Vapourware The new Descent (formerly Descent: Underground) - lol it's dead

[Burning Bridges]

Pointless shit.

 

[LESS T_T]

Developer removed the game from Steam, to focus on development without needing to publish regular updates: https://steamcommunity.com/games/360950/announcements/detail/1492238800024274472

Delisting from Early Access

Hey there, Descenters,

We want to thank you for coming along with us on this journey and for all of your playtesting feedback in early access. We very much appreciate your support and your trust as we finish the storyline campaign for our upcoming official release. In order to make that release happen sooner, we are taking the game off of Steam Early Access to focus on implementing single-player, tech trees, and the other cool features we’ve talked about.

This was a tough decision and the deciding factor was our commitment to you. We’ve found that for a small team, early access requires a tremendous time investment that slows down the development cycle. We want to speed the game-making process back up, which requires dedicating our time to creating new content rather than supporting a work-in-progress as if it were a finished game. This means we aren’t planning to update our Production environment until around the time of our official release. However, if you’ve already bought the game, you’ll still be able to play the current build while we work to finish the game.

You can continue to follow along with us at BrightLocker.com, where we are posting regular updates. As we mentioned this summer, we are focusing most of our communications on BrightLocker to save time for development. We understand that stepping back from early access is unusual. However, we wouldn’t take this step unless it were the best and most efficient way for us to deliver the gaming experience we are all dreaming of.

Thank you for your continued support,

-The Team

 

[Ranarama]

Sublevel Zero Redux was the 6DOF shooter done right. This one, I'm not sure why the dev bothered.

 

[Makabb]

First Overload and now this?

 

[Astral Rag]

At least it runs on UE4 and not on Unity 3D like the other one.

 

[J_C]

Have nothing against this, it looks great.

 

[Makabb]

WHere is freespace 2018

 

[Haba]

Lazy cunts

Descent Developer - 4 months ago
Welcome to the endgame, Descenters!

We are in the very intense process of finalizing our console porting master. This is basically the whole game, minus a bit of polish and a few bells and whistles- so it’s a huge achievement. It’s also a LOT of work to test, test, test, fix, test, fix, and test! Hours in the office grow to Godzilla proportions…

It’s Crunch Time, baby!

The good news is that we’re getting closer and closer to that day when you’ll be playing alongside people who discovered this game in their friendly, local game store!

The sad news is that we’re not going to be streaming or updating the blog while we’re finishing things up.

We’re very sorry that we’ve missed the last couple of weeks of streams- between Internet issues and being just plain busy, we haven’t been able to.

On a brighter note… It’s almost video game announcement season, which means the official announcement you’ve been waiting for is not far off! Keep your eyes peeled watching the gaming news and on social media for all the hotness!

Thank you all for your help, your encouragement, your patience… and your love of Descent!

We’ll see you all… Underground!

-The Team

https://descendentstudios.com/community/blog/31/entry-447-we-are-resuming-testing/

Spoiler

We Are Resuming Testing!



Greetings, Descenters!


Our year-long silence is over. As we promised last year, you will soon be getting your hands on the reimagined Descent!

Very soon, our friends at Little Orbit will announce a couple of releases- a PC Beta and a full Retail Release that includes console versions.

Anyone who got a copy of Descent: Underground during our Kickstarter or Early Access will have access to the PC Beta and receive the Retail Release. Because you believed in this project from the beginning, you will also be eligible for any PC pre-order rewards advertised by Little Orbit.


If you have not yet redeemed your Kickstarter rewards, it is very important that you do so in the next few weeks.

Here is the link to collect your rewards:
https://descendentst...m/backer-portal

Your backer number is located in your Kickstarter account here:
https://www.kickstar...rofile/backings

If you click the blue + (plus-sign) button to the right of Descent: Underground, your backer number will appear at the bottom of the pop-up window. We ask for your backer number to help make sure no one else can claim your rewards.


We are also getting ready to finalize our list of names for the game credits, so we need you to update your profile on our site by the end of the month.

At the bottom of your profile screen is a “Name for Credits” field to help us know how you want to be identified in the credits:
https://descendentst...usercp&tab=core

We began this project in open development with you, the gamers. We intend to complete it in open development, too.



Later this month, we will invite Alpha backers, then Beta backers, to a special Kickstarter testing window to help us further refine the game and make it shine. This will then lead into the PC Beta, which will be open to anyone who got the desktop version before the Retail Release.

These testing windows have important jobs to do. In each one, we will ask you to try out and give feedback on different aspects of the game, including the single-player campaign. Your feedback will inform our work to polish and refine the Descent experience ahead of our Retail Release.

We are conducting the October Kickstarter testing sessions here at DescendentStudios.com.

As we resume open development, you will also see more communications from us. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest Descent news!

Thank you for your support- we look forward to launching this new era of Descent with you all!

- The Team

 

[lightbane]

I suppose the success of Overload inspired them to continue further.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

I thought Overload was the real Descent, made by former Descent developers.

What is this imposter called Descent 2018?

 

[Durandal]

https://gematsu.com/2018/10/descent-reboot-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch

Descent reboot coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch

Six-degrees-of-freedom space shooter Descent, a reboot of the 1994 game of the same name, will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch in addition to the previously announced PC, Mac, and Linux versions, developer Descendent Studios announced.

Pre-orders are available now and include access to a PC beta starting later this year, a custom version of the Generation III “Viola” ship with an exclusive paint job, special PC Beta challenges to unlock exclusive pre-season cosmetic rewards, multipass upgrade for multiplayer seasons one and two with additional gameplay challenges, and “Secret Missions” downloadable content with additional single-player missions due out later in 2019.

Users who purchased a copy of Descent, previously titled Descent: Underground, during its Kickstarter or Steam Early Access phase will have access to the PC beta and receive the full game. All PC pre-order bonuses advertised by publisher Little Orbit will also be awarded to early supporters.

Here is an overview of the game, via its official website:

About

Descent is reborn! Blast into classic six-degrees-of-freedom action-reimagined for a new generation using Unreal Engine 4!

Earth starves- resources dwindle, governments fall, and the last shreds of human civilization now belong to ruthless megacorporations. Mankind’s survival depends on water and minerals from deep space. Brave pilots fight deep within asteroids- their triumphs and tragedies broadcast back to Earth as entertainment… and a way to distract the teeming masses from the grumbling of their empty bellies.

Fly your way in 20 different ships with distinct roles and play styles. Customize them with noses, wings, skins, paint jobs, and a forest of tech tree upgrades. Deep dive into Descent‘s immersive single-player campaign or prove yourself in a variety of pulse-pounding multiplayer modes.

Prepare for Descent.

Key Features

• The Legendary Series Returns – Descent returns! Journey back into the mines with the rebooted 90s classic, fully reimagined in the Unreal 4 engine for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
• True Freedom – Experience 6-degrees-of-freedom as you explore twisting mazes and cavernous maps. Move, hide, and attack in every direction.
• Customizable Class-Based Combat – Pick your class, customize your ship, dominate the match. Choose from over 4 classes, 20 ships, and kit them out with nose, wing, skin, and other upgrades.
• Hand-Crafted Campaign – Deep dive through an immersive single-player campaign featuring over 15 missions of puzzles, side-quests, special rewards and epic boss battles.
• Built for Multiplayer – Prove yourself in our cutting edge multiplayer experience that features 4 pulse pounding modes from free-for-all to co-op.

https://www.gamersfirst.com/descent/pre-order

DESCENT
Little Orbit, LLC • Six Degrees Of Freedom

Earth’s resources are nearly depleted, its governments bankrupt. Mankind’s last hope for survival lies in the deep pockets of greedy Megacorporations and their self-regulated “asteroid trade”. Always looking for more ways to profit, this space mining competition has become a new form of entertainment – the Underground Games. Pit your skills against other pilots as you fight, harvest, and haul. Build. Upgrade. Customize. Repair. Fly alongside allies and crush competing corps into insolvency. Earn a reputation. Your life depends on your value to your sponsors as you battle to stay atop the leaderboard and send money and supplies to loved ones back on Earth.

PRE-ORDER $39.99

PRE-ORDER BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• PC Beta starting later this year
• A custom version of the Generation III “Viola” ship w/ exclusive paint job
• Special PC Beta challenges to unlock exclusive pre-season cosmetic rewards
• Multipass upgrade for multiplayer seasons 1 & 2 with additional gameplay challenges
• "Secret Missions" DLC with additional single-player missions, landing later in 2019!

They're trying to make it a big multiplayer thing. At least there's a singleplayer campaign attached now.

 

[Leechmonger]

The only recognizable element is the title font.

 

[m_s0]

It's not that any of those Descent 2016 2017 2018 2019 trailers look terrible per se, but once you compare them with Overload footage:



...you really feel the difference.

Has Overload been a success?

 

[LESS T_T]

https://descendentstudios.com/community/blog/31/entry-451-descent-rolls-towards-the-launch-pad/

Descent Rolls Towards The Launch Pad!

Happy Tuesday, Descenters!

Today we celebrate an important milestone- our beautiful baby is now in the hands of our friends at Little Orbit and BoomBox for launch prep!

While we’ll be assisting them with technical questions and adding a bit more polish, all major development tasks are complete. BoomBox is now adding the necessary payloads for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Little Orbit is double-checking their launch window calculations and preparing to let the world know all about the awesomeness that is Descent.

A whole heck of a lot has happened since our last dev blog. We’ve subjected the single-player campaign to countless hours of testing, bug fixes, and improvements. Our friends helped us completely rework the user interface, making it easier to navigate and more visually interesting. Our artists crafted beautiful cutscenes for the campaign, as well as dozens and dozens of ship customizations to earn in multiplayer. Plus, we’ve compiled an incredible soundtrack featuring work from smokin’ hot electronic musicians!

This is an exciting time and we are getting ready to open up the floodgates to all of you who purchased the game as a Kickstarter backer or in Early Access. Our goal is to have a “pre-season” shortly before the official release date that will only be open to people who preordered the game. There are some website-side technical tasks to complete before we announce the details, but keep your eyes peeled for more information as it becomes available.

So, what’s next?

Aside from the polish we mentioned earlier, our plan is to release expansions a few times a year. We call these expansions “seasons,” since our story takes place in a world of “rock jocks” competing in televised asteroid battles. Each season would have some new single-player missions as well as new multiplayer content.

We’ve said it before, but we really want to say this again:

THANK YOU!

You made the rebirth of 6DoF gaming possible by supporting this project.

-The Team

P.S. - Tell all your friends and share the project on social media. More players means more action in the mines!

I wonder if having the name of Descent (plus publisher's support and things) will make difference in financial outlook.

 

[Xmantis]

I hope Overload gets a sequel. The core gameplay was good but it was a little bland and unpolished, it makes me think if it got a "Descent 2" treatment to it's "Descent 1" then it could really shine.

Fuck this nu-Descent shit though, it looks like garbage. And if it's made by the Underground people it likely is. It's a shame they are the ones who have access to the Descent property now.

 

[Infinitron]

Yikes: https://www.pcgamer.com/a-messy-legal-dispute-puts-the-descent-reboot-in-peril/

A messy legal dispute puts the Descent reboot in a nosedive
It sounds like the Descent reboot that was Kickstarted in 2015 is done, and not in the good way.

Remember Descent: Underground? The descendant (get it?) of the classic six-degrees-of-freedom shooter Descent was announced in 2015 with an eventually-successful Kickstarter, launched on Steam Early Access later that year, was removed from Early Access in 2017 so developers could "focus on implementing single-player, tech trees, and the other cool features," and was then slated for proper beta testing (renamed as simply Descent) in late 2018, followed by a planned release in 2019. It then seemed to fall off the face of the Earth.

It's not clear whether the 2018 beta actually took place, although activity on the Descendent Studios Twitter feed suggests that it did. But the last game-related tweet was posted in July 2019, the Descendent website is gone, and publisher Little Orbit filed a lawsuit against the developer in January over its failure to complete the game.

The lawsuit claims that Descendent has missed multiple milestones and scheduled release dates, going as far back as May 2018, and failed to meet the quality standards set in the publishing deal. That, the suit states, arises from the fact that "certain key personnel" left the developer during the game's production and weren't replaced by "equally competent personnel," which left the studio incapable of delivering the game as promised.

"As a result of Descendent’s repeated failures to meet the agreed upon delivery dates, the parties discussed ways for Descendent to still be able to deliver the Game. Those discussions culminated in the Parties agreeing to a 'Terms Sheet' dated November 28, 2018," the suit states.

"Pursuant to the Terms Sheet, Little Orbit committed to continue funding Descendent’s monthly payroll in the amount of $60,000 per month ... The Parties also agreed on a new extended delivery date for the final PC Version of the game of January 25, 2019 in order to release the game in February. Descendent failed to meet the extended delivery date given the deliverable actually provided by Descendent on January 25, 2019 was rejected as the Final PC Version, having failed to meet the definition of 'Final Version' in the Original Agreement."

The suit also alleges that Descendent CEO Eric Peterson has made "multiple false and disparaging statements" about the publisher in order to cover up the mess it's made, including that Little Orbit is "holding it hostage trying to get the rights from us," that the publisher can't actually afford the marketing and console development costs, and that Little Orbit has an abusive "pattern of behavior" toward developers when projects run into trouble.

Complicating the situation further, Little Orbit also believes that Interplay has canceled its Descent licensing deal with the developer. "That means Little Orbit has now lost the rights to this valuable trademark as a result of Descendent's repeated breaches of the Agreement and Term Sheet," the suit states. "The loss of the Descent trademark also further devalues what work has been done to develop the Game."

If the allegations are accurate, it sounds unlikely that the Descent reboot will ever see the light of day, which is a shame. Fortunately for anyone who was looking forward to it, there are some other good options out there: The 2018 spiritual successor Overload is quite good, and personally I really like the more narrative-focused Retrovirus from 2013 (which is also quite a bit cheaper).

The lawsuit says that the "significant and extensive damages and financial injury" suffered by Little Orbit hasn't yet been determined, but is not less than $2 million. I've reached out to Little Orbit and Descendent for comment, and will update if I receive a reply.

Update: Little Orbit CEO Matt Scott has posted a message about the legal action at gamersfirst.com apologizing for the frustration and lack of communication with Descent Kickstarter backers.

"Little Orbit remains under non-disclosure, and we are engaged in an active lawsuit, so we are severely limited in what we can share at this time," he wrote. "With that in mind, I do want to say the following:"

• Descendent Studios has shut down their website/forums and ceased working on the game. This was made public by their CEO Eric Peterson some time ago.
• Since then, we have made every attempt to resolve this matter without legal action, but all of those efforts have failed.
• We did not receive any of the Kickstarter money, so we cannot refund any of those funds.
• Since we do not yet have a release date for the game, we have processed refunds for all of the pre-orders we took.

Scott added that Little Orbit has put "a significant amount of time, money, and effort" into the game, and in spite of all the troubles still intends to launch Descent as soon as possible.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/descendentstudios/descent-underground/posts/2954532

State of the game, the team, court case, trademark - everything you ever wanted to know, and then some.

Well, here we are, 5 years after we initially Kickstarted Descent Underground.

Thanks to all of you, we raised more than 600k, and off we went, believing that a Descent re-imagining deserved as much effort and support as possible.

Clearly we would not be able to do a triple AAA game as those run in the 10s of millions, but we thought why not a triple III (Independent) game? Where we get a very high end Independent game! We all decided to work towards that goal, making individual sacrifices along the way to make it happen

Eventually we signed with a publisher to help us have as wide a launch as possible, and to get console versions of the game. Heck, with cross play on consoles and cross promotion it might help launch Six DOF back into the mainstream - which was our team's biggest hope.

However, as we got to the end of primary game development and about 2-4 weeks from our Beta release to early backers a dispute arose with the publisher.

This has since lead to a lawsuit and our counter lawsuit. Now, I am not going to disparage, or say whom is right or wrong, Here is the the link to all the court filings if you feel like reading them for yourself and making your own conclusion about the state of things.

All I can say is our entire team is committed to getting our work out to those of you who backed us - and have been so danged patient. We just need to get through this legal process first and settle on whom gets to do what.

Also, there is a matter of the Descent trademark, a few weeks after the dispute, the trademark license with Interplay ended.

So, once the court rules - the publisher of the game will need to re-enter a license agreement with Interplay for the rights to call it a Descent product.

If no agreement is reached, the game could be released as the original pre-kickstarter title "Ships that Fight Underground" or something else, as Descendent Studios owns the assets and the game IP. Our strong preference of course, is to re-engage Interplay and procure another license and release as a Descent product - that will need to be negotiated after the court has their say in the dispute listed above.

Here is a video that shows some of the first mission (didn't want to spoil it for you by showing too much, like where secrets are hidden etc). So, we do jump around a bit, the full first mission takes about 20-25 minutes for most people as they find their way. As a heads up, this is not a marketing video, it is meant to show you some of the flow of how you get in and out of missions, as well as a little bit about the customization options of ships. This is all just captured from one of our latest builds.

There are 4 levels of difficulty, our player chose to play as a "rookie" which is honestly pretty easy, but there are 2 levels above that which get much more challenging for those looking for a bot smorgishborg! However, we can't have our own player die in our video (or can we??? BWAHAHA)!

At the end of the video, we show a few of the ships available to earn (20 total), most of which are customizable. We have 17 missions overall, (one is for training) an estimated 30-40 hours of single player story based content, unlimited vs bots action as well as survival mode and in addition, we have more than a dozen multiplayer maps with so so much more game play.

We are very proud of what we have accomplished, we just so desperately want to get it into your hands. It has been a long time since the last update, but we were frankly worried about what we can and can't say when engaged in an active lawsuit. And, nothing much is happening until it is resolved. However, our lawyer informed us that a post that is informational only would be fine.

So, I know it is a lot to ask, as your patience has been tested, but hopefully it will work its way through the legal process soon, and the game will get released. I believe everyone wants that!

See you in the mines!

Descendent Studios Inc.

PS. If you have any questions and I can legally answer them please put them in the comments below and I will try my best.

 

[Don Peste]

Uhm I'll ask Hervé to reconsider, he's not that unreasonable.

 

[Morpheus Kitami]

Interplay is seriously still around? They have to just be one guy and his lawyer at this point, right?

 

[Baron Dupek]

Interplay is seriously still around? They have to just be one guy and his lawyer at this point, right?

just a lawyer