History VideoGame / WorldOfGoo

The whole of Chapter 1 is in a [[http://www.worldofgoo.com/dl2.php?lk=demo free demo]] for Windows/Mac/Linux. The full version can be found on basically any modern gaming device from the past 8 years, being ported to UsefulNotes/WiiWare, iOS, Android, the aforementioned Windows, Mac and Linux, and most recently, the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. A bonus sixth chapter on the Moon was originally planned for retail but never materialized. A whole community of user-made levels and other add-ons can be found at [[https://goofans.com GooFans]].

** A guy in the iPad version says that there used to be a great market, only it fell apart because everything dropped to 99 cents. Hmm, [[UsefulNotes/{{Macintosh}} who does that remind us of?]]

Kyle Gabler would eventually go on to establish Creator/TomorrowCorporation, a three-person team consisting of him, Kyle Gray, and Allan Blomquist. Tomorrow Corporation would end up developing and publishing ''World of Goo'' for the Nintendo Switch, and eventually a sequel, ''World of Goo 2''.

Kyle Gabler would eventually go on to establish Creator/TomorrowCorporation, a three-person team consisting of him, Kyle Gray, and Allan Blomquist. Tomorrow Corporation would end up developing and publishing ''World of Goo'' for the Nintendo Switch.

''World of Goo'' is an indie PuzzleGame by [[https://2dboy.com/ 2D Boy]], a two-person team consisting of former Creator/ElectronicArts employees Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, with some help. In it, the player constructs intricate structures from intelligent globs of goo, with the deceptively simple goal of leading the remaining free members of the swarm to each level's exit pipe. Deceptive, because this two-dimensional world is [[MalevolentArchitecture contrived to put as many highly varied obstacles into your path as possible]]. The game takes place on an unspecified planet where the Goo balls live. The [[MegaCorp World of Goo Corporation]] is interested in harnessing the goo for their products, so you have to help them.

** The World of Goo Corporation starts out as this in the first two chapters, being established as a vaguely-defined MegaCorp that operates the pipes the goo are trying to reach. ''Cog in the Machine'' onward firmly establishes them as the BigBad, with their unchecked industrial expansion devastating the environment and [[spoiler: ultimately driving the goo to extinction.]]

* AntagonistTitle: The World of Goo Corporation, though seemingly benevolent or harmless in the first two chapters, is revealed to be the antagonist group in the third chapter threatening humans and the environment alike.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:The World Of Goo Corporation is destroyed and Product Z is shut down, but the world is left in ruins. Later, the Epilogue reveals that all Goo Balls, except the "scientifically pure" ones, have been sucked away to the "Tower of Goo Memorial Park and Recreation Center". The last level reveals that the Goo Balls have gone completely extinct, and you use some balloon-like fish to raise the telescope beyond the layer of smog. While it fails to see what the Painter saw, the ending reveals that [[ChekhovsGunman the Goo Balls that escaped back at the end of Chapter 1]] have managed to reach a far-off planet and repopulate it with nothing but Goo Balls, [[EarnYourHappyEnding meaning that they are no longer endangered of being used or going extinct.]]]]

* WhamEpisode: Two particular ones. "Product Launcher", where Product Z is launched and [[spoiler: causes the world to become 3D, rendering the player incompatible with it]], And "Deliverance" which concludes with [[spoiler: the destruction of the World of Goo Corporation!]]

%%** 'MOM'
%%** "The Last of the Goo Balls"

%%* CerebusSyndrome: The game has off-putting undertones from the get-go, but they get progressively less and less subtle as the game goes on.

%%* EtherealChoir: One of the songs if you meet MOM and going to World of Goo corporation grounds after chapter IV.

* StoryBreadcrumbs: The messages left for you by The Sign Painter and... someone else...

** VideoGameCaringPotential: Swinging back around, of course, with the practice of playing a level specifically to save as many Goo balls as possible. By using lots of tricks, you can save much much more of them than intended.

''World of Goo'' is an indie PuzzleGame by [[https://2dboy.com/ 2D Boy]], a two-person team consisting of former EA employees Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, with some help. In it, the player constructs intricate structures from intelligent globs of goo, with the deceptively simple goal of leading the remaining free members of the swarm to each level's exit pipe. Deceptive, because this two-dimensional world is [[MalevolentArchitecture contrived to put as many highly varied obstacles into your path as possible]]. The game takes place on an unspecified planet where the Goo balls live. The [[MegaCorp World of Goo Corporation]] is interested in harnessing the goo for their products, so you have to help them.

** All done in the game's very quirky style of humor. Consumerism, marketing, search engines, ubiquitous surveillance, cultural standards of beauty, they all take some flak. [[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18223 The developers claim]] that World Of Goo Corporation is a metaphor for game publishers they had to deal with. Since they're ex-EA employees, it's probably not hard to tell which ones.

* VideogameCrueltyPotential: Aside from the [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption necessary sacrifices]], there are many times when it's easier to sacrifice a number of goo balls rather than trying to save them all.
** VideogameCaringPotential: Swinging back around, of course, with the practice of playing a level specifically to save as many Goo balls as possible. By using lots of tricks, you can save much much more of them than intended.

* GreenHillZone: Chapter 1 is called "The Goo Filled Hills" and it's much greener and less industrialized than the other chapters.

** A sign in "Ode to the Bridge-Builder" references the song "O Superman" by Music/LaurieAnderson. Also, ''Bridge Builder'' is one of the Chroniclogic's physics-based construction series. ODE is actually a physics engine ''World Of Goo'' is largely based on.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: It is never made clear whether MOM is [[spoiler:a [[WellIntentionedExtremist misguided, but well-intentioned artificial intelligence]], or a [[AIIsACrapshoot crazed spambot who only cares about getting more users]]. The game hints either way, for instance, it's hard to tell whether their politeness is [[AffablyEvil genuine]] or [[FauxAffablyEvil threatening]].]]

%%* ArcWords: 'MOM'

%%** "We're all in this together"

%%* CursedWithAwesome: "Grape Vine Virus": the benevolent infection.
* CyberSpace: "Information Superhighway," an entire chapter dedicated to programming jokes and NewMediaTropes

%%* MalevolentArchitecture: Given an early LampshadeHanging by the Sign Painter in the fourth level.

** The Sign Painter also leaves you a message in the PC version's ''config file.''

* CosmeticAward: The very-appropriately named "OCD"[[note]]Obsessive Completion Distinction[[/note]] goals of each level serve no purpose but to provide the player with an optional challenge.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

''World of Goo'' is an indie PuzzleGame by [[https://2dboy.com/ 2D Boy]], a two-person team consisting of former EA employees Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, with some help. In it, the player constructs intricate structures from intelligent globs of goo, with the deceptively simple goal of leading the remaining free members of the swarm to each level's exit pipe. Deceptive, because this two-dimensional world is [[MalevolentArchitecture contrived to put as many highly varied obstacles into your path as possible]].

%%* AliceAndBob: "Alice and Bob and the Third Party"

* MegaCorp: The bleak, faceless World Of Goo Corporation, harvests the Goo from across the world to use in the development of their products.

* RhymeThemeNaming: Fisty and Misty, the two frogs found in chapter 1 and 3 respectively.

* SequenceBreaking: You don't have to burn the man to complete the level. Or sacrifice any of the goo balls in Red Carpet level. Since it's a physics-based game, people have discovered tricks to break some physics in his game to allow players to get way above OCD requirements of some levels.

** The DialogueTree with [=MOM=] includes the classic GloryDays exchange from the film ''Film/SunsetBoulevard''.
** In one puzzle, you have to start your web from a frog's mouth. Sign Painter suggests that the frog really wanted to [[{{VideoGame/Zuma}} shoot balls from his mouth in his own puzzle game.]]
** A sign in "Ode to the Bridge-Builder" references the song "O Superman" by Music/LaurieAnderson. Also, Bridge Builder is one of the Chroniclogic's physics-based construction series. ODE is actually a physics engine ''World Of Goo'' is largely based on.

** There's a level called [[Franchise/WinnieThePooh Blustery Day]].

** All done in the game's very quirky style of humor. Consumerism, marketing, search engines, ubiquitous surveillance, cultural standards of beauty, they all take some flak. The developers claims that World Of Goo Corporation is a metaphor for game publishers they had to deal with. Since they're ex-EA employees, it's probably not hard to tell which ones. [[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18223]]

* TimeRewindMechanic: The player can travel back in time to undo one move by clicking the Time Bugs.

%%** The Sign Painter also leaves you a message in the PC version's ''config file.''

%%* StoryBreadcrumbs: The messages left for you by The Sign Painter and... someone else...