Ministry of Broadcast

Ministry of Broadcast
Developer(s)	Ministry of Broadcast Studio
Publisher(s)	Hitcents
Engine	GameMaker
Platform(s)	Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Release	Windows: 30 January 2020 Nintendo Switch: April 2020
Genre(s)	Platform video game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Ministry of Broadcast is a 2020 independen adventure and platform video game developed by Ministry of Broadcast studio. It is inspired by George Orwell's novel 1984.

Gameplay

Gameplay is inspired by Prince of Persia as a classical 2D platform game. Player controls the main character and his task is to win the Wall Show. He goes through various levels full of traps and enemies that include guards dogs etg. Player must avoid hostile characters and traps that include spikes orf Piranhas in water. Player often comes across puzzles that needs to be solved to advance further. Player often has to use other contestants to solve the puzzle. There are also parts which need player to be quick asuch as when he is chased by a large crocodile.

Story

The game is set in a Totalitarian country divided by the Wall. The regime organises Wall Show whose winners are allowed to travel tot the other side of the Wall. Contestant known simply as Orange decides to participate in the Wall Show so that he can see his wife and father who remained on the other side of the Wall. He meets other contestants including his roommate Joe whom he wants to befriend. Orange is also accompanied by a talking Crow. Contestants are forced to face off in so-called arenas where the complete various tasks and orders and try to overcome obstacles. Orange successfully manages to overcome various obstacles but it is often at expense of other contestants whom he uses to win. Other contestants become more cold to Orange as a result. During the third Day of the Show an election is held beetween the incumbent Blue Colour and possible change represented by Red Colour. Most contestants want change and try to vote for Red but Guards prevent them from voting unless they vote Blue. Orange hears Joe that he wants to vote for Red. Orange decides to help Joe and togwether they get on the lift that would take them to voting Room where they vote red but one of ther contestants jumps to the Elevator with them and the Elevator can't lift them all. Joe is then shocked when Orange kicks the Contestant from the Elevato and doesn't want to talk to him. Orange is then interrogated by the Architect for his help to Joe and it seems that Orange lost chance to win the Wall Show but southern states launch bombing and all Contestants are forced to go to Bunkers but Orange is left behind. He manages to survive until he comes across Joe's Body finding out that Joe was executed for voting red. Orange manages to survive until Architect decides to come back for him but the Crow is presumably killed during the attack. Orange becomes angry for Joe's death but participates in Finale of the Show. Orange finds out that unlike previous Days, Traps in Finale are actually lethal when he gets other contestants impaled on Spikes. Orange gets through all 3 arenas during which he is forced to kill off other contestants. He is greetd by Architect who reveals to him that Joe is alive and they are forced to race on the Peak of the Mountain during for the Final contest. Joe reveals to Orange that he never considered him a Friend and that he only used used him. Orange feels betrayed and kills Joe during the Race. Orange then meets Architect on the top of Mountain. Architect expresses admiration with Orange's Cold Blood telling that he knew he win. Architect takes Orange to meet the GrandmastEr. Grandmaster offers Orange Architect's job.

Player is given choice. If he agrees he becomes the New Architect and the game ends with Orange awaiting new Contestants. If Orange declines he gets Executed and thrown to the other side of Wall where his body is found by his Father.

There are also 2 secret endings. First one is when Player decides to not meet Grandmaster and instead goes to the left. He finds a Cave and meets the Crow who is revealed to be alive. Together they decide to escape. They go by the Wall until they find a Hole and together they Escape.

Development

The game was in development since February 2018 by a team known as Twin Petes that consisted of Petr Stoňok and Petr Melicherík. Developers first came with the idea during late 2017 when they saw a Video about Berlin Wall. It was developed by Stoňok and Melicherík previously worked together as Programmers on various start-upps Web services. They wished to make Video games. Because they are both Programmers they made a small text game but decided to find Graphicians for their new game. They came across Pixel Art works of Sanja Čežek and her Husband Dušan Čežek. They liked their work on browser game A Mudsummer Night's Dream: Replayed and so they offered collaboration. Sanja and Dušan worked at the time on a Video game British Council whose development was at the time terminated so they agreed. Stoňok and Melicherík joined forces with Sanja and Dušan and Twin Petes was merged into Ministry of Broadcast Studio.

During the development Ministry of Broadcast Studio partnered with Publisher Hitcents who agreed to publish Ministry of Broadcast on Steam and Nintendo Switch. The game was released for Steam on 30 January 2020.

Reception

Ministry of Broadcast has won best gamplay award and was nominated for Best art award at 2018 Game Access.

External links

• Official website