Dark Matter (video game)
| Dark Matter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Interwave Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Iceberg Interactive |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| Release | October 17, 2013 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game, survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Dark Matter is an indie metroidvania/survival horror video game developed by Interwave Studios and published by Iceberg Interactive for the Windows, Linux and macOS in 2013.[1]
Development
[edit]Interwave Studios intended the game to be developed by a team of six and completed within a year. It was clear that one year into production, the game was not in a complete state. With funds running low, Interwave launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in June 2013, hoping to raise £50,000. The campaign failed, leading to the development team being laid off that summer.[2]
The game was released in a truncated form in October 2013, offering four levels, and with its ending missing. The intention was that sales of the game could fund the rehiring of the development staff. Both the management team at Interwave and the publishers at Iceberg were unaware that the ending was missing, and temporarily pulled the game from Steam in response.[3] A cinematic ending was patched into the game later that October.[4]
Reception
[edit]Dark Matter received negative reviews from critics, such as a review score of 4/10 from GameSpot.[5] Reviewers and players criticized the game's abrupt ending, leading to refunds being offered by GOG[6] and the game being temporarily pulled from Steam.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ McElroy, Griffin (December 10, 2012). "Dark Matter gameplay trailer tosses survival horror mechanics into Metroidvania mix". Polygon. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ Mike Rose (October 22, 2013). "Dark Matter pulled from Steam, after team is laid off". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ Mike Rose (October 22, 2013). "The Dark Matter debacle: Interwave responds". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ [ICE]_Beastman (October 31, 2013). "New Ending Now In". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ Matt Cabral. "Dark Matter (2013) Review - GameSpot". GameSpot. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ Birnbaum, Ian (October 22, 2013). "Dark Matter apparently incomplete, GOG offers refunds and revises game description". PC Gamer. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ^ "Dark Matter pulled from Steam over abrupt ending". GamesRadar+. October 22, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
External links
[edit]- 2013 video games
- Action-adventure games
- Horror video games
- Indie games
- Crowdfunding projects
- Linux games
- MacOS games
- Science fiction video games
- Side-scrolling platformers
- Single-player video games
- Video games developed in the Netherlands
- Video games featuring female protagonists
- Video games set in the future
- Video games with 2.5D graphics
- Windows games
- Metroidvania games
- InterWave Studios games
- Iceberg Interactive games