Ark: Survival Evolved [official site] is currently the fifth most played game on Steam. It’s not the first early access survival game to reach such heights, but so far it’s one of the few to have maintained it. At this year’s Gamescom 2015 I spoke to co-creative director Jesse Rapczak about what he feels Ark is doing different, their release and expansion plans, how you foster a less sociopathic survival game playerbase, and why his game is so grindy.
Ark: Survival Evolved [official site] is the survival game du jour, and not without cause. While others have tried to create games that combine dinosaurs and the crafting, progression, and violent encounters typical of the genre, ARK’s early access release seems to come the closest to pulling it off. To explore it a little more, we asked Andro Dars to make a video playthrough to show what works and what doesn’t. Part three is below.>
In part five: leading a dinosaur procession, exploring some giant player bases, and visiting a dinosaur motel.
Ark: Survival Evolved is a survival game set on an island filled with creatures that are now extinct, so it makes sense that the developers would add a mesopithecus, a breed of monkey ("pithecus" means ape) that's no longer around.
In the game, these monkeys are useful for throwing poo at people, which is apparently harmful, or even attacking them more directly. You can also throw them over walls, which they don't seem to mind as much as they probably should, so that they can open doors for you. And they can ride around on your shoulder. All while wearing a fetching hat! I kind of wish I had one in real life. I predict they'd be much easier to train than a dinosaur.
Those who've been watching the "Survival of the Fittest" tournament would probably also like to know that the final takes place today. You can watch that on Twitch.
Thanks, RPS.
Ark: Survival Evolved [official site] has been gradually adding animals specifically designed> to appeal to RPS writers. First the Tusoteuthis vampyrus romanced Pip, then Alice doted upon the armadillo you can travel inside. That means that it’s my turn now to tell you about the latest addition.
It’s a monkey who can throw poop.
