Planetary Annihilation

In interviews with PC Gamer and Joystiq, lead game developer Jon Mavor commented that the game's complexity and playtime can vary, from half-hour, 2-player battles to lengthy matches with potentially 40-players, but at release 40-player matches were not yet available.{{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}} Planetary Annihilation features a planet-based map system with different types of planets and asteroid like moons. Players will be able to conquer other planets and even entire systems on maps said to include "hundreds of worlds", through the Galactic War. These planets are dynamic in that they can be 'annihilated' using other planets or catalysts, a major focus for Uber Entertainment. The game's creators stated that Planetary Annihilation is inspired by 1997 real-time strategy game Total Annihilation as its focus is more towards 'macro' gameplay as opposed to 'micro' gameplay. In development updates, Mavor has commented that "a million" in-game units is a design goal of the development team.{{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}} The player(s) lose when their last commander is destroyed.

Jon Mavor wrote the graphics engine for Total Annihilation and was also the lead programmer on Supreme Commander. 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, 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 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}}

Rather than pursue investor funding, Planetary Annihilation{{'}}s developer Uber Entertainment chose to use the crowdfunding site 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.{{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}}

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}}

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, Mac and 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 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.{{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|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}}

{{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}}

| 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|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{{'}}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{{'}}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{{'}}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}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{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 using procedural generation