1991 · Platformer · Rhythm

Tranquility

Abstract musical platform game first developed for SGI systems in 1991, later ported to Mac and Windows. Used procedural generation to make new levels on demand.

Released: 1991
Platforms: Windows macOS
Genres: Platformer Rhythm
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Modes: Single-player
Country: United States

About

tranquility is a nonviolent musical platform game created by musician William A. Romanowski in 1991 for Silicon Graphics computers and adapted ten years later for Macintosh and Windows computers. The game features generative algorithms that determine music and level layout based on the player's actions. For this reason, and due to its use of generated ambient music, the game's philosophy has been compared to that of Transcendentalism and the New Age Movement.

According to the game's publishers, some players have reported immersion in the game to produce a dream-like experience during and after play. The game notably appeared first as a demo included with Silicon Graphics computers. It was updated and re-released as a commercial game 10 years later in 2001, with internet support architected by David Cook and Cookware Inc. This version of the game was supported for 10 years but a notice that the game was to be retired appeared on the website in 2010.

Keywords

abstract

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

In tranquility, the player (from an abstract, first-person viewpoint) floats in a sea of starlit geometric structures called "platforms" in order to pass through targets called "spinners" (camouflaged star-shaped objects scattered at a density of one per room). The game's challenge is derived from the difficulty in locating the variously placed "spinners" and as such the game may be compared to hide-and-seek. Level progression is nonlinear, and the game is intended to be self-paced, and self-directed. A number of in-game options allow players to control game speed and difficulty, including an auto-pilot button.

The player controlled speed in an analog manner by pushing and pulling the mouse forwards and backwards, heading or direction by moving the mouse to each side, and gravity by clicking the left mouse button. Gravity was very gentle by default, a feature which has been regarded as an exception to the rule that platform games should not use first-person perspective, as it allowed players to land jumps without much difficulty.