Core (video game platform)
Core is a free-to-play online video game platform, developed by Manticore Games and released on March 16, 2020, that is based around hosting user-generated games that are designed for an older teen and adult audience.[1][2] Core's game creation system is designed to simplify video game creation in order to allow more individuals to develop games.[2] Manticore Games, the developer of Core, was co-founded by Frederic Descamps and Jordan Maynard in 2016 and is based in San Mateo, California.[1] Core is based on similar gaming platforms such as Roblox.[1]
| Core | |
|---|---|
 Box Art | |
| Developer(s) | Manticore Games |
| Publisher(s) | Manticore Games |
| Director(s) | Frederic Descamps Jordan Maynard |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | March 16, 2020 |
| Genre(s) | Game creation system, massively multiplayer online, UGC Platform |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer, singleplayer |
Overview
Game Creation
Core's game creation system is primarily based around the creation of up to 16-player multiplayer games and single-player games. It is not possible to import models into Core's game creation system, though it is possible to modify existing models and use them to "kitbash" into new models. However, some users have worked on 3rd party importers for pixel art and even full 3d models although, at the time of writing (12/31/2020), none of them are publicly released. Core allows users to code using the Lua coding language as well as an extensive built-in API for it. Games made with Core can not be exported into standalone games, however can be shared onto the Core platform and played by users.
Core is also a game playing platform for games made with the engine. For a user to play a game on Core the user must have the Core standalone installed.[3]
New Stuff Coming
Manticore Games is planning to add up to 32 player servers for Core
Events
On December 11th 2019 Core entered a closed alpha phase, where all users were required to sign a NDA On March 16th Core publicly entered Open Alpha, meaning that anyone could join and did not have to sign an NDA. In September 2020, Core partnered with Dungeons & Dragons and created a competition wherein players competed to build the best Dungeons & Dragons themed game. The winner was a game called Forgotten Cisterns.[4]
In December 2020 2 games, Mining Magnate and Roll 'Em were the first 2 games on the Core platform to hit 100k plays. On December 17th, 2020 Core started the 3 weeks "Holiday Jam" game jam, with the theme of "Winter Wonderland" and $20k in prizes.
Fundraising
In September 2019, Manticore Games announced that they had raised $30 million to fund Core through Series B funding.[5] In September 2020, it was announced that Manticore Games had raised a further $15 million, of which the largest contributor was the video game company Epic Games. The interest of Epic Games in funding Manticore was tied by Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat into a desire to create a "metaverse", wherein several different gaming platforms are interconnected.[6]
Reception
Tyler Wilde of PC Gamer gave a mixed review of the platform, describing its game creation system as "fun", but finding that the character models were "ugly", and that they had stiff animations, as well as that the in-game weaponry and interfaces were not fun to use.[3]
References
- Brown, Abram (September 22, 2020). "Manticore, A Roblox For Older Gamers, Raises $15 Million In New Funding Led By 'Fortnite'-Maker Epic Games". Forbes. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- Webster, Andrew (March 2, 2020). "Core is Aiming to be the New YouTube of Game Development". The Verge. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- Wilde, Tyler (March 16, 2020). "Core is a multiplayer game creation and sharing tool, now in free open alpha". PC Gamer. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- Beck, Kellen (September 16, 2020). "'Core' creator contest with 'Dungeons & Dragons' highlights the game's potential". Mashable. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- Seck, Tobias (September 25, 2019). "Developer Manticore Games Raises $30M Series B Investment for Online Game Creator Platform". ESports Observer. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- Takahashi, Dean (September 22, 2020). "Epic Games invests $15 million in DIY game startup Manticore Games". VentureBeat. Retrieved September 24, 2020.