# Vulture

> variation of the video game NetHack with isometric graphics

**Wikidata**: [Q114221581](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114221581)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vulture

## Summary
Vulture (also known as *Vulture for NetHack* or *Vulture's Eye*) is a variation of the video game *NetHack* that features isometric graphics. Developed by DarkArts Studios, it is a roguelike and role-playing video game that serves as a graphical interface for the traditional dungeon crawler. The game is a descendant of *Falcon's Eye* and is available on multiple operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Vulture is a tile-based video game and a variation of *NetHack*, belonging to the roguelike and role-playing genres.
- **Developer:** The game was created and published by **DarkArts Studios**, a company based in **South Africa**.
- **Visual Style:** It utilizes an **isometric view** to render the game world, distinguishing it from the ASCII graphics of standard NetHack.
- **Platforms:** It runs on **Microsoft Windows**, **Linux**, and **FreeBSD** (via an unofficial port).
- **Release History:** The initial publication date is listed as **February 2005**. The software was distributed on Steam starting **February 2, 2015**.
- **Lineage:** The project is based on **Falcon's Eye**, another graphical variant of NetHack.
- **Game Mode:** It is a **single-player** experience.
- **Input:** The game supports input via **computer mouse** and **computer keyboard**.
- **Distribution:** It is distributed digitally via **Steam** (App ID: 341390) and **itch.io**.
- **Version History:** Significant versions include 2.0.0 (April 2006), 2.1.1 (January 2008), and 2.4 (January 2015).

## FAQs
### Q: What is the difference between Vulture and NetHack?
A: Vulture is a variation of NetHack that replaces the original's ASCII or simple tile graphics with isometric visuals and a mouse-driven interface. While the underlying gameplay remains a roguelike experience, Vulture provides a modern graphical layer over the classic engine.

### Q: Who developed Vulture?
A: Vulture was developed and published by **DarkArts Studios**, a video game development company from South Africa.

### Q: What operating systems can run Vulture?
A: Vulture runs natively on **Microsoft Windows** and **Linux**. It also has an unofficial port available for **FreeBSD** and historically had support for Maemo.

### Q: Is Vulture free to play?
A: The source material indicates the game is distributed digitally via Steam and itch.io. While specific pricing models are not detailed in the provided text, it is categorized as an "indie game" and "video game" with distinct version releases and a Steam application ID.

## Why It Matters
Vulture matters within the gaming community as a significant effort to modernize the accessibility of *NetHack*, one of the most celebrated and complex roguelikes in history. By introducing isometric graphics and mouse support, DarkArts Studios bridged the gap between the traditional, text-heavy aesthetic of classic roguelikes and the visual expectations of modern gamers.

Originating from *Falcon's Eye*, Vulture continued the legacy of making deep dungeon-crawling mechanics approachable without altering the fundamental game logic that fans of the genre cherish. Its availability on multiple platforms (Windows, Linux, FreeBSD) and distribution through major channels like Steam highlight its role as a key entry point for new players exploring the *NetHack* universe. Furthermore, its development by a South African studio marks a notable contribution to the global indie game development scene.

## Notable For
- **Graphical Innovation:** Transforming the ASCII interface of *NetHack* into a detailed **isometric view**.
- **Cross-Platform Availability:** Official support for **Linux** alongside Windows, a notable feature for roguelikes in the mid-2000s.
- **Lineage:** Serving as the successor to **Falcon's Eye**, continuing the evolution of graphical NetHack variants.
- **Longevity:** Maintaining a development cycle that spanned over a decade, from early versions in 2005 to updates in 2015 and beyond.
- **Digital Distribution:** Being one of the specific *NetHack* variants to secure distribution on **Steam**.

## Body

### Development and History
Vulture was developed by **DarkArts Studios**, a video game development company based in South Africa. It functions as a variation of *NetHack*, one of the oldest and most famous roguelike games. The project is explicitly based on *Falcon's Eye*, an earlier graphical interface for NetHack.

The game's development timeline includes an initial publication in **February 2005**. Subsequent versions tracked in the knowledge base include:
- **Version 2.0.0:** Released roughly April 2006.
- **Version 2.1.1:** Released January 12, 2008.
- **Version 2.1.2:** Released July 15, 2008.
- **Version 2.3.67:** Released April 5, 2011.
- **Version 2.4:** Released January 30, 2015.

On **February 2, 2015**, the game was distributed via the Steam platform (App ID: 341390).

### Gameplay and Features
Vulture falls under the genres of **roguelike** and **role-playing video games**. As a tile-based video game, it retains the strategic, turn-based movement of *NetHack* but presents it through a graphical engine. The game uses an **isometric view**, offering a 3D perspective on a 2D grid.

Players interact with the game using a **computer keyboard** and **computer mouse**, allowing for point-and-click navigation which differs from the keyboard-only input of the original *NetHack*. It is strictly a **single-player video game**.

### Technical Specifications
Vulture is designed to run on a family of operating systems, ensuring wide compatibility:
- **Microsoft Windows:** Family of computer operating systems developed by Microsoft.
- **Linux:** Family of Unix-like operating systems.
- **FreeBSD:** A free Unix-like operating system (supported via an unofficial port).

The installation size for the Microsoft Windows version is approximately **182 megabytes**.

### Distribution and Identifiers
The game is classified as an **indie game** and is distributed via **digital download**. Primary distribution platforms include **Steam** and **itch.io**.

Various database IDs confirm its presence in the gaming ecosystem:
- **Steam Application ID:** 341390
- **PCGamingWiki ID:** Vulture_for_NetHack
- **MobyGames Game ID:** 110266
- **IGDB Game ID:** vulture-for-nethack

The official website is hosted by DarkArts Studios at `https://www.darkarts.co.za/vulture-for-nethack`.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Vulture",
  "description": "A variation of the video game NetHack featuring isometric graphics, developed by DarkArts Studios.",
  "url": "https://www.darkarts.co.za/vulture-for-nethack",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://store.steampowered.com/app/341390/Vulture_for_NetHack/"
  ],
  "gamePlatform": ["Microsoft Windows", "Linux", "FreeBSD"],
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "DarkArts Studios",
    "address": "South Africa"
  },
  "genre": ["Roguelike", "Role-playing video game"],
  "applicationCategory": "Game",
  "operatingSystem": "Microsoft Windows, Linux",
  "datePublished": "2005-02",
  "version": "2.4"
}

## References

1. Steam
2. [Source](https://www.my-maemo.com/software/applications_name_Vultures_Eye_fldAuto_1040_faq_35.html)
3. [Source](https://wiki.maemo.org/Roguelikes#Vulture.27s_eye)
4. [Source](https://nethackwiki.com/wiki/Vulture#History)
5. [Source](https://repology.org/project/vultures/information)
6. [2021](https://darkartsstudios.itch.io/vulture-for-nethack-community-edition/devlog/286834/nethack-366-update)
7. GameSpot
8. Lutris database
9. Q124398839