<p>Few video games can be as addicting as those in which you control an entire world, not just a single character. These days, there are many games of this sort, often called god games, to choose from.<br /><br /></p>.<p>My favourite right now is “Godus,” free on iOS. It was created by Peter Molyneux - a writer credited with popularising the whole god game genre. You oversee worshippers on an island lost in a big ocean. The goal is to help the population grow and advance by building bigger and better dwellings, by mining and farming the land and discovering secrets buried beneath the soil.<br /><br />The app gently guides you through its loose storyline, and you’ll soon learn how satisfying it is to sculpt the landscape and dig into mountains. Eventually, you’ll gain awesome powers, like the ability to send a meteor to explode the terrain and set fire to whatever is nearby.<br /><br />The graphics in “Godus” are compelling, and though the view is generally from high in the sky, you can zoom in to individual characters. The game is perplexing, entertaining, tricky, satisfying and tough - a genuine mix of sensations. You can play it free, but to advance more quickly you can make in-app purchases. It’s also iOS-only for now, but the team behind “Godus” has said an Android version is in the works.<br /><br />For a more ethereal god-gaming experience, consider “Topia World Builder” - a $2 (Rs 122) iOS and Android app. As in “Godus,” you’ll be shaping mountains, rivers and oceans. Trees grow on the land and you can spawn thousands of animals who then roam the terrain, interacting with what they find.<br /><br />But unlike “Godus,” “Topia” is more open-ended and has no concrete objective. Instead, the fun is in experimenting with what you can create and seeing how it evolves. The game’s simplicity is one of its charms, but some will find it a little pointless. Another popular option is “Pocket God,” which has a more cartoon look and feel. In this $1 (Rs 61) iOS and Android app, you are again a god overseeing the goings-on of an island people. But there is no landscape sculpting - instead, you torment, tease or help your people as they encounter different creatures, events and so on in each mini-story “episode.” The controls of “Pocket God” can be a little tricky, and the game’s sense of humour may not be to everyone’s taste. Android reviewers also seem to criticise their version of the game in the app store. But for a little godly fun, it’s worth its price.<br /><br />“The Sandbox” is more sophisticated. This charming and free iOS and Android app has fabulous graphics for its two-dimensional world. You can dig, bury the land in mud or rock, set fire to things and so on. You start with basic elements, which you move around and connect with other items to create more complicated things - burned trees make ash, for example. The more experiences you have, the more your powers expand, and you can eventually add contraptions and intelligent humanlike life to your worlds. There are even dinosaurs and volcanoes.<br /><br />This game is complex and has quite a steep learning curve. But the controls are pretty easy to master, and there are helpful hints as you play. I love its look and the many ways you can interact with the landscape and story elements.<br /><br />Perhaps the weirdest and maybe the most wonderful god game, however, is “Godville.” It’s free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It’s a type of subgenre known as a zero-player game. The game revolves around an automatically updating text-based diary written by a hero. <br /><br />This hero faces different tasks, meets other characters and has to travel through difficult times - all while keeping you, as the god, updated via the diary. <br /><br />You can interact with what’s going on by typing in text-based commands to shape events and even influence other online players’ experiences. Or, somewhat confusingly, you can choose not to give commands. It sounds strange, and it is. But the game has a wickedly funny side, and it will light up your imagination.<br /><br />Have fun toying with the fate of all these digital people, but be benevolent. It’s probably good for your karma.</p>
<p>Few video games can be as addicting as those in which you control an entire world, not just a single character. These days, there are many games of this sort, often called god games, to choose from.<br /><br /></p>.<p>My favourite right now is “Godus,” free on iOS. It was created by Peter Molyneux - a writer credited with popularising the whole god game genre. You oversee worshippers on an island lost in a big ocean. The goal is to help the population grow and advance by building bigger and better dwellings, by mining and farming the land and discovering secrets buried beneath the soil.<br /><br />The app gently guides you through its loose storyline, and you’ll soon learn how satisfying it is to sculpt the landscape and dig into mountains. Eventually, you’ll gain awesome powers, like the ability to send a meteor to explode the terrain and set fire to whatever is nearby.<br /><br />The graphics in “Godus” are compelling, and though the view is generally from high in the sky, you can zoom in to individual characters. The game is perplexing, entertaining, tricky, satisfying and tough - a genuine mix of sensations. You can play it free, but to advance more quickly you can make in-app purchases. It’s also iOS-only for now, but the team behind “Godus” has said an Android version is in the works.<br /><br />For a more ethereal god-gaming experience, consider “Topia World Builder” - a $2 (Rs 122) iOS and Android app. As in “Godus,” you’ll be shaping mountains, rivers and oceans. Trees grow on the land and you can spawn thousands of animals who then roam the terrain, interacting with what they find.<br /><br />But unlike “Godus,” “Topia” is more open-ended and has no concrete objective. Instead, the fun is in experimenting with what you can create and seeing how it evolves. The game’s simplicity is one of its charms, but some will find it a little pointless. Another popular option is “Pocket God,” which has a more cartoon look and feel. In this $1 (Rs 61) iOS and Android app, you are again a god overseeing the goings-on of an island people. But there is no landscape sculpting - instead, you torment, tease or help your people as they encounter different creatures, events and so on in each mini-story “episode.” The controls of “Pocket God” can be a little tricky, and the game’s sense of humour may not be to everyone’s taste. Android reviewers also seem to criticise their version of the game in the app store. But for a little godly fun, it’s worth its price.<br /><br />“The Sandbox” is more sophisticated. This charming and free iOS and Android app has fabulous graphics for its two-dimensional world. You can dig, bury the land in mud or rock, set fire to things and so on. You start with basic elements, which you move around and connect with other items to create more complicated things - burned trees make ash, for example. The more experiences you have, the more your powers expand, and you can eventually add contraptions and intelligent humanlike life to your worlds. There are even dinosaurs and volcanoes.<br /><br />This game is complex and has quite a steep learning curve. But the controls are pretty easy to master, and there are helpful hints as you play. I love its look and the many ways you can interact with the landscape and story elements.<br /><br />Perhaps the weirdest and maybe the most wonderful god game, however, is “Godville.” It’s free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It’s a type of subgenre known as a zero-player game. The game revolves around an automatically updating text-based diary written by a hero. <br /><br />This hero faces different tasks, meets other characters and has to travel through difficult times - all while keeping you, as the god, updated via the diary. <br /><br />You can interact with what’s going on by typing in text-based commands to shape events and even influence other online players’ experiences. Or, somewhat confusingly, you can choose not to give commands. It sounds strange, and it is. But the game has a wickedly funny side, and it will light up your imagination.<br /><br />Have fun toying with the fate of all these digital people, but be benevolent. It’s probably good for your karma.</p>
