Navigator (video game)
Encyclopedia
Navigator is an upcoming 1-4 player action puzzle game being developed by PixelxCore Independent Gaming, slated for release in mid 2011. It is being developed for the PC
, Xbox 360
, and Windows Phone 7
platforms. It mixes platformer elements with classic block puzzle games, such as Bust-a-Move and Tetris Plus
.
It is also notably the first PixelxCore project to avoid becoming vaporware
, as it has been frequently discussed and updated publicly since its announcement.
A 4-block cluster is the basic cluster, and the simplest way of clearing the field. A 4-block cluster is worth 100 points. If you create a cluster of larger than 4, it is considered a "large cluster", and every block after the 4th block is 30 extra points in the total cluster.
When you create a cluster and any blocks that are dropped as a result of that cluster create a second cluster, a "chain cluster" is created, and the point gain is multiplied.
There are deep gray blocks that signify the top of the gameplay field, and when Nav reaches the top of the playing field, the game is over.
On June 8th, 2011, a second public beta was released. This beta included improved gameplay, the Power Climb and Nav Leap abilities, and a new level, Field of Cogs. This beta also introduced the predetermined level system.
A closed beta was announced on June 15th, with an undetermined date of release. It is stated that the closed beta will include online play and a competitive gameplay mode. The closed beta was postponed indefinitely on August 14, 2011, stating that there was not enough time to develop online portions for the game. However, it has also been stated that the game will get online play developed after its initial release.
Navigators release date was officially announced on September 10, 2011. The release date is October 22, 2011. A Windows Phone 7 release has yet to be confirmed.
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market...
platforms. It mixes platformer elements with classic block puzzle games, such as Bust-a-Move and Tetris Plus
Tetris Plus
is a puzzle video game developed by Natsume and published by Jaleco for arcades exclusively in Japan in 1996, and was ported to the Game Boy, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation later that year. The game would be followed by a sequel, Tetris Plus 2, in 1997....
.
It is also notably the first PixelxCore project to avoid becoming vaporware
Vaporware
Vaporware is a term in the computer industry that describes a product, typically computer hardware or software, that is announced to the general public but is never actually released nor officially canceled. Vaporware is also a term sometimes used to describe events that are announced or predicted,...
, as it has been frequently discussed and updated publicly since its announcement.
Gameplay
Navigator is played on a 10x15 field of gameplay. The player controls Nav and his block cannon, dropping colored blocks and navigating around the playing field. Putting together at least 4 blocks of the same color together will result in a "cluster." Clusters are crucial to the gameplay, as they are used to clear the field and give Nav more movement area.A 4-block cluster is the basic cluster, and the simplest way of clearing the field. A 4-block cluster is worth 100 points. If you create a cluster of larger than 4, it is considered a "large cluster", and every block after the 4th block is 30 extra points in the total cluster.
When you create a cluster and any blocks that are dropped as a result of that cluster create a second cluster, a "chain cluster" is created, and the point gain is multiplied.
There are deep gray blocks that signify the top of the gameplay field, and when Nav reaches the top of the playing field, the game is over.
Release
An offline beta for the PC version was released on the PixelxWorld Forums, The Spriters Resource Forums, and the TIGSource forums on April 24, 2011. This beta included the Endless Mode and a single level, and Nav's only ability was the Block Push.On June 8th, 2011, a second public beta was released. This beta included improved gameplay, the Power Climb and Nav Leap abilities, and a new level, Field of Cogs. This beta also introduced the predetermined level system.
A closed beta was announced on June 15th, with an undetermined date of release. It is stated that the closed beta will include online play and a competitive gameplay mode. The closed beta was postponed indefinitely on August 14, 2011, stating that there was not enough time to develop online portions for the game. However, it has also been stated that the game will get online play developed after its initial release.
Navigators release date was officially announced on September 10, 2011. The release date is October 22, 2011. A Windows Phone 7 release has yet to be confirmed.