Awesomenauts

Last updated

Awesomenauts
Awesomenauts cover.jpg
Developer(s) Ronimo Games [Atari]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows, OS X, Linux
ReleasePS3, Xbox 360
2 May 2012
Windows
1 August 2012
OS X
7 December 2012
Linux
29 May 2013
PS4
4 March 2014
Xbox One
7 September 2016
Genre(s) MOBA
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Awesomenauts was a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed by Dutch video game development company Ronimo Games. The game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in May 2012, and for Microsoft Windows systems in August 2012. It was later ported to OS X and Linux. Another version of the game, Awesomenauts Assemble!, incorporating all the changes and additions available on Windows, OS X and Linux, was released for the PlayStation 4 in March 2014 and for the Xbox One in September 2016. In May 2017, the PC version of the game transitioned to a free-to-play title, incorporating an in-game currency and reward system to allow players to gain access to new characters and other customization aspects. In September 2019, Ronimo Games announced that development on the game has stopped indefinitely. [1] Despite this, Awesomenauts was still available to play, until the servers went offline on September 15, 2023 due to Ronimo's bankruptcy.

Contents

Gameplay

Split-screen mode for three local players, including the common megamap (bottom right) for all three. Awesomenauts - Screenshot 18.jpg
Split-screen mode for three local players, including the common megamap (bottom right) for all three.

Awesomenauts is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) incorporating elements from 2D platformer and fighting games. [2] At the start of a match, a player selects from one of the available characters known as "Awesomenauts". In addition to unique looks and voice-over work, each Awesomenaut has a vastly different set of base attributes such as health, movement speed, and attack strength, and regular and special attack moves.

In the game's primary match mode, two teams of three characters, selected before the match, are pitted against each other, with the goal to destroy the other's team's Solar Collector within the enemy's team base before the others do the same. Both teams have to fight their way through enemy players, automatic drones, and turrets that block the path until destroyed. Some maps contain other obstacles, such as a giant pit monster that consumes anything immediately above it that can be summoned by standing on a button. Upon death, the player may respawn back at their base after a short delay that gets longer as the game progresses. Maps include health pickups and Solar units, the game's currency. When a player kills an enemy or a turret, every member of the team earns Solar. When a team destroys a turret, a super-drone is generated that can take and deal more damage as it heads towards the enemy base.

As the player earns Solar, they can return to their base (either by moving there or through a short teleportation sequence) to heal and spend the Solar on various upgrades to these skill sets or character attributes. For each of four areas – the two special skills, the regular attack, and general attributes – the player can buy up to three of six available improvements, with some improvements which can be bought multiple times with benefits stacked. With the release of the "Starstorm" expansion, each match also features team experience and levels. The game starts both teams at level 1, and experience is collectively earned through killing enemy drones or Awesomenauts or taking out turrets. Each level slight improves base attribute values for all characters on that team, such as attack strength and healing rates, up to a maximum level of 20.

The default game mode is ranked play, which puts players into 9 different ranks and attempts to match players within these ranks; Romino Games subsequently will reward players that finish at the top ranks on the completion of a season before resetting all rankings. The game's servers will adjust the player's ranking depending on their performance. Within ranked play, no team can have two or more players using the same Awesomenaut character. If necessary, computer-controlled opponents will be used to fill out a team, and if a player drops out of a match, they will be replaced by a computer opponent. Other modes allow for more variations but do not contribute towards ranking. Such modes include skirmishes where the singular character limit is removed, and round-robin modes where every time a player is killed, they are randomly assigned to a new Awesomenaut. Single and local players can also engage in practice matches against computer-controlled teams.

Development

Awesomenauts was announced for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network on 19 May 2011 in a press release from publisher DTP Entertainment. [3] The project was supported by the Dutch Game Garden, a studio incubation program. [4] The first playable build of the game was revealed for and played by the attending press at E3 2011. [5] A release date of 2 May 2012 was later announced by developer Ronimo Games on 3 March 2012. [6] The game was ported to Windows and Steam on 1 August 2012 with an OSX version arriving on 7 December 2012 and a Linux version on 29 May 2013.[ citation needed ]

Ronimo Games announced a PlayStation 4 release, co-developed with Abstraction Games with improvements and updates from the PC version as well as DLC, on 14 August 2013, intended for release with the console's launch. [7] The PlayStation 4 version, entitled Awesomenauts Assemble!, was released on 4 March 2014 following a delay to the console's launch window. [8] On 2 June 2014, Ronimo Games announced an Xbox One version of the game, originally slated for Summer 2015 but later delayed to Fall of the same year. [9]

Built on the second version of in-house 2D engine Ronitech, originally developed for Swords & Soldiers , Awesomenauts was described by Ronimo Games' Joost van Dongen as a MOBA combined with platforming elements, similar to but significantly different from other games in the same genre such as League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients . Ronimo Games specifically created for the upgraded engine a number of real-time editing tools for levels, animations, and effects, largely non-existent in the development of previous titles, for use in developing the game. [10]

The game's art style and direction were stated by Ronimo Games as being inspired by colorful, over-the-top animated series from the 1980s.[ citation needed ] Music for the game was produced in partnership with award-winning Dutch recording studio SonicPicnic. [11] The game was updated regularly by Ronimo with new characters, balance changes, game modes, UI updates, visual overhauls, and matchmaking improvements since its release. [2]

Starstorm expansion

In August 2013, Ronimo games started a Kickstarter campaign for additional content entitled Awesomenauts: Starstorm. The goal of the project was $125,000. By the end of the Kickstarter campaign, over $345,000 had been donated on via Kickstarter, with PayPal bringing the total to over $400,000. [12] Several stretch goals were reached, including a new map, a replay system, and a spectator mode. In addition to the three new characters planned for the paid DLC expansion (Ted McPain, Skree, and Sentry X-58), two extra characters were included after stretch goals for them were met (Penny Fox and Nibbs). [12]

Ronimo Games' studio head Jasper Koning said the company opted to go to Kickstarter for further development due to their bad experiences with their console publisher DTP Entertainment, who had gone bankrupt after Awesomenauts released on console, but whom they still must pay from every sale of the game. [13]

Overdrive expansion

A second paid DLC for Awesomenauts, named Awesomenauts: Overdrive and featuring three new characters (Professor Milton Yoolip, Chucho Krokk, and Jimmy and the LUX5000), was released on 3 March 2016. [14] The release of the expansion was accompanied by the release of several new free features for all players, including matchmaking improvements, a new character (Ix the Interloper), and a graphical update for the character Sheriff Lonestar. [14] Later Max Focus was also added to this expansion.[ citation needed ]

Transition to free-to-play

In April 2017, Ronimo announced that they would transition the personal computer version of the game into a free-to-play title by May 2017 with the game's 4.0 update, which was completed on 24 May 2017. [15] In the free-to-play version, players earn in-game currency, Awesomepoints, for winning matches, which can be used to purchase characters, player icons, and other customization options in the game's store. Players gain experience towards a player level, while also leveling up each of the characters when they play as that character; leveling (player or character) will reward the player with Awesomepoints or other customization options. As many players had purchased the game and downloadable content before this point, Ronimo provided a transition scheme that those players were automatically given credit for owning specific characters and other customization options, along with unique customization options establishing the player as a "founder" to others. [16]

Closure of Servers

On 23 August 2023, Emerce reported that Ronimo had been declared bankrupt by the Central Netherlands court the day prior. [17] While the in-game matches for Awesomenauts utilized peer-to-peer matchmaking, the Overdrive expansion update also changed how matchmaking would be handled, which it, along with other metagame services, relied on a central server to function. Due to the closure, the central server for Awesomenauts would close on 15 September 2023. While Ronimo has not provided an official announcement about the closure of its studio or the state of the game, several developers have spoken out about the situation and have helped players continue playing Awesomenauts. Jasper Koning, co-founder of Ronimo, posted on the Steam Discussion forum for the game on 18 September 2023, detailing how players can switch back to a previous version of Awesomenauts, before the Galactron matchmaking update, that relied on Steam's backend tools, Steamworks, for matchmaking and networking instead of Ronimo's central server. [18] While this version of the game is several years behind in terms of content, it gives an outlet for players to continue playing while Koning and the remaining team work on finding a buyer for Awesomenauts and the rest of Ronimo's intellectual property.

Reception

Upon release, Awesomenauts received fairly positive reviews, earning Metacritic scores of 75/100 and 77/100. [19] [20] The PlayStation 4 version of the game, Awesomenauts Assemble!, earned a Metacritic score of 74/100 following its release on 4 March 2014. [22]

Most critics have praised the game's utilization of streamlined elements of the MOBA genre and their accessibility to newcomers, especially those on consoles. GameSpot 's Austin Light noted that Awesomenauts "serves as an excellent introduction to the genre for the uninitiated and is a fun spin on familiar tropes for MOBA veterans." [26]

In his review, IGN 's Mitch Dyer stated that the game "distills a complicated, largely PC-only genre down to its essence, and it does so mostly successfully." [28]

Sales

The game sold close to one million copies by August 2013. [30]

Related Research Articles

<i>Marvel vs. Capcom</i> Series of crossover fighting games

Marvel vs. Capcom is a series of crossover fighting games developed and published by Capcom, featuring characters from their own video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series originated as coin-operated arcade games, though later releases would be specifically developed for home consoles, handhelds, and personal computers.

<i>Battlefield 2: Modern Combat</i> 2005 video game

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat is a first-person shooter video game in the Battlefield series, developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. Modern Combat is the first Battlefield game for video game consoles and the first to offer a full single-player campaign. Despite its name, the game is neither a port nor a spin-off of Battlefield 2, which was in development at the same time.

<i>Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes</i> 2000 video game

Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is a crossover fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It is the fourth installment in the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Originally released in Japanese arcades in 2000, the game received ports to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, and iOS devices over the span of twelve years.

<i>Naruto: Ultimate Ninja</i> Video game franchise

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, known in Japan as the Naruto: Narutimate Series, is a series of fighting video games, based on the popular manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. It was developed by CyberConnect2, and published by Bandai and later Bandai Namco Games. The first game was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, and was followed by four more titles for the system, as well as five spinoffs for the PlayStation Portable. A follow-up for the PlayStation 3, titled Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, was the first to feature three-dimensional battles, and began the long-running Storm sub-series. While starting out as a series exclusive to the PlayStation family of systems, the series has also been present on Xbox and PC platforms since the release of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 for the Xbox 360 and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst for Windows, respectively. Latest releases were also ported to the Nintendo Switch. The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series sold over 20 million copies worldwide as of December 2019.

<i>WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009</i> 2008 professional wrestling video game

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles, with TOSE overseeing development for the Nintendo DS version. The game was first released on November 9, 2008, in North America. It is the tenth overall installment in the video game series based on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion, and the fifth game under the SmackDown vs. Raw name, named after the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brands. It is the sequel to 2007's SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 and the second game to feature the promotion's ECW brand.

<i>Swords & Soldiers</i> 2009 real-time strategy video game

Swords & Soldiers is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Ronimo Games. It was released in Europe on May 15, 2009, and in North America on June 8. It is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, Wii, PlayStation 3, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. Two Tribes released Swords & Soldiers on the Wii U eShop, which was released in North America and Europe on May 22, 2014.

Ronimo Games was a Dutch video game developer founded in 2007 by former students of the Utrecht School of the Arts.

<i>Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3</i> Crossover fighting video game

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The game was released in November 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and was featured as a launch title for the PlayStation Vita in 2012. The game was later ported to PlayStation 4 in December 2016, and Windows and Xbox One in March 2017.

<i>Counter-Strike: Global Offensive</i> 2012 video game

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a 2012 multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series. Developed for over two years, Global Offensive was released for OS X, PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in August 2012, and for Linux in 2014.

Smite is a 2014 free-to-play, third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. In Smite, players control a god, goddess or other mythological figure and take part in team-based combat, using their abilities and tactics against other player-controlled gods and non-player-controlled minions.

<i>Happy Wars</i> 2012 tactical role-playing video game

Happy Wars is a free-to-play tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Toylogic. It was originally released for the Xbox 360 on October 12, 2012 on the Xbox Live Arcade as its first free-to-play title, and additionally for Microsoft Windows on May 28, 2014, but availability on the online marketplaces of these platforms and service to these platforms has since been discontinued as of December 17, 2018. The Xbox One version was released on April 24, 2015, and is now the only platform the game can be played on.

<i>Disney Infinity</i> (video game) 2013 toys-to-life sandbox video game

Disney Infinity is a 2013 toys-to-life action-adventure game published by Disney Interactive Studios. It was announced on January 15, 2013. The game used collectible figurines that were then synchronized with the game, unlocking characters from Disney and Pixar properties that interact and go on adventures. The game was released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS in August 2013. A PC version of Toy Box was also released on November 14, 2013. The game had a budget approaching $100 million. A sequel, Disney Infinity 2.0, was released on September 23, 2014. The third edition, Disney Infinity 3.0, was released on August 30, 2015, and introduced support for the Apple TV. This game was also later released on Microsoft Windows in 2013.

<i>Mercenary Kings</i> 2014 video game

Mercenary Kings is a side-scrolling run and gun video game developed and published by Tribute Games. It was funded by Kickstarter and released for Microsoft Windows on March 25, 2014, and for PlayStation 4 on April 1, 2014. Alongside the Mercenary Kings: Reloaded update, versions for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita were released on February 6, 2018. An early-access version of the game was released on Steam on July 23, 2013.

<i>Shantae: Half-Genie Hero</i> 2016 video game

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, stylized as Shantae: ½ Genie Hero, is a platform video game developed and published by WayForward Technologies. It is the fourth game in the Shantae series, following Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (2014), and the first to be specifically developed for high definition game platforms. The game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Windows, and Xbox One in December 2016, for Nintendo Switch in June 2017, for Amazon Luna in October 2020, for Stadia in February 2021, and for PlayStation 5 in November 2021. Versions for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were initially announced, but cancelled during development.

<i>Wreckfest</i> 2018 video game

Wreckfest is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic. Wreckfest is described as the spiritual successor to the FlatOut series and a cross between FlatOut, Destruction Derby and cult 1989 PC racer Street Rod. A notable feature of the game engine is the use of soft-body damage modelling, which enables location-based damage that affects the driving dynamics of vehicles in a realistic fashion.

<i>Battleborn</i> (video game) 2016 multiplayer first-person shooter video game

Battleborn was a free-to-play first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. The game was released worldwide on May 3, 2016.

<i>Hand of Fate</i> (video game) 2015 video game

Hand of Fate is an action role-playing roguelike deck-building game developed and published by Australian studio Defiant Development for Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, released via early access on 7 July 2014, and then in the full release on 17 February 2015. A PlayStation Vita version was announced but ultimately cancelled due to development issues.

<i>WWE 2K18</i> 2017 video game download

WWE 2K18 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K. It is the nineteenth instalment in the WWE game series and a follow-up to WWE 2K17. It was released worldwide on October 17, 2017, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. With its release, WWE 2K18 became the first in the series to be exclusively released on eighth generation hardware and also the first in the series to be released for PC and consoles simultaneously. A Nintendo Switch version followed on December 6, 2017, the only release of the series for the Switch and the first WWE game to be released for a Nintendo platform since WWE '13.

<i>Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection</i> 2018 video game

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a compilation of fighting games from the Street Fighter series developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Capcom in celebration of the series' 30th anniversary. The collection was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in May 2018.

<i>League of Legends: Wild Rift</i> Multiplayer online battle arena video game

League of Legends: Wild Rift is a multiplayer online battle arena mobile game developed and published by Riot Games for Android and iOS. The free-to-play game is a modified version of the PC game League of Legends.

References

  1. ↑ "Youtube title: Making Our FaZe Audition Tape". 5 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019– via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 Podgorski, Daniel (21 October 2015). "Casual Competition and Awesome Addiction: The Enduring Joy of Ronimo Games' Awesomenauts". The Gemsbok. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Koning, Jasper (6 December 2010). "DTP AND RONIMO ANNOUNCE AWESOMENAUTS XBLA & PSN". Ronimo Blog. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "About". Dutch Game Garden.
  5. ↑ van Dongen, Joost (30 May 2011). "Awesomenauts announced!". Joost's Dev Blog. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Dutton, Fred (30 March 2012). "Awesomenauts release date announced". Eurogamer. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "PS4 version announced!". Awesomenauts. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Awesomenauts Assemble! touching down on PS4® March 4". Awesomenauts. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Jörn (19 March 2015). "Awesomenauts Assemble 'hopelijk deze zomer' naar Xbox One". Xbox One Gaming (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  10. ↑ van Dongen, Joost (7 June 2011). "Awesomenauts trailer released!". Joost's Dev Blog. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "SonicPicnic: muziekcompositie, sounddesign, audiopostproductie". sonicpicnic.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Awesomenauts: Starstorm". Kickstarter . 18 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Gera, Emily (21 August 2013). "Awesomenauts devs embrace independence after 'bad' experience with bankrupt publisher". Polygon . Vox Media. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Awesomenauts: Overdrive". Awesomenauts. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  15. ↑ Devore, Jordan (24 May 2017). "Awesomenauts is now free-to-play on Steam". Destructoid . Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  16. ↑ Scott-Jones, Richard (26 April 2017). "Awesomenauts goes free-to-play in May, current players can test the changes today". PCGamesN . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Utrechtse Ronimo Games failliet". Emerce (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Play Nauts online! :: Awesomenauts General Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Awesomenauts for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Awesomenauts for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  21. ↑ "Awesomenauts for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Awesomenauts Assemble! for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "Awesomenauts Assemble! for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  24. ↑ Parkin, Simon (1 May 2012). "Awesomenauts Review". Eurogamer . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  25. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (18 May 2012). "Awesomenauts". GameInformer . GameStop. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  26. 1 2 Light, Austin (11 May 2012). "Awesomenauts Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  27. ↑ Groen, Andrew (5 May 2012). "Awesomenauts review". GamesRadar . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  28. 1 2 Dyer, Mitch (1 May 2012). "Awesomenauts Review". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC . Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  29. ↑ Lees, Matt (7 September 2012). "Awesomenauts Review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  30. ↑ Hinkle, David (14 August 2013). "The Awesomenauts assemble on PS4". Engadget . Retrieved 13 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.