"...because some men aren't looking for anything logical like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men, just want to watch the world burn." (1)
The game simulates the spread of a virus across the world, spreading like a fire as it engulfs each populated area in turn. Your task as the player is to master the fire itself and keep it burning until the world is aflame.
The underlying simulation is a cellular automata 'forest-fire' model. Each cell starts as a forest, it will catch fire if any neighbouring cell is burning, and turn to ash once consumed. [forest -> fire -> ash] In the game I use accurate population density information alongside major population centres to add gameplay mechanics into this system. You have to chain elements together to keep the triangle of fire from collapsing. You also have to strategically plan your burn throughout the regions of the world, making sure you keep new elements ready for the fire.
"the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly Roy." (2)
All tips greatly appreciated and I hope you enjoy the game, head on over to the download page to get a copy of the game.
"They say time is the fire in which we burn. Right now captain my time is running out." (3)
I archived various builds of the project as I was going. Now that the game is done I went back and put together a video walking through the various parts of the code, discussing some of the gameplay and technical parts of the code. Want to know how the sausage was made?
"For what it's worth, architect, this is one building I figured would never burn." (4)
The game supports the xbox gamepad. It runs on the XNA 4.0 framework. The installer should automatically download and install the needed components but if not you can get the XNA 4.0 downloader directly. Any reasonably modern graphics cards should run the game fine. Any problems please get in touch.
"Have you ever seen fire in zero gravity? It's beautiful. It's like liquid it... slides all over everything. Comes up in waves." (5)
a game by - Richard Clifford.
Cities & Stars data from
And if you were kind enough to buy the game, thanks to you!
Film quotes | 1:The Dark Knight | 2:Blade Runner | 3:Star Trek Generations | 4:Towering Inferno | 5:Event Horizon.