Clockwork Empires - Upcoming Dwarf Fortress-like Game

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/08/28/interview-gaslamp-games-mad-incredible-vision-for-clockwork-empires/
from Elemental Forums

I'm pretty excited by what I've heard of Clockwork Empires so far, though there isn't a whole lot of info out yet. It's a mashup of Dwarf Fortress, Victorian England, Victorian-era pseudo science, steampunk, and HP Lovecraft by the indie studio Gaslamp Games (who made Dungeon of Dredmor). They're drawing a lot from Dwarf Fortress, something they freely admit, but they're trying to make the genre more accessible while keeping the dark humor and tendency for your colony to spiral out of control and end in mass madness and flames.

There's a link to a lengthy interview above, if you're interested.

58,012 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I have read about it. Its almost too good to be true. Lets hope its a hit :d

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

There seriously cannot be too many games in this genre -  I them all. Dwarf Fortress, Towns, Gnomoria. The oldies - Dungeon Keeper 1&2. Amd let's not forget Dungeons and its expansions. Upcoming A game of Dwarves. And now this as well. Simulation + Civ construction = dat feel.

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Heavenfall, reply 2
There seriously cannot be too many games in this genre -  I them all. Dwarf Fortress, Towns, Gnomoria. The oldies - Dungeon Keeper 1&2. Amd let's not forget Dungeons and its expansions. Upcoming A game of Dwarves. And now this as well. Simulation + Civ construction = dat feel.
End of Heavenfall's quote

 

I love DF.

 

What are these other games?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Basically building a civlization or outpost in some format. They are "unique" in the sense that a lot of focus is placed on your minions acting on their own according to their personalities. Carrying out tasks and so on - not like standard computer strategy games where each movement has to be ordered specifically for each unit. The only exception is Dungeons where how the enemy acts is more important.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Towns, honestly, is a just a straight up and poorly done rip of DF with ugly isometric graphics and worse UI.

I'd place the Dungeon Keeper games in their own Genre (With Evil Genius, perhaps?), but I can clearly see the connections you're drawing.

 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Yes, towns is a DF rip that has been made commercial and mass-market (meaning it is dumbed down and easier to play). It is not much right now, but it is also early in development.

Other games I'd put in the same general genre: Castle Story, Tropico (and its sequels/expansions)

Edit: Actually I am not sure at all about Castle Story.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Heavenfall, reply 7

Edit: Actually I am not sure at all about Castle Story.
End of Heavenfall's quote

 

I think Castle Story more as a 3d Tower Defense.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

I looove Tropico.  Just downloaded Dwarf Fortress again, though.  Going to try to build something epic and then die.  So far, though, I've always lost interest before dying.  This time it MUST be different.

Do Dwarfs care if they have multi-story rooms?  I tried to build a Great Hall 5 stories deep, all underground, last time.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

No, just length and width. That said, I love multistory rooms and grand halls. All of my fortresses have them at the expense of less desirable things such as farms or bedrooms.

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting louist, reply 9
No, just length and width. That said, I love multistory rooms and grand halls. All of my fortresses have them at the expense of less desirable things such as farms or bedrooms.
End of louist's quote

Bummer.

I built it anyway.

They all have bedrooms, too, though.

This is because I don't have to worry about military, because I'm poor.  Very poor. No metals, only stones.

Trading away stone blocks, stone crafts, etc... fun.

I need to make some big money so that I'll get sieged and destroyed. :D

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jythier, reply 11



I built it anyway.

End of Jythier's quote

Welcome to Dwarf Fortress!

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

This looks awesome, thanks for sharing.

Btw, Heavenfall talking about dungeon keeper reminded me of a preview I saw about a month ago of a game called Impire. Looks like it might be a worthy successor to dungeon keeper, with some rpg and strategy elements added to it.

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

For those who remember Startopia (sold at GOG.com now btw), up-coming Maia may tickle your fancy: http://www.maiagame.com/ (edit: warning, some minor menu sounds play at the website, think 1995)

(it's about building a space colony)