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Arcadia (Abandonware)
Author: Mephistex Submitted: 9th September, 2005 Favourites:0
Genre: Abandoned Downloads: 203
Rated:


Some of you might remember this game. I certainly didn't until a few days ago, but there you go. For those that do, and those that don't but would still like to see what might have been, here is the abandonware version of arcadia.

HISTORY

This game was the first great group project undertaken by Heretic Emu Studios, and as such displays both our greatest strengths - originality, and our greatest weaknesses - the inability to actually finish anything. Note that although Arcadia was a group project, everything you see here with the exception of the title graphic created by Craig (AKA Buster) was created by myself, Paul Jeffries. The idea was that the game would be modular in design, with myself creating the arcade simulation part and the other members would create the minigames which would then slot into it. This release is only my 'module'; the arcade simulation section and two test minigames. The other modules remain the property of the individual members, and you may see them at some point should they decide to release them separately.

However, although I can, and do, take credit for the legwork on what you see here, the more important job of brainstorming and refining ideas and features for the design truly was a group effort in which every member of HES played a part. So, I would like to thank them all and hope that their contribution is noted, even if it is not plainly visible.

The game failed in the end not because of any catastrophic fall-out of the group members, but for rather more mundane reasons. we each had other commitments, other projects we wished to devote our time to. Several members lost a lot of their work due to hardware malfunction. In the end, the project simply fizzled out.


GAMEPLAY

Arcadia gives the player the chance to manage their own arcade. You must build up your arcade by adding machines, decoration, bins etc to draw in the punters, keep your empire in working order by hiring cleaning ladies and technicians and defend it against the machinations of perverts and vandals with lethal force. Not only this, but when you get bored of buying things and shooting people, you can kick back and relax by playing one of your own machines.

There is much in the game that remains incomplete. The AI of your staff lacks the 'go to spot' command, and there would have been security guards to help you defend your arcade. There also would have been mafia attacks to contend with, and some kind of doll collection thing (don't ask me, that wasn't my department). Perhaps most importantly, there would have been more than two types of arcade machine. Sucesses in the arcade games would have unlocked more things in arcade management mode, for example in the proper game you would start with no weapons and would need to unlock them.

However what is there is still fully playable. The lack of arcade games might make it short in lifespan, but what you can experience here is pretty much exactly how the first 10-15 minutes of the full game would have panned out.

FEATURES:

- Innovative gameplay

- 2 complete minigames (+ 1 unfinished one)

- 5 weapons to blast away at your enemies

- 2 Staff types to recruit and boss about

- 7 Types of Arcade Furniture to buy and place


I think it's safe to say that in the intervening three years I've got a hell of a lot better at a lot of things, so there's certainly a lot about this game I would now do differently (mostly the control system and the music... euch...), but I still reckon its a pretty good game, or at least could have been, if we'd have ever finished it. Which we didn't.

If anybody's interested at looking at the source code I can't think of any good reason why they shouldn't. It's fairly sparsely commented, but if anybody wants a gander, e-mail me at the address on the website.

For details on how to play or how to access the hidden features, I suggest you look at the readme. If you can't be bothered, the game itself is fairly self-explanitory. Right-click on any object to see information about it.

The download here takes you to a zipped version of the game. If you really want one, there is an installer version at

www.paul-jeffries.com/games.html

Review This Download



     
  


http://www.paul-jeffries.com/arcadia.zip (1.13mb )



Posted by Assault Andy 9th September, 2005

I have no idea how to play this, I want to put it on the frontpage because it looks fun, but I can't find anyway to go past the Arcadia screen besides pressing S. I pressed every button on my keyboard, and nothing happens.
 
Posted by Mephistex 9th September, 2005

Odd. The event is a 'press any key' action, so anything other than S should work. I'll replace that code and re-upload. Please nobody bother downloading until it's fixed.
 
Posted by Mephistex 9th September, 2005

Fixed. That was my bad - the code for the hidden extra that I added was interfering with the pre-existing code to take you to the game itself. You now just need to press Enter at the title screen.
 
Posted by Daiz [Team Fire Games] 9th September, 2005

Actually, this is quite fun. Sad that you wont finish this. This would also need some kind of advertising of your arcade, because it was very boring when just few random customers popped in and walked out before playing anything, only few people actually played games :I
 
Posted by Dustin Gunn 9th September, 2005

I done shot you with a minigun, Paul
 
Posted by Crystal Clear (H.E.S) 9th September, 2005

Heya Paul, glad to see its still released. Had fun making mini-games and that for it, The title-sequence is hella cool i must add! Anyways i probably should jump on MSN now and again to say hello. WU-TANG!
 
Posted by Bibin 9th September, 2005

love it. i wish the people could play the machines tho. i started a game inspired by this called "arcade tycoon" look in the previews section.
 
Posted by colej_uk 10th September, 2005

This is really good, it's a real shame that it's abandonware...
 
Posted by alibaba 10th September, 2005

Hey, i won a comp to be in this game!!!!!!!!!!! am I in it somewhere? ;) hehe i will have to download it and have a look
 
Posted by Mephistex 10th September, 2005

Bibinson: Nice to see somebody keeping the dream alive. I seem to remember that just after we originally announced Arcadia somebody else also announced that they were working on an arcade simulator, albeit a slightly 'straighter' one than ours. Sadly it looks like that one never made it either.
 
Posted by Simon Colmer 12th September, 2005

ye, this is one good game - reminds me of Theme Hospital and original Theme Park - this should be continued - such a fun game! I like to hire loads of staff and blast them to bits :P but some more just walk out of the door for free so thats fun! Well done man, u had one good game in the making!
 
Posted by blueemu (Heretic Emu Studios) 12th September, 2005

there were quite a few arcade games ready that never made it into the game if i rememember correctly but most were far to big. didnt we even plan for n online mode at one stage?
 
Posted by Zethell 13th September, 2005

Nice game :D I hired a technitian, got the chaingun and killed him soo many times that the game itself stopped responing for a short amount of time xD (y) Thumbs up.
 
Posted by Broomie 14th September, 2005


 
Posted by Buster 15th September, 2005

Whoa. Excuse me while I take a stroll down memory lane! Seems like so long ago!
 
Posted by Fragasnap 17th September, 2005

I had an idea for a game like this. Man, I guess it'd be redundant to have 3 arcade owning simulators.
 
Posted by Leon101 14th October, 2005

Darn, why did it have to be abandon. This is probably the first ever simulation game to be made on here (not counting simsheep) I don't think any other real fun sim games were made. I remember someone saying they were making a "The Sims" like game, called the "The Clicks" but sadly...it to was abandon.
 

 



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