Projection: First Light
{{Short description|2019 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}{{infobox video game
| image = Projection First Light cover.jpg
| developer = Shadowplay Studios{{efn|Additional development by SweatyChair.}}
| publisher = Blowfish Studios
| platforms = Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS
| released = iOS
September 19, 2019
Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
September 29, 2019
| title = Projection: First Light
| modes = Single-player
}}
Projection: First Light is a puzzle-platform video game developed by Australian indie developer Shadowplay Studios and published by Blowfish Studios.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light on Steam|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/726490/Projection_First_Light/|website=store.steampowered.com|accessdate=15 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401183817/http://store.steampowered.com/app/726490/Projection_First_Light|url-status=live}} A prototype of the game was created in Global Game Jam 2016; the developers then teamed up with another Australian Indie studio SweatyChair to create the game in full.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light is a puzzle platformer with puppetry|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/23/projection-first-light-is-a-puzzle-platformer-with-puppetry/|website=VentureBeat|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=23 October 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024010732/https://venturebeat.com/2017/10/23/projection-first-light-is-a-puzzle-platformer-with-puppetry/|url-status=live}} It was originally released on iOS through Apple Arcade as a launch title on September 19, 2019, and on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on September 29, 2019.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light Brings Enlightened Puzzle-Platforming to Consoles|url=http://gameranx.com/updates/id/122715/article/projection-first-light-brings-enlightened-puzzle-platforming-to-consoles/|website=Gameranx|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=3 October 2017|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005234952/http://gameranx.com/updates/id/122715/article/projection-first-light-brings-enlightened-puzzle-platforming-to-consoles/|url-status=live}}
Gameplay and development
The player controls two objects: the protagonist, a little shadow puppet girl named Greta, and a physical ball of light. Using the ball of light, the player can manipulate shadows which become solid and allow Greta to walk on. The length and angle of the shadows depends on the positioning of the ball of light. The game doesn't use any dialogue to explain the story, instead using characters' actions and visual cues.{{cite web|title='Projection: First Light' PAX East 2018 Hands-On {{!}} Marooners' Rock|url=http://maroonersrock.com/2018/04/projection-first-light-pax-east-2018-hands-on/|website=Marooners' Rock|accessdate=16 April 2018|date=12 April 2018|archive-date=15 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315161141/http://maroonersrock.com/2018/04/projection-first-light-pax-east-2018-hands-on/|url-status=live}} The player explores four different time periods, Indonesia, China, Turkey, Greece, and 19th century England, each with its own unique style.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light Will Bring Shadow Puppetry to the Nintendo Switch|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/projection_first_light_will_bring_shadow_puppetry_to_the_nintendo_switch|website=Nintendo Life|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=2 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035802/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/projection_first_light_will_bring_shadow_puppetry_to_the_nintendo_switch|url-status=live}} Every character is a shadow puppet, as is the rest of the environment. The characters and foreground are black while the background is in sepia, replicating the style of tradition shadow play canvas.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light – An Interview with Michael Chu|url=https://puppetplace.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/projection-first-light-an-interview-with-michael-chu/|website=Puppet Place News|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=13 February 2018|archive-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416134903/https://puppetplace.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/projection-first-light-an-interview-with-michael-chu/|url-status=live}} File:Projection_First_Light,_game_screenshot.png
Head developer Michael Chu explained his inspiration was from playing with shadows on the wall as a child, and realized there were a lot of ways shadows could be used in game development.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light Brings Enlightened Puzzle-Platforming to Consoles|url=http://gameranx.com/updates/id/122715/article/projection-first-light-brings-enlightened-puzzle-platforming-to-consoles/|website=Gameranx|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=3 October 2017|archive-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005234952/http://gameranx.com/updates/id/122715/article/projection-first-light-brings-enlightened-puzzle-platforming-to-consoles/|url-status=live}} After deciding on the shadow puppet style, they researched it by visiting puppeteer Richard Bradshaw, who gave them a tour of his workshop and gave them a demonstration of creating a shadow puppet as a reference for artist Yosha Noesjirwan.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light – An Interview with Michael Chu|url=https://puppetplace.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/projection-first-light-an-interview-with-michael-chu/|website=Puppet Place News|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=13 February 2018|archive-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416134903/https://puppetplace.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/projection-first-light-an-interview-with-michael-chu/|url-status=live}} Noesjirwan also gained insight for the Indonesian shadow puppets through his parents.{{cite web|title=Projection Plays With Beautiful Shadows Of The Past|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/02/projection-plays-with-beautiful-shadows-of-the-past/|website=Kotaku Australia|access-date=15 April 2018|language=en|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313110124/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/02/projection-plays-with-beautiful-shadows-of-the-past/|url-status=dead}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| TA = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2019/10/10/apple-arcade-projection-first-light-review/ |title=Apple Arcade: 'Projection: First Light' Review – A Dark, Cute Journey |last=Velasquez |first=Sergio |date=10 October 2019 |website=TouchArcade |accessdate=8 April 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310082356/https://toucharcade.com/2019/10/10/apple-arcade-projection-first-light-review/ |url-status=live }}
| NLife = {{rating|4|10}}http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/projection_first_light
}}
Projection: First Light won a spot in the 2017 PAX Australia Indie Showcase.{{cite web|title=PAX AUS Indie Showcase 2017|url=http://aus.paxsite.com/indie/archive?year=2017|website=aus.paxsite.com|accessdate=15 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507035103/http://aus.paxsite.com/indie/archive?year=2017|url-status=dead}} From there it gained plenty of attention, and featured in many popular gaming news sites such as Kotaku{{cite web|title=Projection Plays With Beautiful Shadows Of The Past|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/02/projection-plays-with-beautiful-shadows-of-the-past/|website=Kotaku Australia|access-date=15 April 2018|language=en|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=13 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313110124/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/02/projection-plays-with-beautiful-shadows-of-the-past/|url-status=dead}} and Nintendo Life.{{cite web|title=Projection: First Light Will Bring Shadow Puppetry to the Nintendo Switch|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/projection_first_light_will_bring_shadow_puppetry_to_the_nintendo_switch|website=Nintendo Life|accessdate=15 April 2018|date=2 October 2017|archive-date=4 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035802/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/projection_first_light_will_bring_shadow_puppetry_to_the_nintendo_switch|url-status=live}} It was also on display at PAX EAST 2018, with high reception from gamers and journalists.{{cite web|title=PAX East 2018 {{!}} 'Projection' Shedding Light on Indie Games {{!}} The Young Folks|url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/video-games/119442/pax-east-2018-projection-indie-game-nintendo-switch-xbox-ps4-shadow-puppet/|website=www.theyoungfolks.com|date=14 April 2018|accessdate=15 April 2018|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113011408/https://www.theyoungfolks.com/video-games/119442/pax-east-2018-projection-indie-game-nintendo-switch-xbox-ps4-shadow-puppet/|url-status=live}} The game received mixed reviews, with Nintendo Life criticizing the gameplay but praising the visuals.
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.blowfishstudios.com/game/projection}}
Category:Nintendo Switch games