Machinarium - Game and Sound design

Machinarium

 

Machinarium is a puzzle point-and-click adventure game developed by Amanita Design. It was released on 16 October 2009 for Microsoft Windows on 8 September 2011 for iPad on 21 November 2011 for BlackBerry, on 10 May 2012 for Android Systems on 6 September 2012 on PlayStation 3 in Europe.

The goal of the puzzle point-and-click adventure game, Machinarium is to solve a sequence of brain teasers and puzzles. The puzzles are linked together by an over world consisting of a traditional "point and click" adventure story. The over world’s most radical rule is that only objects within the player character's direct reach can be clicked on, for use or for storage.

Machinarium employs a dual hint system. Once per level, the player can receive a hint, through completing a mini game. The mini-game is challenging. Adding another dimension to the puzzling game play. Machinarium also comes with a walk through. The walkthrough can be accessed at any time by playing by also playing a type of mini game. As with dialogue, the walkthrough is not in written or spoken form, but instead a series of sketches describing the puzzle at the moment and its solution. However, the walkthrough only reveals what must be done in that area, and not how that puzzle relates to the game chronology.

Machinarium contains no dialogue, spoken or written, except for a chant like voice coming to life ever so often. Really adds a dimension to be lost, puzzled. Separately from a few tutorial prompts on the first screen, is null of understandable language period. The game instead uses a system of animated thought bubbles. Easter eggs of “ah-ha” and interactive back story. Idling in certain areas can only reveal scenes in the same format.

The soundtrack for the video game Machinarium was written, composed, mixed and produced by Floex, alias Tomáš Dvořák for Amanita Design. The video game soundtrack was released on October 21, 2009 in digital format (mp3 and flac), on February 27, 2010 on vinyl LP and on March 5, 2010 on CD (as part of Collector's Edition of the game). The album includes 14 tracks. Sound effects are of those found in a junkyard but fit in the environment. The sounds are staged and seems to only have one sound per item no matter how may time you press it. The music sounds good and changes through out the game. Overall the game is puzzling, challenging and fun. Figuring out what does what and the sound it makes make for a great environment.