18/09/2012 - Ecolibrium: PSVita Ecosystem Simulation Goodness!

Addict of Fiction: [Post]

Before I get into details some people just want to know this simple information: It’s FREE and includes TROPHIES!

Ecolibrium has been recently added to our PSVita stores this week as the next in the series of Discovery Apps to be added to the system, the first being the weird and *slightly annoying* Frobisher Says!

Like all games it is somewhat advised to run through the tutorials first, this is one of those games that I would highly recommend starting with the tutorials before jumping into any challenges. Once you get used to how the game plays and the whole idea of creating a thriving ecosystem.

So like I’ve mentioned above, this is a real-time ecosystem simulator – so the general aim of the game is to create a successful ecosystem. Ecosystems with a greater equilibrium and a more diverse biodiversity earns your more Ecopoints per hour, I’ll mention more about where you can spend these later on.

Starting with the basics of creating an ecosystem within Ecolibrium you need to pay attention to numbers! Yay! Everyone loves numbers right?! For example, you need to plant trees for vegitation for herbivores to eat – but trees uses up moisture and minerals so you have to plant other specialist plants and fungi to make up for this loss. Sounds pretty simple right? Now you have species with a tiered food chain system, reproduction, hunting for food, and adaptation to creative alphas of the pack/heard/etc. Am I allowed to also mention the 15 day 4 seasons cycle and the possible natural disasters that have the chance of occuring? It may sound initially pretty easy, but as a long term basis keeping your ecosystem alive and happy could be a lot harder ideal to maintain.

Ecolibrium provides a number of different modes you can experience the game in. Free mode Ecosystems gives you the classic unlimited game time for you to create an evolve your perfect ecosystem – there are a few free mode maps scattered across the globe with extras costing Ecopoints (the ingame currency). Like free mode Ecosystems there are Challenge ecosystems across the globe as well. These have timed objectives and once completed give rewards such as extra Ecopoints and access to new species. Finally there is an Online Challenge mode! This is similar to the normal Challenge mode but your up against the world and only the top 100 competitors are rewarded with a prize.

Ecopoints! You’ve acquired a vast amount but what can you do with them? Well you can purchase extra Ecosystem areas to help you gain the currency more quickly; or use them to purchase species/plants-fungi/or artefacts from the in-game auction house. The auction house uses the Ecopoints currency only, however there is an in-game real money shop available for those whom wish to purchase game boxes – for a chance of retrieving new species and artefacts.

There are also LEADER BOARDS! Everyone loves a good vanity boost! You can check your Ecopoints score against either your friends, your Country, or the World! Facebook integration is also an added option so you can share any images you take in-game.

Here’s the official trailer for Ecolibrium – so check it out!

Thanks for listening!
Toodles x