Preview Commie CRPGs examined at RPG Vault, pt. 1

[ElastiZombie]

It is obvious that all of these Russian game companies are just a front for the diabolic Rasputin and his partner-in-crime Baba Yaga as they slowly seize control of the world gaming market and pave the way for the Old Ones to return to plunge this world into Chaos.

It just makes sense, when you think about it...

 

[Trash]

What I wonder about is why the codex doesn't do more stuff like this article. It's interesting, fresh and fun...it just misses that lovely codex touch. Come on codex, give us some more neat stuff to discuss!

 

[Sotka]

It is obvious that all of these Russian game companies are just a front for the diabolic Rasputin and his partner-in-crime Baba Yaga as they slowly seize control of the world gaming market and pave the way for the Old Ones to return to plunge this world into Chaos.

Very nice

Space Rangers! Yes, thumbs up. Another brilliant game, developer is Elemental Games, publisher again 1C company. I played it several times, and probably I'd play once more if not this shining jewel before me on the table, called SpaceRangers 2. Wink.

 

[Ortchel]

This game 'Boiling Point' looks neat, and it sounds like it plays similarly to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Too bad it'll be overlooked because of it's slightly outdated graphics and unfortunate overuse of lens flare, but it's got some sort of quirky appeal.

Edit: What is this fella tossing? A jar of blood?

 

[Jed]

@Sotka: Can you tell us more about Space Rangers 2? I've been waiting for a TB space-sim for a looong time...

 

[Screaming_life]

This game 'Boiling Point' looks neat, and it sounds like it plays similarly to S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Yeah, it's constantly being compared to it! although it's quite different really.
The graphics definately aren't the best but it allows for a completely seamless world.

Edit: What is this fella tossing? A jar of blood?

That would be jam - one of the more deadly weapons in the game!

you can see it in action in the weapons video on our site:
http://www.boiling-point.net/index.php? ... /index.php

there is also the seamless world video there - well worth checking out!

 

[Ortchel]

Jam?

Please tell me you're kidding.

 

[Screaming_life]

Jam?

Please tell me you're kidding.

:D no i'm really not!

it attracts bees!

 

[Ortchel]

I see now. It works exactly like the pheromones in HL2. I can understand bees being attracted to jam eventually but this is instant, that's sort of silly.

Other than that, I noticed the game doesn't use ragdolls, which is a bummer. The fella got shot in the head with a sniper round and managed to grab his face .. he wouldn't even have a face, but that's sort of nitpicking. Everything appears to play out really fast, even weapon upgrading. I was kind of hoping for a slower, more deliberate, System Shock 2-esque experience, though I'll still try it out.

What's the release date?

 

[Screaming_life]

Yeah no ragdoll

The seamless world trailer is slower paced.
Also Atari seem to be afraid to use "RPG" and action always sells more! they are obviously gonna push the action elements, also it is a weapons trailer!
I definately won't be ungrading in the middle of a fire fight!

There is a huge 625 sqkm world to explore - take as long as you need!

EDIT: oh yeah, release date.... currently around 4th March but it's not gold so who knows!?

 

[Ortchel]

I hadn't considered Atari's position, that's a good point. Where does the game take place? It looks like Cuba, or maybe Brazil.

Yeesh, March? The graphics don't bother me one bit, but by March, this game'll look like Doom 2 to most FPS fans.

 

[DarkSign]

Jam? Thats just wrong! In the South we dont waste good jam like that!

Perhaps you might change that to kvas? (my favorite russian compote drink)

The trailers look really great...and its almost like a single-player MMO experience (people here hate MMOs, but its a compliment to the liveliness of the world detail)

Makes me kind of think of Jagged Alliance...although you arent hiring anyone.

Ok. Ill shut up now and wait to play it!

 

[Screaming_life]

I hadn't considered Atari's position, that's a good point. Where does the game take place? It looks like Cuba, or maybe Brazil.

Columbia

Yeesh, March? The graphics don't bother me one bit, but by March, this game'll look like Doom 2 to most FPS fans.

March is only about 6 weeks!
FPS fans can wait till Doom 3 add-on then for all i care!!

Sleeper hit? best unplayed game of 2005?

EDIT:

Jam? Thats just wrong! In the South we dont waste good jam like that!

Perhaps you might change that to kvas? (my favorite russian compote drink)

Maybe i could if i was developing the game!

The trailers look really great...and its almost like a single-player MMO experience (people here hate MMOs, but its a compliment to the liveliness of the world detail)

Yeah i hate MMOs too! i guess it's kind of like Gothic in respect to the life

 

[Ortchel]

Yeah, I know March isn't terribly far off, but I figured it'd be out sooner as it appears to have already been released in Russia. Also, from what I can gather the task of translation has been underway for some time now.

Does Boiling Point have some sort of gravity gun too? A long grasping pole perhaps?

 

[Screaming_life]

nah, it's not been released in Russia yet, i think Atari are going for a global release, although there is a different publisher for the Russian version. Atari probably have them under their thumb though!!

Does Boiling Point have some sort of gravity gun too? A long grasping pole perhaps?

:D There is an "ancient weapons" skill and a "mystic" element to the game so you never know!!

Maybe some kind of aztec levitation gun?!!!

 

[Ortchel]

That's what I get for reading fan forums. So no one's played it all yet? I got the impression you had when you noted it's difference with Stalker.

Are there other melee weapons aside from the knife? I'm partial to them, myself.

 

[Screaming_life]

So no one's played it all yet? I got the impression you had when you noted it's difference with Stalker.

The guy that writes our French section played it a few months back but reading about both games you can see it's different!

Are there other melee weapons aside from the knife? I'm partial to them, myself.

Probably not many... i think there are different types of knife but i'm not sure, also there are spears and blow pipes from the Indians faction but i guess they aren't really melee weapons!

 

[Ortchel]

Spears are, spears definitely are, unless they're javelins or 'throwing spears'.

Do you have any screens?

 

[Screaming_life]

Spears are, spears definitely are, unless they're javelins or 'throwing spears'.

yeah exactly, might just be javelins... there's been very little info about it

Do you have any screens?

only this one:

http://www.boiling-point.net/show.php?l=en&pic=xenusnew4.jpg

 

[Ortchel]

Well, I can't say for sure, but in real life that'd be far too large to throw effectively any real distance. We'll see, but that's exciting, for me anyway.

Sorry to nag you with all these questions, but do you have a link to an article or thread detailing the faction system? Last question, I swear

 

[Screaming_life]

It's no problem! it's quite rare for people to actually ask questions! usually it's just comments about the crap graphics!!

anyway, you can read about the factions here:

http://www.boiling-point.net/index.php?l=en&x_menu=factions&x_action=factions1.htm

(menu on the right to navigate through them!)

 

[Ortchel]

This is pretty groundbreaking stuff. I've seen drug intake in games before, of course, but it was always veiled (i.e. Jet), here they come right out and offer you the chance to play a cokehead, amazing.

Anyway, that was a really interesting article, though it didn't mention anything about neutrality, is that an option? If they're able to pull off all that these faction descriptions entail, they'll not only have the most involved FPS (to date) on their hands, but possibly even one of the most involved RPGs as well. I'm naturally skeptical, but I figure it'll be this or Stalker, to really break the mold.

I found the Indians most appealing, who are you planning on joining up with?

Edit: One more question, in the FAQ I found a strange bit:

Q: Will it be possible to hide in the grass, trees or will the enemies see you anyway?
A: Even in Codename Outbreak they didn't. It'll be the same in Boiling Point.

However, Codename: Outbreak was developed by GSC Game World (who is making Stalker) not Deep Shadows, why would he reference GSC's game in that context?

 

[Screaming_life]

This is pretty groundbreaking stuff. I've seen drug intake in games before, of course, but it was always veiled (i.e. Jet), here they come right out and offer you the chance to play a cokehead, amazing.

:D yeah, although i should say that Atari has censored any reference to drugs. They still exist but are just called something different. First it was changed to anabolic steroids and now according to this quote, synthetic adrenaline

"Boiling Point will feature very strong synthetic adrenaline and alcohol which will play an important role in our world," explained senior producer Thomas Schaefer. "Having a glass of tequila in a South American bar can sometimes open mouths. On the other hand it will make a big difference if you decide to help the Mafia by dealing in adrenaline, although others in the world may not like this. Remember, the CIA is also featured in Boiling Point..."

There are parameters that deal with the effects of medicine, alcohol and drugs although i'm unsure of their exact impact. I would imagine that maybe the more often you take medicine the less impact it has, but i really don't know. With drugs, it would be cool if you got addicted and became dependent on it!

Anyway, that was a really interesting article, though it didn't mention anything about neutrality, is that an option? If they're able to pull off all that these faction descriptions entail, they'll not only have the most involved FPS (to date) on their hands, but possibly even one of the most involved RPGs as well. I'm naturally skeptical, but I figure it'll be this or Stalker, to really break the mold.

I think perfect neutrality will be almost impossible. I mean you will have to do missions for factions and that will in turn effect your relations with other factions. The developers have said that it will always be possible to work for all factions but at a "cost".
I guess you could play them off each other and stay as neutral as possible.

But yeah the descriptions do really sound good, i just hope it carries through into the game! It certainly sounds more involved than Stalker in this respect.

I found the Indians most appealing, who are you planning on joining up with?

Yeah i found Indians most appealing too!

Edit: One more question, in the FAQ I found a strange bit:

Q: Will it be possible to hide in the grass, trees or will the enemies see you anyway?
A: Even in Codename Outbreak they didn't. It'll be the same in Boiling Point.

However, Codename: Outbreak was developed by GSC Game World (who is making Stalker) not Deep Shadows, why would he reference GSC's game in that context?

Ah yes! this old question!

This is a quote from the DS website:

Deep Shadows was founded by the authors of Vital Engine: Sergey Zabaryansky and Roman Lut. We began to work together as a team in 1998. Roman came to game industry from demo making. By the time of our meeting two his demos were the prizewinners on well-known Russian demo-party "Enlight". Meanwhile I worked in two USA software companies before. In 1999 we started to work in GSC Game World on Codename Outbreak (Venom). I was producer and lead programmer of this game. Roman was a programmer and level designer. Having finished successfully this project we left the company and founded Deep Shadows for developing the new RPG/action title based on Vital Engine 2.

So it seems both games were born out of the same project!

 

[Sotka]

To Jed: sorry I missed your post. So, Space Rangers.

The game is multigenre that includes RPG, exploration, trade sim, arcade and text quests. The plot is unimaginative - far far into the future, several races in peace and public order, surprise enemy (klissans) attack, crushing defeat, call to volunteers i.e. rangers. Main feature of the game is freedom of your actions. You can fight, explore, trade or pillage. Any way you grow in social rank and build your ship/skills. You can try to stop the war, either by finding and destroying klissan mothership "Mahpella" or through diplomatics, using collected knowledge (namely pieces of defeated klissan battleships ) to negotiate its retreat (this latter option never worked for me). Text quests are brilliant small detective or fun stories (example: you were imprisoned, first day, you have a possiblilty to 1) bribe guards, 2) treat your cellmates to dinner, 3) get body training, 2) take part in croach races with your cockroach, 4) sleep/rest so on. Eventually you decide on outcome and it's fun and usually unexpected. Battles are turn-based except arcade "blackholes" (arcade battles happen when you enter black hole, you can skip them but generally this is a good/easy way to get rare equipment).

Beside you and klissans, there are many (hundreds) militaries, pirates, traders/civilians and other rangers. All live their own lives. Militaries fight, civilians are busy with businesses , pirates rob them, rangers compete you.

Second part is same as first but with new enemies (different types of robots instead of klissans) and features, adding planetary RTS battles a-la Z. In SR2 your influence on the course of events has even greater extent.

Addictive as hell and fun.

**
From SR2 official description, brief:

* new interface & better graphics comp. with SR1;
* more than 60 star systems (about 250 planets/stations).
* 5 races (same as first part).
* 15 types of arms (w/O mods).
* 35 text quests (woo-hoo!! I want 135, cool)
* 18 terrain maps;
* probing planets (wtf is this? sending probes?);
* 2 new space stations: med and business-center;
* micromods (this is for modding ams/equipment);
* 12 alien diseases and 12 stims for skills (this is for your char );
* possibility to finance construction of stations and military operations;
* more than 90 portraits of main char to choose from (this sucks, i want at least 115).
* 12 new music tracks (hm);
**

and other cool stuff.

 

[Ortchel]

So it seems both games were born out of the same project!

Ah, that makes sense then. I loved Codename: Outbreak, it's one of my favorites.

Although i should say that Atari has censored any reference to drugs. They still exist but are just called something different. First it was changed to anabolic steroids and now according to this quote, synthetic adrenaline

Atari's stupidity never ceases to amaze me. I bet they came up with 'synethetic adrenaline' themselves. Will the european releases feature the original wording?