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player could explore the placed area from the photo, they could not interact with objects within that world. Later in
January 2020, Stark was able to show the ability to interact with items within the photo, as well as using multiple photos. This initial work drew attention across social media, leading Stark to begin considering a game that utilized the "Polaroid Effect" as he called it.
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named Cait. The player-character finds that the scientists had failed in their grand experiment, and must force the simulated world to shutdown in order to leave the simulation, destroying the past work. However, as they leave, they encounter a seedling, which they still possess when they leave the
185:
is based on mapping the images contained in photographs or other two-dimension works onto the three-dimensional space of the game's world, creating new geometries and layouts. These are used to solve puzzles and access teleporter devices at the end of each level. The player may be required to power
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The game is presented as part of a simulation used by a handful of researchers that were using the space to try to discover the means to revitalize plant life on Earth, as in the real world, all flora has been wiped out leaving the world without a viable source of oxygen. The player character, who
236:
started off as an experiment by indie game developer Matt Stark around
November 2019. Stark posted a video to social media showing the ability to dynamically take a photograph in a game world and then place that photo to overwrite the world with the contents of the photo. At the time, while the
34:
199:
works with a partner in the real world, explores the simulation, working through the puzzles, to try to find clues of the research that was being done, with the help of an artificial intelligence
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used to slowly introduce new mechanics to the player. At the same time, they did not want to make the
Polaroid Effect too gimmicky and instead have a more cohesive experience for the player.
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to establish a studio, Robot Turtle, to build out the game, along with support from another game developer, Robot Teddy. The team took influence from other puzzle games such as
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the teleporter using batteries, or activation of other power devices, before using the teleport. The player later gains a
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1261:"Análisis de Viewfinder, una de las sorpresas del año que juega con la fotografía y la perspectiva como nunca has visto"
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was released for PlayStation 5 and
Windows on July 18, 2023, and for PlayStation 4 on December 12, 2023.
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Critics generally praised the puzzle mechanic but considered the game to be on the short side.
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1545:"The Game Awards Nominations: 'Baldur's Gate 3,' 'Alan Wake 2' And Nintendo Reign Supreme"
1387:"Mini Review: Viewfinder (PS5) - Unique Puzzler Is a Snapshot of Great Puzzling Potential"
972:"Robot Teddy acquisition and new investment arm make Thunderful "a 360-degree" games firm"
187:
1512:"Voting for The Golden Joystick Awards 2023 is now live – here are the nominees in full"
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916:"Picture Perfect: Behind the scenes of the Europlay-winning, upcoming game Viewfinder"
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The game was formally announced for a 2023 release on PlayStation 5 and
Windows at
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has received "generally favorable reviews" according to review score aggregator
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857:"Take a picture, then walk into it, in this must-see game tech experiment"
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in
October 2021, leading to Thunderful to provide publishing support for
1571:"Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 top GDC Award nominations"
265:. During this transition, Robot Turtle was renamed to Sad Owl Studios.
165:
82:
944:"Viewfinder's mind-bending photography puzzles are shaping up nicely"
1623:"Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 and Spider-Man lead nods"
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Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (January 4, 2024).
1709:
1600:
1301:
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1596:"Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List"
1456:"Viewfinder review – the magic of stepping into a picture"
885:"UK-based Robot Turtle wins Europlay 2021 with Viewfinder"
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January 2020 demonstration video of the
Polaroid Effect
1420:"Viewfinder review: Now you're thinking with photos"
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50:
40:
26:
1484:"Viewfinder wins UKIE's UK Game of the Show award"
174:received generally positive reviews from critics.
240:By June 2021, Stark had developed the basis of
1000:"Everything announced at The Game Awards 2022"
156:developed by Sad Owl Studios and published by
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1233:"Viewfinder review: "A breath of fresh air""
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204:simulation, giving hope for Earth's future.
1782:Video games developed in the United Kingdom
1683:British Academy of Film and Television Arts
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1649:"20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations"
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1524:from the original on September 29, 2023
819:
1583:from the original on January 16, 2024.
1569:Sinclair, Brendan (January 16, 2024).
1543:Jackson, Destiny (November 13, 2023).
1197:"Viewfinder Review - One Perfect Shot"
998:Yin-Poole, Wesley (December 4, 2022).
211:
1195:Barbosa, Alessandro (July 17, 2023).
970:Batchelor, James (November 4, 2021).
914:Wallace, Chris (September 23, 2023).
909:
907:
855:Bolding, Jonathan (January 4, 2020).
610:UK Game of the Show held at the 2021
7:
1273:from the original on August 19, 2023
1209:from the original on August 16, 2023
1134:Bloodworth, Daniel (July 17, 2023).
319:
292:
1510:Harris, Iain (September 29, 2023).
1482:Scullion, Chris (August 25, 2021).
283:
1594:Bankhurst, Adam (March 20, 2024).
1432:from the original on July 28, 2023
1399:from the original on July 20, 2023
1359:"Viewfinder is puzzle game heaven"
1326:Valentine, Robin (July 17, 2023).
1295:Ogilvie, Tristan (July 17, 2023).
1053:"Viewfinder now available for PS4"
883:Wallace, Chris (August 21, 2021).
713:24th Game Developers Choice Awards
653:
461:
14:
1777:Video games about virtual reality
1675:"The 60 Best Video Games of 2023"
1454:Packwood, Lewis (July 17, 2023).
1385:Tailby, Stephen (July 17, 2023).
1357:Morley, Grayson (July 17, 2023).
1259:Lloret, Alberto (July 17, 2023).
942:Clayton, Natalie (June 2, 2021).
829:"Made with Unity: 2023 in review"
744:20th British Academy Games Awards
536:
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1162:Hilliard, Kyle (July 17, 2023).
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1231:Donnelly, Joe (July 17, 2023).
1418:Bell, Larryn (July 17, 2023).
1:
1027:"Viewfinder launches July 18"
257:Robot Teddy was acquired by
160:. The game was released for
250:, including the means that
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1767:Single-player video games
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791:Game Beyond Entertainment
781:New Intellectual Property
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1742:Perspective video games
636:Awards and nominations
701:Best Independent Game
691:Best Debut Indie Game
664:Golden Joystick Awards
100:PlayStation 5, Windows
1489:Video Games Chronicle
1176:on September 17, 2023
803:Technical Achievement
259:Thunderful Publishing
158:Thunderful Publishing
57:Thunderful Publishing
1136:"Review: Viewfinder"
270:The Game Awards 2022
1757:PlayStation 5 games
1752:PlayStation 4 games
1685:. December 14, 2023
1328:"Viewfinder Review"
1297:"Viewfinder Review"
1164:"Viewfinder Review"
1059:. December 12, 2023
678:Best Visual Design
637:
317:
290:
1762:Puzzle video games
1110:"Viewfinder (PS5)"
834:Unity Technologies
730:Honorable mention
635:
602:Prior to release,
582:. You can help by
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1747:Photography games
1576:GamesIndustry.biz
1082:"Viewfinder (PC)"
977:GamesIndustry.biz
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727:Innovation Award
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154:puzzle video game
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112:December 12, 2023
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1732:2023 video games
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1710:Official website
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1172:. Archived from
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668:Best Indie Game
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1655:. March 7, 2024
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1629:. March 7, 2024
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735:Audience Award
687:The Game Awards
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580:needs expansion
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289:Aggregate score
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215:External videos
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46:Sad Owl Studios
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21:2023 video game
17:
16:2023 video game
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1702:External links
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1269:(in Spanish).
1266:Hobby Consolas
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1033:. June 8, 2023
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1528:September 29,
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1169:Game Informer
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578:This section
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343:Game Informer
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316:Review scores
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108:PlayStation 4
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104:July 18, 2023
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1687:. Retrieved
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1657:. Retrieved
1643:
1631:. Retrieved
1617:
1605:. Retrieved
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1554:November 13,
1552:. Retrieved
1548:
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1526:. Retrieved
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1392:Push Square
1277:October 15,
1238:GamesRadar+
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1180:October 15,
1147:October 15,
1141:Easy Allies
840:January 13,
807:Longlisted
795:Longlisted
771:Game Design
717:Best Debut
454:Push Square
447:Recommended
367:GamesRadar+
331:Easy Allies
321:Publication
307:(PC) 84/100
208:Development
130:photography
74:Platform(s)
1726:Categories
1114:Metacritic
1086:Metacritic
814:References
775:Nominated
765:Nominated
761:Debut Game
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647:Category
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517:Shacknews
285:Reception
280:Reception
1633:March 7,
1627:BBC News
1581:Archived
1549:Deadline
1522:Archived
1495:July 28,
1467:July 28,
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1397:Archived
1370:July 28,
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927:July 28,
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862:PC Gamer
612:Gamescom
606:won the
429:PC Gamer
355:GameSpot
188:Polaroid
178:Gameplay
121:Genre(s)
1364:Polygon
1057:Gematsu
1031:Gematsu
650:Result
442:Polygon
348:8.25/10
166:Windows
136:Mode(s)
93:Release
83:Windows
435:87/100
410:85/100
336:8.5/10
252:Portal
247:Portal
126:Puzzle
64:Engine
1653:BAFTA
709:2024
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608:UKIE
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