Cypher (video game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cypher: Cyberpunk Text Adventure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Cabrera Brothers |
| Publisher | Cabrera Brothers |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platforms | Windows, OS X |
| Release | August 31, 2012 |
| Genre | Interactive fiction |
| Mode | Single-player |
Cypher: Cyberpunk Text Adventure is a cyberpunk interactive fiction video game written by the Cabrera Brothers and released on August 31, 2012.[1] It includes music, sound effects and limited graphical elements. The game was released for Microsoft Windows and OS X.
Gameplay consists of the player reading descriptions of their character's location and surroundings as presented in text form by the game, then inputting their desired actions into the text parser. Further atmospheric detail is provided throughout the game in the form of background music and sound effects, as well as an animated image of the player character on the righthand side of the screen. When the player collects an important object from the game environment, these too are displayed on the right hand side. These images are updated when the object changes, such as when a dirty keycard is cleaned or a device is activated.
Plot
The setting and style of the game has drawn comparisons to classic science fiction works such as Total Recall and Blade Runner.[2] The game is set in NeoSushi City, formerly Tokyo, several years after a catastrophe saw a portion of the moon impact the earth's surface, destroying much of civilisation, including the internet. Corporations rely on individuals who are able to courier data using personal cybernetic implants, and the protagonist, Dogeron "Dog" Kenan, does this for a living. At the opening of the game a deal has gone wrong and he has become a wanted man.
Development
Cypher was the first game that Javier and Carlos Cabrera created independently, though Carlos worked previously as a concept artist on F.E.A.R., Section 8 and Aliens: Colonial Marines. They began work with a story in mind and chose interactive fiction for the genre as they felt it would be the quickest way to develop and publish a game. They trialed a number of text adventure parsers, including Inform and TADS, before settling on Unity3D.[3]
Release
Cypher was released in three different versions: Standard, Collector and Deluxe. The more expensive Collector and Deluxe versions included an expanded range of printable feelies, including a paper art construction set in the Deluxe version. All three versions were released with the game's soundtrack included.[4] In response to several reports of bugs from both users and reviewers, the game has been patched several times since release.[5] A version of Cypher which is compatible with screen readers used by the visually impaired is currently in production along with a second part in pre-production.