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Video game:Microsoft Xbox PsychoNauts

2005

The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play
Rochester , United States

Originally released in 2005 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and Xbox systems, Psychonauts is a platform video game created by acclaimed game designer Tim Schafer and his company, Double Fine Productions.

The game is set at the Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, a secret government facility where children with psychic powers are trained to become Psychonauts, or powerful fighters trained to use their powers to battle evil. Players control Razputin, or Raz, a runaway from the circus who sneaks into the camp with the dream of becoming a Psychonaut. The camp's administrators, impressed by his natural gift, allow Raz to train while waiting for his parents to come and take him home. While exploring the camp, Raz uncovers secrets and conquers personal demons.

Psychonauts is a classic platform video game. Players must dodge obstacles and run or jump across platforms in order to reach a goal. Psychonauts received critical acclaim for its creative level designs; much of the action occurs inside the minds of different characters. As the player explores the game worlds, there are a number of collectable items they can find. These items include figments of imagination, which appear as glowing images that reflect the personality of a particular character; emotional baggage, which appear in the game very literally as various forms of luggage; and mental cobwebs, or glowing cobwebs that require a special gadget known as a cobweb duster to collect. Many of these collectables are used to help Raz advance in rank, earning him additional psychic powers.

Psychnauts has been lauded for its clever writing. At the 6th annual Game Developers Choice Awards in 2006, writers Tim Schafer and Erik Wolpaw won the award for Best Writing. Despite the praise from within the gaming industry, Psychonauts was not originally a commercial success. However, as the result of digital distribution services, the game has since become a cult hit that is beloved by gamers.

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  • Title: Video game:Microsoft Xbox PsychoNauts
  • Date Created: 2005
  • Location: USA
  • Subject Keywords: electronic game, video game, Microsoft, Microsoft XBOX, Xbox
  • Type: Console Games
  • Medium: plastic, printed paper
  • Object ID: 109.74520
  • Credit Line: Gift of Majesco Entertainment
The Strong National Museum of Play

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