Devolution #6

Devolution is exploring and dissecting the creative process of game development, encountering new characteristics with every new edition.

Looking at games and game development from the perspective of Devolution lets you discover new and inspiring aspects of how games are growing into shape. In contrast to the usual reception of the results, Devolution reveals the whole road up to them.

Historically physical exhibitions of several in-between versions of a game (The Curious Expedition, Shift Happens, Thumper, SUPERHOT, Ape Out, Hidden Folks, Kingdom) and a summit (Game Design as Gardening), we are hyped to adapt Devolution in its sixth edition to online only - or as our partner A MAZE. would say: TOTAL DIGITAL.

Devolution #6 is examining the inspiring development process of two amazing games:

Huge THANK YOU to both developers for their trust, cooperation and support!


How To...?

Devolution #6 is accompanying A MAZE. / TOTAL DIGITAL, so it's live.
Devolution #6 is online, so it's permanent.

The core experience is live, but we'll keep as-much-as-possible for later.
The website will be updated during the event regularly.

Explore!

  • Examine the development timlines
  • Play the inbetween versions
    • Compare them to each other
    • Explore their file structures
  • Watch the developers talking about the development process during the streamed exhibition tours

Participate!

  • Comment on the exhibition boards
  • Ask questions during the streamed exhibition tours
  • Talk to each other and to us on the Devolution channel of the A MAZE. Discord server
  • Talk about Devolution on Twitter:

The Devolution of Baba Is You

Baba Is You is a puzzle game where you can change the rules by which you play. In every level, the rules themselves are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the level works and cause surprising, unexpected interactions. With some simple block-pushing you can turn yourself into a rock, turn patches of grass into dangerously hot obstacles, and even change the goal.

The theme of the 2017 Nordic Game Jam was "Not There", which prompted Arvi Teikari to envision a game concept based on manipulating logic operators. As with his previous projects, the game was developed using Multimedia Fusion 2, and a Lua scripting plugin. Arvi stated in 2017 that he planned to release the full game in 2018. Baba Is You won at the Independent Games Festival in March 2018. The game, and a Nintendo Switch release, were focused upon in a Nintendo indie games showcase presentation on 31 August 2018. Baba Is You was released on 13 March 2019, via Steam and on Nintendo Switch. A cross-platform level editor, with online level sharing is expected to be added to the game.

Online Exhibition

The timeline of the development process of Baba Is You and other insights, using .

Open as new tab: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_kpjQ1As=/

The Evolution of Baba Is You

Downloadable in-between versions of Baba Is You:

Some in-between versions do NOT contain all original levels.

Jam Build
27.4.2017
Backup 7
7.6.2017
Backup 11
24.8.2017
Backup 29
30.3.2018
Backup 36
25.11.2018
Present
The Nordic Game
Jam version
Updated graphics,
very early map,
everything is tiny,
Baba and Keke look silly
Some later-to-be-scrapped ideas,
Baba and Keke
look better
The game has
a main menu,
the map is terrible
but more final
The game is
nearly finished,
the audio is buggy
The game as it is now

Exhibition Tour with Arvi Teikari

...as streamed through A MAZE.
...on Friday, 24.7.2020, 12:30pm

For the ultimate insight into the development of Baba Is You and its design decisions. Guided tour through the exhibited versions of the game by the developer Arvi “Hempuli” Teikari, supported by the co-curator of Devolution Mascha Camino. Complementing the exhibition with background information, secrets and anecdotes.


The Devolution of Dicey Dungeons

Dicey Dungeons combines elements of roguelike games with deck-building games. The game takes place on a game show-like backdrop, where Lady Luck challenges adventurers, each having been turned into a dice, to complete a dungeon with a rather unlikely chance of winning their freedom.

Terry Cavanagh announced the commercial version of Dicey Dungeons in May 2018, after about three months of prior development, with in-progress free versions available for users to try up to this point. Terry had planned to release later in 2018. The game's art was created by Marlowe Dobbe, while its music was composed by Chipzel. Dicey Dungeons was ultimately released on 13 August 2019 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux personal computers. There are plans to release ports of the game for the Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Online Exhibition

The of the development process of Dicey Dungeons and other insights, using .

Open as new tab: https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_kqDj-Gk=/

The Evolution of Dicey Dungeons

Downloadable in-between versions of Dicey Dungeons:

Exhibition Tour with Terry Cavanagh

...as streamed through A MAZE.
...on Friday, 25.7.2020, 12:00pm

For the ultimate insight into the development of Dicey Dungeons and its design decisions. Guided tour through the exhibited versions of the game by the developer Terry Cavanagh, supported by the co-curator of Devolution Mascha Camino. Complementing the exhibition with background information, secrets and anecdotes.


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