Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Last updated

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes cover.jpg
Developer(s) Steel Crate Games
Publisher(s) Steel Crate Games
Designer(s)
  • Allen Pestaluky
  • Ben Kane
  • Brian Fetter
Programmer(s)
  • Allen Pestaluky
  • Ben Kane
  • Brian Fetter
Artist(s) Chris Taylor
Composer(s) Liam Sauvé
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Gear VR
  • 16 July 2015
  • Microsoft Windows
  • 8 October 2015
  • OS X
  • 14 December 2015
  • Oculus Rift
  • 26 March 2016
  • PlayStation VR
  • 13 October 2016
  • Google Daydream
  • 10 November 2016
  • Linux
  • 19 December 2017
  • Oculus Go
  • 1 May 2018
  • Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
  • 16 August 2018
  • Oculus Quest
  • 21 May 2019
  • iOS, Android (non-VR)
  • 1 August 2019
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a puzzle video game developed and published by Canadian studio Steel Crate Games. [1] The game tasks a player with disarming procedurally generated bombs with the assistance of other players who are reading a manual containing instructions. It was designed around virtual reality support, with availability first on Android-driven Samsung Gear VR, [2] with later ports to supported devices on Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, and Linux; though could be played without virtual reality in some cases. An update for the game released in August 2018 removed the virtual reality requirement for these existing systems, as well as included releases for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Non-VR ports for iOS and Android were released in August 2019.

Contents

Gameplay

The game is designed to be played with at least two players, with one player as the "Defuser", playing the game on a device (supporting both keyboard and mouse, touchscreen and gamepad controls, as well as support for virtual reality headsets), and the remaining players as the "Experts" reading the provided bomb defusal manual. [3] [4] As designed, the Defuser cannot look at the manual and must rely on the Experts to instruct them; similarly, the Experts cannot see the bomb, and must rely on the Defuser to describe the bomb to them. The Experts and the Defuser can communicate with each other either directly from across a table, or online using a separate voice service.

Each bomb in the game consists of multiple modules; the modules are independent of each other and can be disarmed in any order. [5] Most modules require disarming, with the bomb successfully disarmed when all such modules are successfully disarmed. Disarming these modules requires the Defuser to relay visual indicators to the Experts, who then use the manual to determine what actions the Defuser to take. Other modules are "needy": they cannot be disarmed, and demand periodic attention to prevent them from causing a strike while the bomb is still armed. Each bomb will also have a countdown timer; if the timer reaches zero, the bomb will explode. Bombs will also have a maximum number of strikes resulting from errors made during defusing (also speeding the timer), and if that maximum is reached, the bomb will also explode. Other obstacles to the Defuser include the lights in the virtual room going out momentarily, and alarm clocks that will distract the Defuser. [6]

Modules use complex instruction sets and puzzle-like elements to be solved, and the defusing instructions are generally conditional on the configuration of the particular module; for example, the Experts may need to guide the Defuser through a maze whose walls the Defuser cannot see, but as the manual has maps for a number of mazes, the Defuser must help the Expert identify which map is currently applicable for that given module. [5] Some modules deliberately make verbal communication complicated: some use unusual glyphs that require description, other modules use words that may be homophones of other similar words ("sees" to "seas"), verbal tics ("uhhh" or "uh huh") or common words that would be otherwise used in that situation ("press" or "left") that could easily be confused during communication between Defuser and Experts. [5] Many modules have multiple stages that require the Experts to keep track of past actions as they work through each stage. Defusing some modules may also depend on the state of the bomb such as how many strikes it presently has, or external decorations on the bomb like the serial number or the presence of batteries. [5]

The game is broken up into a number of predetermined levels broken up into skill groupings that set the number and types of modules, the time to defuse the bomb, and the maximum number of strikes. Each level will generate the bomb and its modules to be defused in a procedural manner. [7] Players also can create a custom challenge based on module count, time, and strikes.

Development

Developers Allen Pestaluky, Ben Kane, and Brian Fetter originally created the game for Global Game Jam 2014. [8] [9] There, they had a few Oculus Rift development kits and wanted to take advantage of the novelty of virtual reality. Their original game, a rollercoaster ride simulator, had attracted a number of people to try it out, but the three observed that while the wearer of the headset was enjoying themselves, those waiting for their turn did not share that enjoyment. This gave them the idea of a game that could be shared alike by both a headset wearer and those watching the wearer. Though they had several scenarios in mind, the idea of bomb defusing was the most interesting as well as something they could complete during the Game Jam. [9] At the end of the Game Jam, they presented their game to the other participating developers, recording their own first playthrough of the game which they later posted to YouTube; the response both at the Game Jam and from YouTube viewers, calling the game "hilarious", led the three to realize they were on to a marketable title and developed the game for a full release. [9] [7] In developing the various rules for disarming modules, these were initially created procedurally like the bombs themselves, so that they could be shifted around between various demonstrates at trade shows; though the final game has statically defined rules for defusing, there is a framework in place that can be used to mix up the rules in future versions. [10]

A PlayStation VR version of the game was released on 13 October 2016, [2] while a version for the Android-based Google Daydream virtual reality platform was released on 10 November 2016. [2] Steel Crate released a non-VR version for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One on 16 August 2018; this was a free update for existing owners of the game. [11] [12] Ports for iOS and Android devices without VR support were released on 1 August 2019. [13]

Reception

The PC version of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes received "mixed or average" reviews while the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 versions received "generally favorable reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. [15] [16] [14]

Destructoid awarded it a score of 9 out of 10, saying "If you are tired of always playing Cards Against Humanity, Monopoly, and that Gargoyles board game on Laserdisc, then Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes will certainly give you the fix you're looking for, pending you have friends ready to be committed to the task at hand." [6]

Ars Technica 's Sam Machkovech reviewed the game, calling it a "must-have", although he also noted that once players figure out certain modules, they can "hit a chore-like rhythm" instead of a challenge. [17] He also observed the game's potential as a party game that is equally enjoyable for onlookers. [17]

At the 2015 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR) awards Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes won Game, Strategy. [18] The game also won the Excellence in Design award, and was nominated for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Nuovo (Innovation) Award at the 2016 Independent Games Festival. [19] [20] Steel Crate Games was nominated for the Best Debut for the game for the 2016 Game Developers Choice Awards, [21] and the 2016 British Academy Games Awards. [22] The Official UK PlayStation Magazine listed it as the third best PS VR game. [23]

By March 2016, the game had sold more than 200,000 copies. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Games Festival</span> Annual video games festival

The Independent Games Festival (IGF) is an annual festival at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the largest annual gathering of the independent video game industry. Originally founded in 1998 to promote independent video game developers, and innovation in video game development by CMP Media, later known as UBM Technology Group, IGF is now owned by Informa after UBM's acquisition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game Developers Conference</span> Annual video game developer conference

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual conference for video game developers. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, and a variety of tutorials, lectures, and roundtables by industry professionals on game-related topics covering programming, design, audio, production, business and management, and visual arts.

Owlchemy Labs is a video game developer based in Austin, Texas. The company was founded in 2010 by Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduate Alex Schwartz. Owlchemy is best known for its virtual reality video games Job Simulator and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality. In May 2017, the studio was acquired by Google.

Tequila Works S.L. is a Spanish video game developer based in Madrid. Founded in 2009 by Raúl Rubio and Luz Sancho, the company is best known for developing Deadlight and Rime.

Superhot is an independent first-person shooter (FPS) video game developed and published by Superhot Team. Though the game follows traditional first-person shooter gameplay mechanics, with the player attempting to take out enemy targets using guns and other weapons, time within the game progresses at normal speed only when the player moves; this creates the opportunity for the player to assess their situation in slow motion and respond appropriately, making the gameplay similar to strategy video games. The game is presented in a minimalist art style, with enemies in red and weapons in black, in contrast to the otherwise white and grey environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reality Labs</span> Virtual and augmented reality products company

Reality Labs, formerly Oculus VR, is a business and research unit of Meta Platforms that produces virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware and software, including virtual reality headsets such as Quest, and online platforms such as Horizon Worlds. In June 2022, several artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that were previously a part of Meta AI were transitioned to Reality Labs. This also includes Meta's fundamental AI Research laboratory FAIR which is now part of the Reality Labs - Research (RLR) division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation VR</span> Virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment

The PlayStation VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, which was released in October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality headset</span> Head-mounted device that provides virtual reality for the wearer

A virtual reality headset is a head-mounted device that uses 3D near-eye displays and positional tracking to provide a virtual reality environment for the user. VR headsets are widely used with VR video games, but they are also used in other applications, including simulators and trainers. VR headsets typically include a stereoscopic display, stereo sound, and sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes for tracking the pose of the user's head to match the orientation of the virtual camera with the user's eye positions in the real world.

Tilt Brush is a room-scale 3D-painting virtual-reality application available from Google, originally developed by Skillman & Hackett.

<i>Batman: Arkham VR</i> 2016 video game

Batman: Arkham VR is a virtual reality adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and Windows. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is part of the Batman: Arkham series and the first installment to use virtual reality headsets, allowing players to experience the game world from Batman's perspective. Arkham VR was released worldwide on October 11, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and on April 25, 2017, for Windows for VR headsets.

<i>Accounting</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Accounting is a virtual reality video game by Crows Crows Crows and Squanchtendo, released on Microsoft Windows for the SteamVR platform in 2016. An updated version with additional content entitled Accounting+ was released on December 19, 2017 for PlayStation VR, and eventually on PC on October 18, 2018. It was later released for Oculus Quest on July 3, 2019.

<i>Robo Recall</i> 2017 video game

Robo Recall is a virtual reality first-person shooter game developed and published by Epic Games for Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest platforms. The game was released for the Oculus Rift on March 1, 2017, and an Oculus Quest version titled Robo Recall: Unplugged was released on May 21, 2019. Players that activate their Oculus Touch virtual reality controllers with its software are able to download the game for free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality game</span> Video game played in virtual reality

A virtual reality game or VR games is a video game played on virtual reality (VR) hardware. Most VR games are based on player immersion, typically through head-mounted display unit or headset with stereoscopic displays and one or more controllers.

<i>Beat Saber</i> 2019 virtual reality rhythm game

Beat Saber is a virtual reality rhythm game developed by Slovaks Ján Ilavský, Vladimír Hrinčár, and Peter Hrinčár. The game was published by Czech game developer Beat Games. It takes place in many different surrealistic neon environments and features the player slicing blocks representing musical beats with a pair of brightly-colored sabers. Following an early access release in May 2018, the game was officially released for PlayStation 4 and Windows on May 21, 2019, and for the Meta Quest in standalone mode.

<i>Five Nights at Freddys: Help Wanted</i> 2019 video game

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted is a 2019 virtual reality (VR) survival horror video game developed by Steel Wool Studios and Scott Cawthon. It is an anthology of different minigames based on the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, where the player must complete tasks without being jumpscared by homicidal animatronic characters. The minigames are composed of virtual reality adaptations of the main entries in the series in addition to several new experiences. Hidden inside the levels are coins that allow the player to unlock collectable objects and cassette tapes that provide insight into the game's metafictional plot.

<i>Blood & Truth</i> 2019 video game

Blood & Truth is a first-person shooter developed by London Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released on May 28, 2019 for the PlayStation 4's virtual reality headset PlayStation VR.

<i>Asgards Wrath</i> 2019 video game

Asgard's Wrath is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. In the game, the player assumes control of a Norse god who must guide several mortal heroes to fulfill their destinies. The game received generally positive reviews. Asgard's Wrath 2 was released on the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 in 2023.

<i>NeosVR</i> Virtual reality application

NeosVR is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online, virtual reality application created by Solirax. It was released for free on Microsoft Windows via Steam on May 4, 2018, with support for several VR headsets.

References

  1. ↑ "Steel Crate Games". Twitter. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Press Kit". Steel Crate Games. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Bomb Defusal Manual". Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Manual. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "How it Works". Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - Official Website. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Defusing Bombs". Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Manual. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Review: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes". Steel Crate Games. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Oculus Rift + Razer Hydra)". Global Game Jam. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Graft, Kris (29 January 2016). "Road to IGF: Steel Crate Games' Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 Marks, Tim (3 March 2016). "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes has sold over 200,000 copies". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Devore, Jordan (7 June 2018). "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes will be so great on Nintendo Switch". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  12. ↑ Dent, Steve (10 August 2018). "'Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes' no longer requires VR on PS4". Engadget . Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Robertson, Adi (25 July 2019). "Awesome bomb defusal game Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes comes to phones next week". The Verge . Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Switch)". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (PC)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (PS4)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  17. 1 2 "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes review: The exact opposite of a bomb". Ars Technica. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "NAVGTR Awards (2015)". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017.
  19. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (6 January 2016). "Her Story, Undertale, Darkest Dungeon receive multiple 2016 IGF Award nominations". VG247 . Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  20. ↑ Gamasutra Staff (16 March 2016). "Her Story takes home top honors at the 18th annual IGF Awards". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  21. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (8 January 2016). "The Witcher 3, Metal Gear Solid 5 lead nominees for GDC 2016 Awards". VG247 . Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Nunnely, Stephany (10 March 2016). "Rocket League, The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, others up for BAFTA Best Game Award". VG247 . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  23. ↑ PS VR Hall of Fame, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Issue 136, June 2017, Future Publishing, page 108
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.