Lupinball
Lupinball is a multiplayer bullet hell dodgeball video game developed and published by Craftven for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released on 17 August 2017.
Lupinball | |
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Developer(s) | Craftven |
Publisher(s) | Craftven |
Director(s) | Michael Ventnor |
Artist(s) | Christopher Stritch |
Composer(s) | Fox Amoore |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Mac OS X |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Bullet hell dodgeball |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
Lupinball is a multiplayer bullet hell dodgeball video game for up to four players. Players play as one of seven different wolves, each with their own coloured magic fireballs. The game plays similar to dodgeball, with opposing teams collecting orbs around the playing field in order to shoot fireballs to hit and eliminate the opposing team's players.[1] After being shot, fireballs keep bouncing around the edge of the arena and speed up over time. Players are not affected by their own coloured fireballs, and orbs can also be used to shield from the other team's fireballs. Players earn points for winning individual rounds, and a player wins the match by winning a set number of rounds.[2][3]
Development
Michael Ventnor, the head of Craftven, came up with the idea of Lupinball during PAX Australia 2014. He told Player2 the idea came about after canning a different idea stemming from playing Firestriker, to which his friends described as "[reinventing] Lethal League", which was unknown to him.[4]
Lupinball was unveiled during PAX Australia 2015. Ventnor said: "Anyone can pick it up and play it within seconds. It is a game that caters to everyone’s tastes because everyone seems to get it."[5] In a separate interview with TechRaptor, he stated his passion for the genre, and stated the game was capable of doing "everything to make you remember why this was something you did, and still want to do."[6] A teaser trailer released for the game on 2 November 2015.[7]
Reception
After playing the game at PAX East 2017, WCSH in Portland, Maine described Lupinball as "a near-perfect multiplayer party game", with Mick Pratt of Bull Moose describing the game as easy to pick up and play.[8]
Lupinball won PAX Aus' 2015 "Indie Showcase",[9] and was selected in PAX East's 2017 "PAX Rising" category.[10]
References
- Starr, Michelle. "MultiPAX: Multiplayer mayhem at PAX Australia (pictures)". CNET. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- Prell, Sam (1 February 2017). "The future of local multiplayer is strong, and here's four party games to prove it". Gamesradar. Future plc. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- Leboeuf, Sarah (14 February 2017). "PAX South 2017: Indie Game Round-Up". Arcade Sushi. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- Stephen del Prado (25 October 2015). "PAXAUS 2015 Indie Showcase - Lupinball". Player2.net.au. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- Ha, Phi (30 October 2015). "PAX Australia 2015: Indie games showcase". Neowin. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- Ashman, Jason (4 January 2016). "Indie Spotlight - Lupinball". TechRaptor. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "Lupinball - Teaser Trailer". IGN. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- Rollins, Krister (16 March 2017). "Nintendo's big play and Nerd Heaven - Geek Culture". WCSH. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "2015 PAX AUS Indie Showcase". PAX. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- "2017 PAX Risings". PAX. Retrieved 10 November 2017.