Blocks That Matter
{{Infobox video game
|title = Blocks That Matter
|image = Blocks that matter cover art.jpg
|developer = Swing Swing Submarine
|publisher = Swing Swing Submarine
|release = 19 August 2011
|genre = Puzzle-platform
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Xbox 360
}}
Blocks That Matter is a 2D puzzle-platform game developed by French independent studio Swing Swing Submarine. It was released on August 19, 2011 for Windows, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360.{{cite web|last=Derocher|first=J|title=Review: Blocks That Matter|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-blocks-that-matter-211024.phtml|accessdate=19 January 2012|work=destructoid.com}} The game was inspired by one of the developer's earlier works, Tuper Tario Tros.{{cite web|title=Interview with William David and Guillaume Martin from Swing Swing Submarine (Blocks That Matter)|website=Jeuxvideo|date=18 November 2011 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/dossiers/00016083/les-jeux-video-independants-interview-de-william-david-et-guillaume-martin-de-swing-swing-submarine-blocks-that-matter-016.htm}}
Gameplay
File:Niveau de Blocks That Matter.jpg
The player takes the role of "Tetrobot", a robot which is able to collect blocks by hitting them from under (Mario reference) or drilling them, and can then construct shapes in a "puzzle mode" using four blocks at a time. Blocks That Matter heavily references the games Minecraft and Tetris through the main characters, in-game mechanics and concepts such as "Pajitnovian physics".{{cite web|last=Michael|first=J|title=Blocks That Matter Review|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1196874p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928164711/http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1196874p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2011|accessdate=19 January 2012}}
The game's name comes from special blocks hidden in the story mode levels. They are unusable blocks that initially appear in levels as treasure chests, which serve no purpose other than to unlock bonus levels. The blocks are direct references to famous blocks in games that inspired the developers, such as a ?-block from Super Mario Bros., an Aperture Science Weighted Companion Cube from Portal, Rubik's Cube, and a die, hence the "blocks that matter".
Release
Blocks That Matter was made available as a bonus during the Voxatron Humble Indie Bundle along with The Binding of Isaac.{{cite web|last=Fletcher|first=JC|title=Humble Voxatron Debut sweetened with Blocks that Matter, Binding of Isaac|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/humble-voxatron-debut-sweetened-with-blocks-that-matter-binding/|accessdate=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128172357/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/humble-voxatron-debut-sweetened-with-blocks-that-matter-binding/|archive-date=28 January 2015|url-status=dead}} In June 2018 the game was ported to the OpenPandora, an ARM processor-based Linux handheld.[https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/blocks-that-matter.82992/ blocks-that-matter] on pyra-handheld.com
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| Destruct = 9/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-blocks-that-matter-211024.phtml |title=Review: Blocks That Matter |publisher=Destructoid |last=Derocher |first=Joshua |date=12 September 2011 |accessdate=20 December 2017}}
| IGN = 8.5/10{{Cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1196874p1.html |title=Blocks That Matter Review - PC Review at IGN |publisher=IGN |last=Michael |first=Jon |date=27 September 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928164711/http://pc.ign.com/articles/119/1196874p1.html |archivedate=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead |accessdate=20 December 2017}}
}}
Blocks That Matter received generally favourable reviews, with an aggregated score of 76 on Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/blocks-that-matter/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Blocks That Matter|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=28 March 2017}} Blocks That Matter was the Dream Build Play 2011 Challenge "Grand Prize" Winner,[https://web.archive.org/web/20110903033759/http://www.dreambuildplay.com/Main/Winners.aspx Winners], dreambuildplay.com, archive 2011-SEP-03{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/28/congratulations-to-the-2011-dream-build-play-winners/|title=Congratulations to the 2011 Dream Build Play winners!|author=Jessica Conditt|website=Engadget.com|date=28 August 2011|accessdate=28 March 2017}} earning $40,000 and the opportunity for an XBLA publishing contract.
Legacy
The Tetrobot appears as a playable character in UFHO2, Cook, Serve, Delicious!, and Bounty Battle.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tinycolossus/ufho2-a-turn-based-strategy-game/posts/164859|title=The Tetrobot in UFHO2|accessdate=19 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.darkscreengames.com/indie-guests-roster|publisher=Dark Screen Games|title=Indie guests roster|accessdate=5 January 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Blocks That Matter}}
- [http://www.swingswingsubmarine.com/games/blocks-that-matter/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520064125/http://www.swingswingsubmarine.com/games/blocks-that-matter/|date=2013-05-20}}
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games with Steam Workshop support