User:Hahnchen/Q
| Hahnchen/Q | |
|---|---|
| File:Qvadriga.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Turnopia |
| Publisher(s) | Slitherine Software |
| Platform(s) | Android, iOS, Windows |
| Release | March 4, 2014 |
| Genre(s) | Turn-based tactics, Racing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Qvadriga is a chariot racing video game set in Ancient Rome. The game is turn-based and played from a top-down perspective. Players assume the role of a chariot team owner, managing a stable of drivers (aurigae) and horses (quadrigae) between races, and issuing orders to the drivers during the race. Players begin competing in provincial circuits, with the aim to amass the fame and denarii required to to race at, and ultimately achieve victory at, the Circus Maximus in Rome.
The game was developed by Turnopia and released for Microsoft Windows in March 2014. Android and iOS versions followed in April, but are no longer available. The game had a generally positive critical response, PC gaming website Rock Paper Shotgun declared it the best racing game of 2014.
Gameplay
Qvadriga is a turn-based tactics chariot racing game. Players assume the role of a chariot team owner, and they must assign drivers (aurigae) and horses (quadrigae) to compete in races. Races take place over three laps from a top-down perspective and are held on Greek hippodromes or Roman circuses. In the hippodrome races, chariots line up on a starting line in the middle of the arena; whereas in the ciruses, chariots burst out of the curved carceres located at an end.[1]
Races are divided into 10-second time periods which constitute a turn, the game can be set to pause at every turn or run seamlessly in real-time. At each turn, the player can issue an order to the driver; they may change speed, change lane, attack or defend against the other competitors. Players must control their speed while cornering or their chariot may flip, causing the horses to drag the riders along the ground by the reins. As the race progresses, fallen horses and chariots may form obstacles on the track. Victory in races awards fame, which allows the team to compete in more prestigious arenas; and denarii, which can be invested in upgrading the drivers, horses, and chariots. The monetary reward may be increased by successfully betting on your own victory. [1]
The ultimate goal of the game is to win at the most prestigious arena in the empire, the Circus Maximus in Rome.[1]
Development
Qvadriga was developed by Spanish video game designer Daniel Lopez Soria operating under the Turnopia label.[2] He was initially inspired to create the game by the 1979 chariot racing board game Circus Maximus.[a] Qvadriga features 43 hippodromes and circuses, all modelled after real-life historical examples. For the research required in developing the game, Lopez referred to satellite and aerial imagery, and credits John H. Humphrey's 1986 reference work Roman Circuses: Arenas for Chariot Racing.[b] He was also able to visit circuses nearby to him on the Iberian peninsula, such as those in Mérida, Miróbriga, and Toledo. To create the artwork for the venues, Lopez turned to Eduardo Barragán, who he discovered after seeing YouTube videos of Barragán's 3D reconstructions of Ancient Rome.[c] Pedro Alcaide composed the soundtrack.[3]
An early beta version of the game was released in May 2012.[4][5] A further beta was announced in October 2013 after Slitherine Software became the publisher. This version added a campaign mode set across multiple arenas with different attributes, and the real-time turn mode.[6][2] The game was released in March 2014 for Microsoft Windows, for which Mark Churms provided the box art.[7] Versions for Android and iOS followed in June 2014.[8]
Reception
Reviews aggregation website Metacritic awarded the PC version 72/100, indicating a lukewarm critical response.[9] However, reviews not covered by that score, such as reviews from Rock Paper Shotgun and Wargamer, and coverage of the mobile version, were more positive.[10][11][12]
In 2022, publisher Slitherine announced Ancient Arenas: Chariots, a 3D spiritual successor to Qvadriga.[13]
Notes
- ^ Circus Maximus at BoardGameGeek
- ^ Humphrey, John H. (1986). Roman Circuses: Arenas for Chariot Racing. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California. ISBN 978-0-520-04921-5.
- ^ Eduardo Barragán's channel on YouTube
References
- ^ a b c "Qvadriga: How to Play". Turnopia. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ a b Stone, Tim (2013-11-15). "The Flare Path: Contends With Congestion". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Wargamer staff (2013-12-30). "Qvadriga Developer Interview". Wargamer. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Turnopia (2012-05-24). "Qvadriga Beta released". Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Stone, Tim (2012-06-01). "The Flare Path: God Quicksave The Queen". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Turnopia (2013-10-23). "QVADRIGA Announced and going Beta!". Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Schouten, Bart (2014-02-27). "Qvadriga gets Release Date and Box Art". Matrix Games. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ Schouten, Bart (2014-06-13). "Qvadriga Races to iOS, Android and Steam!". Matrix Games. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Qvadriga Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Smith, Adam (2014-03-13). "Wot I Think: Qvadriga". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Gaukroger, Nik (2014-04-30). "Ben Hur or Crash Test Dummy?". Wargamer. Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Thrower, Matt (2014-06-18). "Game Reviews: Qvadriga". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Slitherine Software (2022-05-10). "Slitherine's 2022 Home of Wargamers event reveals two never-before-seen titles" (Press release). Retrieved 2024-09-29.
- ^ Stone, Tim (2014-03-14). "The Flare Path: Rome, Commentary & The Lash". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ RPS Hivemind (2014-12-01). "The Bestest Best Racing Game Of 2014: Qvadriga". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ Starkey, Daniel (2014-09-11). "Qvadriga review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
External links