MindRover: The Europa Project, also known as simply MindRover, is a video game for PC, developed by CogniToy.
| MindRover: The Europa Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | CogniToy |
| Publisher(s) | CogniToy |
| Platform(s) | Windows, Linux, Mac OS X |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Strategy |
Gameplay
The game, which can be thought of as a successor to the Learning Company's Robot Odyssey, revolves around three activities:
- Assemble virtual robots from a library of stock parts.
- Programming robots using a special graphical interface (referred to in the game as "wiring") with a paradigm more based on multicomponent circuitry construction than on traditional programming.
- Participate in events such as robot battles and racing games with newly programmed robot.
Development
The game had a budget of $500,000.[4] In October 2000, CogniToy signed a contract with Tri Synergy to distribute the game to retail stores.[5]
The game was developed for Microsoft Windows and was released for online retail in 1999, and for traditional retail stores a year later. Add-ons were available to control Lego Mindstorms robots.
The game was ported to Linux by Loki Software and Linux Game Publishing and to the Mac by MacPlay.
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 87%[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| CNET Gamecenter | 8/10[7] |
| Computer Games Strategy Plus |   [8] |
| EP Daily | 9/10[9] |
| GameSpot | 8/10[10] |
| IGN | 8.5/10[11] |
| Next Generation | [12] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 89%[13] |
| PC Zone | 86%[14] |
| Corvallis Gazette-Times |  [15] |
The PC version received favorable reviews. Carla Harker of NextGen called the retail version "A truly amazing title for anyone looking for something unique and challenging."[12]
The same PC version was nominated for the "Best Strategy Game for PC", "Best Independent PC Game", and "Most Innovative Game of the Year" awards at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, which went to Sacrifice, Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord, and Jet Grind Radio, respectively.[16][17]
See also
- Armored Core: Formula Front
- Armored Core: Verdict Day, featuring UNACs, AI controlled Armored Cores which players can create and customize
- BASIC STUDIO Powerful Game Koubou, a 2001 PS2 game creation title by Artdink featuring a sample game based on their title Carnage Heart
- Breeder, a 1986 Famicom algorithm-based simulation combat game by SoftPro
- ChipWits
- COMSIGHT, a 1987 PC88, X1 , and X68000 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Technosoft
- Omega (video game)
- Pandora Project: The Logic Master, a 1996 PS1 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Team Bughouse very similar to Carnage Heart
- Robot Odyssey
- Robot X Robot, a 1999 PS1 algorithm-based simulation combat game by Nemesys
- RoboSport
- Logic simulation