Pollen (video game)

Last updated
Pollen
Developer(s) Mindfield Games
Publisher(s) Mindfield Games
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
ReleaseApril 20, 2016
Genre(s) First-person, Exploration game
Mode(s) Single-player

Pollen is a first-person sci-fi mystery exploration video game developed by Finnish company Mindfield Games for Microsoft Windows. Pollen is playable on regular monitors and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets (beta), and will be playable on HTC Vive. [1]

Contents

The game takes place in an alternate timeline of humanity's history, on a research base called Station M found on Saturn's largest moon Titan. The gameplay centers around semi-linear first-person exploration, allowing the player to discover the story through puzzles and interacting with the objects around them.

Gameplay

In Pollen, the player assumes the role of a RAMA Industries employee, who is sent to Titan to replace a missing crew member on Station M. Just before entering the base the player loses all contact with the research team, and must enter the station in search of answers. The player will have to examine everything in their environment, listen to audio tapes, as well as solve puzzles to advance through the story. Station M contains several areas for the player to explore, including the landing pad, crew quarters, cargo bay, laboratory, comm station, and generator room.

Setting

The game is set in an alternate reality where manned exploration of the Solar System is happening at a rapid pace, however computers are between 10 and 20 years behind what they are at the same time in our world. The point of divergence is in 1963, when John F. Kennedy survives an assassination attempt, and the U.S. and U.S.S.R. eventually allying. RAMA Industries is founded by the governments of several nations, becoming the main space company in existence.

Development

Pollen's development began in late 2013 with the Unity 4 engine, and was later ported to the Unity 5 engine. [2] The development team consisted initially of 5 team members. The game was announced in Aug 2014 accompanied by an teaser trailer. [3] In Oct 2015, the first gameplay trailer was released. [4]

On October 5, 2015, Pollen was posted on Steam, and after getting 86% yes votes within 36 hours, it was Greenlit by the community two days later on 7 Oct, 2015.,[ citation needed ] after receiving a significant amount of press coverage. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Secret World</i> 2012 video game

The Secret World is a massively multiplayer online role-playing video game set in a modern-day real world under attack from occult forces. Ragnar Tørnquist led development of the initial game for Funcom. The Secret World uses a subscription-optional, buy-to-play business model, requiring players only to buy the game with no additional subscription fees, with additional benefits to those members still paying a subscription.

<i>God of War: Chains of Olympus</i> 2008 video game

God of War: Chains of Olympus is an action-adventure game developed by Ready at Dawn and Santa Monica Studio, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It was first released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld console on March 4, 2008. The game is the fourth installment in the God of War series, the second chronologically, and a prequel to the original God of War. It is loosely based on Greek mythology and set in ancient Greece, with vengeance as its central motif. The player controls Kratos, a Spartan warrior who serves the Olympian Gods. Kratos is guided by the goddess Athena, who instructs him to find the Sun God Helios, as the Dream God Morpheus has caused many of the gods to slumber in Helios' absence. With the power of the Sun and the aid of the Titan Atlas, Morpheus and the Queen of the Underworld Persephone intend to destroy the Pillar of the World and in turn Olympus.

<i>Risen</i> (video game) 2009 video game

Risen is a fantasy-themed action role-playing game developed by the German company Piranha Bytes and published by Deep Silver.

<i>Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes</i> 2009 video game

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a puzzle role-playing adventure video game in the Might and Magic franchise, developed for the Nintendo DS by Capybara Games and published by Ubisoft. It was first announced in May 2009, and released on December 1, 2009. In 2011, a downloadable high definition version was developed for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Android and iOS ports were developed in 2013.

<i>The Ball</i> (video game) 2010 video game

The Ball is a 2010 first-person action-adventure game developed by Teotl Studios and published by Tripwire Interactive.

<i>Oddworld: New n Tasty!</i> 2014 video game

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! is a 2014 cinematic platform video game developed by Just Add Water and published by Oddworld Inhabitants as a "ground-up remake" of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. The game was released in North America on 22 July 2014 and in Europe on 23 July 2014 for the PlayStation 4. The title was also released for Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U. It has been ported on iOS and Android and released worldwide on 14 December 2017. A Nintendo Switch version was released on October 27, 2020.

<i>LittleBigPlanet 3</i> 2014 puzzle-platform video game

LittleBigPlanet 3 is a puzzle-platform game developed by Sumo Digital for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. It was released worldwide through November and December 2014, and it is the third entry in the main LittleBigPlanet series, eighth entry overall. It was announced at Sony's E3 2014 media briefing on 9 June 2014. It was developed primarily by Sumo Digital, with XDev and series creator Media Molecule assisting in an undisclosed capacity.

<i>Titan Souls</i> 2015 video game

Titan Souls is an action-adventure video game developed by UK-based indie studio Acid Nerve and published by Devolver Digital. It was released on 14 April 2015.

<i>Silent Hills</i> video game

Silent Hills is a cancelled survival horror video game developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 4 from 2012 until its cancellation in 2015. It was to be the ninth main installment in the Silent Hill series, and was to be directed by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro.

<i>Hitman Go</i> 2014 video game

Hitman Go is a turn-based puzzle video game developed by Square Enix Montreal and published by Square Enix's European subsidiary. Announced in February 2014, the game was released for iOS in April 2014 and for Android in June 2014. Windows and Windows Phone versions were released the following year in April 2015. In February 2016, a "Definitive Edition" version was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and on Linux and Windows via Steam. It is the first game developed by Square Enix Montreal, a studio founded in 2011. Development entered full production in 2013 and was completed by eleven people using the Unity game engine.

<i>Lego Dimensions</i> 2015 video game

Lego Dimensions is a Lego-themed action-adventure platform crossover video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360. It follows the toys-to-life format, in that the player has Lego figures and a toy pad that can be played within the game itself where it features characters and environments from over 30 different franchises. The Starter Pack, containing the game, the USB toy pad, and three minifigures, was released in September 2015, while additional level packs and characters were released over the following two years. A third year of content was planned, but was cancelled in October 2017.

<i>Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power</i> 2015 video game

Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power is a 2015 action-adventure puzzle-platform video game developed by Frozenbyte, released on August 20, 2015 for Microsoft Windows. A PlayStation 4 version was released on December 22, 2015. It is the sequel to Trine 2 and features a return of the series' three protagonists and medieval fantasy location. The game is the first in the series to feature fully 3D gameplay. A port to the Nintendo Switch was released on July 29, 2019.

<i>P.T.</i> (video game) 2014 video game

P.T. is a psychological horror game developed by Kojima Productions, under the pseudonym "7780s Studio", and published by Konami. It was directed and designed by Hideo Kojima, in collaboration with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

<i>Allison Road</i> (video game) video game

Allison Road is an unreleased first-person survival horror video game, that was being developed for Linux, Microsoft Windows and OS X by Lilith Ltd and formerly to be published by Team17. It was considered to be a spiritual successor to P.T., the playable teaser for the cancelled video game Silent Hills. Before being funded by Team17, the game's development was fan based. On 4 June 2016, the Allison Road Twitter account announced the game's cancellation.

<i>P.A.M.E.L.A.</i> 2020 video game

P.A.M.E.L.A. is a science fiction first-person shooter open world survival horror video game by Canadian company NVYVE Studios for Microsoft Windows. The game takes place in a science fiction, utopian city called Eden, that includes areas such as malls, courtyards, and residential condos. The gameplay is that of an open world sandbox, and contains no set path for the player to follow, forcing the player to find their own way to survive. The game also contains role-playing game-like progression, and a story to be discovered in the game world.

<i>Soul Axiom</i> 2016 video game

Soul Axiom is a first-person adventure-puzzle video game developed and published by Wales Interactive. The game is set inside a "Digital Soul Provider" called Elysia, and combines exploration with puzzle solving elements to unlock the mystery of your character's digital afterlife. It follows a similar visual style from its predecessor, Master Reboot, and while it's not a direct sequel, it is set in the same world but with new characters, a new story and new set of game mechanics. The game was released on February 29, 2016. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ports were released in June 2016. The Wii U version launched on September 29, 2016. Then, the game was also released on February 27, 2020 for Nintendo Switch as Soul Axiom Rebooted.

<i>WWE 2K17</i> 2016 wrestling video game

WWE 2K17 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K Sports for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. It is the eighteenth game in the WWE game series, serving as the following from their previous game WWE 2K16, and followed by WWE 2K18. This is the fourth and final installment released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms and on those platforms still follows the gameplay blueprint of WWE 2K14.

<i>Wayward Sky</i> 2016 action video game

Wayward Sky is an action video game by Uber Entertainment for PlayStation VR. It was released in October 2016 alongside the platform's launch.

<i>Stray</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Stray is an upcoming adventure game developed by BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive. Formerly known as HK_Project, the game is scheduled for release in early 2022 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. It follows the story of a stray cat who falls into a world populated by robots and ventures to return to his family.

<i>Star Wars: Squadrons</i> 2020 video game

Star Wars: Squadrons is a space combat game set in the Star Wars universe developed by Motive Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on October 2, 2020 and for Xbox Series X/S on December 3, 2020. The game features both multiplayer game modes and a single-player campaign. Set after Return of the Jedi, the campaign alternates between the New Republic's Vanguard Squadron and the Galactic Empire's Titan Squadron, both of which become involved with the Republic's Project Starhawk; Vanguard Squadron wants to ensure its completion, while Titan Squadron attempts to destroy it.

References

  1. ↑ "P.O.L.L.E.N FAQ", pollengame.com, 3 Jul 2016
  2. ↑ Christopher Pope, "P.O.L.L.E.N VR: Developing High-End Visuals with Unity 5", Unity 3D, 16 Feb 2015
  3. ↑ "PO.L.L.E.N Teaser Trailer", IGN, 7 Aug 2014
  4. ↑ "PO.L.L.E.N Gameplay Trailer", IGN, 5 Oct 2015
  5. ↑ Matt Smith, "Pollen Interview with Olli Sinerma of MindField Games | PAX East 2015", Newgamernation, 9 Mar 2015
  6. ↑ Blake Peterson, "Pollen Preview", Game Revolution, 31 Aug 2015
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.