Amnesia Fortnight 2012 Explained

Amnesia Fortnight 2012
Developer:Double Fine Productions
Designer:Brandon Dillon
JP LeBreton
Andy Wood
Lee Petty
Levi Ryken
Brad Muir
Tasha Harris
Nathan Martz
Publisher:Double Fine Productions
Engine:Buddha, Moai
Genre:Various
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:Microsoft Windows

Amnesia Fortnight 2012 is a bundle of prototypes made during a two-week public prototyping session in 2012 by Double Fine Productions, which was held in conjunction with the Humble Bundle group in 2012. Everyone that paid a minimum of $1 had the opportunity to vote on 23 concept ideas. After the completion of the voting period, Double Fine developed the top five voted ideas into game prototypes that became available to those that purchased the bundle after they were completed. There were also three bonus prototypes included, including two from the first Amnesia Fortnight that were made into commercial games, and one prototype from the previous year's Amnesia Fortnight that hadn't been released to the public before that point. 2 Player Productions filmed a documentary about the making of the prototypes, which was included with purchase of the bundle.[1] Amnesia Fortnight 2012 was later released on physical media as part of a special edition bundle.[2]

Hack 'n' Slash

See main article: Hack 'n' Slash. Hack 'n' Slash was the prototype that received the most votes. It is a Legend of Zelda inspired action/adventure, where players solve puzzles by literally hacking the game: for example, inhibiting the game's speed to pass through fireball-laden hallways or instantly killing enemies by setting their health to 0. The project leader was senior programmer Brandon Dillon.[3] A full commercial version of the game was announced on December 10, 2013. It was released in early access for Windows, Mac, and Linux on May 6, 2014, and the full version was released on September 9, 2014, for the same operating systems.[4]

Spacebase DF-9

See main article: Spacebase DF-9. Spacebase DF-9, the prototype receiving the second most votes, is a simulation set in space. The project leader was designer-programmer JP LeBreton. A full version of the game was announced in October 2013 and released on October 27, 2014 with overwhelming negative reviews from press and consumers.[5]

The White Birch

The White Birch received the third most votes. It is an ambient platformer inspired by Ico and Journey. The project leader was art director Andy Wood.

Autonomous

Autonomous was the prototype that received the fourth most votes. It is a retro-futuristic sandbox robot game. The project lead was art director Lee Petty. It was released as an expanded full free release for the Leap Motion controller on November 18, 2013.[6]

Black Lake

Black Lake received the fifth most votes. Originally only four prototypes were going to be chosen to be made, but Double Fine decided to greenlight one more. It is a fairytale exploration game whose project leader was senior artist Levi Ryken.[7]

Brazen

Brazen was a prototype created during the 2011 Amnesia Fortnight, which unlike the 2012 prototyping session, was not public. Double Fine decided to release it as a bonus with the 2012 prototypes. It is a Monster Hunter-style four-player online co-op game. Its art style is an homage to Ray Harryhausen films. The project leader was Brad Muir, the project leader of Iron Brigade.[8]

Costume Quest

See main article: Costume Quest. Costume Quest was originally made as a prototype during the first Amnesia Fortnight session, which wasn't public. Double Fine included the original prototype as a bonus with the 2012 prototypes.[9] The project leader was lead animator Tasha Harris.

Happy Song

See main article: Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster. Happy Song was also a prototype from the first Amnesia Fortnight session. This prototype would later become . Like Costume Quest, Double Fine decided to include the original prototype as a bonus with the 2012 prototypes. The project leader was lead programmer Nathan Martz.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vote on Double Fine's next game ideas . . 2012-11-19 . 2012-11-19 . 2012-11-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121122015817/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-19-vote-on-double-fines-next-game-prototypes . live .
  2. Web site: Don't Forget: Amnesia Fortnight Bundle Released . 2013-02-04 . 2013-06-02 . . 2013-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130520091359/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/04/dont-forget-amnesia-fortnight-bundle-released/#more-141205 . live .
  3. Web site: Double Fine's Top Four Amnesia Fortnight Prototypes Chosen . . 2012-11-26 . 2013-06-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121201145131/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/double-fines-top-four-amnesia-prototypes-chosen/ . 2012-12-01 . dead .
  4. Web site: Hack 'n' on Steam . . 2014-05-06 . 2014-05-06 . 2014-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140506213353/http://store.steampowered.com/app/246070/ . live .
  5. Web site: Reveal: Double Fine's Sci-Fi Dwarf Fortress, Spacebase DF-9 . Nathan . Grayson . 2013-10-15 . 2013-10-15 . . 2013-10-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131015212948/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/10/15/revealed-double-fines-sci-fi-dwarf-fortress-spacebase-df-9/ . live .
  6. Web site: . 2013-11-18 . 2013-11-18 . Autonomous Expanded For Free Leap Motion Release . 2013-11-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131127230342/http://mixnmojo.com/news/Autonomous-Expanded-For-Free-Leap-Motion-Release . live .
  7. Web site: The Votes For The Five Amnesia Fortnight Games Are In . . 2012-11-26 . 2013-06-02 . 2013-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130224002926/http://mixnmojo.com/news/The-Votes-For-The-Five-Amnesia-Fortnight-Games-Are-In . live .
  8. Web site: Brazen: Double Fine's latest prototype mixes Ray Harryhausen films and Monster Hunter . . 2012-11-20 . 2015-01-20 . 2013-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131102143223/http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/21/brazen-double-fines-latest-prototype-mixes-ray-harryhausen-films-and-monster-hunter/ . live .
  9. Web site: How to Play 6 New Double Fine Prototypes . . 2012-12-20 . 2013-06-02 . 2012-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121223092907/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/20/how-to-play-6-new-double-fine-prototypes . live .
  10. Web site: Double Fine interview off-cuts: Tim Schafer on studio creativity . 2012-02-03 . 2012-02-03 . . 2012-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120205102622/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/levelup/a363303/double-fine-interview-off-cuts-tim-schafer-on-studio-creativity.html . live .