# Planetary Annihilation > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Planetary_Annihilation > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Planetary_Annihilation.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Annihilation > Source revision: 1341521298 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Real-time strategy game by Uber Entertainment}} {{Infobox video game | title = Planetary Annihilation | image = Planetary Annihilation cover.jpg | developer = [Uber Entertainment](/source/Uber_Entertainment) (prior to August 2018)
Planetary Annihilation Inc. (since August 2018) | publisher = Planetary Annihilation Inc. | director = Jon Mavor{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/659943965/planetary-annihilation-a-next-generation-rts |title=Planetary Annihilation - A Next Generation RTS}} | designer = Jon Mavor | programmer = Jon Mavor
William Howe-Lott{{cite web |url=http://forums.uberent.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=35267&p=526542&hilit=+William+Howe-Lott#p526542 |title=Re: What's the language used in the video?}}
Michael Robbins{{cite web |url=http://soriandev.blogspot.nl/2012/10/change-is-good.html |title=Change is good |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524004259/http://soriandev.blogspot.nl/2012/10/change-is-good.html |archivedate=2014-05-24}} | artist = Steve Thompson
Ben Golus
Andrew Chistophersen
Aung Oo | composer = Howard Mostrom{{cite web|url=http://blogcentral.plantronics.com/game-over/2012/12/06/interview-with-howard-mostrom-audio-director-and-composer-for-uber-entertainment-creator-of-the-upcoming-pc-title-planetary-annihilation/ |title=Interview with Howard Mostrom, Audio Director and Composer for Uber Entertainment, Creator of the upcoming PC title Planetary Annihilation |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620170233/http://blogcentral.plantronics.com/game-over/2012/12/06/interview-with-howard-mostrom-audio-director-and-composer-for-uber-entertainment-creator-of-the-upcoming-pc-title-planetary-annihilation/ |archivedate=2013-06-20}} | producer = Marc Scattergood
Jeremy Ables | platforms = [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), [OS X](/source/OS_X), [Linux](/source/Linux) | released = September 5, 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/09/13/planetary-annihilation-beta-release/ |title=Planetary Annihilation Beta release date news post |work=Uberent |accessdate=2013-09-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916191909/http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/09/13/planetary-annihilation-beta-release/ |archivedate=2013-09-16}} | genre = [Real-time strategy](/source/Real-time_strategy) | modes = [Single-player](/source/Single-player), [multiplayer](/source/multiplayer) }} '''''Planetary Annihilation''''' is a [real-time strategy](/source/real-time_strategy) [PC game](/source/PC_game) originally developed by [Uber Entertainment](/source/Uber_Entertainment), whose staff included several [video game industry](/source/video_game_industry) veterans who worked on ''[Total Annihilation](/source/Total_Annihilation)'' and ''[Supreme Commander](/source/Supreme_Commander_(video_game))''. The game was released in 2014, and the [stand-alone expansion](/source/Stand-alone_expansion_pack) '''''Planetary Annihilation: Titans''''' was released in 2015. Since 2018, Planetary Annihilation Inc. maintains development of both ''Planetary Annihilation'' and ''Planetary Annihilation: Titans'' via ongoing content additions and balance changes. ==Gameplay== thumb|alt=Screenshot of a Tier 1 vehicle unit|A Tier 1 vehicle unit (Ant) on the surface of a planet thumb|alt=Screenshot of an orbital fabrication unit|An orbital fabrication unit in orbit thumb|alt=Screenshot of a Tier 2 bot|A Tier 2 bot unit (Bluehawk) thumb|alt=Screenshot of a base covering much of a planet|A large base spanning much of a planet's surface In interviews with ''PC Gamer'' and ''Joystiq'', lead developer Jon Mavor explained that the scale and pacing of ''Planetary Annihilation'' varies greatly. Matches can be as short as 30-minute skirmishes between two players or extend into long battles spanning multiple worlds with many participants. Although the team aimed to support 40-player matches, this feature was not available at launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/08/15/planetary-annihilation-interview/ |title=Planetary Annihilation interview [Updated with Kickstarter link] |work=PC Gamer |date=15 August 2012|accessdate=2012-08-20}}{{cite web|last=Hinkle |first=David |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/planetary-annihilation-a-new-rts-uber-wants-to-get-kickstarted/ |title=Planetary Annihilation, a new RTS Uber wants to get Kickstarted |publisher=Joystiq |date=2012-08-15 |accessdate=2012-08-20}} The game is set across procedurally generated planetary systems containing planets, moons, asteroids and gas giants. Each celestial body has different terrain, biomes and resource distribution. Players can establish control over multiple worlds, defend their holdings or use asteroids and moons as weapons by moving them into enemy planets. Entire planets can also be destroyed through special structures, and matches often involve managing multiple fronts across several worlds. Gameplay focuses on building an economy, expanding territory and producing units. Each match begins with a Commander unit that can construct Tier 1 economic and military structures. Players use these starting facilities to generate resources and fabricate units and factories that unlock further construction options. The game’s unit and structure categories include: * '''Factories:''' Tier 1 and Tier 2 factories produce land vehicles, bots, aircraft, naval vessels and orbital units. * '''Construction units:''' Fabrication bots, vehicles, aircraft, ships and orbital units build new structures, reclaim wreckage and assist with production. Advanced versions can construct Tier 2 structures. * '''Economy:''' Resource production is handled through metal extractors and energy plants, with Tier 2 equivalents providing greater output. Other economy-related structures include energy and metal storage buildings, solar arrays and gas giant resource platforms. * '''Defensive structures:''' Defensive options range from walls and mines to laser turrets, torpedo launchers, anti-air cannons, orbital defense weapons, artillery and anti-nuke installations. Tier 2 versions generally cover larger areas or deal more damage than Tier 1. * '''Combat units:''' Vehicles include tanks, artillery and assault units; bots range from fast raiders to mobile artillery and long-range missile platforms. Aircraft perform roles such as reconnaissance, bombing and troop transport. Naval units operate on water-heavy planets and include destroyers, battleships, submarines and carriers. Orbital units and satellites support interplanetary reconnaissance, transportation and attacks. Late-game strategies often center on planet-scale weapons. Players can construct Halley engines on asteroids or moons to redirect them into other planets. Alternatively, Catalysts can be built on metal planets to activate the Annihilaser, a system-spanning energy weapon capable of destroying entire worlds. ''Planetary Annihilation'' emphasizes large-scale planning rather than detailed control of individual units. This design direction was inspired by the 1997 real-time strategy game ''Total Annihilation''. The developers set a target of supporting up to one million active units during matches.{{cite web|url=http://twitch.tv/uberchannel/b/337596251 |title=Twitch.tv Interview |accessdate=2012-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109024614/http://www.twitch.tv/uberchannel/b/337596251 |archivedate=2012-11-09}} A match concludes when a player's final Commander is destroyed. ==Development== Jon Mavor wrote the [graphics engine](/source/graphics_engine) for ''[Total Annihilation](/source/Total_Annihilation)'' and was also the [lead programmer](/source/lead_programmer) on ''[Supreme Commander](/source/Supreme_Commander_(video_game))''. The game's art style was created by Steve Thompson, who also previously worked on ''Total Annihilation'' and ''Supreme Commander''. Voice actor [John Patrick Lowrie](/source/John_Patrick_Lowrie), who did all the narrations for ''Total Annihilation'', did the narrations for ''Planetary Annihilation'' as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/659943965/planetary-annihilation-a-next-generation-rts |title=Planetary Annihilation - A Next Generation RTS by Uber Entertainment Inc — Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter.com |date=2012-08-15 |accessdate=2012-09-02}} According to Mavor, while game visualization began in May 2012, three months prior to the game's public announcement, the game concept itself had been in development for approximately three years by that time. Additionally, the server and [game engine](/source/game_engine) technologies that would underpin the game had been in development for several years prior to the game's public reveal, with some of the server technology having already made its way into PlayFab, Uber Entertainment's back-end server network.{{cite web|last=Pikover|first=James|title=Everything you need to know about Planetary Annihilation, before it completes funding|date=11 September 2012|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/09/11/planetary-annihilation-the-most-ambitious-kickstarter/|publisher=Venturebeat|accessdate=2012-09-11}} ===Kickstarter funding=== Rather than pursue investor funding, ''Planetary Annihilation''{{'}}s developer Uber Entertainment chose to use the [crowdfunding](/source/crowdfunding) site [Kickstarter](/source/Kickstarter) for their financial backing. They revealed the game to the public in August 2012, with their Kickstarter funding goal set at $900,000.{{cite web|url=http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/when-900000-isnt-much-money-the-story-of-planetary-annihilations-kickstarte |title=The PA Report - When $900,000 isn't much money: the story of Planetary Annihilation's Kickstarter |publisher=Penny-arcade.com |accessdate=2012-09-02 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902182908/http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/when-900000-isnt-much-money-the-story-of-planetary-annihilations-kickstarte |archivedate=2012-09-02 }} At the campaign's conclusion on September 14, ''Planetary Annihilation'' had raised approximately $2,228,000 via Kickstarter and an additional $101,000 via [PayPal](/source/PayPal).{{cite web|url=http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/659943965/planetary-annihilation-a-next-generation-rts/ |title=Planetary Annihilation - A Next Generation RTS by Uber Entertainment Inc :: Kicktraq|publisher=Kicktraq.com |date=2012-08-15 |accessdate=2012-09-14}} Kickstarter featured ''Planetary Annihilation'' as the 11th Kickstarter project to have raised over a million dollars, using it to highlight the successes that games had been enjoying on the site.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/blog/the-year-of-the-game |title=The Year of the Game » The Kickstarter Blog — Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter.com |date=2012-09-06 |accessdate=2012-09-14}} ===Acquisition=== In August 2018, a new company Planetary Annihilation Inc., formed from original PA developers and Kickstarter backers, acquired the rights to ''Planetary Annihilation'' and ''Planetary Annihilation: Titans''. As of February 2021, the game still receives support in the form of balance changes, and several new units have been added. In addition, PA Inc. continues to support tournaments and seasonal events.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=TITANS 1v1 Ranked Season 10|url=https://planetaryannihilation.com/news/titans-1v1-ranked-season-10/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Planetary Annihilation: TITANS|language=en-US}} ==Release== The Alpha was launched on June 8, 2013{{cite web |author=Jon |url=http://www.mavorsrants.com/2013/06/annihilation-alpha-launched.html |title=Mavor's Rants: Annihilation alpha launched! |publisher=Mavorsrants.com |date=2013-06-08 |accessdate=2013-06-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004228/http://www.mavorsrants.com/2013/06/annihilation-alpha-launched.html |archivedate=2013-12-03}} for alpha-level backers, with Steam Early Access released on June 13.{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/233250/ |title=Planetary Annihilation on Steam |publisher=Store.steampowered.com |date= |accessdate=2013-06-14}} The Beta version of the game was released on September 26, 2013,{{cite web|last=Nicholson |first=Brad |url=http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/09/26/beta-begins-now/ |title=Beta Begins Now |publisher=Uber Entertainment |date=2013-09-26 |accessdate=2013-10-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002072447/http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/09/26/beta-begins-now/ |archivedate=2013-10-02}} and was later opened up to all initial Kickstarter backers on November 19.{{cite web|last=Nicholson |first=Brad |url=http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/11/19/youre-in-2/ |title=You're In! Come Smash Some Planets With Us, Backers! |publisher=Uber Entertainment |date=2013-11-19 |accessdate=2013-11-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123074607/http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/11/19/youre-in-2/ |archivedate=2013-11-23}} The release date was postponed to early 2014.{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Brad |url=http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/12/06/planetary-annihilation-now-coming-done/ |title=Planetary Annihilation Now Coming When It's Done |publisher=Uber Entertainment |date=2013-12-06 |accessdate=2013-12-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208015823/http://www.uberent.com/pa/2013/12/06/planetary-annihilation-now-coming-done/ |archivedate=2013-12-08}} ''Planetary Annihilation'' launched on September 5, 2014 on [Windows](/source/Windows), [Mac](/source/Macintosh) and [Linux](/source/Linux).{{cite web |url=http://www.uberent.com/pa/2014/09/05/planetary-annihilation-officially-launched/ |title=Planetary Annihilation Has Officially Launched | Planetary Annihilation |accessdate=2014-09-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907214550/http://www.uberent.com/pa/2014/09/05/planetary-annihilation-officially-launched/ |archivedate=2014-09-07}} ''Planetary Annihilation: Titans'', a [standalone expansion](/source/Stand-alone_expansion_pack) of the game was released on August 18, 2015. It adds 21 units to the game, including five titan class units. It also adds multi-level terrain, a bounty mode, and an improved [tutorial](/source/tutorial).{{cite web|last1=Yin-Poole|first1=Wesley|title=Planetary Annihilation: Titans announced, released|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-18-planetary-annihilation-titans-announced-released|website=[Eurogamer](/source/Eurogamer)|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=August 18, 2015|date=August 18, 2015}} ''Planetary Annihilation: Titans'' was gifted free to original Kickstarter backers from 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/659943965/planetary-annihilation-a-next-generation-rts/posts/1327672|title=Update 116: Planetary Annihilation: TITANS have arrived! · Planetary Annihilation - A Next Generation RTS|website=Kickstarter|language=en|access-date=2019-01-03}} with a discount for other owners.{{Cite web|url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/233250/announcements/detail/125326385282487115|title=Planetary Annihilation :: Planetary Annihilation: TITANS is available now!|date=2015-08-18|website=steamcommunity.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-03}}{{Cite web|date=2018-08-17|title=Planetary Annihilation Inc: The Future of PA and Titans|url=https://planetaryannihilation.com/news/planetary-annihilation-inc-the-future-of-pa-and-titans/|access-date=2019-01-03|website=Planetary Annihilation: Titans|language=en-US}} ''Classic Planetary Annihilation'' was removed from sale in September 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://planetaryannihilation.com/news/planetaryannihilation-com-the-future-of-titans-and-pa/|title=planetaryannihilation.com - The Future of PA and Titans|date=2018-09-05|website=Planetary Annihilation: Titans|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-03}} == Critical reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = 62/100{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/planetary-annihilation/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title = Planetary Annihilation|website = [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)}} | EuroG = 6/10{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-09-16-planetary-annihilation-review|title=Planetary Annihilation review|last1=Smith|first1=Quintin|date=16 September 2014|publisher=[Eurogamer](/source/Eurogamer)|accessdate=2 October 2014}} | IGN = 4.8/10 }} ''Planetary Annihilation'' received a mixed reception upon release. The game was praised for its ambitious concept, but criticized for playability and overall incompleteness. ''[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](/source/Rock%2C_Paper%2C_Shotgun)''{{'}}s Brendan Caldwell writes: "''Planetary Annihilation'' is a slick, modernised RTS, engineered from the ground up to appeal to the fast-paced, competitive, hotkey-loving esports crowd".{{Cite news|title=Planetary Annihilation review {{!}} Rock, Paper, Shotgun|newspaper=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=17 September 2014|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/09/17/planetary-annihilation-review/|accessdate=2015-12-17}} ''[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)''{{'}}s Emanuel Maiberg, experiencing hard to learn gameplay unaided by proper tutorials and disrupted by technical issues, states: "I know there's a great, massive RTS beneath all these issues. I've seen glimpses of it when everything works correctly, but at the moment I can't recommend ''Planetary Annihilation'' without a warning that it's bound to disappoint and frustrate, even if you do teach yourself to play it".{{Cite magazine|title=Planetary Annihilation review|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/planetary-annihilation-review/|accessdate=2015-12-17|magazine=PC Gamer|date=3 October 2014|publisher=}} ''[IGN](/source/IGN)''{{'}}s Rob Zacny summarizes: "A cool idea about robot armies battling across an entire solar system breaks apart when the realities of controlling multiple worlds at the same time set in".{{cite web|last1=Zacny|first1=Rob|date=September 5, 2014|title=Planetary Annihilation Review - Worlds Apart|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/17/planetary-annihilation-review|accessdate=September 26, 2014|publisher=[IGN](/source/IGN)}} {{clear}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== * {{official|http://planetaryannihilation.com/}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130301131759/http://gamestar.ru/english/jon_mavor_planetary_annihilation_interview_eng.html Interview with director John Mavor] {{Total Annihilation series}} Category:2014 video games Category:Crowdfunded video games Category:Early access video games Category:Kickstarter-funded video games Category:Linux games Category:MacOS games Category:Real-time strategy video games Category:Uber Entertainment games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Windows games Category:Video games set on fictional planets Category:Video games using procedural generation Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Planetary Annihilation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Annihilation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Annihilation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.