Apico
{{Short description|2022 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = APICO
| image = APICO Cover Art.png
| caption = APICO Cover Art
| developer = TNgineers
| publisher = Whitethorn Games
| platforms = {{ubl|Linux|macOS|Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}
| released = {{Unbulleted list|Linux, macOS, Windows|20 May 2022|Switch|7 July 2022|PS4, PS5|29 September 2022|XONE, XSXS|22 June 2023}}
| genre = Beekeeping, simulation
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|ellraiser}}
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|ellraiser|metakitkat}}
| composer = Mothense
| alt = The cover art is a pixel art style design, showing the word "APICO" spelt out in large yellow hexagonal letters, on a backdrop to a bright green forest
}}
APICO is a 2022 beekeeping simulation video game developed by TNgineers and published by Whitethorn Games. It was released on 20 May 2022 to coincide with World Bee Day.{{Cite web|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=21 May 2022|title=Get honey, get paid in charming beekeeping sim Apico|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/get-honey-get-paid-in-charming-beekeeping-sim-apico/|website=PC Gamer|publisher=Future plc|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Graham|date=21 May 2022|title=Apico is a beekeeping sim with Stardew Valley vibes|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/apico-is-a-beekeeping-sim-with-stardew-valley-vibes|website=Rock Paper Shotgun|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Innes|first=Ruby|date=23 May 2022|title=Beekeeping Sim Apico Teaches You How To Bee Better|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/05/beekeeping-sim-apico/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523021533/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2022/05/beekeeping-sim-apico/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2022|website=Kotaku|access-date=10 September 2022}}
Gameplay
APICO is a 2D beekeeping simulation and resource management game. Set in an archipelago where bees are commonplace, the player is tasked with discovering all of the species of bee in the world through exploration and cross-breeding. The game takes inspiration from real-life genetics and biology, with Punnett squares taking a key role in gameplay.{{Cite web|last=Gray|first=Laura|date=19 May 2022|title=APICO Review: A Beeautiful And Intricate Adventure|url=https://screenrant.com/apico-game-review/|website=Screen Rant|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Bolding|first=Jonathan|date=14 March 2021|title=Forget farming games, Apico is about the art of beekeeping|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/forget-farming-games-apico-is-about-the-art-of-beekeeping/|website=PC Gamer|publisher=Future plc|access-date=10 September 2022}} Conservation of bees also plays into the mechanics of the game, with the player being rewarded for rehabilitating new species back into the wild.{{Cite web|last=Whitson|first=Hank|date=18 April 2021|title=Apico Dev Discusses Unique Approach to Conservation and Education|url=https://gamerant.com/apicos-beekeeping-conservation-education/|website=Game Rant|access-date=10 September 2022}}
There is also a heavy focus on menu management along with a multiple menu system, allowing for multiple menus to be open at once. A lot of the gameplay is done through these various in-game menus that have their own crafting minigames - like a "Sawbench" menu where you manually "chop" logs by dragging the mouse left and right on the interface, or a "Uncapper" menu when you "scrape" the Propolis from a Hive frame by dragging the mouse down. The developers talked more about these menu mechanics and the ability to have multiple menus open at once in an article for Game Developer.{{Cite web|last=R.|first=Ell|date=6 July 2022|title=Deep Dive: Multiple menu systems & UI design in APICO|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/deep-dive-multiple-menu-systems-ui-design-in-i-apico-i-|website=Game Developer|access-date=10 September 2022}}
Development and release
The game is being developed by TNgineers, a small UK-based indie studio made up of Ell (ellraiser) and their brother, Jamie (metakitkat). The game's soundtrack is composed by German composer, Mothense, who has done both an official soundtrack plus a set of "bee-sides" that were ideas scrapped during the creation of the OST.{{Cite tweet|title=I made a bonus album of unused tracks from APICO, following my thread about failure!|user=MothenseMusic|number=1476371556154724357|access-date=30 December 2021}}
A key focus of the game was to make a relaxing, comforting game, with no real fail states or ways to lose. The developers mentioned this casual gameplay was something important to them especially with "the world being, you know, sh*t at the moment".{{Cite web|last=Whitson|first=Hank|date=23 April 2021|title=Interview: Apico's Lead Developer Discusses Digital Beekeeping, Comfort Gaming, and More|url=https://gamerant.com/apico-interview-tnengineers-beekeeping-comfort-casual/|website=Game Rant|access-date=10 September 2022}} They have mentioned that a portion of all sales will be donated to national and international beekeeping charities,{{Cite web|last=Fanelli|first=Jason|date=12 May 2022|title=Beekeeping Sim Apico Buzzes Onto PC May 20, Sales Will Support Beekeeping Conservation|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/beekeeping-sim-apico-buzzes-onto-pc-may-20-sales-will-support-beekeeping-conservation/1100-6503361/|website=GameSpot|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{Cite podcast|date=15 June 2021|url=https://www.buzzsprout.com/747596/8710585-the-game-maker-series-ell-from-tngineers-apico|title=The Game-Maker Series: Ell from TNgineers - APICO|time=26:55|host=The Pre-Order Bonus|access-date=10 September 2022}} and after getting their first sales through from Steam started to post their charity donations publicly.{{Cite tweet|title=As part of our charitable efforts with APICO (and now we've finally got paid by Steam) we're finally able to start donating some money to some wonderful bee, beekeeping, & conservation charities!|user=tngineers|number=1554018516835225602|access-date=10 September 2022}}{{Cite web|title=#SaveTheBees|url=https://apico.buzz/savethebees/|website=Apico.buzz|access-date=10 September 2022}}
A demo was originally released on Steam in September 2020, with multiple updates being released to keep the demo up to date with the current state of the game.{{Cite web|date=1 September 2020|title=New APICO Demo Is Generating a Honeyed Buzz|url=https://gamepilgrim.com/2020/09/01/new-apico-demo-is-generating-a-honeyed-buzz/|website=Game Pilgrim|access-date=10 September 2022}} The developers hadn't originally planned to get a publisher, but made the decision in January 2021 to team up with indie game publisher Whitethorn Games for support, and due to their casual/friendly ethos matching the focus for the game. At the same time, they also decided to move the game engine (previously JavaScript) into GameMaker Studio to help with console porting.{{Cite web|author=TNgineers|date=17 January 2021|title=Moving from Javascript to GMS2|url=https://tngineers.itch.io/apico/devlog/213557/moving-from-javascript-to-gms2|website=Itch.io|access-date=10 September 2022}} A large update for the demo was released on World Bee Day 2021, which was the first update for the demo since the game was moved to GameMaker Studio.{{Cite tweet|title=Happy World Bee Day Everyone!|user=tngineers|number=1395279634221109254|access-date=10 September 2022}}
The game was released on Steam on 20 May 2022 to coincide with World Bee Day 2022 and later released on Nintendo Switch on 7 July 2022.{{Cite web|last=Gray|first=Kate|date=7 July 2022|title=Beekeeping Sim APICO Gets Brand New Trailer To Celebrate Switch Launch|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/07/beekeeping-sim-apico-gets-brand-new-trailer-to-celebrate-switch-launch|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=10 September 2022}} The game was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 29 September 2022,{{Cite news|author=Game Developer|date=29 September 2022|title=APICO, the Cozy Beekeeping Sim from Whitethorn Games, Launches on PlayStation 4 & 5 Today!|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/press-release/apico-the-cozy-beekeeping-sim-from-whitethorn-games-launches-on-playstation-4-5-today}} and then Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 22 June 2023.{{Cite news|author=Fin|website=The Xbox Hub|date=22 June 2023|title=Be at one with bee-kind in APICO on Xbox Series X and Xbox One|url=https://www.thexboxhub.com/be-at-one-with-bee-kind-in-apico-on-xbox-series-xs-and-xbox-one/}}
Content updates
In the release announcement post it was mentioned that there would be "2-3 content updates" worked on post-release.{{Cite news|author=TNgineers|date=12 May 2022|title=Release The Bees!|url=https://ko-fi.com/Post/Release-The-Bees-J3J1CLD7Y|website=Ko-Fi|quote=we have 2-3 content updates we want to work on post-release}} These have been solidified into three named updates:{{Cite news|author=TNgineers|date=6 February 2022|title=APICO Roadmap|url=https://ko-fi.com/post/APICO-Roadmap-S6S0ADGAZ|website=Ko-Fi|quote=These are the 3 planned content updates that we'll be working on in the future!}}
- 2.0 I Can't Beelieve It's Not Butter(flies) - focusing on adding solitary bees & butterflies to the game
- 3.0 What Lies Beeneath - aimed at filling in the oceans with content and adding "bee-fishing"
- 4.0 Hive Of Industry - geared towards more light automation as well as a second more final ending "so we can all say goodbye together"
It was announced on 7 November that the first of the three updates, the "Butterfly Update" would release on all PC platforms on 12 November.{{Cite tweet|title=Butterflies? Solitary bees?? Alchemy?!? Oh my!|user=tngineers|number=1589567641542225920}} This was then released for Switch and PlayStation on 11 May 2023.{{Cite news|website=Reddit|title=On May 11th the 2.0 butterfly update is coming to Switch + Playstation!|author=TNgineers|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/APICO/comments/133j7tb/on_may_11th_the_20_butterfly_update_will_be/}} On 26 September, the "Ocean Update" was released for PC.{{Cite tweet|title=APICO 3.0 is OUT NOW on PC!|user=tngineers|number=1706655610584904096}}
There have been no dates announced yet for the final update, or the 3.0 update for consoles, however Ell has mentioned in an FAQ in the TNgineer Discord that both the 3.0 and 4.0 updates will be combined into one final update for all consoles.