Let’s take a journey through time, from the beeps and bloops of the 1980’s to now in this documentary covering 30 years of god simulation games. From industry legends like Peter Molyneux and Will Wright, to independent or even solo games, the God Game has been a beloved but underappreciated genre that deserves a thorough exploration.
This is my 2nd feature-length video and my longest and most ambitious production to date, so I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did making it!
Please share with your family and friends to help get the word out!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
2:10 — Defining the God Game
4:26 — Genesis of the God Game
7:42 — The Bullfrog Era
8:47 — Powermonger
9:59 — ActRaiser
14:04 — Magic Carpet
16:36 — Magic Carpet 2
18:42 — Creatures
20:00 — Dungeon Keeper
25:22 — Populous: The Beginning
29:04 — Dungeon Keeper 2
31:26 — The End of Bullfrog
34:26 — The Lionhead Era
34:33 — Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim
36:50 — Startopia
38:40 — Black & White
51:18 — Black & White 2
1:01:11 — Spore
1:08:12 — Clones & Successors
1:10:11 — From Dust
1:12:10 — Reprisal Universe
1:13:04 — Dungeon Keeper Mobile
1:14:57 — Impire
1:15:43 — Dungeons 2
1:16:48 — Dungeons 3
1:17:44 — War for the Overworld
1:20:37 — The Indie Era
1:21:35 — Godus
1:27:47 — Godus Wars
1:30:58 — Reus
1:32:09 — Rise to Ruins
1:33:54 — Deisim
1:34:57 — Tethered
1:37:04 — Townsmen VR
1:38:08 — Crest
1:40:16 — The Universim
1:42:19 — In Conclusion
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MUSIC CREDITS
Dungeon Keeper, Black & White and Magic Carpet II soundtracks by
RUSSELL SHAW
Populous: The Beginning and Dungeon Keeper 2 soundtrack by
MARK KNIGHT
Black & White 2 soundtrack by
PAUL ROMERO
Additional music tracks from the
YOUTUBE AUDIO LIBRARY and AUDIOBLOCKS
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FOOTAGE CREDITS
Deisim gameplay by Tommy Maloteaux | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdE2DdApXf5W9_6oEetomg
Townsmen VR gameplay by Klorinmannen | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu9_m-YgeP4
EGX — A Bullfrog and Lionhead retrospective
No Man’s Sky gameplay by Video Games Source | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZunlk3CsDU
Heart of Darkness gameplay by AdventureGameFan8 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j4faK2D4XU
Evil Genius gameplay by Charmed | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn0J0m4BxO4
Rise to Ruins combat by FallenShogunGaming | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8uZB9RqDvo
“16-bit Memories” Amiga artwork by Toni Bratincevic
http://www.interstation3d.com/work_personal.php
Utopia footage by 5 Minutes of Every Game | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGfhVWLtAYs&ab_channel=5MinutesofEveryGame
Dungeon Keeper (Mobile) gameplay by Shadeslay | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y-Oe5ilQV0
Idle Worship gameplay by TheMajorasMask | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozDwV9995I
Curiosity footage by by VG247.com and cubeclickerplus
Miracle list
http://blackandwhite.wikia.com/wiki/Miracles
GDC Black & White talk with Peter Molyneux
IGN Interview with Peter Molyneux
Evolution gameplay by Franco | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My6_g6gkb6Y
Hi-Octane gameplay by InsertDisk | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t7HR6LfdRg
Fable: The Journey gameplay by TatarKhan | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVYbY9RQ-iQ
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SOURCES
Job titles, credits, general game information
https://www.mobygames.com/
Wikipedia | http://www.wikipedia.org
Moby Games | http://www.mobygames.com
History of Bullfrog
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-05-12-lionhead-the-inside-story
What happened to Spore’s development
https://forum.quartertothree.com/t/how-spore-ended-up-cute-and-dumbed-down/48324
Will Wright on Spore: Cute vs. Science
Final Days of Black & White
http://simple.leforum.eu/t131-The-finals-hours-of-Black-White.htm
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/20/lionhead-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-british-video-game-legend
Black & White IP Research
https://www.mcvuk.com/development/ip-profile-black-white
Glenn Corpes’ comments about Peter Molyneux and interviews:
Godus articles
Peter Molyneux Interview: “I haven’t got a reputation in this industry any more”
Molyneux’s criticism of DK mobile game:
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-02-11-molyneux-eas-dungeon-keeper-crucifies-my-patience
Populous II:
https://www.nowgamer.com/the-making-of-populous/
Information about cancelled Bullfrog projects:
http://www.designersnotebook.com/Game_Credits/game_credits.htm
http://www.designersnotebook.com/Online_Articles/Dungeon_Keeper_3/dungeon_keeper_3.htm
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