Read Only Memories
| Read Only Memories | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | MidBoss |
| Publisher(s) | MidBoss |
| Director(s) | John James |
| Producer(s) | Matt Conn |
| Programmer(s) | Ted DiNola |
| Composer(s) | Matthew Hopkins |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4,[1] Xbox One, Ouya,[2] Razer Forge |
| Release date(s) |
Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Razer Forge, Ouya, Amazon Fire TV
iOS, Android June 2016 PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita October 2016 |
| Genre(s) | Graphic adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Read Only Memories is a cyberpunk adventure game focused on the dark side of technology in the year 2064. It is directed by John "JJSignal" James and produced by MidBoss and Matt Conn for OS X, Linux and Windows. The game has also been announced for release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, iOS, the Razer Forge and Android. The game was heavily inspired by Snatcher, Rise of the Dragon, Gabriel Knight and similar old-school adventures, and launched on October 6, 2015.
Plot
The game takes place during Christmas in the year 2064. The protagonist is a journalist working to find a missing friend on the streets of "Neo-San Francisco" with the world's first sapient robot, Turing.[3]
Development
Read Only Memories was funded through Kickstarter where it raised $64,378 from November 12 to December 12, 2013.[4][5] The game is slated for an October 6 release on SteamOS, Mac, Linux and Windows, with a release at least 6 months later on iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Xbox One due to the game's participation in Ouya's Free The Games Fund which doubled the raised funds for a period of mobile and console exclusivity to what is now the Razer Forge platform.[6] A Linux port of the game was planned if the Kickstarter reached $82,064, but that goal was not met.[4] However, MidBoss announced a Linux version in a later Kickstarter update, nonetheless.[7]
Read Only Memories is described as a queer-inclusive video game, and its developers are also involved with the GaymerX series of LGBT video gaming conventions. Setting the game in the future, MidBoss aimed to posit a future where LGBT characters face less discrimination, allowing queer characters to be presented on equal terms with straight counterparts. Speaking with Gamasutra, MidBoss founder Matt Conn said, "instead of waiting for Sony and other big companies to include gay characters in their games as more than just tokens, we should just do it ourselves."[8]
The game is built in Unity and uses a Twine-like scripting language to manage game logic. Director John James cites Bubblegum Crisis and Phantasy Star IV among the game's visual inspirations. A playable demo of the game was shown at the March 2014 Game Developers Conference, and a demo was released to the public in November 2014.[9][10]
Reception
The game received generally positive reviews from video game critics.
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External links
References
- ↑ http://gematsu.com/2015/11/read-only-memories-coming-ps4-ps-vita
- ↑ https://www.ouya.tv/game/Read-Only-Memories/
- ↑ Conditt, Jessica (November 13, 2013). "Cyberpunk adventure 'Read Only Memories' from GaymerX founders". Joystiq. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- 1 2 "ROM: Read Only Memories by GaymerX". Kickstarter. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ Sarkar, Samit (December 13, 2013). "Cyberpunk adventure Read Only Memories funded on Kickstarter". Polygon. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ "OUYA Free The Games Fund; Successful Projects". Ouya.
- ↑ "Read Only Memories Public Demo". Kickstarter. November 24, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ↑ Kris Ligman (2013-11-29). "Q&A: Inside the social futurism of MidBoss's Read Only Memories". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
- ↑ Kris Ligman (2014-04-03). "Q&A: The retrofuturistic aesthetics of Read Only Memories". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
- ↑ Graham Smith (2014-11-17). "Read Only Memories: Cyberpunk Adventure Gets A Demo". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
- ↑ "Read Only Memories for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Read Only Memories for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ↑ Davis, Ben (2 October 2015). "Cyberpunk chic". Destructoid. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ↑ "Point-and-Click Cyberpunk Excellence". Game Revolution. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-06.