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[Wario64]

7.3

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/electroplankton/review.html?sid=6142051

Electroplankton is an interesting experiment in both music and game design, but its reliance on the novelty of something different limits its lasting value.

The Good: A totally unique experience on any gaming platform; sublimely abstract presentation; makes music creation very accessible.

The Bad: Total lack of game structure; can't save anything you create; plankton all isolated from each other.


It can be argued that by maintaining such a level of conceptual purity, Electroplankton better connects with the academically minded crowd that would be drawn to such an exercise in the first place. Even if Toshio Iwai had succumbed to marketing pressures and included more pedestrian game elements in Electroplankton, its commercial success would still be highly dubious. That argument, however, doesn't rationalize away the isolated nature of the individual parts that make up Electroplankton, nor does it account for the inability to capture whatever fleeting moments of creative genius you might experience. Electroplankton is bold and uncompromising, but it still comes out feeling only partially realized.

 

[Archie]

Decent for what it is. Still not worth 35 dollars.

 

[BorkBork]

Does the North American release come with the snazzy packaging and earphones?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Does the North American release come with the snazzy packaging and earphones?

no earphones.

extending the value!

 

[trilobyte]

I don't get why a games review site is reviewing electroplankton. it's not a game.

 

[kasavin]

I don't get why a games review site is reviewing electroplankton. it's not a game.

It's a Nintendo product our audience is curious about. It plays in a game system we cover and controls like a game (albeit, a DS game). We didn't think twice about whether to review it or not, though the content of the review naturally is different from that of a typical game's review. You could also criticize our rating system in the context of this review (since we gave the game a score for "gameplay"), but we believe the rating and the review represent it properly compared with other DS products. Plus, I would have hated to head into the weekend with our most recent DS review being the one for the busted-ass Shogun Empires.

 

[elostyle]

Last I checked games are either classified as interactive entertainment or toys. This is both.

It doesn't have a competetive component but so doesn't RE4. It doesn't have a narrative and writte storyline but so doesn't tetris. It doesn't have a goal but so doesn't GTA in the way most people play it.

It's hard to pin down what games exactly are.

 

[Amir0x]

It's not a game, even Toshio Iwai acknowledged this, just accept it.

But what nice new media art, huh!

 

[Shard]

Is that why there is no hate here for Electroplankton Ami?

 

[Amir0x]

Electroplankton is the whole reason the term started for 'non-games'. The creator of it was honest about it and admitted from the start that this is not what you would associate with traditional games, because it's not really supposed to be approached in that way. That's worthy of respeck, yo. When they introduced Electroplankton, it was very clear its intent was not supposed to be as a game with gameplay you'd compare to other titles. It's a music application with neat new agey art and sounds. Whether it appeals to you depends entirely on whether or not you're interested in buying a painting at a store or a cool interactive screensaver. If you like how it looks, and you feel the looks and sounds are worthy of the price, then the piece of art is "AAA"

 

[elostyle]

It's not a game, even Toshio Iwai acknowledged this, just accept it.

You make it sound like I would be defending this product against some "being called a non-game" threat, but that's not it.

There is no good definition of what a constituts a game that I'm aware of and I am very interested in this topic personally. I would much like to hear why people think this isn't a game because I can't think of a good reason why it wouldn't fall under what I currently understand games to be.

Well, I also thought mario paint was a game.

 

[Amir0x]

Toshio says it's "Touchable Media Art". That is by far the most appropriate title for it, imho. Electroplankton, even more than Animal Crossing and Nintendogs which can be debated far more easily, has nothing at all relating to games. You're presented with various pieces of art, and your touch and voice manipulates it and creates new sounds. You can't save, results can be extremely random, and electroplankton "decay" remarkably fast, fading out any compositions you make. You can call it a toy, an instrument, but it's 'just' a fusion of gameplayless art and sound. "Media Art" is what it essentially is. An open-ended application for certain creative minded individuals to produce interesting sound and visual art. It sure can be entertaining, and it's definitely interactive, but it's essentially just a different format for canvas.

But I mean, if you thought Mario Paint was a game then you'll think anything in the entire world is a game, so the argument can last forever I suppose. The final say simply being "if it comes out on a console, then..."

 

[nfreakct]

You make it sound like I would be defending this product against some "being called a non-game" threat, but that's not it.

There is no good definition of what a constituts a game that I'm aware of and I am very interested in this topic personally. I would much like to hear why people think this isn't a game because I can't think of a good reason why it wouldn't fall under what I currently understand games to be.

Well, I also thought mario paint was a game.

Mario Paint had a game (the flyswatting affair), but it would be hard to argue that the rest of Mario Paint was anything more that a creative tool, a toy if you will. A game needs to have some definition of a win state or some indicator of winning (so a win state could be an ending and an indicator of winning could be a high score). How in Mario Paint (or Electroplankton) can you define winning? You can have fun, you can enjoy yourself, but nothing you do is inherently "winning" in either of these.

So instead of a game, think of it was a creative tool for your personal amusement.

 

[elostyle]

Toshio says it's "Touchable Media Art". That is by far the most appropriate title for it, imho. Electroplankton, even more than Animal Crossing and Nintendogs which can be debated far more easily, has nothing at all relating to games. You're presented with various pieces of art, and your touch and voice manipulates it and creates new sounds. You can't save, results can be extremely random, and electroplankton "decay" remarkably fast, fading out any compositions you make. You can call it a toy, an instrument, but it's 'just' a fusion of gameplayless art and sound. "Media Art" is what it essentially is. An open-ended application for certain creative minded individuals to produce interesting sound and visual art. It sure can be entertaining, and it's definitely interactive, but it's essentially just a different format for canvas.

But I mean, if you thought Mario Paint was a game then you'll think anything in the entire world is a game, so the argument can last forever I suppose. The final say simply being "if it comes out on a console, then..."

You must have forgotten about the mosquito squashin minigame in mario paint

I think its presence on a game machine, its playful manner and set rules do make it a very strongly sandbox'ish game but I can see the interactive art approach as well. Kinda like a lot of things you see in science museums.. like sound making stairs when you step on them or whatever. It is very much like that.

I am pretty much disregarding what the guy that made it, cause why would he know

Mario Paint had a game (the flyswatting affair), but it would be hard to argue that the rest of Mario Paint was anything more that a creative tool, a toy if you will. A game needs to have some definition of a win state or some indicator of winning (so a win state could be an ending and an indicator of winning could be a high score). How in Mario Paint (or Electroplankton) can you define winning? You can have fun, you can enjoy yourself, but nothing you do is inherently "winning" in either of these.

So instead of a game, think of it was a creative tool for your personal amusement.

The goal argument is the one I don't buy. Many games can be played and enjoyed without pursuing a goal and draw their motivation from their mechanics or settings alone.

 

[Amir0x]

You must have forgotten about the mosquito squashin minigame in mario paint

No I remember, I'm just referring to Mario Paint for its primary content. If Electroplankton suddenly included a fly swatting mini-game, its claim to being a 'game' would still be tenuous at best

Kinda like a lot of things you see in science museums.. like sound making stairs when you step on them or whatever. It is very much like that.

This is a VERY good analogy. That is exactly what it is, except the purpose here is for producing art instead of teaching scientific facts.

 

[elostyle]

No I remember, I'm just referring to Mario Paint for its primary content. If Electroplankton suddenly included a fly swatting mini-game, its claim to being a 'game' would still be tenuous at best

Well in one of the elektroplankton thinggies you have to make a plant grow by arranging leafs correctly!!!

 

[swoon]

"Total lack of game structure"

lame. anyway the "program" is perfect at what it does, which can't be said for almost any other game.

 

[DDayton]

It's a toy or a musical instrument, not a game. I don't mind at all... and yes, I'm probably going to get suckered into buying it eventually, as it IS a neat little gimmick.

 

[:Motorbass]

It attracts female Design students.
It does.

 

[jarrod]

This really should've been a $19.99 release. Same for Polarium imo.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

This really should've been a $19.99 release. Same for Polarium imo.

exactly.

 

[Kasra]

I'm only still considering buying this because I think it's going to turn out to be a rare find like Phoenix Wright, and I am a collector of such things.

 

[MarkMacD]

Of course it merits review, just as any interactive app made especially for a game console does (see Mario Paint).

The question the review needs to answer is still is it or is it not worth your money and why; it's just the criteria that define that success or failure are different here.


Oh and of course the answer for Electroplankton is no, it's not worth anyone's money