Populous (series)
Encyclopedia
The Populous series is a series of video games developed by Bullfrog Productions
and published by Electronic Arts
. The first game in the series – Populous
was released in 1989. At the time, it was hailed as revolutionary, and it coined the term god game
.
and leading followers into battle against opposing deities, and intervene by using a variety of "divine intervention" that affect the world and indirectly, the people.
The first two games were similar. In Populous
and Populous II
, much emphasis was spent on flattening the terrain. The view of the game-world was isometric
. Populous: The Beginning
was more like a conventional war-game
than a god-game and uses true 3D
instead of isometric 3D. In Populous: The Beginning, the player is set in the role of a shaman instead of a god, but at the end of the game attains godhood.
On June 14th, 2010 Ubisoft released a trailer at E3 for their new game tentatively called "Project Dust
". The new game is referred to as the "spiritual heir to Populous" by creative director Eric Chahi
.
), said that "Populous was like it was due to my incompetence as a games programmer ... the reason the feature (raise the land) was there was because I couldn't get the little people to navigate around the coast".
Bullfrog Productions
Bullfrog Productions was a UK computer game developer that was founded in 1987 by Les Edgar and Peter Molyneux. The company achieved recognition in 1989 for their third release, Populous....
and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. The first game in the series – Populous
Populous
-External links:*...
was released in 1989. At the time, it was hailed as revolutionary, and it coined the term god game
God game
A god game is an artificial life game that casts the player in the position of controlling the game on a large scale, as an entity with divine/supernatural powers, as a great leader, or with no specified character , and places them in charge of a game setting containing autonomous characters to...
.
Gameplay
The games involved the player taking on the role of a deityDeity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
and leading followers into battle against opposing deities, and intervene by using a variety of "divine intervention" that affect the world and indirectly, the people.
The first two games were similar. In Populous
Populous
-External links:*...
and Populous II
Populous II
Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods is a computer game in the Populous series for the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS-based computers, developed by Bullfrog Productions....
, much emphasis was spent on flattening the terrain. The view of the game-world was isometric
Isometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
. Populous: The Beginning
Populous: The Beginning
Populous: The Beginning is a strategy and god-style video game. It is the third entry in the Populous video game series, developed by Bullfrog Productions in 1998. The PC version of the game was released November 30, 1998 and a PlayStation version was later developed and released on April 2, 1999...
was more like a conventional war-game
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
than a god-game and uses true 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
instead of isometric 3D. In Populous: The Beginning, the player is set in the role of a shaman instead of a god, but at the end of the game attains godhood.
History
The series includes:- PopulousPopulous-External links:*...
(1989)- Populous: The Promised Lands (1989)
- Populous: The Final Frontier (1989)
- Populous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods (1991)
- Populous II: The Challenge Games (1992)
- Populous: The BeginningPopulous: The BeginningPopulous: The Beginning is a strategy and god-style video game. It is the third entry in the Populous video game series, developed by Bullfrog Productions in 1998. The PC version of the game was released November 30, 1998 and a PlayStation version was later developed and released on April 2, 1999...
(1998)- Populous: The Beginning - Undiscovered Worlds (1999)
- Populous DSPopulous DSis a real-time strategy developed by Genki. It was published in Japan by Electronic Arts on February 21, 2008, in North America by Xseed Games on November 10, 2008, and in Europe by Rising Star Games on February 27, 2009 for the Nintendo DS.-Trivia:...
(2007)
On June 14th, 2010 Ubisoft released a trailer at E3 for their new game tentatively called "Project Dust
From Dust
From Dust is a video game, designed by Eric Chahi and developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. Ubisoft described it as a 'spiritual heir' to Populous, a British game developed by Peter Molyneux and Bullfrog Productions in 1989. Announced on 14 June 2010 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo , Ubisoft...
". The new game is referred to as the "spiritual heir to Populous" by creative director Eric Chahi
Eric Chahi
Éric Chahi is a French computer game designer best known as the creator of Another World .- Career :Éric Chahi started programming on Oric Atmos and Amstrad during 1983 for the company Loriciels...
.
Trivia
In an interview, the series creator (Peter MolyneuxPeter Molyneux
Peter Douglas Molyneux OBE is an English computer game designer and game programmer. He created the God games Dungeon Keeper, Populous, and Black & White, among others, as well as business simulation games such as Theme Park and more recently, the RPG series Fable.Despite the success of his games,...
), said that "Populous was like it was due to my incompetence as a games programmer ... the reason the feature (raise the land) was there was because I couldn't get the little people to navigate around the coast".
External links
- FreePop — an attempt to write a free remake of Populous