{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2019}} {{short description|2017 RTS videogame}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox video game | title = Castle Story | image = Castle Story Logo.jpg | developer = Sauropod Studio | publisher = Sauropod Studio | engine = Unity<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/the-top-14-game-engines-unity-4/ |title=The top 14 game engines: Unity 4 |author=MCV Staff |date=19 March 2013 |website=MCV}}</ref> | platforms = Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | released = 17 August 2017 | genre = Sandbox | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | composer = Josh Whelchel, Mattias Häggstrom Gerdt and Vibe Avenue }}
'''''Castle Story''''' is a 2017 sandbox and real-time strategy game developed by Sauropod Studio. Funded through the crowdfunding website Kickstarter in 2012, the game launched in September 2013 in early access and was fully released in August 2017.
== Gameplay == {{Expand section|date=September 2019}} In ''Castle Story'', the player controls workers called "Bricktrons," which can be directed to gather resources, build castles, and fight enemies.<ref name="Hardcore Gamer">{{cite web |url=https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/03/25/castle-story-takes-building-castles-in-the-sky-literally/140911/ |title=Castle Story Takes 'Building Castles in the Sky' Literally |first=James |last=Cunningham |date=25 March 2015 |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220132246/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/03/25/castle-story-takes-building-castles-in-the-sky-literally/140911/ |archive-date=20 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The aim is to build a castle that can withstand attacks from creatures and other players.<ref name="Hardcore Gamer" /> The game takes place on massive floating islands.<ref name="Hardcore Gamer" />
== Development == {{Anchor|Sauropod Studio}}''Castle Story'' was the debut game developed by Sauropod Studio, an indie game developer based in Montreal, Canada.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-24-sauropod-studio-closes-laying-off-around-20 |title=Sauropod Studio closes, laying off around 20 |first=Rebekah |last=Valentine |date=24 September 2019 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> The game was first announced in December 2011; around this time, Sauropod was a team of two people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/7/27/3193609/sandbox-strategy-game-castle-story-finding-kickstarter-success |title=Sandbox strategy game 'Castle Story' finding Kickstarter success |first=Alexa Ray |last=Corriea |date=27 July 2012 |website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/pc-gamers-remember-the-name-castle-story-5873253 |title=PC Gamers, Remember the Name ''Castle Story'' |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |date=5 January 2012 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> Sauropod Studio was formally founded as a company on 24 April 2012 by François Alain (general director), Germain Couet (artistic director), and Benoît Alain (lead programmer and chief technical officer).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sauropodstudio.com/english |title=English |website=Sauropod Studio |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925175508/https://www.sauropodstudio.com/english |archive-date=25 September 2019 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> A crowdfunding campaign was launched through Kickstarter's website on 27 July 2012, seeking {{US$|80,000|link=yes}}.<ref name="VG247">{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2012/07/27/sauropod-studios-castle-story-meets-kickstarter-goal-in-mere-hours/ |title=Sauropod Studio's Castle Story meets Kickstarter goal in mere hours |first=Stephany |last=Nunneley |date=27 July 2012 |website=VG247 |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013092150/http://www.vg247.com/2012/07/27/sauropod-studios-castle-story-meets-kickstarter-goal-in-mere-hours/ |archive-date=13 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> This goal was reached and exceeded within five hours of the campaign's launch.<ref name="VG247" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/castle-story-might-make-some-childhood-dreams-come-true-5929988 |title=''Castle Story'' Might Make Some Childhood Dreams Come True |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |date=29 July 2012 |website=Kotaku |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414005646/https://kotaku.com/castle-story-might-make-some-childhood-dreams-come-true-5929988 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The campaign concluded after one month, with a total of {{US$|700,000|long=no}} pledged.<ref name="GameZone">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/previews/castle-story-shows-us-its-adorable-little-bones/ |title=Castle Story shows us its adorable little bones |first=Josh |last=Wirtanen |date=20 May 2013 |website=GameZone}}</ref> Sauropod credited Markus Persson, the creator of the ''Minecraft'' game, who publicly approved of the game and led the Kickstarter campaign to its success.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezone.com/originals/castle-story-s-success-more-than-600k-on-kickstarter-and-counting/ |title=Castle Story's success: more than $600K on Kickstarter and counting |first=Stephanie |last=Carmichael |date=24 August 2012 |website=GameZone}}</ref> Beta versions of the game were later shared with backers who had pledged {{US$|15|long=no}} or more.<ref name="GameZone" /> ''Castle Story'' was made publicly available as a paid early access game through Steam's digital distribution platform on 23 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/indie/castle-story-enters-steam-early-access-build-castles-explore-kill-invaders |title=Castle Story enters Steam Early Access. Build castles, explore, kill the invaders! |first=Julian |last=Benson |date=23 September 2013 |website=PCGamesN |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722004743/http://www.pcgamesn.com/indie/castle-story-enters-steam-early-access-build-castles-explore-kill-invaders |archive-date=22 July 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The game was fully released on 17 August 2017 for Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows, with Sauropod shifting to bugfixes and developing post-launch content.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/five-years-making-castle-story-finally-launched/ |title=Five Years in the Making, Castle Story Has Finally Launched |first=Tyler |last=Fischer |date=17 August 2017 |website=DualShockers |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920233113/http://www.dualshockers.com/five-years-making-castle-story-finally-launched/ |archive-date=20 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=September 2019}}
{{Anchor|Mirador}}Following the release of ''Castle Story'', Sauropod began production on a second game, ''Mirador''.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> This game had a troubled development, frequently shuffling the designer position.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign seeking {{US$|60,000|long=no}} was not funded halfway, and Sauropod failed to find a publisher to finance the game.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> Instead, the Canadian Media Fund invested {{US$|900,000|long=no}}.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> As ''Mirador'' drew closer to release, it came to the studio's employees' attention that the money it had would not suffice to keep it running until the end of 2019.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> The game was eventually released on 26 July 2019 without prior early access availability.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> The idea of using early access was considered but ultimately rejected as the studio did not plan to support the game greatly post-launch.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> Sauropod's management assured its employees that the majority would move on to the studio's next project.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> However, on 23 September 2019, it was reported that Sauropod had laid off all of its 20 employees due to the foregoing money mismanagement.<ref name="GamesIndustry.biz" /> François Alain and Couet stated in October 2019 that Sauropod was still active, despite having laid off all staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-10-03-sauropod-studio-responds-to-concerns-surrounding-layoffs-sexism-studios-status |title=Sauropod Studio responds to concerns surrounding layoffs, sexism, studio's status |first=Rebekah |last=Valentine |date=3 October 2019 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.castlestory.net/en/}}
Category:2017 video games Category:Early access video games Category:Indie games Category:Kickstarter-funded video games Category:Linux games Category:MacOS games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Real-time strategy video games Category:Survival video games Category:Unity games Category:Video games developed in Canada Category:Video games set in castles Category:Video games with voxel graphics Category:Windows games