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Penumbra: Overture
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{{Infobox VG | title = Penumbra: Overture | image = Penumbra-win-cover.jpg | developer = [[Frictional Games]] | publisher = [[Lexicon Entertainment]]<br/>[[Paradox Interactive]] | distributor = Got Game Entertainment | designer = Thomas Grip<br>Jens Nilsson<br>Tom Jubert | composer = [[Mikko Tarmia]] | engine = [[HPL Engine#HPL Engine 1|HPL]] | released = '''Windows''' March 30, 2007<br/> '''Linux:'''<br/> May 25, 2007<br/> '''Mac OS X:'''<br /> January 10, 2008<br/> '''Steam:'''<br /> March 7, 2009<br /> '''Source:'''<br /> May 14, 2010<ref>[http://linuxgamingnews.org/penumbra-overture-hpl1-engine-and-oalwrapper-released-as-open-source/ Penumbra: Overture, HPL1 Engine And OALWrapper Released As Open Source] Linux Gaming News, May 14, 2010</ref> | license = [[GNU GPL]] (source code)<br />[[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] (assets and engine code)<ref name="wolfwire"/> | genre = [[Graphic adventure game|Graphic adventure]], [[Survival horror game|Survival horror]] | modes = [[Single-player]] | series = [[Penumbra (video game series)|Penumbra]] | ratings = {{vgratings||ESRB=M|PEGI=12+}} | platforms = [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]] | media = [[DVD]], [[Digital Download]] | input = Mouse and keyboard, Novint Falcon }} '''''Penumbra: Overture''''' is the first in a series of [[episodic games]] developed by Swedish<ref>[http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=129 Paradox Interactive - Penumbra: Overture premieres game on Gamer's Gate<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> developer [[Frictional Games]]. It was originally intended as the first episode of a [[trilogy]]. With the announcement of the second episode, ''[[Penumbra: Black Plague]]'', it was stated that the second game would be the final chapter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1527 |title= Penumbra to spread to computers again next year |publisher=Adventuregamers.com |date=2007-09-13 |accessdate = 2007-09-20 }}</ref> However, an expansion has been released since then: ''[[Penumbra: Requiem]]'', giving the series a third chapter, although not continuing the story in any way.<ref>http://gameplayer.se/news.php?pub_id=10663 News article from Gameplayer.se (swedish)</ref> == Gameplay== Although Frictional Games describes ''Penumbra: Overture'' as a [[first-person adventure]],<ref name="game description">[http://penumbra-overture.com/game.php Penumbra: Overture<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the game blends the genres of survival horror, [[first-person shooter]], and [[adventure game|adventure]]. The use of [[Newton Game Dynamics]] emphasizes physics-based puzzles as well as physics-based [[combat]].<ref>[http://linux.about.com/b/2009/07/18/penumbra-horror-games-overture-black-plague-and-requiem-ported-to-linux.htm Penumbra Horror Games Overture, Black Plague, and Requiem Ported to Linux] About.com, July 18, 2009</ref> The game also takes advantage of advanced artificial intelligence to respond realistically to noises and light, creating stealth-based gameplay. There are no firearms in the game, so during combat the player is limited to improvised melee fighting with a pickaxe, or throwing objects at attacking creatures. The game is designed to emphasize stealth and avoidance over direct conflict. For example, Philip can close doors behind him to temporarily hold off attacking enemies.<ref>[http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/31/indie-horror-adventure-penumbra-on-linux-coming-to-mac/ Indie horror adventure Penumbra: Overture available on Linux, coming to Mac] Joystiq, May 31, 2007</ref> The game's main focus is on exploration and classic adventure game object interaction: examining and collecting objects and using them to solve puzzles.<ref>[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/72315-Penumbra-Linux-Release Penumbra Linux Release] [[The Escapist]], May 31, 2007</ref> == Story== Set in the year 2000, ''Penumbra: Overture'' follows the story of Philip, a thirty-year-old physicist whose mother recently died. After receiving a mysterious letter from his supposedly dead father, Philip follows a series of clues that lead to him to a mysterious location in uninhabited northern [[Greenland]].<ref>[http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/28379 Penumbra Overture - If You Dare] tuxmachines.org, June 5, 2008</ref> The harsh cold forces him to take shelter in an [[abandoned mine]]. Unfortunately, the mine's entrance collapses as he enters it, and he is forced to move deeper inside. Within the mine, Philip discovers diary extracts written by a scientist of some sort, who was alone and gradually resorted to eating cave-dwelling spiders as an alternative food source as his supplies diminished. The unknown person also describes discovering a psychoactive toxin in the spiders and deduced that, after eight months of consuming them in the mine, it was beginning to have an effect on him, physically. Philip also begins receiving radio messages from Tom "Red" Redwood, a man driven insane by [[cabin fever]]. Red promises that if he is found, he will give Philip answers. The game follows Philip as he descends deeper into the mines in search of Red while unravelling the secrets of the mine's previous and current inhabitants. Philip quickly discovers that the mine is inhabited by an [[ecosystem]] of abnormally large and hostile animals: [[dogs]], [[giant spider]]s, and gargantuan [[earthworms]] among others. Abandoned outposts and various scattered papers found throughout the mine indicate that a secret society is studying some unusual phenomena inside the mines. Following clues and solving various puzzles, Philip eventually comes to an area deep within the mine where Red is waiting for him. Red waits inside an incinerator where he begs Philip to kill him. With no other option, Philip activates the incinerator and amongst Red's remains, he finds items he needs to progress into a new area of the mine which is identified as "The Shelter". Once inside, Philip notices what appears to be a human watching him. Philip approaches the figure, but the lighting is suddenly extinguished and Philip is knocked out and dragged away. == Development == ==== Tech demo ==== ''Penumbra: Overture'' is based on Frictional Games' earlier game ''Penumbra'', a short [[technology demo|tech demo]] meant to demonstrate the capabilities of the company's [[HPL Engine]]. The developers admitted to making significant modifications of the original engine to accommodate the 3D graphics in this game, "The engine is built from an engine created when making a thesis job which resulted in the platform game Energetic. Before moving into the 3rd dimension I made some cleanup of the engine (which was quite rushed in some places) and started to add a base for 3D rendering. I would not say that the original 2D engine was modified to add 3D, but rather a 3D layer was added so all of the 2D stuff is still there. It is still possible to make a 2D tile game using our engine." While not initially intended to be a commercial product, ''Penumbra'' was received exceedingly well, and Frictional decided to develop it into a full-length game.<ref name="game description" /> ==== Release ==== The first episode of ''Penumbra'' was released on March 30, 2007, through various [[digital distribution]] websites. The game was simultaneously released in a boxed edition in the [[United Kingdom]], and the boxed release in the [[United States]] was shipped to retailers on May 8, 2007.<ref>[http://www.gotgameentertainment.com/penumbra/faq.htm Penumbra: Overture: FAQ<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On May 25, 2007 the full version for Linux was released on the Frictional Games store. In addition, the game became available on [[GameTap]] on October 4, 2007. On January 10, 2008 the full version for Mac OS X was released on the Frictional Games forum for PowerPC and Intel architectures.<ref>[http://frictionalgames.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1592]</ref> On March 6, 2009 [[Paradox Interactive]] released ''Penumbra Overture'' in a collection pack along with ''[[Penumbra: Black Plague]]'' and ''[[Penumbra: Requiem]]''. The game became available via [[Steam (content delivery)|Steam]] on March 7, 2009. ''Overture'' was released as part of the [[Humble Indie Bundle]],<ref>[http://www.tgdb.nl/computer/specials/8614-interview-frictional-games.html Interview With Frictional Games β Penumbra/Amnesia (Tgdb.nl)]</ref> and when the Bundle made more than $1 million, ''Overture'' was released as open source.<ref name="wolfwire">http://www.wolfire.com/humble</ref> == Reception == {{As of|2010|4}}, the game has a [[MetaCritic]] score of 73, a [[MobyGames]] rank of 74,<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/game/penumbra-overture-episode-1 Penumbra: Overture at MobyGames]</ref> and a [[GameRankings]] rank of 73.63%,<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/934076-penumbra-overture-episode-one/index.html Penumbra: Overture - GameRankings]</ref> as well as an average rating of four stars on the [[The Linux Game Tome]]<ref>[http://happypenguin.org/show?Penumbra%3A%20Overture%20%20Episode%201 Penumbra: Overture Episode 1, The Linux Game Tome]</ref> and average of four and a half stars at JeuxLinux.<ref>[http://www.jeuxlinux.fr/a118-Penumbra_Overture.html Penumbra: Overture - Game Profile] JeuxLinux (French)</ref> == References == <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> {{reflist|1}} == External links == * [http://www.penumbra-overture.com Official website] * [http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/293/ Frictional Games interview, Adventure Classic Gaming] * [http://www.gotgameentertainment.com/ Got Game Entertainment] * [http://frictionalgames.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=685 Forum post about the Linux version] * [http://www.frictionalgames.com/site/penumbradownload/ Original Penumbra tech demo] [[Category:2007 video games]] [[Category:Horror video games]] [[Category:Psychological horror games]] [[Category:First-person adventures]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Linux games]] [[Category:Mac OS X games]] [[Category:Episodic video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in Sweden]] [[Category:Indie video games]] [[Category:Video games based on H. P. Lovecraft works]] [[Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code]]
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