Project Spark

Xbox console exclusive

Project Spark brings imagination to life in an open-world, digital sandbox that enables anyone to create, play, and share whatever they can imagine. This is a powerful yet simple way to build and play your own worlds, stories, and games. See how a creator did what they did, and, when you’re ready, become a creator yourself. Project Spark provides a powerful creation engine that unlocks world building through intuitive sculpting tools to shape and paint a new world, as well as a simple yet incredibly powerful visual programming language to make anything happen.

Released: 7 October 2014
Platforms: Windows Xbox 360 Xbox One
Genres: Adventure Platformer Simulation Strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: Xbox Game Studios
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Third person Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Fantasy Survival Comedy Sandbox Educational
Country: United States
Age ratings: PEGI 12 CLASS_IND L CERO B ESRB E10+
Languages: English

About

Project Spark is a game creation system developed by SkyBox Labs and Team Dakota and published by Microsoft Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. The game was announced during Microsoft's E3 2013 press event, and was launched as a Windows open beta in December 2013, and an Xbox One beta in March 2014. Project Spark is not available for purchase and online services are also not available as of August 12, 2016. Although no longer available for sale, players can continue to play offline so long as they have both a physical disc, and downloaded local copies of any custom-made creations.

Keywords

orcs
magic
creative
voxel
action-adventure
artificial intelligence
cross-platform multiplayer
free-to-play
microtransaction
goblins
player vs environment
xbox live

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Project Spark is a digital canvas which can be used to make games, movies and other experiences. A player can download other user-generated content, remix that content or create content of their own. A player can use the Xbox controller, keyboard and mouse, touch devices and Kinect to build experiences. Kinect can be used to animate models and record audio.

The created environments can contain mountains, rivers, and towns. The player can also create events, like inter-character battles. Created items and objects are able to be shared with other players.

Development

Project Spark, developed by Team Dakota, was announced during Microsoft's E3 2013 press event. Registration for its beta began in late June 2013. The game's cross-platform compatibility was demonstrated at Microsoft's Build 2013 developer conference. The system has been described as an evolution of concepts introduced in Microsoft's previous game creation tool Kodu Game Lab.

The game features the character Conker the Squirrel, with an episodic campaign for the game called Conker's Big Reunion, set 10 years after the events of Conker's Bad Fur Day. The first episode of the campaign was released in April 2015, but the remaining ones were cancelled the following September.

Reception

VentureBeat cited Project Spark as a "good example" of a game that takes advantage of Microsoft's investment in its ecosystem of products. IGN's Mitch Dyer called the game a fascinating "strange mixture of complex and rudimentary". Hardcore Gamer said "Project Spark is the most user-friendly game creation suite to date, enabling one to be crafted with less work than anything else like it on the market."

During the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Project Spark for "Family Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming".