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{{short description|Video game by Swedish studio Data Realms}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Cortex Command
| image = Cortex command.jpg
| caption = Title screen of Cortex Command
| developer = Data Realms
| publisher = Data Realms
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]
| released = '''Windows''', '''Mac OS X'''<br/>28 September 2012<ref name="release"/><br/>'''Linux'''<br/>7 October 2012
| genre = [[Action game|Action]]
| platforms = [[Windows]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Linux]]
| director = Daniel Tabár
}}

'''''Cortex Command''''' is a [[2D computer graphics|two-dimensional]] [[side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] [[action game]] developed by Swedish studio Data Realms since 2001.

== Gameplay ==
[[File:Cortex Command video game screenshot.png|thumb|left|''Cortex Command'' screenshot.]]
The player takes the role of a stationary or mobile "brain", which can take control of other purchased units in order to accomplish objectives. Missions range from tasks such as retrieving a control chip in a cave filled with zombies to defending the brain from attack. As the brain is weak, the player must manage his resources carefully, protecting the brain, mining gold and fighting off enemies.

The game includes the ability for players to create [[mod (computer gaming)|mods]] (additions and changes to the game) with the built in [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] programming applet and simple scripting.

== Development ==
The [[game engine]] was designed and built by Dan Tabár, using several [[open-source software|open-source]] [[library (computing)|libraries]]. The [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] was built by Jason Boettcher, the artwork is by Arne Niklas Jansson, and the [[macOS]] port is by Chris Kruger,<ref name="cc_home">{{cite web |title=Cortex Command |url=http://www.datarealms.com/games.php |publisher=Data Realms LLC |accessdate=2008-07-27}}</ref><ref name="play">{{Cite news| last = Griffin | first = Mike | title = Cortex Command: Brain slayers in outer space | newspaper = [[Play (US magazine)|Play]] | pages = 64–65 | date = June 2008 }}</ref> while the Linux port was developed by Jesus Higueras.

The game was first released as an [[open beta]] and was later released for purchase with a time-limited [[game demo|demo]] version available as well.

As of May 2008, the game was described as being in development for approximately seven years, with Dan Tabár quitting his job in mid-2006 to work full-time on the project.<ref name="indiegames" /> No versions for game consoles were produced.<ref name="indiegames" /> The game allows several components to be modified using [[Lua (programming language)|Lua]] and [[INI file|INI]] files, such as Scenes (or levels), Actors, Weapons, and more.<ref name="indiegames">{{cite web| url = http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/05/interview_dan_tabar_cortex_com.html| title = Interview: Dan Tabár (Cortex Command)| author = W., Tim| publisher = indiegames.com| date = 2008-05-27| accessdate = 2008-07-01| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080630031306/http://www.indiegames.com/blog/2008/05/interview_dan_tabar_cortex_com.html| archive-date = 2008-06-30| url-status = dead}}</ref> Influences for the game include the ''[[X-COM: UFO Defense]]'' series.<ref name="play" />

On 28 September 2012 the game was finally released in version 1.0 for [[Windows]] and [[Mac OS X]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] and for [[Linux]] on 7 October.<ref name="release">[https://www.geek.com/games/review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short-1522223/ review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329142442/https://www.geek.com/games/review-cortex-command-tries-hard-but-falls-short-1522223/ |date=2020-03-29 }} by Sal Cangeloso on [[geek.com]] (19 October 2012)</ref><ref name="release2">[http://devlog.datarealms.com/cortex-command/cortex-command-1-0-playtest-preview cortex-command-1-0-playtest-preview] on datarealms.com (28 September 2012)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=7 October 2012 |title=''Cortex Command'' 1.0 available! |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2012/10/cortex-command-10-available/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=Gaming On Linux}}</ref>

In July 2019 the [[source code]] was released as [[open source software]] under the [[AGPL-3.0-only]] [[software license]] on [[GitHub]].<ref>[https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/cortex-command-from-data-realms-goes-open-source.14567 Cortex command from data realms goes open source] by Liam Dawe on gamingonlinux.com (13 July 2019)</ref>

The game's soundtrack has been composed by [[Danny Baranowsky]].

== Setting ==
Despite the fact that the main story has been scrapped, Cortex Command does have some background lore. Sometime in the mid-to-far future after humanity suffered a war brought on by a religious group, Brain transplant and life support technology was developed to make space travel more feasible. This leads to humans making contact with alien life forms, and Founding Free Trade. Free Trade is one of the biggest if not the biggest corporations in the whole Orion Spur. But humanity doesn't stop there, despite humanity having long abandoned their bodies, they still kept the stubborn will to fight. With contracting being open to the highest bidder, prospectors fight on earth-like planets with rich gold deposits, while being supplied by companies like Alchiral or Free Trade. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Arne |title=Cortex Command Fluff |url=https://www.androidarts.com/cortexcommand/ |website=androidarts.com |access-date= }}</ref>

== Reception ==
The control system for the unfinished version of the game has been described as "too fiddly to be considered entertaining" in 2007.<ref name="pcformat">{{cite web |author=Alan Dexter |title=Cortex Command |publisher=[[PC Format]] |url=http://blog.pcformat.co.uk/page/pcformat?entry=cortex_command |date=2007-03-05 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928095224/http://blog.pcformat.co.uk/page/pcformat?entry=cortex_command |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Others described the game as requiring patience, asking players to "take [their] time and experiment".<ref name="rps">{{cite web |author=Jim Rossignol |title=Cortex Command |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/04/23/cortex-command/ |date=2008-04-23 |accessdate=2008-07-26 }}</ref> The game has been compared to other games in the genre, such as ''[[GunBound]]''<ref name="pcformat" /> and ''[[Worms (series)|Worms]]''.<ref name="rps" /> Positive reviews praise the detailed physics, as well as the chaotic gameplay.

''Cortex Command'' was the ''Indie Games'' Game of the Month for April 2008.<ref name="indiegames_gotm">{{cite web |title=Game of the Month, April 2008 |publisher=indiegames.com |url=http://www.indiegames.com/gameofthemonth/ |accessdate=2008-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725164937/http://www.indiegames.com/gameofthemonth/ |archive-date=2008-07-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''Cortex Command'' won the Audience Award and Technical Excellence award at the 2009 [[Independent Games Festival]].<ref name="gamasutr">{{cite web|title=11th Independent Games Festival |publisher=[[gamasutra.com]] | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22919 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124173944/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22919 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 24, 2013 |date=2009-03-26 |accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.datarealms.com/games.php|''Cortex Command'' official website}}

[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:Lua (programming language)-scripted video games]]
[[Category:Independent Games Festival winners]]
[[Category:Video games with Steam Workshop support]]
[[Category:2012 video games]]
[[Category:Split-screen multiplayer games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Sweden]]
[[Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code]]

Cortex Command - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#gamasutra.com