FAQ
What is «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» is an action-packed one-on-one real-time-strategy game boiled down to a single sideview screen with fighting game and puzzle elements. It is the winner of the 2018 Universal GameDev Challenge and was created by the Zurich based indie game studio Gbanga.
What is the gameplay of «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
The basic gameplay of «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» consists of building cubes in an area between two bases. One is yours and the other belongs to your opponent. The goal is to hit the other base three times while trying to not get hit yourself. Attacking and defending are done by building Olkari Cubes between the two bases. Each cube has its own features and abilities. Some are used more offensively while others have more defensive uses. For more infos on the gameplay, check out our How-to-Play video.
How is the lore of Voltron appearing in the game?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» was inspired by an episode from season 2 of the Netflix series where the Olkari people were forced to build a single gigantic cube superweapon that tried to destroy Voltron. The game takes this idea and imagines evil emperor Zarkon taking another shot at the idea saying «Why build one cube when you can build millions?» and creating an array of weaponized cubes which he mass-produces by enslaving the Olkari.
Over the next couple of months, the game will introduce new aspects and episodes of the Cubes of Olkarion storyline. So stay tuned.
How many players can play «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» is a game for two players, who can either challenge each other locally in shared-screen matches or online. Do you prefer playing alone? No problem, you can also challenge a computer opponent.
What is a winning strategy for «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
There isn’t really the one winning strategy for «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion». It all depends on the battleground and on your opponent’s master plan. To put it simple: The winning strategy is not to have one but to constantly adapt your strategy to the situation. That being said, there are a couple of combinations of cubes that have been proven to work well, but don’t rely on them too much.
What is the Universal GameDev Challenge?
The Universal GameDev Challenge, presented by Unity Technologies, is a challenge for developers of any size to have the opportunity of a lifetime to design a PC game for an iconic Universal world with Unity. The contest was sponsored by Microsoft, Unity, Intel, and Universal Studios..
Out of over 500 submitted concepts including video pitches, a jury of 4 judges from the entertainment industry chose 6 finalists. The finalists created a vertical slice demo out of their concepts. «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» was chosen as the winner of the challenge.
Who were the judges of the Universal GameDev Challenge?
The game «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» has been selected from over 500 entries by the noble jury of the Universal GameDev Challenge, consisting of:
- Lauren Montgomery: Co-executive Producer at DreamWorks TV and Showrunner for Voltron Legendary Defender.
- Bob Gale: Oscar-nominated screenwriter-producer-director, best known as co-creator, co-writer and co-producer of the Back to the Future films
- Dean Takahashi: Lead writer for GamesBeat of VentureBeat Magazine
- Kate Edwards: CEO and principal consultant of Geogrify, a consultancy for content culturalization, Executive Director of Take This, and former Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association.
Judges selected «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» based on its instant playability of the game prototype, the game’s potential for expansion into a commercial product, and, most importantly, the amount of fun judges had while playing it.
Why is Universal collaborating with an indie game studio?
With the collaboration with indie game creators, Universal is pioneering the field of entertainment IPs . Universal delivers beloved IPs and the indie game studio Gbanga puts in all the attention to, love and passion for deep gameplay and remarkable detail. Thanks to this fruitful collaboration, the game «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» achieves an experience that feels like it was made for fans by fans, while still maintaining a high level of quality that people are used to from Universal productions.
Who is indie game studio Gbanga?
Gbanga is an indie game studio focusing on immersive games with deep gameplay that attract casual players and hardcore gamers alike. Gbanga’s awarded game portfolio reaches from appealing, easy to learn and hard to master puzzle games on mobile phones to strategy games like «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» and multiplayer virtual reality games. Gbanga has their headquarters based in Zurich, Switzerland. The complete team is based there and unifies expertise in game design, visual arts, user experience, structured producing and cross-platform programming.
How is this game unique?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» is a unique blend of real-time strategy with action and puzzler elements. While eight different cubes may seem like a small number of units at first, the strategic possibilities are almost endless and no match is the same as the last one.
What is the real-time strategy puzzler genre all about?
In contrast to standard strategy games, real-time strategy games rely on the players’ quick decision making skills while still thinking ahead strategically. «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» also includes some puzzler elements, forcing you to continuously adapt your strategy and smartly combining cubes and their effects with one another.
On which platforms can I play «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
The game is not available anymore, but once was distributed on Steam for both, for Windows PCs and for Mac OS and on Microsoft Store.
What controller options does the game support?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» can be played with the mouse & keyboard or with any other standard controller designed for use on a PC or on a Mac. When played in local multiplayer, one of the two players can use the mouse and keyboard while the other one uses an additional controller, or both players can play the game on one PC or Mac with two controllers.
Which technologies have been used?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» has been developed with the Unity game engine. The game, in-game effects, the interfaces and a lot of other parts are heavily using a library and system internally developed at the indie game studio Gbanga. The multiplayer functionality is based on Photon by Exit Games.
What are the plans for the future for «Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion»?
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» was in «Early Access», which means that the game development was not completed.
What does Early Access mean? Is this a complete game?
Steam Early Access is a program for games that continuously develop as players give feedback, and as the developers update and add content.
«Voltron: Cubes of Olkarion» is available on Steam Early Access to grow and evolve with the involvement of players and the community and to add a lot of value in the process. As Steam supports and encourages to ship early, players are involved and lasting relationships are built that help everyone make a better game. Players in the Early Access program benefit not only through the inspiring dialog with the game developers, but also from continuously added premium content that is added over the continuous development in the upcoming months and which is included with the initial purchase today (available now, until further notice).
Quick Facts
- Real-time strategy action for 1-2 players
- Online and offline multiplayer
- 8 different cubes with unique abilities
- 5 playable characters
- 4 unique battlefields
- Fully interactive tutorial with 6 short lessons explaining the gameplay
- Easy to learn, hard to master gameplay
- Fun for both fans and newcomers to the Voltron universe
- Original music from the Netflix original series