Backyard Monsters
From CC Wiki
| Polski |
| Backyard Monsters (Beta game) | |
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| Code | Critters |
| Graphics | Critters/Garrick |
| Release date (tentative) | 2010 |
| Current version | 0.81 (version numbers are not posted any more) |
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| Singleplayer | Kind of |
| Multiplayer | Yes |
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 Need help?
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Backyard Monsters (formerly Desktop Creatures) is a strategy game by Critters, in which players create and manage a small town on some grassland. This base is part of a large world with many other players in it, which can attack each other. It can be seen as a mix of DTD, Travian, and The Space Game.
The game has been in development since the first half of 2009. The game is now in public alpha testing. As with all Casual Collective games it is free to play, although extras can be bought. Unlike most CC games (with the exception of Desktop Defender), it has initially only been released to Facebook.
Contents |
History
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Main article: Changelog of Backyard Monsters |
Development started in the first half of 2009, under the name 'Desktop Creatures'. BM was a big project for the Casual Collective. Early 2010, it was decided that Backyard Monsters would (initially) only be released to Facebook. This led to a lot of protest, to which Critters reacted with a parodic YouTube video, showing Adolf Hitler getting angry for this move.
After the graphics initially had a different style, Critters decided to make the game look isometric. Some testers disagreed and thought that it should revert back. Critters argued that they had been wanting to go isometric for some time, but had never gotten around to it.
Name Contest
On Tuesday, December 29, 2009, Critters posted a news item saying that he was interested in having the game renamed, because unlike the name, the game had nothing to do with a desktop. The CC community responded with a huge List of new name suggestions and the game was renamed to 'Backyard Monsters' in Feb 2010.
Keys
As always, a new game needs testing. Normally this is done by alpha and beta testers only. After having been distributed to all alphas, Critters started to distribute a limited number of access keys each day this time, based on first come, first served. First this was done to beta testers, later to a broader public. Passes were handed out here, here and here. Each time an entry code was given, that could be used only by a limited number of people. On the end of March, the game was set to public alpha/beta.
Gameplay
In Backyard Monsters, players start off with a small stretch of unused grassland. On that they build a Town Hall (base) and all sorts of resource gathering, defensive and offensive buildings. The goal is expand the base, to attack other players and survive enemy attacks. All players are situated in the same world and the game goes on when players are not online. Both gathering enough resources and upgrading buildings often take hours.
The game revolves around four resources; Twigs, Pebbles, Putty and Goo. Each of these can be gathered using dedicated buildings. The resources must be stored in Silos and are used to buy other buildings, upgrade buildings and research and create creatures. Using 'shiny', a fifth resource that can be bought for real money, people can buy certain improvements in game. Every building has a specific function and is built by workers, taking a period of time and a sum of resources to develop. Upgrading buildings increases their functionality and health. The number of buildings is limited and bound to the level of the Town Hall (that can be upgraded too).
Using a complex procedure, players can create a range of creatures, that are housed in pastures. After building a map room (to spot others) and a flinger (to catapult the monsters) players can unleash their monsters on other players. Doing so, they can destroy buildings and steal resources. In order to prevent this, players build towers that shoot enemies and walls that slow them.
Buildings
- Town Hall: This building is needed to build everything else
- General Store: No function in itself, but opens store to buy things for Shineys
- Resource gatherers: Each of these continuously create resources. These are stored in internal compartment and have to be moved into storage silo for use
- Twig Snapper
- Pebble Shiner
- Putty Squisher
- Goo Factory
- Storage Silo: A silo that has stores the four resources. They have to be in the Storage Silo to be used
- Monster Locker: This building researches new creatures. The creature is selected, then it takes time and Pebbles to invent it
- Hatchery: Turns researched monsters into life, in exchange for Goo and time
- Monster Housing: Creatures can not roam around freely; place needs to be available in the Monster Housing
- Towers: These defend against incoming enemies
- Sniper: Has long range, high damage, but reloads slowly
- Splash: Has short range, splash damage and reloads quicker
- Tesla: Launches electricity to enemies. Damages multiple enemies at once and has medium range between sniper and splash. Requires Town hall with level 4 or more. This tower has been available since July 31th, 2010.
- Laser: Launces laser to enemies. Reloads very fast. Requires Town hall with level 4 or more. This tower has been available since August 13th, 2010.
- Wood Block: A small wall that holds up enemies
- Stone Block: A stronger wall with the same function
- Booby Trap: Does damage when enemies walks over and is lost in the process
- Map Room: Lets players look into others' bases
- Flinger: Allows for launching monsters into others' bases
Most buildings can be upgraded several times, to increase their functionality. For all information about costs and uses, check Backyard Monsters statistics.
- Hatchery Control Center: Used to control all hatcheries at once. Initially cost shiny to build, but now requires only regular resources
- Monster Juicer : Used to recycle unneeded monsters back into goo(very bloody!)
- Yard Planner: Used to quickly move some things around or completely remodel your layout! This building gives you a bird eye view of you Yard and makes moving buildings a snip.
- Monster Academy : Used to upgrade your monsters. You can upgrade only a kind of monsters at a time and upgrading monsters costs the certain amount of putties. This building has been availiable since July 24th, 2010.
- Wild Monster Baiter : Attracts wild monsters to the base when used. It is useful to check wheter you can defend your base well on enemy's attack. This building has been availiable since August 13th, 2010.
- Catapult : A siege weapon that attacks the other players' base using twig missiles. Upgrading this building can allow players to add pebble bombers.
Footage
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Main article: Pictures of Backyard Monsters development |
For old imagery of Backyard Monsters, refer to the article mentioned above. For recent pictures, check out the Facebook group mentioned below. Also look at the YouTube videos coming hereafter.
Progress Videos
Some YouTube videos were uploaded to show how development is going;
- Now there are workers which are responsible for constructing and upgrading buildings (before buildings just built themselves)
- Also testing out creeps and towers as well as a bit of load testing, yes it can cope with lots of creeps
