Software:Moving Out (video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: 2020 video game
Moving Out
Moving Out cover art.jpg
Developer(s)DevM Games
SMG Studio
Publisher(s)Team17
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
April 28, 2020
Amazon Luna
January 28, 2021
Genre(s)Puzzle, action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Moving Out is a 2020 cooperative moving simulation game developed by Swedish[2] studio DevM Games and Australian[3] developer SMG Studio. In a local cooperative experience, players move objects from houses into a moving van while coping with exaggerated physics.[4][5][6] The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 28, 2020, and for Amazon Luna on January 28, 2021.[7][8]

A sequel, titled Moving Out 2, was released on August 15, 2023.[9]

Gameplay

Players in Moving Out take on the role of movers, moving marked furniture and appliances (such as couches, refrigerators, and microwaves) from a house to a moving truck under a time limit. Along the way, obstacles (such as rakes, fires, ice, and even ghosts) may be encountered. Some heavy objects require two people to move, while other objects are fragile and may be easily broken. Objects may be thrown. Players are ranked on a bronze, silver and gold scale, based on how quickly all of the objects are packed into the moving truck. The levels also have optional objectives, such as breaking all of the house's windows or packing an unmarked object. Additional bonus levels may also be unlocked.

Moving Out features an "Assist Mode" feature, which helps reduce game difficulty. With this feature, the player can add extra time to the time limit, vanish objects on delivery, remove obstacles, make objects lighter or even skip levels.[10]

Downloadable Content

The first DLC, The Employees of the Month Pack, contains four new playable characters: Professor Inkle, Bruce, Sprinkles and Dials.[11][12]

In February 2021, an expansion via DLC for all supported platforms was released under the name Movers in Paradise,[13] which added 14 new levels to the story as well as new characters and new types of items to be moved.[14]

A free downloadable update later introduced a new game mode for 12 of the original game levels which reverse the game play; asking players to remove items from a moving truck and place them in appropriate locations.[15]

Development

The idea came from developer Jan Rigerl helping a friend move.[16] Rigerl noted he became fascinated with the process and the strategies involved in such things as "moving a couch around a hallway choke point or fitting multiple things into the elevator" and also noting that the concept would appeal to people because of the general poor reception most moving companies have.[17] He started to develop such a game but as it grew in size he decided to team up with Ashley Ringrose, CEO of SMG Games. Ringrose had previously collaborated with Rigerl and had been trying unsuccessfully to get him join the studio.[16] SMG's previous game Death Squared helped inform the game development, as they wanted to avoid the mistakes made with that game with Ringrose stating that the lessons were "Focus on a strong, vibrant and visual identity. Have a name that's fun and doesn't mention Death! And have strong characters people can identify with."[16]

Upon the game's announcement comparisons began being made to Overcooked, a similar multiplayer game released a few years earlier. Ringrose has noted that prior to Moving Out's prototype being made he never played Overcooked and while embracing the comparison as a "shorthand reference", he also noted the various differences including Moving Out having a more focused single player experience.[17][16]

A sequel, titled Moving Out 2, was released on August 15, 2023 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[18]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
MetacriticPC: 79/100[19]
NS: 77/100[20]
PS4: 74/100[21]
XONE: 78/100[22]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EurogamerRecommended[23]
Game Informer6.5/10[24]
GamesRadar+3.5/5 stars[25]
IGN8/10[26]

Moving Out has received generally positive reviews, with most reviewers commending its multiplayer game play. Comparisons to Overcooked were common.[citation needed]

References

  1. Shacknews (October 10, 2019). "Moving Out interview: Blending real moving experiences with games". https://www.shacknews.com/article/114440/moving-out-interview-blending-real-moving-experiences-with-games. 
  2. "About" (in en). DevM Games. https://www.devm-games.com/?page=about. Retrieved 2020-06-16. 
  3. "SMG Studio" (in en). Twitter. https://twitter.com/smgstudio. Retrieved 2020-06-16. 
  4. Donlan, Christian (2020-04-23). "Moving Out review - removals get the Overcooked treatment" (in en). Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-23-moving-out-review-removals-get-the-overcooked-treatment. Retrieved 2020-06-16. 
  5. Kuchera, Ben (2020-05-05). "Moving Out turns friends into enemies and enemies into co-workers" (in en-US). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2020/5/5/21247832/moving-out-review-xbox-one-playstation-4-nintendo-switch. Retrieved 2020-06-16. 
  6. Ogilvie, Tristan (2020-04-23). "Moving Out Review" (in en). IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/moving-out-review. Retrieved 2020-06-16. 
  7. "Moving Out launches April 28" (in en-US). 2020-02-04. https://www.gematsu.com/2020/02/moving-out-launches-april-28. 
  8. (in en) New on Luna+: Moving Out, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g3biSCNXV0, retrieved 2022-12-18 
  9. Romano, Sal (16 June 2023). "Moving Out 2 launches August 15". https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/moving-out-2-launches-august-15. 
  10. "Moving Out Accessibility and Assist Mode Features Detailed in New Trailer" (in en). 2020-04-14. https://www.dualshockers.com/moving-out-accessibility-assist-mode-features-showcased-in-trailer/. 
  11. "Moving Out - The Employees of the Month Pack". Sony. https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4064-CUSA17670_00-MOVINGOUT0000001. 
  12. "Moving Out - Pre-orders and Free Demo". Team 17. https://www.team17.com/moving-out-pre-orders-free-demo/. 
  13. "Review: Moving Out - Movers in Paradise für Nintendo Switch" (in de-DE). 2021-05-15. https://www.pocketpc.ch/magazin/testberichte/review-moving-out-movers-in-paradise-nintendo-switch-78248/. 
  14. "Moving Out - Movers in Paradise Release Date!" (in en-GB). 2021-02-08. https://www.team17.com/moving-out-movers-in-paradise-release-date/. 
  15. Phillips, Tom (January 15, 2021). "Moving Out free update will soon let you move in". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-01-15-moving-out-free-update-will-soon-let-you-move-in. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Lane, Gavin (May 17, 2020). "Feature: Moving Out - SMG Studio On 'Pre-Gaming' Apartment Moves And Collaborating Across Continents". https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/05/feature_moving_out_-_smg_studio_on_pre-gaming_apartment_moves_and_collaborating_across_continents. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 Garst, Aaron. "How Moving Out is bringing Overcooked-style fun to packing". https://www.redbull.com/us-en/smg-studios-moving-out-interview. 
  18. "Moving Out 2 Launching In 2023, Featuring Online Co-Op" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/moving-out-2-launching-in-2023-featuring-online-co-op/1100-6506789/. 
  19. "Moving Out for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/moving-out/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  20. "Moving Out for Switch Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/moving-out/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch. 
  21. "Moving Out for PlayStation 4 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/moving-out/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. 
  22. "Moving Out for Xbox One Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/moving-out/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one. 
  23. Donlan, Christian (April 23, 2020). "Moving Out review - removals get the Overcooked treatment". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-23-moving-out-review-removals-get-the-overcooked-treatment. 
  24. Cork, Jeff. "Moving Out Packed With Frustration". https://www.gameinformer.com/review/moving-out/moving-out-review-packed-with-frustration. 
  25. "Moving Out review: "An exciting and genuinely funny co-op experience"". Games Radar. April 23, 2020. https://www.gamesradar.com/moving-out-review/. Retrieved 16 September 2021. 
  26. Ogilvie, Tristan (11 September 2020). "Moving Out Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/moving-out-review. 

Further reading

External links