'World of Goo' Will Turn Any Engineer Into An Addict
'World of Goo' from creator 2D Boy is a freakishly simple, beautiful engineering game with an addictiveness that lies somewhere between Tetris and crack.
The game itself is nothing but a physics simulation, a virtual erector set, if you will, wrapped in an astonishing aesthetic, mostly unintelligible plot and a soundtrack that would make Danny Elfman weep. The game is divided up into four chapters and an epilogue, with between 4 and 15 individual games in each chapter.
Each game has its own unique landscape, populated with Goo balls in a variety of species, from basic black spheres with eyeballs (and an adorable chirping noise) to chewed-Bazooka balloon goo balls to drippy, drooly goo balls. Each species has its own relationship to physics, and all you have to do is manipulate their heft, stretch, bounce, and strength as you use them to build structures that will deliver the species into the mysterious vacuum pipe.
Did that make sense? Probably not so much. As I’ve been trying to describe to my friends what has finally changed my mind about video games, I’m at a loss on how to give 'World of Goo' the so-called Elevator Pitch. The greatest asset of this game is that it’s built to teach players the rules by taking them through a logical process that gradually becomes more challenging.
The replay value is so high because after you beat the entire game (it took me about 3 weeks), you can start all over and challenge yourself to build stronger, more efficient and more beautiful structures. They also have an Obsessive Completion Distinction Criteria (OCD) for each game, so you can go happily insane trying to meet their standards for time, moves, or goo balls collected.
Judging by the wealth of videos on YouTube showing off cheats and alternative solutions, 'World of Goo' for the Wii and PC has a speedily-expanding following of men and women both young and old. I am keeping my eye out for the next development from 2D Boy.
The game itself is nothing but a physics simulation, a virtual erector set, if you will, wrapped in an astonishing aesthetic, mostly unintelligible plot and a soundtrack that would make Danny Elfman weep. The game is divided up into four chapters and an epilogue, with between 4 and 15 individual games in each chapter.
Each game has its own unique landscape, populated with Goo balls in a variety of species, from basic black spheres with eyeballs (and an adorable chirping noise) to chewed-Bazooka balloon goo balls to drippy, drooly goo balls. Each species has its own relationship to physics, and all you have to do is manipulate their heft, stretch, bounce, and strength as you use them to build structures that will deliver the species into the mysterious vacuum pipe.
Did that make sense? Probably not so much. As I’ve been trying to describe to my friends what has finally changed my mind about video games, I’m at a loss on how to give 'World of Goo' the so-called Elevator Pitch. The greatest asset of this game is that it’s built to teach players the rules by taking them through a logical process that gradually becomes more challenging.
The replay value is so high because after you beat the entire game (it took me about 3 weeks), you can start all over and challenge yourself to build stronger, more efficient and more beautiful structures. They also have an Obsessive Completion Distinction Criteria (OCD) for each game, so you can go happily insane trying to meet their standards for time, moves, or goo balls collected.
Judging by the wealth of videos on YouTube showing off cheats and alternative solutions, 'World of Goo' for the Wii and PC has a speedily-expanding following of men and women both young and old. I am keeping my eye out for the next development from 2D Boy.
Trend Themes
1. Physics-based Video Games - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new video games that utilize physics-based simulations to create addicting and educational gameplay experiences.
2. Gamification of Engineering - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create engineering-focused games that teach players about the principles of physics and problem-solving while keeping them engaged and entertained.
3. High Replay Value Games - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design games with high replay value that encourage players to constantly improve their skills and strive for completion.
Industry Implications
1. Video Game Development - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore new approaches to game development that prioritize physics simulations and gamification of educational content.
2. Education Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate physics-themed video games into educational platforms to enhance STEM learning and engagement.
3. Entertainment and Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate physics-based video games into entertainment and media offerings to attract and engage a wide range of audiences.
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