Green-Minded Game, Oceanopolis, Readies for Full Release on Facebook

[Editor's note: The below review is for the pre-launch version of the game, not the final build; thus some of the criticisms may no longer apply. We'll update next week, when the final version is released.] The environment is a delicate thing, and most people are ignorant of that fact. However, the folks over at Greenopolis are seeking to remedy the issue with their new Facebook title, Oceanopolis. Having debuted at the Casual Connect conference a few months ago, the game is preparing to move out of closed beta next week. Essentially, players are tasked with keeping their own personal island green and clean, while turning it into an ocean-bound paradise of their choosing. The game itself is rather basic, and feels a bit clunky at times. Unfortunately, the performance issue often overshadows the overall message, however noble it may be. First and foremost, Oceanopolis is a virtual space game. Players purchase any number of buildings, flora, or random accessories to try and make their island beautiful. In order to do this, however, players must participate in the game’s primary premise -- cleaning up the land itself. This rather basic mechanic has players click on the trove of litter that washes ashore their island. Metal cans, plastic bottles, glass, and soda cans can all be recycled, and with each pick up, a blurb of text indicates what is happening and, more importantly, what the user should do with it in reality. As an example, before one can pick up a soda can, they must first “rinse it out,” then “crush it.” Once the player has collected enough of these items - dubbed “treasures” - they can begin to utilize them in the different buildings that can be purchased. These buildings become a source of income, as set amounts of recyclable items can be turned in to make eco-friendly items to sell. The big downside to these mechanics is that it takes a painstakingly long time to pick up all the trash -- doubly so since users must click once to clean it out, then again to pick it up. Players can click on all the trash sequentially to queue it up, but it will still take two passes to actually finish. In addition to the litter, players can also interact with virtually everything they place on the island. Plants can be weeded and watered, while huts can be cleaned. Some objects will take a few minutes for the action to complete and others an entire day. However, there doesn't appear to be any point to these actions, other than the occasional educational blurb of text (though most of it is pretty obvious). These actions don't even grant experience. Evidently, this is only earned through picking up trash, with the purpose being to gate what objects one can buy. Curiously, what is perhaps most interesting about Oceanopolis is also the most unclear. According to all the announcements and statements made about the game way back around the Casual Connect conference, players are supposed to be able to earn points during game play that can be combined with points earned, separately, at Greenopolis.com. Unfortunately, the exact means in which to earn them remains elusive within the game itself. Nonetheless, these points, also earnable through actual Greenopolis Recycling Kiosks as well as Greenopolis.com can later be redeemed for rewards or discounts from a rather large number of restaurants, movie theaters, and retailers. Socially, the game offers your basic implementation of visiting other friends’ islands and helping to clean up. However, this is far from the highlight of the game. That's reserved for the message itself. As with the tooltips presented when picking up trash, Oceanopolis is sprinkled with recycling knowledge. The most apparent of these are interesting facts about recycling and/or the environment whenever one levels up. As part of this message, the Greenopolis Foundation even hosted a Twitter event, over the summer, where they donated $1 to Ocean Aid per person who retweeted a message about stopping ocean pollution. Message aside, it's going to be hard for the majority of users to really look past Oceanopolis' clunky presentation. Not only is the game play pretty basic, the visuals are also dull. Some of the static 2D art work is okay, but with flickering animations and a soundtrack made up with "demos from StockMusic.net," it's just not a game that feels complete, coming out of closed beta or not. Overall, as a game, Oceanopolis needs a lot of work. Of course, being an early rendition, and developed by a non-game maker, such issues are understandable, and the cause is certainly worth while. Hopefully, enough people will take part to encourage the developer to put further work into the game.

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Green-Minded Game, Oceanopolis, Readies for Full Release on Facebook

Christopher Mack

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Christopher Mack