Auryn Quest is a jump and runadventure game based on Michael Ende's novel The Neverending Story and his film adaptation of the same name. Originally developed by Discreet Monsters, "bad luck and mishaps" left the company bankrupt, and the game was eventually completed by Attraction.[1] Initially an ambitious adventure game, bankruptcy forced the release to be reworked into a first-person action, 3D platformer jump game vaguely based on its source material.[2] The first entry in a subsequently abandoned series,[3] it became the sole game project for Discreet Monsters.[4]
Development
Background
Discreet Monsters was founded in Germany in 1996 with only five employees, as a subsidiary of parent company 3-DD.[5] Development on The Real Neverending Story started in 1998.[5] The game received much media attention, who were impressed with the released demos and screenshots. The studio was considered a "New Economy shooting star".[6] Discreet Monsters founder Siggi Kogl raised 6.5 million marks in venture capital, and had a goal of the game being in 15 languages and selling 400,000 units worldwide.[7] The company invested into cartoon and internet TV development to expand the franchise.[5]
Design
The game was designed so the player's actions would affect their reputation, which in turn would affect how other characters interacted with them.[8] The company created a proprietary software called Monster Engine, which used two game engine variants; one for indoor and one for outdoor.[9][10][11] The developers often referred to "Quake 3" when trying to describe the project they were trying to achieve.[12] It was designed to have multiple ways of completion, and once the player had played every single combination, they could use elements from the main game to form an ongoing offline/online world called the Parallel World.[9][13] Each puzzle was crafted in such a way as to be solved in at least three ways; for instance when rescuing a princess the player can either take the key from the security guard (a battle segment), convince a companion to distract the guard, or shrinking into a small device (a jump and run segment).[14] The game took place in the land of Fantasia.[15] The title had an emotion-based dialogue function, in which the player sees the stream-of-consciousness thoughts of their character in a conversation and click all that apply.[16] The game was designed as the first of a series of three chapters, one released each consecutive year.[17]
Challenges
Due to over-ambition, the game went over budget and at one point had 60 people working on it full-time. This spooked investors, who began to pull out.[18] By September 1998, the game was expected to be released in Easter 1999.[19] The game was shown at the 1999 E3 expo.[20] In February 2000, a release date of that year's summer was reported.[21] As each release date approached, it kept being pushed back until July 2000 when development was discontinued entirely.[22] Kogl made two rounds of financing throughout development, and failed in the third in early 2001.[23] Discreet Monsters went bankrupt and the whole team was fired.[18]
A year later in January 2001,[22] Kogl managed to secure the rights to the game after the bankruptcy and started a new company called Attraction, consisting of a sample of the previous company's employees. With more modest plans, and the work of the previous version already completed, the company put a six-month development schedule on the game.[24][25] By March 2002, the game had not yet been given a release date.[26][27][28] Mr Bills Adventure Land reported that the developers wanted to allow players to decide whether to play the game as an adventure or action.[29]
Release and aftermath
Released on June 12, 2002,[30] the game's basis in Michael Ende's novel was used extensively in the game's marketing in order to pique buyer interest.[31] The game was made available in the major parts of Europe throughout the first half of 2002.[32] In August, Akella had signed a contract to publish the game in Russia and countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States.[33] The game was published in Europe by Octagon Entertainment,[27][34] and by DreamCatcher Interactive in North America.[35] The distributors' press releases made several comparisons to Myst.[36]
In 2006, Octagon Entertainment attained the North American publishing rights to the game.[37]
Plot
The Auryn, a magical amulet used by the Childlike Empress to rule, has been stolen.[38] The player takes the role of the Indian boy Atreyu.[39] Only by exploring the six fantasy worlds and solving all the puzzles can the player return the Auryn.[40] In order to complete each section, the player needs to locate 10 energy balls.[41]
Gameplay
The game has 6 levels, and has level design reminiscent of Myst.[42][43] The game is largely non-violent and suitable for players as young as six.[44] Gameplay is typical of jump and run games like Rayman.[45]
Critical reception
The Real Neverending Story
The game received highly positive reviews in preview articles.
Edge felt the game "presents some interesting technological propositions" and successfully created believable character interactions.[46] Level23 thought the game was an important step in the field of 3D first person action adventure games.[47] PC Powerplay noted the overconfidence of the development team, as they explained their ambitions.[48] MeccaWorld liked the idea of meeting interesting and strange creatures just like in the novel.[49]
Interest surrounding the game was significant; Just Adventure reported receiving "dozens of emails concerning the fate of Siggi Koegl's labor of love",[50] and encouraged its readers to email the developers about releasing the game in North America.[51]
Auryn Quest
The game received mixed reviews upon release.
GameCaptain praised the atmospheric level design.[52] World of Cheats felt the first person perspective suited the game well.[53] Sputnik thought the game was successful all-round.[54] While offering a positive review, Computer Games warned the developers that brand name recognition and nice graphics alone would not make the game a standout example in the genre.[55] Xenosys noted that the game was impressive considering it consisted of "painstakingly assembled remnants of a failed adventure project".[56] Internet Kurier praised the game for not aiming at the mainstream.[57] TachAuch felt it would be a nice alternative to those who liked Myst.[58] PC Games Portal felt it would be a nice game to play after a long day at work.[59]
Game Chronicles criticised the "groan inducing gameplay".[60] JeuxVideo felt the title was one of the worst the site had played in a while.[61] GamesDesk felt the game was too poor quality to appeal to adult players, but might be a fair substitution for Rayman to younger players.[62] GameZ felt the story behind the game was a textbook example of how things go wrong in the gaming industry.[18] GameZone noted that if the sequels' development were predicated on the success of the first title, they had doubts that the sequels would come to pass.[63] The Adrenaline Vault felt the developers squandered their potential to make a challenging and innovative entry in the adventure genre.[64] Gamers.at was disappointed by the experience.[65]
^"Pcspielemagazin.de". 2004-03-24. Archived from the original on 2004-03-24. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ ab"The Real Neverending Story". 2001-01-14. Archived from the original on 2001-01-14. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Games Domain". 2000-12-04. Archived from the original on 2000-12-04. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ abcHulsebosch, Paul (March 8, 2002). "Neverending Story keert terug". GameZ. Archived from the original on 2002-08-17. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"MT-Online". 2002-08-12. Archived from the original on 2002-08-12. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Новости | Играй.ру v2.7". 2002-08-31. Archived from the original on 2002-08-31. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Spela.com". 19 August 2002. Archived from the original on 19 August 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"MT-Online". 2005-02-15. Archived from the original on 2005-02-15. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Die unendliche Geschichte". 2002-08-29. Archived from the original on 2002-08-29. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Game Agency - Artikel". 2002-08-25. Archived from the original on 2002-08-25. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"GBASE.ch - PC Zone: Reviews". 2002-07-15. Archived from the original on 2002-07-15. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Korte, Sebastian (February 16, 2002). "Auryn Quest". Game Captain. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"World-of-Cheats.de". 2002-02-03. Archived from the original on 2002-02-03. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"PC-Game: Auryn Quest". 2002-08-02. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Auryn Quest". 2002-11-09. Archived from the original on 2002-11-09. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Computer". 2005-03-10. Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^The Badger (August 11, 2002). "Auryn Quest Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2005-03-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Marina del Rey, California from 1990 to 1996. This is a list of titles that were awarded and defended in the UWF. Not all championships were active during the entire history of the promotion. Herb Abrams holding the UWF SportsChannel Television Championship at New York Penta in May 1991 UWF Americas Championship The UWF Americas Championship was a short lived secondary title in the Universal Wrestling Federat...
Shah Persia/Iran Bekas Kerajaan Singa dan MatahariLambang Kekaisaran Persia/Iran Penguasa pertama Sebagai penguasa Iran Diokis 705–647 BC (tidak diketahui pasti) Koresh yang Agung 559–530 BC (Shahansah menyatukan Iran Akhemeniyah) Penguasa terakhir Mohammad Reza Pahlavi 1941–1979 (Shah Iran) Gelar ShahShahanshah/Raja diraja Kediaman resmi ApadanaTacharaIstana DariusIstana ArdashirTaq KasraĀlī QāpūHasht BeheshtIstana GolestanIstana Sa'dabadIstana Niavaran Penunjuk Hereditas Pendiria...
Set of marks along a ruler such that no two pairs of marks are the same distance apart OGR redirects here. For other uses, see OGR (disambiguation). Golomb ruler of order 4 and length 6. This ruler is both optimal and perfect. The perfect circular Golomb rulers (also called difference sets) with the specified order. (This preview should show multiple concentric circles. If not, click to view a larger version.) In mathematics, a Golomb ruler is a set of marks at integer positions along a ruler...
I Love You BabyGenre Drama Roman SkenarioLintang Pramudya WardhaniCeritaLintang Pramudya WardhaniSutradaraIndrayanto KurniawanPemeran Giorgino Abraham Ersya Aurelia Bryan Domani Icha Nabilah Jennifer Eve Penggubah lagu tema Mikha Angelo Reuben Nathaniel Lagu pembukaTak Ku Takut oleh The OvertunesLagu penutupTak Ku Takut oleh The OvertunesPenata musikWiwiex SoedarnoNegara asalIndonesiaBahasa asliBahasa IndonesiaJmlh. musim1Jmlh. episode15ProduksiProduser eksekutif Sutanto Hartono Hermaw...
Chemical compound AlclofenacClinical dataAHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug NamesATC codeM01AB06 (WHO) Identifiers IUPAC name 2-(3-chloro-4-prop-2-enoxyphenyl)acetic acid CAS Number22131-79-9PubChem CID30951ChemSpider28714 YUNIIM9CP5H21N8KEGGD01252 YChEMBLChEMBL94081 YCompTox Dashboard (EPA)DTXSID4020038 ECHA InfoCard100.040.709 Chemical and physical dataFormulaC11H11ClO3Molar mass226.66 g·mol−13D model (JSmol)Interactive image SMILES Clc1cc(ccc1OC\C=C)CC(=O)O I...
Repair of exterior mortar German masons repointing a wall in 1948. Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks, allowing the undesirable entrance of water. Water entering through these voids can cause significant damage through frost weathering and from salt dissolution and deposition. Repointing is also called pointin...
American basketball player and analyst (born 1972) Shaquille and Shaq redirect here. For other uses, see Shaquille (disambiguation) and Shaq (disambiguation). Shaquille O'NealO'Neal in 2017Personal informationBorn (1972-03-06) March 6, 1972 (age 52)Newark, New Jersey, U.S.Listed height7 ft 1 in (216 cm)[1]Listed weight325 lb (147 kg)[1]Career informationHigh school Fulda American (Fulda, Germany) Robert G. Cole (San Antonio, Texas) CollegeLSU (198...
Cet article est une ébauche concernant un coureur cycliste italien. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?). Pour plus d’informations, voyez le projet cyclisme. Angelo ConternoInformationsNaissance 13 mars 1925TurinDécès 1er décembre 2007 (à 82 ans)TurinNationalité italienneÉquipes professionnelles 09.1950-12.1950 Covolo Torino 1951 Frejus-Ursus Taurea-Cig 1952-1954 Frejus 1955 Torpado-Ursus 1956-1957 Bianchi-Pirelli 1958-1960 Carpano 1961 Bar...
Para otros usos de este término, véase Arizpe (desambiguación). ArizpeArǐhpa Localidad La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, la plaza principal y la torre del reloj. Escudo Otros nombres: Ciudad Prócer ArizpeLocalización de Arizpe en México ArizpeLocalización de Arizpe en SonoraCoordenadas 30°20′05″N 110°09′58″O / 30.334722222222, -110.16611111111Entidad Localidad • País México • Estado Sonora • Municipio ArizpePresident...
Phytanic acid Names IUPAC name (7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-Tetramethylhexadecanoic acid Other names phytanoic acid Identifiers CAS Number 14721-66-5 Y 3D model (JSmol) Interactive image ChemSpider 411797 ECHA InfoCard 100.159.135 MeSH Phytanic+acid PubChem CID 468706 UNII 8OYE5TF5VL Y CompTox Dashboard (EPA) DTXSID80864526 InChI InChI=1S/C20H40O2/c1-16(2)9-6-10-17(3)11-7-12-18(4)13-8-14-19(5)15-20(21)22/h16-19H,6-15H2,1-5H3,(H,21,22)/t17-,18-,19?/m1/s1Key: RLCKHJSFHOZMDR-PWCSWUJKSA-N S...
Gary BuseyBusey pada 2008LahirWilliam Gary Busey[1]29 Juni 1944 (umur 79)Goose Creek, Texas, ASPekerjaanPemeranTahun aktif1968–sekarangSuami/istriJudy Helkenberg (m. 1968–1990)Tiani Warden (m. 1996–2001) William Gary Busey (/ˈbjuːsi/; lahir 29 Juni 1944)[2] adalah seorang pemeran film dan televisi Amerika. Sebagai seorang aktor karakter, Busey telah ...
Amkette EvoTVEvoTV XLManufacturerAmketteOperating systemAndroid v4.0.4 Ice Cream SandwichCPUArm Cortex A9, Arm Mali 400Memory1 GB (RAM)Storage4 GB (ROM)ConnectivityInternal Wi fi - 802.11 b/g/n, Ethernet 10/100 Base-T, uPnP (DLNA), Samba Share (Windows)PredecessorEvoTV (non-XL)Websiteevotv.amkette.com[dead link] EvoTV is a range of digital media players developed by Amkette that brings internet and web2.0 features to the television. EvoTV was envisioned to be a substitute to the growi...
Dairy product For other uses, see Butter (disambiguation). Solid and melted butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condiment, and used as a fat in baking, sauce-making, pan frying, and other cooking procedures. Most frequently made from cow's milk, butter can also be manufactured from the milk o...
German Communist organization The Association of Revolutionary Visual Artists of Germany (German: Assoziation revolutionärer bildender Künstler Deutschlands, or ARBKD) was an organization of artists who were members of the Communist Party of Germany (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands, or KPD). Known primarily by its shortened name, Asso, it was founded in March 1928. The organization produced posters, placards, propaganda graphics for Communist organizations. History 1930s logo of Antifasc...
التهابُ الأوعِية حبرة وفرفرية في الطرف الأسفل بسبب التهاب وعائي محدث بالأدوية.حبرة وفرفرية في الطرف الأسفل بسبب التهاب وعائي محدث بالأدوية. النطق /vaskjʊˈlʌɪtɪs/ معلومات عامة الاختصاص طب الرثية من أنواع مرض وعائي، ومرض الموقع التشريحي وعاء دموي[1] المظهر السرير�...
Italian painter Detail of a Crucifix by the Master of Saint Francis (c.1275-80)Egg tempera on woodNational Gallery, London The Master of Saint Francis (in Italian Maestro di S. Francesco) was an anonymous Italian painter, perhaps of Pisan origin[1] though probably trained in Umbria,[2] working between 1250–1280. His work embodies an important aspect of the Italo-Byzantine style resulting from contact between Italian and Byzantine art of this period. Works A painter of fresco...
