The Incredible Machine (1993 video game)

Dynamix

Industry	Video game development
Headquarters	United States
Products	The Incredible Machine

The Incredible Machine is a puzzle video game released in 1993, marking the debut of the The Incredible Machine franchise. In this title, users design intricate Rube Goldberg-inspired contraptions to achieve straightforward objectives like "placing a ball inside a box" or "activating a mixer and turning on a fan." The enhanced 1993 edition, The Even More Incredible Machine, offered twice as many levels—160 in total—and introduced new components for building devices.

Development

Initially intended by Electronic Arts for the Commodore 64 platform in 1984, the project was transferred to Dynamix after efforts concentrated on Arcticfox for the Amiga. Actual development commenced in spring 1992. Kevin Ryan completed programming within nine months on a budget of $36,000. Versions for Macintosh and Windows were created by Presage Software.

Reception

In 1993, Computer Gaming World lauded the game’s 80 puzzles and emphasized Free Form Mode as a major highlight, describing it as "one of the most inventive and surprisingly engaging products... appealing to a wide audience." Dragon awarded it 4 out of 5 stars. The 3DO adaptation received a score of 7.25/10 from Electronic Gaming Monthly, which noted slower responsiveness due to the absence of mouse support but praised its superior graphics and audio compared to PC versions.

By 1996, Computer Gaming World ranked it as the 62nd greatest game ever made, acknowledging its innovative concept and compelling gameplay. The title achieved sales exceeding 800,000 copies.

The Even More Incredible Machine

Scott A. May from Compute! characterized The Even More Incredible Machine as "a brilliantly chaotic and thoroughly enjoyable arcade experience that is not to be missed."

PC Zone described it as "challenging and addictive," emphasizing its versatility and long-lasting appeal, while also mentioning difficulties retailers faced due to its unconventional packaging.

T. Liam McDonald of Game Players PC Entertainment recommended this installment to puzzle enthusiasts unfamiliar with the original, commending its captivating and quirky gameplay.

Stephen Kent at CD-ROM Today referred to it as "an entertaining revisit to machines that typically exist only in a child’s imagination," though he noted it did not fully recapture the sense of childhood wonder.

In 1993, Ed Dille of Computer Gaming World remarked that the game "meets expectations, exceeding the original in gameplay value if not in visual presentation."

Awards

At the 1993 Game Developers Conference, The Incredible Machine received nominations and secured several awards recognizing its creative approach and simulation quality. The concepts behind the game were patented through Jeff Tunnell and Chris Cole’s contributions on Sid & Al's Incredible Toons.

The iPad/iPhone edition earned accolades including Best iPhone/iPad Game and received a nomination for Best Puzzle Game at E3 by IGN.