Game News Kult headed to North America

[Saint_Proverbius]

Tags: Kult: Heretic Kingdoms

<A href="http://www.GotGameEntertainment.com">Got Game</a> has announced the release of <A href="http://www.heretickingdoms.com">Kult: Heretic Kingdoms</a> in the North American market. Since I was given a press release, I'll let it do the talking.
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<blockquote><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Got Game Entertainment and Merscom Announce "Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition" Publishing Deal;
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RPG set in a fantasy medieval world of heresy and inquisition destined for North American retail March 2005</b>
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Weston, CT - February 22, 2005 - Got Game Entertainment LLC today announced that it has reached a co-publishing agreement with Merscom LLC to bring "Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition" for PC to North American retail. Developed by 3D People in association with Chris Bateman and his International Hobo team, "Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition" is an isometric role playing game that combines an engaging, unconventional story with immersive game mechanics. The game is scheduled for release March 28, 2005 and will retail for $29.99 (USD). "Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition" is rated M for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Violence.
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Set in the world of the Heretic Kingdoms, a world where God is dead and religion heresy, you are cast as the young female Inquisitor, assigned to stamp out the last remnants of religion. On instructions to destroy a relic which the Inquisition considers a significant threat, you are drawn into a battle between two warring secret societies – a conspiracy of mages whose goal is true power, and a shadowy cult seeking resurrection of the Dead God.
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Placed in an amoral world, you are left to decide your own morality. As in the real world, your actions have consequences, and you must decide if you can live with those consequences. Play as an altruistic heroine, a vicious and selfish egotist, or just a person trying to get your job done. Your actions will lead you to one of six different endings depending on where you decide your loyalties lie. Will you crush religion underfoot, or become its savior? Only you can decide.
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"Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition" features a vast world to explore of fifty locations, scores of unique monsters, more than fifty quests, and a rewarding combat system that keeps the action flowing.
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"Thanks to the vision and dedication of the 3D team in association with Chris Bateman and International Hobo, ‘Heretic Kingdoms’ doesn’t succumb to the same old, same old fantasy RPG formula," said Got Game President Howard Horowitz. "An original and entertaining story combined with a vast world of beautifully rendered locations set in isometric view for ease of exploration makes for a special game which Got Game and Merscom are proud to bring to the North American market."
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For more information, visit <A href="http://www.heretickingdoms.com">www.HereticKingdoms.com</a>.</blockquote>
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Huh. Here I thought it was already out in North America. Guess not!
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Thanks, <b>Beverly</b>!

 

[crpgnut]

I enjoyed this little game. I thought the attunements were fun to acquire and I enjoyed the Dream realm.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

Woah. Quick reply is back! :D

Anyways, glad to see someone is bringing this over to the states. It deserves more recognition.

 

[Fez]

Yeah, looks like I can stop posting those boxes of severed pig's heads - with "YOU ARE NEXT" carved on them - to Calis now.

 

[Astromarine]

weird that it's not called Kult anymore.

 

[Lady Armageddona]

More weird is the Mature rating. What pot did someone at the notorious US ESPR rating commion (or whatever) smoke for this bullshit?

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

Who knows? It's probably due to the entire theme of the game dealing with the inquisition and everything. I don't pretend to know what goes on in their heads over at the ESRB though. Maybe they think the youth of america can't handle deep stories involving religious themes.

 

[Reklar]

Who knows? It's probably due to the entire theme of the game dealing with the inquisition and everything. I don't pretend to know what goes on in their heads over at the ESRB though. Maybe they think the youth of america can't handle deep stories involving religious themes.

"Well, we wouldn't want the children to get the wrong idea, now would we Otaku_Hanzo?" (ESRB quitely calls the FBI and claims Otaku_Hanzo is a terrorist.)

It probably has something to do with the word "Kult" summoning images of animal sacrifices and satanic worship or something. The dominant news media gets really hyper and invasive anytime there's even the remotest possibility of another kid going loopy who just happens to play "video games". Regardless of the real reason though, it doesn't seem to be too drastic a change to accept to get the game published stateside. I'll have to take a look at it I think.

-Reklar
(a Fallout/RPG fan)

 

[Fez]

I want to make a game all about playing PnP games and slowly getting into satan worship, sacrificing chickens and goats. It will have RPG elements, probably with a FP view. The players will have to build up their skills in leadership and charisma, to bring more kids into the fold and persuade them to take the darker path. Once you reach a critical mass of followers you start arming them, training them and finally go on a school shoot-out or some equivalent. The aim of the game is to become as famous as you can, with national martyrdom and subsequent conversion of the entire country's population being the ultimate prize.

School shooting would be the lowest on the rung, with only you and at most a handful of followers, while holding out in your own fortress or attacking an army base or a city with a fantatical army would be the high end.

You could have several countries to choose from, with varying degrees of difficulty due to money, weapon availability, current political and religious climate, police competence and so on.

You could have inner cult politics, deal brokering, assasinations, stealth misions and large scale raids.

The player would begin relying on his own skill in arms mostly, but then be able to delegate and take a leadership role as he develops, similar to Operation Flashpoint.

 

[Astromarine]

*cums*

 

[NeverwinterKnight]

did i read the preview right? you have to play as a female pc?

 

[Sol Invictus]

Yes.

 

[NeverwinterKnight]

damn. theres one strike against it.

 

[Fez]

Does it frighten you? Does it rock the foundations of your sexuality, causing you to question how you feel about your body and others?

Time to come out the closet I think.

 

[Balor]

It probably has something to do with the word "Kult" summoning images of animal sacrifices and satanic worship or something.

Satanic worship?
It's oxymoron. Being a Satanist involves not worshipping ANYTHING. Satan included. It’s all about being reasonable, thinking straight and caring for yourself here and now, not hoping for some higher power to solve your problems or life in heaven if you behave like you are being told to.
*scratches head* Or you mean those dumb Satan-worshippers that eviscerate cats and drink blood and try to summon Devil?
You may as well say that Patriotism is bad, "Cause look at those nasty skinheads!"... while they, of course, has nothing to do with it.
I'm not a Satanist myself, but I kinda sympathize their ideals. Of course, those if those will be brought to extremes, that'll be as bad as Christian Crusades and so on... just like anything else brought to extremes, though.
But that's not gonna happen any soon, that's for sure.
I, for example, simply does not qualify (I’m not healthy, reasonable and smart enough), and I'm not, frankly speaking, dumbest person on Earth. Not the smartest, but nonetheless... So far, Christianity is “casual gamer’s”, heh, so to speak, choice of religion. Very dumbed-down, anthropomorphic, dogmatized, ceremonial... what most people want from religion. *shudders*
One things that was good about communism - it took the Opium from people. Now it’s getting legalized again... *sigh*
Religion is Death... and Death to religion.
I’ll sigh under that.
However, it’s not someone’s actions that should bring death to it.
But once every man and woman will understand that Believing is one thing, and Religion is an other. In fact, completely different.
That’ll bring the death to religion, cause it will lose all it’s appeal.

 

[Shagnak]

What's wrong with playing as a female oh Sir Knight?
Does the idea make your e-penis shrivel? Or does it quiver with guilty excitement, thus causing a display of machismatic brovado to hide it?

(I think I just invented a word up there - quick! to the patent office!)

Edit: Damn, Fez bet me to the compulsory "questioning of sexuality" (by a large margin)

 

[Fez]

Satanic worship?
It's oxymoron.

For that, you shall be eaten last.

 

[Balor]

2 Fez
Was it supposed to be a compliment or something else?

 

[NeverwinterKnight]

Does it frighten you? Does it rock the foundations of your sexuality, causing you to question how you feel about your body and others?

Time to come out the closet I think.

What's wrong with playing as a female oh Sir Knight?
Does the idea make your e-penis shrivel? Or does it quiver with guilty excitement, thus causing a display of machismatic brovado to hide it?

(I think I just invented a word up there - quick! to the patent office!)

Edit: Damn, Fez bet me to the compulsory "questioning of sexuality" (by a large margin)

nope. its just one more limit on character creation. i felt the same way about ps:t forcing you to play as a male, but the story and game was good enough to overcome that one strike.

hopefully this one will too, but right now its got one strike against it.

 

[Fez]

@Balor

You shouldn't go back and edit your posts by adding multiple paragrpahs after people have posted, it's bad form.

Your post was four words long and now it's a sprawl. Write a new post if you think of something to say after.

For that, you will most definitely be eaten last.

 

[Balor]

@Fez:
I've not seen anyone reply before I hit the edit button. I would not if I did. I've set to edit it almost at once before I've posted it... a strange twist of my no less twisted mind. I guess I shouldn't post it in the first place before I fully formed it... oh well, I've never clamed to be perfect, right?
A bit of my thoughts about the game - very nice, but too combat-heavy, with no ability to save the game in the process... which is standing in the way.
Oh well, I guess I'll go and retry that stupid battle again... Gotta remember to save after it this time, and preferably not to die as silly as before.
@All:
Sorry for my outburst about religious matters, but hearing that Satanism is about worshipping Satan really pisses me off.

 

[obediah]

I want to make a game all about playing PnP games...

Great idea. I think it would be even better if you chose video games rather than PNP. You know play some GTA and unluck missions for random killings, etc... Even better, don't even bother to make the game just put out fake press releases hyping the realism, and posting faked screen shots consiisting of all those pictures form rotten.com. Hype it until soccer moms backlash and destroy the gaming industry in the U.S. EA and the other publishers all go belly up, and PC gaming is set back 15 years. just were it belongs.

 

[Balor]

Religion, rational or not, is a fundamental part of the human psyche, and its erradication can only be carried out by totalitarian means.

Believing (faith) is a fundamental part of human psyche, I can admit that. Not that bad, in my book, and certainly handy for morale boosts when things go ugly. Hope is a silly feeling, however. You can hope anything you want, but plan you actions in a realistic fashion.
Self-demeaning desire to worship something is also, unfortunately, part of human psyche... but it’s grow less powerful as people grow more sophisticated and intelligent.
Religion is not... and it's eradication can be carried only be totalitarian means only because once faith becomes religion, it turns into an institute of hoarding privileges, money and power, using people weaknesses, fanatics and brainwashing. It's inevitable, it's *fundamental part of human psyche*. It will fight tooth and claw for it, using brainwashed pawns as grunts. I’m not talking about Christianity in particular - I mean every religion and sect in existence. Btw, Satanism is NOT a religion. It’s a philosophy, or even a state of mind.
Same goes for original Buddhism and Daoism.
Of course, many good things came out from religion... but ultimately, it did far more bad then good. On my scale, at least.
I’m not against faith. But I’m against sitting idly and hoping that some higher being will solve your problems. Same goes about ‘If I’ll never touch women, drink, wear a robe and live in a cave, I’ll be granted eternal life in paradise”.
Self-improvement should be the Ultimate goal. And Christian religion says that we are created in God’s image - therefore, we cannot get any better, and any change is for the worse. *rolls eyes in disgust*. Thank God Creatinism is not being studied in our schools (so far, at least), unlike in some *progressive* countries.
Anyway, eventually religion will die out by itself. When people will finally get rid of silly need to worship anything, adhere to stupid rituals and ‘herd instinct’ to be like everyone else, that’ll bring the death to Religion. Perhaps the singularity will finally open people’s eyes?

Like those used by the commies you seem to admire. So much for your hate of "dogmatism".

Admire commies? Don't put words in my mouth, especially when I've stated otherwise already. Are you stupid or just trying to insult me? Not a helluva of difference, though, since second equals the first.
And btw, I understand that since people are unready to live without it, the religion will creep back again. I just hope that it will not become a major power, like it was in Tzar’s Russia...
Tzars used religion to make people believe that they are ‘god-chosen people’, like pharaohs in Egypt. And you can see what religion, especially extremist one, can do to people - see Chechen and Arabic terrorist’s actions.
P.S.
I agree that *Right now* religion will rule. For same reasons that democracy is, in fact, a myth. At least, such as one that we now have everywhere and until more then 50% of people use TV to make their opinions about what’s happening in the world and on people - instead of using their own brain and doing their own research.

 

[Shagnak]

@All:
Sorry for my outburst about religious matters, but hearing that Satanism is about worshipping Satan really pisses me off.

I don't know why it should piss you off. You seem to admit that the occult factor it is at least one of the valid interpretations:

Or you mean those dumb Satan-worshippers that eviscerate cats and drink blood and try to summon Devil?

"Satanic worship" (or "satan worship" as Fez actually used) is not an oxymoron, it is the worship of "Satanic" things (or Satan) surely. Whether you believe "Satanism" in the modern context is not this is another thing entirely.
And if you could read properly you will see that Fez never used the word "Satanism", or linked Satanism with the explicit worship of Satan.

Also, the rationalised view of modern Satanism, as espoused by the "official" Church of Satan and others, does not necessarily apply to all of us. :twisted:

Mwuhahahahahahahaha.....:gurgle:


Edit:

As for Satanism etc not being a religion...
One of the meanings of the word "religion":

A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Given that it is also an organised "cause, principle, or activity" I find your point to be crap.

 

[Balor]

Hmm, if I'll start to sacrifce human babies to the God, and kill every gay I encounter, will this make me perfect Cristian? God did that in the bible, after all, so it must be good for Him.
I guess you see my point.
But, well, you can hold any view of Satanism you want. Just now it's not only one... some of those are simply dumbass.