Forget Cake, P.B. Winterbottom Loves Pie

By Nick Henderson

Should video games be considered art? This question is the subject of a seemingly endless debate within the gaming industry. While games are fundamentally designed as entertainment, I am a firm believer that designers should be influenced not by the demands of the mass populace but rather the drive to create something unique and artistic. Without developers who push forward and create works of interactive art, this industry is doomed to stagnation. The Modern Warfares and the Halos are great but it’s the smaller, more unique titles that seem to be subtly influencing the development of big budget titles. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to open the “games as art” can of worms but there is always something to be said when a small team of game designers creates something as interesting and beautiful as “The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom.”

In the past two years, indie game development has come a long way. Titles like Braid and Shadow Complex began as small, budget games and eventually earned the support of major publishers. At major trade shows like E3 and PAX, these games have not only earned their place among the industry giants but have created their own dedicated space on the show floors. A place where smaller titles can get noticed and begin their journey to success. This year, “The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom” stands out as one of those groundbreaking titles. Players will play as Mr. Winterbottom as he clones himself in attempts to solve mind-bending puzzles, all in the name of attaining pieces of the “chronoberry pie”. Developed by “The Odd Gentlemen,” a pair of ambitious young game designers, and scooped up by 2K Games, the game seems poised for a successful launch when it hits Xbox Live Arcade in 2010.

At first glance, it is obvious why the game is often compared to the likes of Braid. The game uses a beautiful silent film/black and white art style that is complimented by a film grain and music to match. While I am sure that the visuals and the soundtrack will be hot topics of discussion after the games release, perhaps the most unique aspect of the game is the cloning mechanic. While Braid challenged players with manipulating time in a number of ways to attain puzzle pieces, Winterbottom must duplicate himself and work in tandem with them to solve puzzles and claim his prize. By recording various actions performed by the player and replaying them over and over again, the real player is free to move about the level and interact with these duplicates in various ways. It seems simple at first but I can only imagine how tough it will be to focus when there are a dozen Winterbottoms on screen at once. With a mechanic like that, the possibilities seem endless.

Despite my unimpressive track record when it comes to playing smaller indie titles, these are the games that stick in my mind the longest and have the greatest impact on my taste in games. Flower was a simple experience unlike anything else on the market, Portal revolutionized the way players can interact in a 3D space, and Braid completely shattered my perception of “smart” game design. The effect that these titles can have on the industry has been established and I think that, “The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom” will be the downloadable game that everyone will be talking about at the end of the year. It is a shame that a game like this is doomed to forever be compared to another game that came before it but it is a game with a charm and brilliance of its own. If this game turns out to be as good as it looks, it will be another shining example of the ways developers can look outside the box and create truly unique and inspirational gameplay experiences.

I think i'll purchase a game from PSN/XBLA tonight,

-Nick