Astrologaster
{{distinguish|Astrologer}}
{{short description|2019 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| collapsible =
| designer =
| genre =
| released = iOS
May 2, 2019
Windows, macOS
May 9, 2019
Nintendo Switch
February 18, 2021
| platforms = iOS
Microsoft Windows
macOS
Nintendo Switch
| engine =
| composer = Andrea Boccadoro
| writer = Katharine Neil
| artist =
| programmer =
| producer =
| state =
| director = Jennifer Schneidereit
| series =
| publisher = Nyamyam
| developer = Nyamyam
| caption =
| alt =
| image = Astrologaster.jpg
| title = Astrologaster
| italic title =
| modes =
}}
Astrologaster is a comedy narrative adventure video game developed and published by Nyamyam. It was released for iOS on 2 May 2019, for Microsoft Windows and macOS on 9 May 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on 18 February 2021. The game centres around the historical 16th-century physician and astrologer Simon Forman and the characters he encounters, who demand diagnoses, treatments, and sometimes to be read fortunes written in the stars.
Gameplay
The player controls Simon Forman (Dave Jones), a real-life astrologer, occultist, and herbalist active in London during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I of England. After examining the skies for hints about patients' personal lives, the player can suggest a treatment or course of action for them. The game was inspired by Forman's casebooks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/05/14/astrologaster-review/|title=Wot I Think: Astrologaster|last=Caldwell|first=Brendan|date=2019-05-14|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/may/09/astrologaster-review-game-ipad-iphone-mac-pc-nyamnyam|title=Astrologaster review – comedy quack stalks the streets of Shakespeare|last=MacDonald|first=Keza|date=2019-05-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-10|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} A number of patients are based on real historical figures including Emilia Lanier (Katherine Rodden), Robert Devereux (Rich Keeble), Thomas Blague (Richard Reed) and Alice Blague (Natalie Winter).
Development
The game was developed by Nyamyam after creative director Jennifer Schneidereit saw Lauren Kassell present her research on Simon Forman's casebooks at the University of Cambridge. Inspired by the wealth of character and story material, and with the help of Kassel's research team, Nyamyam researched Forman's life and original patient records for inspiration for the game's characters and stories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.astrologaster.com/press|title=Press Kit|website=A comedy written in the stars|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 74/100 (PC)
89/100 (iOS)
75/100 (Switch)
}}
The game was released for iOS on 2 May 2019, for Microsoft Windows and macOS on 9 May 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on 18 February 2021.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/nyamyamgames/status/1111239835933700096 |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=www.webdevo.ie |last2=Fugate |first2=Daniel |date=2021-02-04 |title=Call Your Astrologaster to the Nintendo Switch on February 18th |url=https://www.gamesreviews.com/articles/02/call-your-astrologaster-to-the-nintendo-switch-on-february-18th/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=GamesReviews.com |language=en}}
According to review aggregator Metacritic, the PC version received mixed or average reviews while the iOS version received generally favourable reviews from critics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/astrologaster/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Astrologaster|website=Metacritic|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/astrologaster/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=Astrologaster|website=Metacritic|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/astrologaster/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Astrologaster|website=Metacritic|access-date=2020-01-10}}
Astrologaster was featured on The Gadget Show{{Cite web|url=https://www.gadgetshowprizes.co.uk/featured-games-of-the-week/|title=S29 Featured Games of The Week {{!}} Gadget Show Competition Prizes|access-date=2020-01-10|archive-date=2019-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929011138/http://www.gadgetshowprizes.co.uk/featured-games-of-the-week/|url-status=dead}} and appeared on a number of "best of" lists for video games in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/12/best-games-of-2019-goty.html|title=The 30 Best Videogames of 2019|date=2019-12-01|website=pastemagazine.com|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://indiegamesplus.com/2019/12/igps-must-plays-of-2019-astrologaster|title=IGP's Indie Stars of 2019: 'Astrologaster'|date=2019-12-23|website=Indie Games Plus|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=https://findthestrawberry.com/2019/12/30/my-favourite-combat-free-games-of-2019/|title=My favourite combat free games of 2019|date=2019-12-30|website=Find the Strawberry|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/081838/top-5-best-games-you-might-have-missed-in-2019/|title=Top 5 Best Games you might have missed in 2019|last=Bald|first=Cameron|date=2019-12-30|website=Pocket Gamer|access-date=2020-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.appunwrapper.com/2019/12/28/appunwrappers-2019-goty-list/|title=AppUnwrapper's Favorite iOS Games of 2019 (GOTY List)|date=2019-12-29|website=AppUnwrapper|access-date=2020-01-10}}
Astrologaster was nominated for "Excellence in Audio" at the 22nd Annual IGF Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://igf.com/article/here-are-your-finalists-2020-independent-games-festival-awards|title=Here are your finalists for the 2020 Independent Games Festival Awards!|date=2020-01-07|website=Independent Games Festival|access-date=2020-01-10}} and for "Best Music for an Indie Game", "Best Music in a Casual Game", and "Best Original Choral Composition" at the 18th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards.{{cite web | title=Awards Archive | website=Game Audio Network Guild | date=2023-08-02 | url=https://www.audiogang.org/awards/archive/ | access-date=2023-12-10}}
In 2023 Astrologaster was featured in the British Library Digital Storytelling Exhibit,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2023/june/digital-storytelling|title=British Library announces a new interactive exhibition showcasing how technology is transforming storytelling|date=2023-08-23|website=British Library Press Office|access-date=2023-08-23|archive-date=2023-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826153455/https://www.bl.uk/press-releases/2023/june/digital-storytelling|url-status=dead}} during which a Q&A was held with Schneidereit and Kassell alongside performances of songs from the game's soundtrack by a live vocal quartet.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=Digital Storytelling: Astrologaster |url=https://www.bl.uk/events/digital-storytelling-astrologaster |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=The British Library}}{{Cite web |title= Huzzah! Hear the songs from Astrologaster live at the Library|url=https://blogs.bl.uk/digital-scholarship/2023/09/huzzah-hear-the-songs-from-astrologaster-live-at-the-library.html}}File:Astrologastar exhibit at the British Library 2023.png
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.astrologaster.com/}}
- {{IMDb title|9689688|Astrologaster}}
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Category:Video games set in London