Automatoys

Last updated
Automatoys
Automatoys Game Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Idle Friday
Designer(s) Steffan Glynn
Programmer(s) Steffan Glynn
Composer(s) Jake Gaule
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Android, iOS
ReleaseAndroid, iOS
  • WW: 18 August 2022
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Automatoys is a 2022 puzzle game developed by Idle Friday. In it, the player guides a ball through a series of complex three-dimensional machines. The game was the first independent release of lead developer Steffan Glynn, a former member of State of Play Games. [1] Upon release, Automatoys received mixed reviews, with praise for its level design and gameplay and criticism for its short length.

Contents

Gameplay

The player must guide a ball through an Automatoy. Automatoys Gameplay.webp
The player must guide a ball through an Automatoy.

The player guides a ball through a series of machines named Automatoys to reach the end of the course. The player activates, moves and tilts various items of machinery, including ramps and catapults, using a one-touch control method, with some mechanisms varied in intensity by pressing and holding. [2] The course features several obstacles that cause the ball to fall off, requiring the player to start again from the beginning. Completion of the levels provides players with a star ranking out of three depending on how quickly the players completed the level. [3] The game features twelve levels, with the first three levels being free to play, and the remaining nine available upon purchase of the game. [4]

Reception

Critics of Automatoys praised the game's design. Eurogamer commended the game's "complex" and "briskly mechanical" design and the introduction of "new gimmicks" and "new ideas" throughout the gameplay. [5] TouchArcade described the game as "intricate and well-designed", noting its levels increased in complexity and challenge. [3] Pocket Gamer described the design of the Automatoys as "stunning", highlighting the "tactile" and "meticulous" nature of the levels and the "variety of mechanisms to figure out and experiment with". [4] Similarly, 148Apps described the game as a "tactile experience" and found the game to be well adapted to mobile controls, describing the game's controls to be satisfying and have "remarkable accuracy". [2]

However, several critics noted the game's short length. Pocket Gamer noted the "relatively few" levels in the game. [4] Touch Arcade assessed the game to be "on the shorter side", although noted it had "good replay value". [3] 148Apps described the game as "somewhat skin deep" and found the game to not be a "terribly long or challenging experience". [2]

Automatoys was a finalist of the 'Interaction' category for iOS games at the 2023 Apple Design Awards. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ "Automatoys: Press Kit". Idle Friday. 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bird, Campbell (9 September 2022). "Automatoys Review". 148Apps. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Nelson, Jared (27 August 2022). "TouchArcade Game of the Week: Automatoys". Touch Arcade. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dellosa, Catherine (21 September 2022). "Automatoys review - "Tactile fun from days long past"". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Donlan, Christian (24 August 2022). "Automatoys review - complex brilliance made tactile and delightful". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Apple announces winners of the 2023 Apple Design Awards". Apple. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
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