Serious Game Classification

Castle Infinity is the home of the last remaining dinosaurs. But there is a problem. Evil monsters are invading the castle, and the good dinosaurs' lives are in jeopardy! There is something you can do to help save the dinosaurs and the castle. Team up with players from around the world and together you can rid the castle of those pesky monsters.

Castle Infinity is an MMOG (Massive Multiplayer Online Game) designed for children as young as age 8. It emphasizes cooperative problem solving using non-violent methods in a colorful, imaginative atmosphere. Essentially it is a side-scrolling platformer with adventure puzzles. The main objective of this arcade-style game is to amass enough power points and earned objects to battle and remove the monsters that have penetrated the dinosaurs' sanctuary.

Each player has a unique on-screen name and password, and then chooses how their character will look. The parts of the avatar's body are like pieces of machines, plants and animals. For instance, it could be a snail's body with a gum-ball machine head and the roots of a tree for legs. As players explore the Castle and rise through the ranks, more pieces (like hats with special powers) and body parts can be found. These can be used or traded between players.

There are many obstacles and hazards that must be navigated over, under, around or through including pits, fire, electrical wires, water, gears, moving elevators and ledges. Dinosaurs as well as monsters can appear at random or at pre-destined times. Failed attempts during a battle or pathway can cause injury which, if bad enough, will send the player back to his room for healing (repair). Collecting "lucky statues" and "monkey paws" will increase "repair points" for more powerful healing. (No player can actually die, but instead is restored in their room.)

Live chats appear as above-the-head cartoon "bubbles" so they can be read by the group. This teaches communication and keyboarding skills. Puzzles encourage creative thinking and imagination. Some monsters can be defeated by uttering a word or phrase, and many puzzles require more than one person to solve. For instance, 4 players are needed to operate a hydrostatic mini-sub to safely explore a flooded basement.

Initially the game was released on CD-Rom for $39.95. The game became free to download and play during the "resurrection" period approximately 8 years later with no disc needed. [source:mobygames]

Distribution : Retail - Commercial
Platform(s) : PC (Windows)

Links

• http://www.mobygames.com/game/castle-infinity/