Cortex Command: Difference between revisions

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| image = Cortex command.jpg

| caption = Title screen of Cortex Command

| developer = Data Realms LLC

| publisher = Data Realms LLC

| director = Daniel Tabár

| composer = [[Danny Baranowsky]]

| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]

| released = '''Windows''', '''Mac OS X'''<br/>28 September 2012<ref name="release"/><br/>'''Linux'''<br/>7 October 2012

| genre = [[Action game|Action]]

| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Linux]]

| director = Daniel Tabár

}}

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== Development ==

The [[game engine]] was designed and built by Dan Tabár, using several [[open-source software|open-source]] [[library (computing)|libraries]]. The [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] was built by Jason Boettcher, the artwork is by Arne Niklas Jansson, and the [[macOS]] port is by Chris Kruger,<ref name="cc_home">{{cite web |title=Cortex Command |url=http://www.datarealms.com/games.php |publisher=Data Realms LLC |accessdate=2008-07-27}}</ref><ref name="play">{{Cite news| last = Griffin | first = Mike | title = Cortex Command: Brain slayers in outer space | newspaper = [[Play (US magazine)|Play]] | pages = 64–65 | date = June 2008 }}</ref> while the Linux port was developed by Jesus Higueras.

The game was first released as an [[open beta]] and was later released for purchase with a time-limited [[game demo|demo]] version available as well.

As of May 2008, the game was described as being in development for approximately seven years, with Dan Tabár quitting his job in mid-2006 to work full-time on the project.<ref name="indiegames" /> No versions for game consoles were produced.<ref name="indiegames" /> The game allows several components to be modified using [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] and [[INI file|INI]] files, such as Scenes (or levels), Actors, Weapons, and more.<ref name="indiegames">{{cite web| url = http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/05/interview_dan_tabar_cortex_com.html| title = Interview: Dan Tabár (Cortex Command)| author = W., Tim| publisher = indiegames.com| date = 2008-05-27| accessdate = 2008-07-01| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080630031306/http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/05/interview_dan_tabar_cortex_com.html| archive-date = 2008-06-30| url-status = dead}}</ref> Influences for the game include the ''[[X-COM: UFO Defense]]'' series.<ref name="play" /> {{asof|2009}}, the full version is still being refined (as the game is still in extensive development), but includes unlimited play and extra features unavailable in the demo.<ref name="cc_home">{{cite web |title=Cortex Command |url=http://www.datarealms.com/games.php |publisher=Data Realms LLC |accessdate=2008-07-27}}</ref>

On 28 September 2012 the game was finally released in version 1.0 onfor [[Windows]] and [[Mac OS X]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] and for [[Linux]] on 7 October.<ref name="release">[https://www.geek.com/games/review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short-1522223/ review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329142442/https://www.geek.com/games/review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short-1522223/ |date=2020-03-29 }} by Sal Cangeloso on [[geek.com]] (19 October 2012)</ref><ref name="release2">[http://devlog.datarealms.com/cortex-command/cortex-command-1-0-playtest-preview cortex-command-1-0-playtest-preview] on datarealms.com (28 September 2012)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=7 October 2012 |title=''Cortex Command'' 1.0 available! |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2012/10/cortex-command-10-available/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=Gaming On Linux}}</ref>

In July 2019 the [[source code]] was released as [[open source software]] under the [[AGPL-3.0-only]] [[software license]] on [[GitHub]].<ref>[https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/cortex-command-from-data-realms-goes-open-source.14567 Cortex command from data realms goes open source] by Liam Dawe on gamingonlinux.com (13 July 2019)</ref><ref>[https://github.com/DataRealms/CCOSS DataRealms/CCOSS] on [[github.com]]</ref> As of 2023 the work on a community continuation, dubbed "Cortex-Command-Community-Project", is ongoing.<ref>[https://github.com/cortex-command-community/Cortex-Command-Community-Project-Source Cortex Command Community Project Source] on [[github.com]] (accessed March 2022)</ref>

The game's soundtrack has beenwas composed by [[Danny Baranowsky]].

== Setting ==

Despite the fact that the main story has been scrapped, Cortex Command does have some background lore. Sometime in the mid-to-far future after humanity suffered a war brought on by a religious group, Brain transplant and life support technology was developed to make space travel more feasible. This leads to humans making contact with alien life forms, and Founding Free Trade. Free Trade is one of the biggest if not the biggest corporations in the whole Orion Spur. But humanity doesn't stop there, despite humanity having long abandoned their bodies, they still kept the stubborn will to fight. With contracting being open to the highest bidder, prospectors fight on earth-like planets with rich gold deposits, while being supplied by companies like Alchiral or Free Trade. <ref>{{cite web |first1last1=Arne |title=Cortex Command Fluff |url=https://www.androidarts.com/cortexcommand/ |website=androidarts.com |access-date= }}</ref>

== Reception ==

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''Cortex Command'' was the ''Indie Games'' Game of the Month for April 2008.<ref name="indiegames_gotm">{{cite web |title=Game of the Month, April 2008 |publisher=indiegames.com |url=http://www.indiegames.com/gameofthemonth/ |accessdate=2008-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725164937/http://www.indiegames.com/gameofthemonth/ |archive-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''Cortex Command'' won the Audience Award and Technical Excellence award at the 2009 [[Independent Games Festival]].<ref name="gamasutr">{{cite web|title=11th Independent Games Festival |publisher=[[gamasutra.com]] | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22919 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124173944/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22919 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 24, 2013 |date=2009-03-26 |accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref>

== References ==

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* {{Official website|http://www.datarealms.com/games.php|''Cortex Command'' official website}}

[[Category:Action video games]]

[[Category:MacOS games]]

[[Category:Windows games]]

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[[Category:Video games developed in Sweden]]

[[Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code]]

[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]