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Darwinia evolving onto XBLA

By Jon Melmore, GameSpot UKPosted Mar 25, 2008 8:36 am PT

[UPDATE] After ESRB rates PC indie hit for the Xbox 360, Introversion confirms title coming to XBLA.

An Xbox 360 version of Introversion's award-winning hybrid real-time strategy game Darwinia has been speculated since the game's first run on the PC in 2005. However, an edition for Microsoft's console has never actually materialized. That may change in the near future, given that the Entertainment Software Rating Board has updated its online database with an E for Everyone rating for Introversion's innovative strategy game. Introversion has been listed as the publisher for the Xbox 360 version of the game.

Originally released in 2005, Darwinia is set inside a virtual theme park in a computer network. A viral infection has broken out that you must contain to save the little Darwinians. In the game, players have to alter the status of the creatures by inputting a gesture-based command. On the PC, these gestures are achieved with a flick of the mouse, and there are currently no details on how they would be handled in an Xbox 360 version of the game.

Introversion is a small British developer whose other works include 2001's hacker simulator Uplink and critically acclaimed global thermonuclear war strategy game DEFCON: Everybody Dies. The studio is known to be working on a PC follow-up to Darwinia, dubbed Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest, which will bring online play to the franchise.

It is unclear whether the Xbox 360 version of the game would appear as an Xbox Live Arcade offering, and Introversion had not responded to requests for clarification as of press time. However, the developer is no stranger to digital distribution; Introversion's entire lineup is available for download through Valve's online portal Steam.

[UPDATE] Introversion has confirmed in a statement that both the games will be coming in autumn 2008 to Xbox Live Arcade, with Darwinia and Multiwinia coming together in one downloadable package as Darwinia+.

42 Comments

  • Travis281

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 8:04 am PT

    Keep the little PC games coming, just keep adding +es and I'll buy them, lol.

  • icy06

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 4:38 am PT

    Cool

  • user5689

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 2:57 pm PT

    **** AWESOME!

  • AdmiralDan

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 9:47 am PT

    DEFCON!!!!

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 8:38 am PT

    I didnt like it before. My sibling had more fun with it though. It won't suit everyone

  • Father_Dagon

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 8:18 am PT

    Kool, if this is successful then maybe they’ll bring DEFCON to the xbox also.

  • sonicare

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 8:13 am PT

    Excellent. Looks very interesting.

  • BringTheBlood

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 7:41 am PT

    sweeeeeet, bout time a small developer got some attention! and thank god its Introvision.

  • PETIKPO93

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 6:17 am PT

    Whoa, Introversion is so cool. Nice games, for the people who like 'em

  • twoism

    Posted Mar 26, 2008 2:54 am PT

    Introversion rock!

  • kegmiester

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    nice to see that a good game made by a small time developer will make it onto the 360 allowing console/pc owners to experience a game that they may have missed or completely ignored.

  • runstalker

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 2:25 pm PT

    Darwinia+ for Xbox 360 named/confirmed

    Introversion Software: "Three years on from Darwinia’s release on PC and we are really happy to confirm that we're working with Microsoft to bring both Darwinia, and our next title Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest, onto the Xbox LIVE® Arcade service. Due for release in early Autumn 2008, both games will be released under one package called Darwinia+. When we first started Introversion back in 2001, the idea of developing our games for a console seemed an impossible challenge, and whilst we have built a fantastic community around our PC games, and will continue to support that, it has always been our dream to take the next step and produce a console title. Multiwinia is the natural conclusion of what we started with Darwinia way back in 2002 and, with the launch of Live Arcade, Microsoft has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to get onto a rung of the console ladder. We're really looking forward to introducing Darwinia+ to a whole new audience."

  • runstalker

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:53 pm PT

    "...alter the status of the creatures by inputting a gesture-based command. On the PC, these gestures are achieved with a flick of the mouse, and there are currently no details on how they would be handled in an Xbox 360 version..."

    Guys, update your research on Darwinia. About 6 months after release, Introversion patched up the game and included an all-new optional UI that was more overlay, traditional RTS - but still brilliant. It was the perfect solution for folks who didn't gel with the gesture-based command system, and it should be highly adaptable for use on console in the 360 version. Don't worry; these guys are very, very clever.

  • Kraige

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    Sounds interesting though I doubt I would buy it as a full game (it doesn't sound that big or needing of retail release) I may get it if its on XBLA though if it looks good.

  • boondagger9801

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:32 pm PT

    yesyesyes! this game is so freaking sweet. if you've never played it, think of a mix between Syndicate Wars/Tron/Matrix. That may not be the right mix, but that's what i thought when i was playing it. very VERY original and addicting game. Definately a must buy for me.

  • NND1

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    RaiKageRyu get your facts straight about the wrong console.. 360 set the standards that these "other" consoles are still trying to catch up with ...

  • modem22

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 1:11 pm PT

    I played this game on the PC with the 360 gamepad and it basically previews the controls that the 360 will have so not so much a mystery there.

  • WalkingP

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 12:13 pm PT

    Never heard of it, maybe i'll give it try.

  • AncientDozer

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 11:45 am PT

    Your logic is flawed, RaikageRyu. There really isn't a "wrong" console. It's more like "oh, crap, I knocked the 360 and failed to realize it actually has good stuff and now I probably won't get to play this cool game".

    Fruits Basket rules, by the way.

  • RaiKageRyu posted Mar 25, 2008 11:42 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    RaiKageRyu

    Posted Mar 25, 2008 11:42 am PT (hide)

    This game in on the wrong console.

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