Chime (video game)
Encyclopedia
Chime is a 2010 music
/puzzle video game developed by Zoë Mode
, released initially on the Xbox Live Arcade
service, and later for Windows
. An extended version of the game, called Chime Super Deluxe, was released on the PlayStation Network in March 29, 2011. Chime is the first title released by the non-profit video game publisher
OneBigGame
.
at a time, and can move, rotate, and then place it onto a grid. A beatline moves across the grid in time with the music, setting off events when it hits placed shapes. Quads are created by placing shapes in solid blocks of 3x3 or more. When a quad is completed and the beat line hits, different musical samples are triggered dependent on its shape. The size of the quad denotes the score, and multipliers can be achieved by having several quads on the screen at once. Once the beatline hits a completed quad, it is stamped down into the grid, earning the player coverage. The overall objective is to achieve 100% coverage to earn more time and score points.
There are two basic modes in the game, Timed Mode and Free Mode. Timed Mode pits the player against the clock, with three different levels of difficulty based on time limit. Free Mode acts as a very basic sequencer
. There is no time limit and the player is able to place shapes at their leisure to create different sounds and alter the music as they see fit.
by the respective artists. The tracks are "Brazil" by Phillip Glass, "Ooh Yeah
" by Moby
, "For Silence" by Paul Hartnoll
of Orbital
, "Spilled Cranberries" by Markus Schulz
, and "Disco Ghosts"
by Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly
. In addition, the later Windows version of Chime featured a new level based on "Still Alive
" from the popular 2007 video game Portal. The song, written by Jonathan Coulton
, can be heard during the closing credits of Portal, with Ellen McLain
singing in character as GLaDOS
.
. In their review, IGN
praised the game and rated it 8 out of 10, saying, "Chime is easy to recommend. It's cheap, it'll keep you amused for hours, and the $5 you spend goes to charity."
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
/puzzle video game developed by Zoë Mode
Zoë Mode
Zoë Mode is a subsidiary of Kuju Entertainment based in Brighton and London that develops music and party video games. The studio was formed in 2007 when it was rebranded from Kuju Brighton, itself formed from the remnants of Wide Games. On 1 September 2008, Zoë Mode opened a sister studio in...
, released initially on the Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
service, and later for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. An extended version of the game, called Chime Super Deluxe, was released on the PlayStation Network in March 29, 2011. Chime is the first title released by the non-profit video game publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
OneBigGame
OneBigGame
OneBigGame is the first non-profit video game publisher. The company was founded in 2007 by Martin de Ronde, co-founder formerly of Guerrilla Games. OneBigGame aids in the development of games with other noted developers for the benefit of charitable organizations...
.
Gameplay
Chime is a block-dropping game. Players control a single shapePentomino
A pentomino is a polyomino composed of five congruent squares, connected along their edges ....
at a time, and can move, rotate, and then place it onto a grid. A beatline moves across the grid in time with the music, setting off events when it hits placed shapes. Quads are created by placing shapes in solid blocks of 3x3 or more. When a quad is completed and the beat line hits, different musical samples are triggered dependent on its shape. The size of the quad denotes the score, and multipliers can be achieved by having several quads on the screen at once. Once the beatline hits a completed quad, it is stamped down into the grid, earning the player coverage. The overall objective is to achieve 100% coverage to earn more time and score points.
There are two basic modes in the game, Timed Mode and Free Mode. Timed Mode pits the player against the clock, with three different levels of difficulty based on time limit. Free Mode acts as a very basic sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
. There is no time limit and the player is able to place shapes at their leisure to create different sounds and alter the music as they see fit.
Featured music
Chime features a variety of different musical styles and artists. The original release of the game includes five songs, all of which have been donated to the game pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
by the respective artists. The tracks are "Brazil" by Phillip Glass, "Ooh Yeah
Ooh Yeah (song)
"Ooh Yeah" is a song by American electronica musician Moby, released on 23 November 2008 as the fourth single from his studio album Last Night. It was released only as a digital download...
" by Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, "For Silence" by Paul Hartnoll
Paul Hartnoll
Paul Hartnoll is one of two brothers , who made up the electronic dance act Orbital.-History:...
of Orbital
Orbital (band)
Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows...
, "Spilled Cranberries" by Markus Schulz
Markus Schulz
Markus Schulz, born , is a German trance music DJ and producer who resides in Miami, Florida, USA. He is best-known for his weekly radio show titled Global DJ Broadcast that airs on Digitally Imported radio, After Hours FM and other online stations...
, and "Disco Ghosts"
by Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly
Lemon Jelly
Lemon Jelly is a British electronic music duo from London, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. Lemon Jelly has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and BRIT Awards....
. In addition, the later Windows version of Chime featured a new level based on "Still Alive
Still Alive
Still Alive may refer to:* Still Alive , the closing credits song from the Portal video game* Still Alive – the Remixes, the theme song from the video game Mirror's Edge...
" from the popular 2007 video game Portal. The song, written by Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
, can be heard during the closing credits of Portal, with Ellen McLain
Ellen McLain
Ellen McLain is an opera singer and voice actress from Nashville, Tennessee, USA. McLain provides voices for many characters in several video games from Valve...
singing in character as GLaDOS
GLaDOS
GLaDOS, short for Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, is a fictional artificially intelligent computer system in Valve Software's Half-Life video game series and the main antagonist in the video games Portal and Portal 2. She was created by Erik Wolpaw and Kim Swift and is voiced by Ellen...
.
Reception
Chime has received largely positive reviews from critics. It has a score 79 out of 100 on the aggregate site MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. In their review, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
praised the game and rated it 8 out of 10, saying, "Chime is easy to recommend. It's cheap, it'll keep you amused for hours, and the $5 you spend goes to charity."