So while in the midst of watching the latest gameplay snippet of Far Cry 3, it inspired me to do my own take on one of Ubisoft's most under-developed franchises yet immensely popular series. The surprisingly rare use of using an island filled with savagery with the main character's only motive is to escape the island and rediscover true civilization, while a super-niche is quite inspiring for ideas for outer game designers and/or game companies.
Devil's Bay takes the fundamentals of games who use this island setting and compacts it into an epic downloadable title. The game's mysterious main character, an island packed to the brim with warring factions and gangs, and the only way home is to take control of the island and it's key element, Devil's Bay.
Due to the wide new range of games trying to appeal to both casual and hardcore shooter/action gamers. Devil's Bay is what we would call a casually hardcore experience, thus a game while accessible to people who wish to enjoy the game's immensely twisted plot can also give sweet and abundant rewards for hardcore gamers who wish to fully explore and revel in the island's lore. In other words, you can take the game for a short story wide, or sink in countless hours into a rich world with expansive and branching side-quests and missions with hours upon hours of both cooperative and competitive multiplayer content.
The more accessible and casual version of this content is what we call FastPlay, a short but sweet experience of a truly fleshed out game.
The more hardcore and tactical version of this content is what we call SmartPlay, the full single player experience with extra hours in both the solo and multiplayer modes.
Multiplayer: Like any good shooter game you need good multiplayer, and with the innovation of bringing clans and factions from the story mode to possess a place in multiplayer, you will be playing as some of the NPC factions of Devil's Bay as fully playable multiplayer opposing teams. Since each faction or clan has a specific vendetta and motive on the island, people who score objectives that are more inline with a certain group's style of play will be rewarded. This can be boiled down to groups or clans that give bonuses for melees, headshots, stealth kills, most completed round objectives, and the like. We want to make sure the player is getting rewards and bonuses no matter what their play style is. That and even though the clans have certain cosmetic styles, you're character will still have a flexible plethora of customizability.
WIP Plot: You are a treasure hunter on a large cruiser looking for well...treasure. When your ship is thrown into a wild hurricane, an immensely powerful surge of lightning plunges into the center of the ship, causing a freak explosion that sends you and the rest of the crew flying into the ocean below. You wake up on the coast of Devil's Bay Island only to find you have been "found" by one of the more savage clans on the island, for the short period you remain conscious, the leader of the group gives you a short greeting and then has one of his thugs pistol whip you with a AK-47. What happens next well, that's in the works.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Hey You Down There: Requels
Prequels, Sequels, Reboots, and other crud happens in the gaming industry...but what happens when a game goes off the radar only to become a new game mid-development? Lights..Camera...REQUEL!
It happens to the best of games, these requels. One such example is Dark Sector, a game teased as early as 2000, and it wasn't until late 2004 to early 2005 that the game surfaced again, just to disappear and reappear as altered again.
This game has gone through so much requeling that sites like IGN who have tracked the game since the original tease can only note the fact that the developer had no clue at any point in development of what to make the game about.
The original Dark Sector was gonna be...for lack of more proper explanation; an Unreal style game on an MMOFPS scale...needless to say that concept of the game never solidified. The second concept was a space-faring duo who explored the "Dark Sector", the main character having a kick-butt stealth suit and the pilot being some ritualistic girl. The final concept still features a stealth approach but the suit less stealth (though still bearing the "horn-like" helmet), and no real indication of a second main character of a female pilot. That and the addition of a boomerang-shaped blade that is used to make gore-like melee throws.
The reviews from such as IGN note the fact that, while the final concept is acceptable...That some of the original concepts, even the mid-developing concepts would pose more potential than said final concept. Then again the project was first announced when Digital Extremes(the developers behind Dark Sector) were just merely peeling off being a co-developer of the Unreal series, thus there initial intentions to develop something similar to what they helped co-create. At this point Dark Sector seems to be the ONLY original title developed by this company...and by far with the mixed success of Dark Sector's almost decade-long developed...will they even attempt to make amends while still being a developer who develops for other properties such as Bioshock, The Darkness, and now even a game based on the Star Trek reboot movie series.
I can probably give more examples, but to my knowledge Dark Sector is one of the biggest requel-doing games that was popular enough to track the process.
Needless to say, It would be best for developers to take lessons on such a obscured fate as Dark Sector and keep away from Requeling.
That's about it for now, thanks for reading!
It happens to the best of games, these requels. One such example is Dark Sector, a game teased as early as 2000, and it wasn't until late 2004 to early 2005 that the game surfaced again, just to disappear and reappear as altered again.
This game has gone through so much requeling that sites like IGN who have tracked the game since the original tease can only note the fact that the developer had no clue at any point in development of what to make the game about.
The original Dark Sector was gonna be...for lack of more proper explanation; an Unreal style game on an MMOFPS scale...needless to say that concept of the game never solidified. The second concept was a space-faring duo who explored the "Dark Sector", the main character having a kick-butt stealth suit and the pilot being some ritualistic girl. The final concept still features a stealth approach but the suit less stealth (though still bearing the "horn-like" helmet), and no real indication of a second main character of a female pilot. That and the addition of a boomerang-shaped blade that is used to make gore-like melee throws.
The reviews from such as IGN note the fact that, while the final concept is acceptable...That some of the original concepts, even the mid-developing concepts would pose more potential than said final concept. Then again the project was first announced when Digital Extremes(the developers behind Dark Sector) were just merely peeling off being a co-developer of the Unreal series, thus there initial intentions to develop something similar to what they helped co-create. At this point Dark Sector seems to be the ONLY original title developed by this company...and by far with the mixed success of Dark Sector's almost decade-long developed...will they even attempt to make amends while still being a developer who develops for other properties such as Bioshock, The Darkness, and now even a game based on the Star Trek reboot movie series.
I can probably give more examples, but to my knowledge Dark Sector is one of the biggest requel-doing games that was popular enough to track the process.
Needless to say, It would be best for developers to take lessons on such a obscured fate as Dark Sector and keep away from Requeling.
That's about it for now, thanks for reading!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Shooters and Cliches: The Chronicles of Stealth-it
Well, It's been awhile since I made an entry into my long running editorial series called "Shooters and Cliches" since there hasn't been much to comment on with my beloved game genre. Contrary to recent notification, I'm amazed how many overlooked shooters there are in this industry, simply overshadowed by the over-hyped and brand-bashing that bigger titles get. Obviously, one such shooter has made it's way into my gaming collection and has unique qualities that make it a diamond in the rough even though it's not the greatest in other areas.
This game happens to be The Chronicles of Riddick, the second installation being Assault on Dark Athena. Unlike games that take on a third-person approach, this game is one of very few Stealth games that tackle the challenge from a first-person perspective. The stealth is greatly engineered using sensory details, if you hide in the shadows your vision becomes this pale purple and if you are detectable the vision is normal. That and if you are in a unlit area with no light sources you can toggle on Riddick's famous "night-vision" to make stuff see-able. Besides this like any other stealth game, Health generation is limited(but not scarce) and the emphasis on only landing headshots is obvious since headshots are quick instant kills while aiming for the body results in several hits being taking down a target.
This out of the ordinary game wouldn't take chances visually as the game tacks on almost movie-quality graphics using the studio's proprietary engine. This tech is also being used in the studio's latest cover-shooter; Syndicate which looks and plays amazing also.
There is also multiplayer, but do to the game's overlooked potential and being stricken in a few years...the match-making is all but alive. Though it does sport a LAN function for if you have friends or family willing to spar it out.
The story so far, while riddled in drivel-like dialogue (most of it from Riddick), is actually surprisingly well done if you are able to take the drivel as just pieces to an overall branching plot. That and it seems this studio couldn't help the fact to take on some Gravelly voice casting.
If you want to see the game in action I have uploaded a couple of vids of the Athena game, as well as the previous demo based on the first game called Butcher Bay.
That is pretty much it for now, thanks for reading!
-BrioCyrain
This game happens to be The Chronicles of Riddick, the second installation being Assault on Dark Athena. Unlike games that take on a third-person approach, this game is one of very few Stealth games that tackle the challenge from a first-person perspective. The stealth is greatly engineered using sensory details, if you hide in the shadows your vision becomes this pale purple and if you are detectable the vision is normal. That and if you are in a unlit area with no light sources you can toggle on Riddick's famous "night-vision" to make stuff see-able. Besides this like any other stealth game, Health generation is limited(but not scarce) and the emphasis on only landing headshots is obvious since headshots are quick instant kills while aiming for the body results in several hits being taking down a target.
This out of the ordinary game wouldn't take chances visually as the game tacks on almost movie-quality graphics using the studio's proprietary engine. This tech is also being used in the studio's latest cover-shooter; Syndicate which looks and plays amazing also.
There is also multiplayer, but do to the game's overlooked potential and being stricken in a few years...the match-making is all but alive. Though it does sport a LAN function for if you have friends or family willing to spar it out.
The story so far, while riddled in drivel-like dialogue (most of it from Riddick), is actually surprisingly well done if you are able to take the drivel as just pieces to an overall branching plot. That and it seems this studio couldn't help the fact to take on some Gravelly voice casting.
If you want to see the game in action I have uploaded a couple of vids of the Athena game, as well as the previous demo based on the first game called Butcher Bay.
That is pretty much it for now, thanks for reading!
-BrioCyrain
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
DAWN: A game idea by Brian McCain
Dawn is a Sci-fi action/adventure game based on the rather original forms of the genre, heralding back to the usage dating back to the late 60s to early 80s. Instead of science fiction nowadays where it’s all about action, pre-defined spatial warfare, and everything is pretty much known about the universe, Dawn is going back into what made Science Fiction more philosophical in the days of the original Star Trek and Star Wars emphasis on both mystery and mysticism. Instead of everything being “explored”, the player must “explore” almost everything the game has to offer, nothing is known before hand, the player is going where no one has gone before.
Due to this emphasis in both game-play and storylines, the art style should also emphasize this by having an art style that is inspired by late-60s to early 80s science fiction art direction. Combat should be of a more tactical nature, and Exploration should reward massive benefits to player in this unknown universe. The player should feel like a space captain should, have no way to predict what will happen if and when a possible threat occurs. Seeing how the game will obviously have a deep gritty look, the game should bare very little on-screen information that is only displayed when the player accesses said systems.
It is pretty much pre-determined in nowadays games that any game with non-linear game-play should have a consequence system based on their decisions, just like how Sci-fi used to be in the first place. Kirk made some really good decisions, and he made some really bad ones, and all of that got reflected in Star Trek.
I may have stated a game idea similar to this, but this is the most concrete form I have of this kind of idea yet, and I think if done right it would be extremely popular and a good demand on those who find newer Sci-fi material just sacrilegious to what “true” science fiction is to them.
That is pretty much it for now, thanks for reading.
-Brian (BrioCyrain) McCain
Due to this emphasis in both game-play and storylines, the art style should also emphasize this by having an art style that is inspired by late-60s to early 80s science fiction art direction. Combat should be of a more tactical nature, and Exploration should reward massive benefits to player in this unknown universe. The player should feel like a space captain should, have no way to predict what will happen if and when a possible threat occurs. Seeing how the game will obviously have a deep gritty look, the game should bare very little on-screen information that is only displayed when the player accesses said systems.
It is pretty much pre-determined in nowadays games that any game with non-linear game-play should have a consequence system based on their decisions, just like how Sci-fi used to be in the first place. Kirk made some really good decisions, and he made some really bad ones, and all of that got reflected in Star Trek.
I may have stated a game idea similar to this, but this is the most concrete form I have of this kind of idea yet, and I think if done right it would be extremely popular and a good demand on those who find newer Sci-fi material just sacrilegious to what “true” science fiction is to them.
That is pretty much it for now, thanks for reading.
-Brian (BrioCyrain) McCain
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Year in Review: My favorite 2011 Games as well as my anticipated games for 2012
It's been awhile since I posted, and with that another year bites the dust. This is that time where we have to say, "2011, how many games did I even buy?" and "Am I even gonna find anything to buy this year since it's 2012?". Well, like any year...it's hard to find the cream of the crop based on your personal taste, but last year I have to say I bought some games that were worth noting, as well as maybe a few that I wish I never even touched.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution: An Action/Tactical/FPS/RPG hybrid that is for people who like shooting people, but also want an engrossing storyline filled with RPG-style inventories, upgrades, and the like. The story is one of the best I ever seen, and hope to find the time to beat the game. My last post about this game IIRC was me giving the preview build a master score...10/10
Killzone 3: Need I say more? After absolutely loving the beta, and finally coming out the closest and buying the game...there's no other game quite like it that you can enjoy being the "bad guys", stabbing, snapping, smacking, and just any kind of means of killing somebody that you can find...It's not Killzone just because of the title...It pretty much the most enjoyable game that breaking people's faces is such a glorious view to see.
Battlefield 3: The latest and probably almost-greatest battlefield title, a true sequel that brings back some of the largest battle-maps known on PC, as well as distractingly-realistic graphics and quite satisfying gameplay, PC gaming has been taken to the next level.
Portal 2: Co-op puzzle-solving, it was not only glorious but mind-provoking, hilarious, and just all bouts of fun. I have yet to get around to beating the story mode, but the co-op was AWESOME.
LBP2: I haven't touched in awhile, but if you like LBP(1) then this is what the doctor ordered since in a sense you can "program" your own games with a more robust level/stage making system.
Skyward Sword: Any Legend of Zelda game I have played I have also enjoyed, and Skyward Sword is no different.
Brink: Probably my only regret of 2011, this game was ridiculously broken as far as CPU-AI being able to kick your butt and how unbalanced the maps were...probably 2/3 to 3/4 of online battles were one-sided at the first objective...meh!
Now onto 2012!
Soul Calibur V: The Fan-demanded return to the most graphically-robust Fighting series has arrived; with new characters, a new and updated art style, and hopefully a more complex series of game modes and lengthy story-lines which made the fourth installment kind of shallow in the gameplay department..hopefully for some the modes are more in comparison to the size of the third version as well as keeping the amazingly detailed visuals of the fourth.
Final Fantasy XIII-2: Returning back to a more open-world and more robust fighting system and world...Those who were highly disappointed by how linear the original game was will hopefully find more enjoyment in the second installment..if the story is less confusing as the craziest trailers are showing.
Binary Domain: Deadly Robots that look like people taking over the world and being made to look like people, and they THINK they ARE people...There's something wrong with that. Enter the Binary Domain...A world where both Humans and Robots co-exist, and probably not for the best. Hollow Children, robots given Human thought and form have begun invading all levels of society, not knowing in secrecy that they are indeed just robots. You take command as a UN sanctioned Spec Ops squad called the Rust Crew, and come Feb 12 you will be able to engross yourself in maybe the best story-based Third Person Shooters outside of the western-made market. The Graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay looks sick, and there's nothing like bashing tin-heads in glorious fashion!
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier: The somewhat odd-5 or so six year return of one of the greatest squad-tactical shooters is back...from the future! Whether it be cloak suits, mark and execute mechanics, streamlined and robust teamplay, and advances in graphics thanks to the hard work at Ubisoft...This game looks amazing and probably well best the fabled and frenetic predecessor that was GRAW.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City: Welcome back to probably the most viewed part of history in the Resident Evil series...The outbreak of Umbrella's virus unleashed on the citizens of Raccoon City. Spanning the famed timeline of all of RE2, RE3, and the outbreak files series..you get the chance not not only play as the kick-butt force of the U.S.S., but have the chance to change canon buy eliminated fan-favorite icons such as Leon and Claire. Nothing but conspiracy awaits as you choose your preferred U.S.S. Agent, and fight off the waves of zombies and other filth that roam the streets and buildings. The game brings a new grasp of depth with fully-functional shooter controls and squad-based "tactical horror". Let's hope Vector and his comrades bring an unforgettable and awesome spin-off to one of the most famous game series known worldwide.
Resident Evil: Revelations: The most graphically-robust game as of now on the 3DS, as Capcom is working their PS3/360/PSV/Current Gen PC Engine magic on this handheld...it is pretty much a game that makes the Wii cry as far as visuals go. The story rumoured to take place between RE3 and RE5, where both Jill and Chris have been seperated for several years. The gameplay is similar but more advanced version of RE5/RE4...with some features just made for the 3DS such as zombies and such popping out the screen. The gameplay creepy, the graphics amazing for its system, and just downright how cool the story may seem...the 3DS might have a system-seller on its hands.
Ninja Gaiden III: As of right now coming out the same day as RE:ORC...you play as the famous and lofty ninja/assassin known as Ryu Hayabase. As almost as a semi-reboot of the series where action and story-telling has replaced the known and almost distastefully famous amounts of violence and gore...it is no longer the savage ninja-equivalent of Mortal Kombat. Ryu shows newcomers how awesome and kick-butt ninja's are with his platforming, sword-fighting, and just plain awesome super-moves...that and cute anime-style chicks are still making a comeback, so no worries there.
All other games past these in 2012 are still up in the air, as this year is still new and just getting started...
Hope you enjoyed this Year in Review and keep your eyes glued on this blog...cheers!
Deus Ex: Human Revolution: An Action/Tactical/FPS/RPG hybrid that is for people who like shooting people, but also want an engrossing storyline filled with RPG-style inventories, upgrades, and the like. The story is one of the best I ever seen, and hope to find the time to beat the game. My last post about this game IIRC was me giving the preview build a master score...10/10
Killzone 3: Need I say more? After absolutely loving the beta, and finally coming out the closest and buying the game...there's no other game quite like it that you can enjoy being the "bad guys", stabbing, snapping, smacking, and just any kind of means of killing somebody that you can find...It's not Killzone just because of the title...It pretty much the most enjoyable game that breaking people's faces is such a glorious view to see.
Battlefield 3: The latest and probably almost-greatest battlefield title, a true sequel that brings back some of the largest battle-maps known on PC, as well as distractingly-realistic graphics and quite satisfying gameplay, PC gaming has been taken to the next level.
Portal 2: Co-op puzzle-solving, it was not only glorious but mind-provoking, hilarious, and just all bouts of fun. I have yet to get around to beating the story mode, but the co-op was AWESOME.
LBP2: I haven't touched in awhile, but if you like LBP(1) then this is what the doctor ordered since in a sense you can "program" your own games with a more robust level/stage making system.
Skyward Sword: Any Legend of Zelda game I have played I have also enjoyed, and Skyward Sword is no different.
Brink: Probably my only regret of 2011, this game was ridiculously broken as far as CPU-AI being able to kick your butt and how unbalanced the maps were...probably 2/3 to 3/4 of online battles were one-sided at the first objective...meh!
Now onto 2012!
Soul Calibur V: The Fan-demanded return to the most graphically-robust Fighting series has arrived; with new characters, a new and updated art style, and hopefully a more complex series of game modes and lengthy story-lines which made the fourth installment kind of shallow in the gameplay department..hopefully for some the modes are more in comparison to the size of the third version as well as keeping the amazingly detailed visuals of the fourth.
Final Fantasy XIII-2: Returning back to a more open-world and more robust fighting system and world...Those who were highly disappointed by how linear the original game was will hopefully find more enjoyment in the second installment..if the story is less confusing as the craziest trailers are showing.
Binary Domain: Deadly Robots that look like people taking over the world and being made to look like people, and they THINK they ARE people...There's something wrong with that. Enter the Binary Domain...A world where both Humans and Robots co-exist, and probably not for the best. Hollow Children, robots given Human thought and form have begun invading all levels of society, not knowing in secrecy that they are indeed just robots. You take command as a UN sanctioned Spec Ops squad called the Rust Crew, and come Feb 12 you will be able to engross yourself in maybe the best story-based Third Person Shooters outside of the western-made market. The Graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay looks sick, and there's nothing like bashing tin-heads in glorious fashion!
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier: The somewhat odd-5 or so six year return of one of the greatest squad-tactical shooters is back...from the future! Whether it be cloak suits, mark and execute mechanics, streamlined and robust teamplay, and advances in graphics thanks to the hard work at Ubisoft...This game looks amazing and probably well best the fabled and frenetic predecessor that was GRAW.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City: Welcome back to probably the most viewed part of history in the Resident Evil series...The outbreak of Umbrella's virus unleashed on the citizens of Raccoon City. Spanning the famed timeline of all of RE2, RE3, and the outbreak files series..you get the chance not not only play as the kick-butt force of the U.S.S., but have the chance to change canon buy eliminated fan-favorite icons such as Leon and Claire. Nothing but conspiracy awaits as you choose your preferred U.S.S. Agent, and fight off the waves of zombies and other filth that roam the streets and buildings. The game brings a new grasp of depth with fully-functional shooter controls and squad-based "tactical horror". Let's hope Vector and his comrades bring an unforgettable and awesome spin-off to one of the most famous game series known worldwide.
Resident Evil: Revelations: The most graphically-robust game as of now on the 3DS, as Capcom is working their PS3/360/PSV/Current Gen PC Engine magic on this handheld...it is pretty much a game that makes the Wii cry as far as visuals go. The story rumoured to take place between RE3 and RE5, where both Jill and Chris have been seperated for several years. The gameplay is similar but more advanced version of RE5/RE4...with some features just made for the 3DS such as zombies and such popping out the screen. The gameplay creepy, the graphics amazing for its system, and just downright how cool the story may seem...the 3DS might have a system-seller on its hands.
Ninja Gaiden III: As of right now coming out the same day as RE:ORC...you play as the famous and lofty ninja/assassin known as Ryu Hayabase. As almost as a semi-reboot of the series where action and story-telling has replaced the known and almost distastefully famous amounts of violence and gore...it is no longer the savage ninja-equivalent of Mortal Kombat. Ryu shows newcomers how awesome and kick-butt ninja's are with his platforming, sword-fighting, and just plain awesome super-moves...that and cute anime-style chicks are still making a comeback, so no worries there.
All other games past these in 2012 are still up in the air, as this year is still new and just getting started...
Hope you enjoyed this Year in Review and keep your eyes glued on this blog...cheers!
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