Company:Arcen Games

From HandWiki
Arcen Games
TypeLLC
IndustryVideo games
Founded2009
HeadquartersUnited States
Key people
  • Chris McElligott Park
  • Pablo Vega
  • Keith LaMothe
  • Daniette Shinkle
ProductsAI War
Tidalis
A Valley Without Wind 1&2
Shattered Haven
Skyward Collapse
Bionic Dues
The Last Federation
Stars Beyond Reach
Starward Rogue
In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor
AI War 2
Number of employees
Websitewww.arcengames.com

Arcen Games is a small video game company founded in 2009 by Chris McElligott Park.[6] The company launched their first product, AI War, in mid 2009 for Windows PCs.[7]

The company became one of the early notable examples of heavy procedural generation in almost all their games.[8] They are also known for taking unusual gameplay ideas in an idiosyncratic range of genres,[9] and exploring to the extreme ends of each idea.[10] Most of Arcen's titles include some form of overarching goals with a lot of freedom as to how the player goes about reaching said goals.[11] The company founder has a stated aversion to being stuck into any one genre.[12]

Arcen Games is best known for its real time strategy game AI War,[13] which had six DLC expansions released between 2010 and 2014.[14] Arcen released the puzzle game Tidalis in July 2010,[15][16] 2D side scrolling game A Valley Without Wind in April 2012,[17] its divergent sequel A Valley Without Wind 2 in February 2013,[18] environmental puzzle game Shattered Haven in March 2013,[19] turn-based god game Skyward Collapse in May 2013[20] with an expansion called Nihon no Mura later that year,[21] and tactical mech game Bionic Dues in October 2013.[22]

In April 2014, Arcen released The Last Federation, a space-themed strategy/simulation game.[23][24][25] This title did well enough to get two expansions by the end of 2015.[26] The Last Federation put the company in a "relatively cash-rich position," after which a major project by the name of Stars Beyond Reach was undertaken.[27] In October 2016, after an 18-month development cycle with the company's largest-yet team of staff and contractors, and with funds dwindling as long-term sales from other titles tapered, Stars Beyond Reach was put on indefinite hold.[28]

Arcen then rapidly developed and released the shoot 'em up roguelite Starward Rogue for January 2016,[29] but the title was a commercial failure that led to the layoff of all but three of their staff.[30] In August 2016, they released and then pulled from sale a 3D dino-vs-robots game, In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor due to overwhelmingly poor sales.[31] In January 2018, a mostly-independent group of former contractors dubbed the "Extended Team"[32] finished their work on a "labor of love" expansion for Starward Rogue, which was also well-received without generating much income.[33]

After one failed kickstarter in late 2016, a followup successful kickstarter the next month,[34] and then an extended period of early access starting in October 2018,[35] Arcen Games released AI War 2 in October 2019[36] to positive reviews.[37] The first expansion for AI War 2 was released in February 2020.[38]

References

  1. ↑ Honaker, Rob (November 14, 2019). "Chris Park of Arcen Games Interview". eXplorminate. https://explorminate.co/chris-park-of-arcen-games-podcast-interview/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  2. ↑ Wawro, Alex (January 28, 2016). "Arcen to lay off 'almost all' staff after poor sales of its latest game". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/264651/Arcen_to_lay_off_almost_all_staff_after_poor_sales_of_its_latest_game.php. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  3. ↑ "Sad news for Arcen Games now laying off most of their staff". Linux Game Consortium. January 29, 2016. https://linuxgameconsortium.com/sad-news-for-arcen-games-now-laying-off-most-of-their-staff/. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  4. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (April 8, 2015). "Have A Gander At Arcen's Space 4X Stars Beyond Reach". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/04/08/stars-beyond-reach-trailer/. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  5. ↑ Hillier, Brenna (August 4, 2012). "Living the Dream: Arcen Games and the Indie Recipe, Pt 1.". vg247. https://www.vg247.com/2012/08/04/living-the-dream-arcen-games-and-the-indie-recipe-pt-1/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  6. ↑ "v2.012 Released! "Populous"". March 26, 2020. https://steamcommunity.com/games/573410/announcements/detail/2078915095142987650. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  7. ↑ Love, Jason (2009). "Interview with Christopher Park - AI War Lead Designer". Co-Optimus. https://www.co-optimus.com/interview/305/page/1/interview-with-christopher-park-ai-war-lead-designer.html. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Sigl, Rainer (2012). ""The Process"-Footnotes: An interview with Chris Park of Arcen Games". Video Game Tourism. https://videogametourism.at/content/process-footnotes-interview-chris-park-arcen-games. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Pearson, Craig (April 12, 2014). "Win The Space Race: The Last Federation's Out Soon". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/12/win-the-space-race-the-last-federations-out-soon/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Parker, Rob (February 17, 2016). "First Person Podcast Interviews Chris Park". First Person Scholar. http://www.firstpersonscholar.com/interview-with-christopher-park/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  11. ↑ Ellison II, Scott (April 25, 2014). "The Last Federation Review". Saving Content. https://www.savingcontent.com/2014/04/25/the-last-federation-review/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  12. ↑ Cameron, Phill (February 8, 2011). "Arcen Games Talk A Valley Without Wind". Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/arcen-games-talk-a-valley-without-wind-5754975. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  13. ↑ Chick, Tom (August 13, 2009). "Rush, Boom, Turtle: And Now for Something Completely Different". Crispy Gamer. http://www.crispygamer.com/columns/2009-08-13/rush-boom-turtle-and-now-for-something-completely-different.aspx. Retrieved August 5, 2012. 
  14. ↑ Smith, Adam (August 8, 2014). "Downloadable Cunning: AI War - Destroyer Of Worlds". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/08/08/strategy-game-ai-war-dlc-expansion/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Rick, Christophor. "Tidalis Review (PC, Mac)". Gamers Daily News. http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-2510-Tidalis-Review-PC-Mac.html. Retrieved August 5, 2012. 
  16. ↑ Reed, Kristan (August 13, 2010). "Download Games Roundup". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-08-12-download-games-roundup-review?page=3. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  17. ↑ Cox, Kate (April 25, 2012). "A Valley Without Wind Still Managed to Blow Me Away". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5904822/a-valley-without-wind-still-managed-to-blow-me-away. Retrieved August 5, 2012. 
  18. ↑ Chick, Tom (February 19, 2013). "Valley Without Wind 2 transformed by the winds of change". Quarter To Three. https://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2013/02/19/valley-without-wind-2-transformed-by-the-winds-of-change/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  19. ↑ Porter, Matt (March 25, 2013). "Shattered Haven Review - Danger lurks everywhere". Hooked Gamers. https://www.hookedgamers.com/pc/shattered_haven/review/article-1040.html. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  20. ↑ Savillo, Rob (May 29, 2013). "Skyward Collapse truly reinvents the god game (review)". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2013/05/29/skyward-collapse-truly-reinvents-the-god-game-review/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  21. ↑ Savage, Phil (August 9, 2013). "Skyward Collapse to get first expansion, Nihon no Mura". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/skyward-collapse-to-get-first-expansion-nihon-no-mura/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  22. ↑ Tamburro, Paul (October 10, 2013). "Bionic Dues Review". Game Revolution. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/61802-bionic-dues-review. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  23. ↑ Bain, John (Apr 21, 2014). "WTF Is... - The Last Federation?". TotalBiscuit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu1VziShzDg. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  24. ↑ Bain, John (June 3, 2014). "The Co-Optional Podcast Animated: The Biscuit Federation Pt. 1". This is Polaris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNuDlpOrU8s. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  25. ↑ Bain, John (June 17, 2014). "The Co-Optional Podcast Animated: Biscuit Federation Pt. 2". This is Polaris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNuDlpOrU8s. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  26. ↑ Wulf, Happy (December 9, 2015). "Review: The Last Federation 3.0 + The Lost Technologies DLC". Game Revolution. https://indiegamereviewer.com/review-the-last-federation-from-arcen/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  27. ↑ Varfalvy, Edward (June 18, 2015). "Stars Beyond Reach – Interview with Arcen Games". Space Sector. https://www.spacesector.com/blog/2015/06/stars-beyond-reach-interview-with-arcen-games/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  28. ↑ Grant, James (January 29, 2016). "Arcen Games cuts staff following sales slump". gamesindustry.biz. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-01-29-arcen-games-forced-to-cut-staff. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  29. ↑ Cunningham, James (February 15, 2016). "Review: Starward Rogue". Hardcore Gamer. https://hardcoregamer.com/2016/02/15/review-starward-rogue/190393/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  30. ↑ Chalk, Andy (January 29, 2016). "Arcen lays off nearly all staff despite successful Starward Rogue launch". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/arcen-lays-off-nearly-all-staff-despite-successful-starward-rogue-launch/. Retrieved January 29, 2016. 
  31. ↑ Smith, Graham (August 30, 2016). "In Case Of Emergency, Release Raptor Pulled From Sale". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/08/30/in-case-of-emergency-release-raptor-pulled-from-sale/. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  32. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (January 28, 2018). "Starward Rogue's Augmented expansion buffs up the shmuppy roguelike". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/28/starward-rogue-augmented-expansion-released/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  33. ↑ Barnhart, M. Charles (January 25, 2018). "Starward Rogue AuGMENTED Review – A Roguelite to Really RogueLIKE". BagoGames. https://bagogames.com/starward-rogue-augmented-dlc-review/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  34. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (December 20, 2016). "AI War 2 aims for Oct 2017 after Kickstarter success". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/20/ai-war-2-kickstarter-successful/. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  35. ↑ Haselden, Stephen (October 18, 2018). "AI War 2 Early Access Release and Why Arcen Are a Model Indie Dev". PixelJudge. https://pixeljudge.com/news/ai-war-2-early-access-release-and-why-arcen-are-a-model-indie-dev/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 
  36. ↑ Williams, Alexander (2019-10-22). "AI WAR 2 REVIEW". Strategy Gamer. https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/ai-war-2/. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  37. ↑ "AI War 2 For PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ai-war-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved April 13, 2020. 
  38. ↑ Williams, Alexander (March 11, 2020). "AI War 2: The Spire Rises Review". StrategyGamer. https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/ai-war-2-the-spire-rises-expansion/. Retrieved April 17, 2020. 

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