{{Short description|2014 video game}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox video game | title = Bounden | image = Bounden.jpg | developer = Game Oven | publisher = | engine = Furiosity | platforms = iOS, Android | released = '''iOS'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|21 May 2014}} '''Android'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|3 July 2014}} | genre = Party | series = | composer = Bart Delissen | modes = Local multiplayer }}
'''''Bounden''''' is a dancing video game developed by Dutch developer Game Oven in collaboration with the Dutch National Ballet. It was released worldwide on iOS on 21 May 2014, and on Android on 3 July 2014.
==Gameplay== ''Bounden'' guides two players to dance using a single phone. The game features a sphere that rotates using the phone's gyroscope. The sphere has markers placed on top, lined up for the players to pick up by aligning them with the crosshair in the center of the screen. This interface shows both players how to rotate the phone together and in sync. ''Bounden'' has 8 dances in total: 4 playful, Twister-like dances made by Game Oven, aimed to get two people entangled. The other 4 are graceful, ballet-like choreographies made by the Dutch National Ballet. The game also features tutorial videos with Dutch National Ballet dancers, intended to show players how to move.
==Development== ''Bounden'' started as an experiment to make people ‘dance’ together. After various prototypes, Game Oven found a way that was able to make two people, standing opposite of each other, move fluently and synchronously. As designing movements proved to be very difficult, Game Oven called the Dutch National Ballet to help make choreography for the game. ''Bounden'' is made in cooperation with the Junior Company of the Dutch National Ballet. The Junior Company is a group of young dancers led by dancer and choreographer Ernst Meisner, who is responsible for most of the choreography in the game.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} To show the collaboration with the ballet, Game Oven made a series of 'Making of ''Bounden''' videos<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vimeo.com/album/2798320|title=Bounden on Vimeo|work=Vimeo|access-date=2014-11-27|archive-date=2014-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205201028/http://vimeo.com/album/2798320|url-status=live}}</ref> during the development. Game Oven presented earlier versions of ''Bounden'' at the Experimental Gameplay Workshop at the 2014 Game Developers Conference and the Penny Arcade Expo East 2014. ''Bounden'' was also selected as part of the Indiecade Showcase at E3 2014 and the European Innovative Games Showcase at GDC Europe 2014.
==Reception== ''Bounden'' was released on May 21, 2014, and has received mostly positive comments. Many journalists praised ''Bounden'' for tricking players into dancing,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/21/5737788/bounden-turns-your-iphone-into-a-ballet-partner|title='Bounden' turns your iPhone into a ballet partner|work=The Verge|date=21 May 2014|access-date=30 August 2017|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223071728/http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/21/5737788/bounden-turns-your-iphone-into-a-ballet-partner|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://killscreendaily.com/articles/articles/feature/how-bounden-will-teach-you-ballet-and-help-you-hook/|title=How Bounden will teach you ballet and help you hook up|work=Killscreen|date=11 March 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204174032/http://killscreendaily.com/articles/articles/feature/how-bounden-will-teach-you-ballet-and-help-you-hook/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://builttoplay.ca/podcast/2014/4/27/built-to-play-33-max-pax|title=Built to Play 33: Max Pax|work=Built to Play|date=27 April 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204170332/http://builttoplay.ca/podcast/2014/4/27/built-to-play-33-max-pax|url-status=live}}</ref> bringing players closer together,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2014/05/22/bounden-dance-iphone/|title=Can an iPhone Game Make You a Better Dancer?|work=Mashable|date=22 May 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219115152/http://mashable.com/2014/05/22/bounden-dance-iphone/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/03/arts/dance/bounden-entangles-gamers-in-a-complex-dance-duet.html|title=Bounden Entangles Gamers in a Complex Dance Duet|work=The New York Times|date=1 August 2014|access-date=1 March 2017|archive-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531073404/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/03/arts/dance/bounden-entangles-gamers-in-a-complex-dance-duet.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and resulting in a "mess of limbs."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.148apps.com/reviews/bounden-review/|title=Bounden Review|work=148 Apps|date=30 May 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204134520/http://www.148apps.com/reviews/bounden-review/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/dances-with-iphones|title=Dances with iPhones|magazine=The New Yorker|date=12 June 2014}}</ref> Los Angeles Times journalist Todd Martens noted Bounden might lead to "more physical contact than is likely appropriate for near-strangers."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/games/the-balletic-bounden-is-a-pas-de-deux-with-player-2/|title=The balletic 'Bounden' is a pas de deux with player 2|work=Los Angeles Times|date=12 July 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=25 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125140530/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/games/the-balletic-bounden-is-a-pas-de-deux-with-player-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150310004320/http://playbounden.com/ Official website] * [http://www.gameovenstudios.com Game Oven official website] {{Portal bar|Video games}}
Category:2014 video games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Dance video games Category:Indie games Category:IOS games Category:Multiplayer video games Category:Video games developed in the Netherlands