincarnated.

However, the player arrives in the midst of an emergency. Darwinia has been infected by a computer virus, and Sepulveda is in near panic, watching decades of research being corrupted and being used up. Sepulveda enlists the player, a curious hacker who stumbled across Darwinia by accident, to aid him in rescuing the Darwinians and drive off the computer virus. The player is given access to the combat programs, simple tools that originally began as mini-games. These are now the only means of attack against the virus. As the player progresses, it soon becomes clear this is not enough, and that triggers the third aspect of the gameplay, which is evolution.

The first two levels of the video game act as an introduction and allow the player to familiarize themselves with the controls. After that, Dr Sepulveda begins assigning tasks that span several levels to achieve a long-term objective. The first task involves clearing the virus population from and reactivating the Mines and Power Generator to provide resources for the Construction Yard. Once done, the Yard begins producing armored units, allowing the player to move on. The next task involves the reincarnation of Darwinians: the Soul Repository in the center of Darwinia collects the floating souls, and sends them down to the Receiver, where the Darwinians gather them and send them to the Pattern Buffer to be reprogrammed with the main Darwinian blueprint code, where they are sent to the Biosphere to be reborn. The player must clear the Viruses from all the facilities and reactivate them.

In the final level of the game, Sepulveda traces the Viral infection back to its source, which is e-mail spam. After Sepulveda had accidentally flashed an image of his face across the skies of Darwinia, The Darwinians had assumed him to be God. They then re-aligned a portal inside Darwinia in an attempt to communicate with God. The Darwinians managed to access Sepulveda's computer, downloading several files and eventually downloading the Spam. The e-mails were infected with a very nasty strain of internet virus which corrupted the Darwinians. The player is tasked to destroying the few remaining e-mails.

Gameplay

A Squad attacking its target with an airstrike

Darwinia mixes elements from strategy, action, puzzle, hacker and God games alike, meaning that it does not fall under a specific video game genre. The player has the ability to run several programs through the Task Manager, similar to units used in many real time strategy games. Research allows the player to upgrade programs and weapons, which is critical as the enemy develops. Mission Objectives are given at each location/level, as the player and the Darwinians attempt to wipe out the Viruses.

Development

Darwinia was inspired by the theme of the first Indie Game Jam, where a group of programmers experimented with generating tens of thousands of sprites on screen at once. Introversion began prototyping a war game with more units on screen than had ever been done at that point. After months of iteration and development, this coalesced into the gameplay for Darwinia.

The initial beta testing of Darwinia begun on 27 August 2004, and the beta testing of the full game started on 26 November, the same year. A demo level of Darwinia was released 3 months later on 21 January, and can be downloaded from the Darwinia website. Darwinia was released in Europe on 4 March 2005 (the U.S. version followed on 12 June 2006), while the Macintosh version was released 30 March 2005 by publisher Ambrosia Software. A patch was released on 28 April 2005 for Microsoft Windows, bringing the version to 1.2. New features included an improved unit selection system, as well as numerous modding updates including the ability to create custom strings. Another patch (version 1.3) was released in September 2005, which includes the option (enabled by default) of clicking icons or using keyboard shortcuts to create units instead of using the gesture system. A new demo, using features of the above-mentioned version 1.3 patch and an entirely new level "Launchpad" not in the full game, was released in September 2005.

Darwinia was released on Steam on 14 December 2005. This helped solve some of Introversion's distribution problems, and allowed for localized versions to be developed; a German translation was included with the Steam release. A new patch was released on 10 March 2006 bringing the version up to 1.42 and adding difficulty settings ranging from 1 to 10. Higher difficulties increase the number, speed, and health of monsters. It also increases the speed of the player's own units. eGames-owned Cinemaware on 4 April 2006 issued a press release announcing they would bring Darwinia to US markets in June 2006. Beta testing signups for version 1.5.x started on 15 December 2006. A Windows Vista exclusive version of Darwinia with extra eye candy and 3 additional levels was released on 31 January 2007. Version 1.5.1.1 patch released on 18 June 2007, providing support for DirectX 9c, including extra eye candy and the "Launchpad" level.

In 2010 in context of a Bundle sale the source code of the game was made available for purchase under a non-open-source license.

Darwinia+

Darwinia+ is the version of Darwinia for the Xbox 360, released on the Xbox Live Arcade on 11 February 2010. It includes updated versions of both Darwinia and Multiwinia. This was Introversion Software's first venture onto a video games console.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
PCXbox 360
Metacritic84/10080/100
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCXbox 360
Eurogamer9/108/10
GameSpot8.5/108/10
IGN8.8/108.9/10
Awards
PublicationAward
Independent Games FestivalSeumas McNally Grand Prize
Independent Games FestivalTechnical Excellence
Independent Games FestivalInnovation in Visual Art

Darwinia and Darwinia+ were positively received by critics, garnering "generally favorable reviews" according to Metacritic. The PC version won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at IGF 2006, as well as the Technical Excellence and Innovation in Visual Art awards.

  • Nominated for Best Game in the GameShadow Innovation in Games Awards 2006
  • Scored 90% from PC Gamer UK and reached number 21 on its 'Top 100 PC Games' list.
  • "Has to be played" by PC Review
  • New Age Gaming magazine awarded Darwinia a score of 97, its highest ever, and an Editor's Choice award. No other game has exceeded 96 as of June 2007. A scan of the review can be found on the official site. It also received a video review included on NAG's cover DVD.
  • Named one of the 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.

Darwinia won PC Gamer US's 2005 "Special Achievement in Creativity" award. The editors wrote, "Part RTS game, part sandbox, part Sea Monkeys — Darwinia's retro-cool is backed up with intense and often surprising strategic moments."

References

  1. ^ "Darwinia Available Now On Steam". Steam. Valve Corporation. 14 December 2005. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  2. ^ Stone, T (March 2005). "Darwinia". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. pp. 80–81.
  3. Sikora, Drew "Gaiiden". "Interview with Introversion Software". GameDev.net. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  4. "Darwinia and Steam: an Interview with Introversion". The Steam Review. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  5. "VERSION 1.42". Introversion Software. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. Knottenbelt, John (15 December 2006). "Darwinia Update Testing". Introversion Software. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  7. Gillen, Kieron (10 July 2010). "Be Beside The C-Side: Darwinia Source Code". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
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  17. ^ "2006 Independent Games Festival Winners". Independent Games Festival. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. Pickering, Chris (5 September 2005). "Darwinia". PC Review.
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  20. "The Twelfth Annual PC Gamer Awards". PC Gamer US. Vol. 13, no. 3. Future US. March 2006. pp. 33–36, 38, 40–42, 44.

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