Ok, so I was all set to write an informative preview about Prehistoric Kingdom. I was going to say that it’s a dinosaur reserve management game, which heavily resembles but is legally distinct from that film where Jeff Goldblum gets drunk with a bunch of velociraptors. I was going to say how the Kickstarter is live, and seems to be getting some interest. I was going to say that the team behind the game – Shadow Raven Studios – includes a paleontological reconstruction artist. I played the demo. Took some notes. Made myself a coffee. And then I saw this dinosaur on Twitter:
This is Sciurumimus. Its name literally means ‘Squirrel-Mimic’.
This is the best Christmas ever.
Guys, I enjoyed the demo, really. Just saying. Didn’t see any Sciumrumimus on the Kickstarter page. Pretty good dinosaur, right? Squirrel Mimic. Yeah.
Some actual information
Ah, I can see from the cheated look on your face that you came here for some facts. Ok. From what I’ve seen so far, the demo is less about mechanical challenge, and more a chance to interact with the ecosystems behind the game. It’s a great tech showcase for what’s possible in engine, but light on any real objectives. If I had one major complaint, it would be the lack of music. There is a soundtrack, but it’s fairly sporadic. What is there, however, fits the atmosphere perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKZKRYqb95Q
You can check out the campaign for more information. All in all, the demo offers an enjoyable preview of the sort of game I’m surprised we don’t seen more of. For designers, architects, or just the detail orientated, there’s an astounding number of customization options for the rocks alone. Honestly. I spent fifteen minutes making the perfect rock. I would show it to you, but then you might steal my design. Get your own rock, rock thief.
