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Does Not Commute

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Not to be confused with Does not compute.
Does Not Commute
A circle with a neon outline containing the shape of a car with a similar neon outline.
App icon
Developer(s)Mediocre
Publisher(s)Mediocre
Designer(s)Henrik Johansson
Programmer(s)Dennis Gustafsson
Artist(s)Henrik Johansson
Writer(s)Simon Flesser
Composer(s)Douglas Holmquist
Platform(s)Android, iOS
ReleaseApril 23, 2015
Genre(s)Puzzle, strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Does Not Commute is a 2015 puzzle and strategy game developed and published by the Swedish studio Mediocre. In the game, the player has to move vehicles to a certain point on a level while avoiding other vehicles from their previous attempts. It was released for Android and iOS devices on April 23, 2015. Received positively for its gameplay, the game won the 2015 edition of the Apple Design Awards.

Gameplay

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Set in a 1970s suburb, Does Not Commute is a puzzle and strategy game where the player starts with controlling a vehicle to a certain point on a level within a set amount of time.[1] Once completed, time will reset, and the player will have to control a new vehicle that is added to the level.[2][3] Previous vehicles will repeat their route the player has set.[4][5] Marked collectibles can be picked up to increase time;[6][7] the player may also use a rewind feature to undo their previous moves, but it will cost them one second.[6][8] They may use shortcuts to avoid other vehicles,[9] and an in-app purchase unlocks checkpoints.[7][8] A practice mode is available.[6]

Development and release

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Does Not Commute was developed by Mediocre, a Swedish indie studio composed of Dennis Gustafsson and Henrik Johansson. They had previously created games such as Smash Hit.[10]

Does Not Commute's soundtrack was composed by Douglas Holmquist.[7] The time period the game was set in was decided early in development; initially, Holmquist opted for a "loungey" soundtrack involving the flute, vibraphone, and light percussion. The first version used music from the movie Sideways and musicians such as Yusef Lateef, Cal Tjader, and Modern Jazz Quartet as inspiration. However, since the soundtrack was considered "too soft" due to the game evolving into a more active nature, a new song, "Sorta Blue" by Henry Mancini, was used instead. The soundtrack for a level titled Beach was conceptualized after a bike ride with the game's co-developers Dennis Gustafsson and Henrik Johansson, and a band was scheduled for a four-day session.[11] Showcased at GDC 2015,[4] Does Not Commute was released on Android and iOS for free on April 23, 2015.[12][13][14]

Reception

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On Metacritic, Does Not Commute received a "generally favorable" score of 87 based on eight critics.[15] The game won the 2015 Apple Design Awards at the Worldwide Developers Conference[20][21][22] and has been ranked among TouchArcade's and The Guardian's lists of best apps.[23][24][25]

Several reviewers praised the gameplay. Most found the game and its dialogue entertaining,[6][18][16][17][26] while others stated it was challenging or frustrating.[10][17][19] Carter Dotson of TouchArcade approved how the game's in-app purchase offered players an opportunity for help,[6] while Gamezebo's Nadia Oxford found that players were effectively forced to plan their decisions.[16] Critics also found the game's minimalist graphics appealing.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Priestman, Chris (April 24, 2015). "Does Not Commute lets you peek at the divergent obsessions of a 1970s suburb". Kill Screen. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "Peer into the mysteries and secrets of a 1970s suburb". Kill Screen. May 7, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Priestman, Chris (May 10, 2015). "Does Not Commute Tells Its Story So Long As You Don't Crash Into Yourself". Siliconera. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Nelson, Jared (March 6, 2015). "GDC 2015: Does Not Commute Isn't Just a Clever Name, It's Also Hilariously Fun". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  5. ^ Nelson, Jared (March 10, 2015). "Best of GDC 2015: Crashlands, Does Not Commute, Sorcery! 3 and "Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Dotson, Carter (April 29, 2015). "Does Not Commute Review – A Sweet Ride". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Boatman, Brandon (November 2, 2015). "Casual Corner: Does Not Commute". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Oxford, Nadia (May 1, 2015). "Does Not Commute: Tips, cheats, and strategies". Gamezebo. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Brown, Mark (March 5, 2015). "GDC 2015: Hands-on with Does Not Commute - Mediocre's barmy morning traffic sim". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Gonzalez, Alberto (June 2, 2015). "Does not Commute". Vandal (in Spanish). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Holmquist, Douglas (April 29, 2015). "Commuter Chaos, Musical Mindfullness - Writing the music for Does not Commute". Game Developer. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Dotson, Carter (April 20, 2015). "Mediocre's Does Not Commute Crashes into the App Store This Week". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Nelson, Jared (April 22, 2015). "Out Now: Does Not Commute, Sorcery! 3, Battle Odyssey, Dungeon Link, Demon Hunter: Chronicles from Beyond, Pinball Sniper and More". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Brown, Mark (April 24, 2015). "Does not Commute brings traffic chaos and sick puns to Android". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Does not Commute". Metacritic. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Oxford, Nadia (April 30, 2015). "Does Not Commute review: Highway star". Gamezebo. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Slater, Harry (April 24, 2015). "Does not Commute". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Rich, Rob (April 23, 2015). "Does Not Commute Review". 148Apps. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Pugliese, Tommaso (May 2, 2015). "Paradossi portatili" [Portable paradoxes]. Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  20. ^ Sarkar, Samit (June 9, 2015). "Apple Design Awards 2015 honor seven games, including Crossy Road and Vainglory". Polygon. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Dotson, Carter (June 9, 2015). "Crossy Road, Vainglory, and More Win Apple Design Awards at WWDC". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  22. ^ Cameron, Phill (June 8, 2015). "Winners of the Apple Design Awards 2015 announced". Game Developer. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  23. ^ Dredge, Stuart (May 1, 2015). "20 best apps for May". The Guardian. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Dredge, Stuart (February 7, 2016). "Fifty apps that are reinventing mobile gaming". The Guardian. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Nelson, Jared (December 23, 2015). "TouchArcade Game of the Year Land Sliders and the best iOS Games of 2015". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  26. ^ Nelson, Jared (April 24, 2015). "TouchArcade Game of the Week: Does Not Commute". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
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