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Schizoid (video game)
Encyclopedia
Schizoid is an action game
which focuses on teamwork. Players must co-operate to protect each other from barrages of glowing enemies. The title was developed by Torpex Games
and launched on Xbox Live Arcade
on July 9, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points
.
Schizoid was nominated for two Xbox Live Arcade 2008 awards: "Best Original Game" and "Best Co-Operative Multiplayer Game". Penny Arcade
awarded Schizoid a place in their PAX 10 awards, as one of the best independently-developed games of the year "in terms of gameplay and 'fun factor'."
Two player-controlled ships, colored red and blue, are maneuvered around a game level. Red and blue enemies charge at the ships of the opposite color. If a player ship touches an enemy of the same color, the enemy is destroyed; but if the enemy is of the opposite color, the player ship is destroyed. There is more in this world that meets the eye. When all red and blue enemies are cleared from the level, the level ends and players begin the next level.
Two single-player game modes are available: Wingman Bot Training, in which the player controls the blue ship and a bot
controls the red ship; and Uberschizoid, in which the player controls both ships simultaneously. One multiplayer game mode is available, playable either as an Xbox Live
game over an Internet connection, or with two players at the same console in "Local Co-op" game mode.
The only control used on the game controller during the game is the left thumbstick, unless playing in Uberschizoid game mode, in which case the player uses both thumbsticks to control the two ships.
During gameplay, the two ships must work closely together to clear enemies from the levels. Each player ship alone is completely vulnerable to enemies of the opposite color; only the other player ship can provide a rescue.
Game progress is saved at a checkpoint after completing a "chamber" of seven levels before the players' 10 lives are exhausted. If the players complete any level without losing any lives, the players earn a "gold star" for that level. In subsequent games, any time the player goes through that chamber, the game will automatically skip past any level that has a gold star, making it more likely the player will be able to finish the chamber before his 10 lives are exhausted. Schizoid has 119 levels, followed by a sequence of "Infinity Chamber" levels, which are randomly generated by the game.
Torpex Games calls Schizoid "the most co-op game ever" because of the tight cooperation required to play multiplayer games. (Official Xbox Magazine
wrote of this claim, "It ain't lying.") The game's "Uberschizoid" single-player game mode is apparently intended for hardcore gamers; IGN
claimed of Uberschizoid, "Your brain will never be the same."
had been created using pre-XNA tools.
Development of the game started in September 2006. The first prototype of core gameplay was completed in just four days.
Richard Garfield
, famous for creating Magic: The Gathering
, helped in the design of the game.
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
which focuses on teamwork. Players must co-operate to protect each other from barrages of glowing enemies. The title was developed by Torpex Games
Torpex Games
Torpex Games is a game development studio located out of Bellevue, Washington.The studio is notable for the fact that their video game Schizoid is the first Xbox Live Arcade title to utilize the Microsoft framework, XNA Game Studio Express...
and launched on Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
on July 9, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
.
Schizoid was nominated for two Xbox Live Arcade 2008 awards: "Best Original Game" and "Best Co-Operative Multiplayer Game". Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade (webcomic)
Penny Arcade is a webcomic focused on video games and video game culture, written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. The comic debuted in 1998 on the website loonygames.com. Since then, Holkins and Krahulik have established their own site, which is typically updated with a new comic...
awarded Schizoid a place in their PAX 10 awards, as one of the best independently-developed games of the year "in terms of gameplay and 'fun factor'."
Gameplay
Two single-player game modes are available: Wingman Bot Training, in which the player controls the blue ship and a bot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
controls the red ship; and Uberschizoid, in which the player controls both ships simultaneously. One multiplayer game mode is available, playable either as an Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
game over an Internet connection, or with two players at the same console in "Local Co-op" game mode.
The only control used on the game controller during the game is the left thumbstick, unless playing in Uberschizoid game mode, in which case the player uses both thumbsticks to control the two ships.
During gameplay, the two ships must work closely together to clear enemies from the levels. Each player ship alone is completely vulnerable to enemies of the opposite color; only the other player ship can provide a rescue.
Game progress is saved at a checkpoint after completing a "chamber" of seven levels before the players' 10 lives are exhausted. If the players complete any level without losing any lives, the players earn a "gold star" for that level. In subsequent games, any time the player goes through that chamber, the game will automatically skip past any level that has a gold star, making it more likely the player will be able to finish the chamber before his 10 lives are exhausted. Schizoid has 119 levels, followed by a sequence of "Infinity Chamber" levels, which are randomly generated by the game.
Torpex Games calls Schizoid "the most co-op game ever" because of the tight cooperation required to play multiplayer games. (Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
wrote of this claim, "It ain't lying.") The game's "Uberschizoid" single-player game mode is apparently intended for hardcore gamers; IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
claimed of Uberschizoid, "Your brain will never be the same."
Development history
Schizoid is notable for being the first Xbox Live Arcade game built using XNA Game Studio Express; Aegis WingAegis Wing
Aegis Wing is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by three Microsoft interns and Carbonated Games. It was released on May 16, 2007. The title is available free to all Xbox Live members in North America.-Plot:...
had been created using pre-XNA tools.
Development of the game started in September 2006. The first prototype of core gameplay was completed in just four days.
Richard Garfield
Richard Garfield
Richard Channing Garfield is a mathematics professor and game designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, BattleTech CCG, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle , The Great Dalmuti, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and the board game RoboRally...
, famous for creating Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, helped in the design of the game.
Reception
- Team Xbox - 8.1 http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1538/Schizoid/p1/
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- 7.8 http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/886/886922p1.html