wraggster
April 26th, 2011, 18:44
Downloadable action game Hydrophobia is coming to Steam and the PlayStation 3, Eurogamer can exclusively reveal.
Hydrophobia Prophecy is described as version 1.5 of the game that began life on the Xbox 360 last year.
It also follows the December 2010 release of Hydrophobia Pure on Xbox Live Arcade.
The game includes new levels – around 70 per cent of the game is new - and existing levels have been reworked.
The cover system has been improved, and combat is now possible from climbing points. The game is said to have a "proper, dramatic new ending", with an expanded storyline. There are new voice actors, too.
And the game has been augmented, developer Dark Energy Digital said, with feedback gathered from the Hydrophobia Listening Post (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-26-hydrophobia-listening-post-launched).
"It's Hydrophobia 1.5, really," managing director Deborah Jones told Eurogamer.
"It's also not the original and it's also not Pure."
"The game is now hugely longer," DED boss Pete Jones added. "We've honed, refined and developed the stuff people liked, and we've added a bunch of new stuff that's gone down really well in usability tests."
The Steam version launches on 9th May, with a pre-order price of £7.64 / $10.19.
The PlayStation Network version, which launches shortly after the Steam version, supports the Move controller, and will be similarly priced.
Here, the navigation controller controls player movement, and the Move controller is used to control the camera and aiming.
Pete Jones said "the ultimate decision" on whether DED will bring Prophecy to the Xbox 360 is Microsoft's, but "it's our intention to do so".
The Steam version of Prophecy includes a developer feedback system, called Darknet, built in. It allows players to pause the game and send contextually augmented feedback to DED's servers in real-time.
Prophecy brings the Hydrophobia story arc to a close, but DED wants to expand on the concept with "other stories within the Hydrophobia universe".
"We want to be the first game and the first developer that truly has a one-to-one connection with the community," Jones said.
"We're a bit of a slow starter and we made mistakes in the beginning, but we've got there in the end. We've been committed heart and soul to this project. We believe in it completely. We've created something now we're all very proud of."
Screenshots of the Steam version are below, along with a list of Prophecy's many enhancements. These are on top of Pure's additions:
Graphics
Enhanced environmental lighting throughout the game
High resolution textures
Updated video texture work
Hugely improved particle systems throughout the game
Depth of field effects implemented
MLAA anti-aliasing
Improved lighting and shadowing solutions
HydroEngine Enhancements
Enhanced character DripMapping technology
Improved reflection and refraction mapping
Enhancement underwater visual effects
Underwater depth of field effect
Enhanced particle system and improved performance
New high resolution RippleMap simulation responds to characters and objects
Jump distance more accurate relative to movement speed
Added stationary jump
Speed of movement through vents increased and animations improved
Speed of movement with MAVI increased
Various animations refined to provide better feedback
Narrative and Backstory
Scoot character remodelled
Scoot character recast, now played by Oliver Vaquer (GTA: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors, Law & Order)
Characterisation improved with remastered voice acting and additional scenes
Mila characters role has been enhanced with compelling new scenes
Storyline enhanced and completed
Dramatic new plot points shed light on the back story and the Prophecy of Malthus
New in game video communications enhance the narrative without disrupting gameplay
Compelling new cutscenes and dramatic twists
New mechanics designed around the deeper narrative
Hydro Kinetic powers brought into the main story
Dramatic new ending completes the story arc
Wading and Swimming
Reworked Kate's bracing animation and responsiveness
Eliminated undesirable situations where the character was swept out of player control
Increased speed of recovery after being wiped out by water
Removed invasive reactionary animations after being wiped out by water
Art Direction
Improved environmental lighting
Re-designed locations add variety and drama
Spectacular new environments introduced
Reworked environmental assets
Audio
New and improved music tracks
Re-mastered audio and improved sound design
New SFX added to various feedback systems
Puzzles
Improved lock-on effect for electric cable puzzles
Added mini-puzzles to existing areas
Exclusive new environments introduce new physics based puzzles
Ability to manipulate floating objects to solve bouyancy based puzzles
New narrative based challenges
Combat and Cover Systems
Individual bone based enemy lock on feature (depending on difficult setting)
Improved aim assist functionality
Dynamic aim reticule adapts to different ammo types and combat behaviour
Destructable object system reworked for greater feedback and effectiveness
Greater variety of ammo earlier in the game
AI enhancements and performance improvements
Instant ammo collection features eliminates unneccessary button presses
Rebalanced Sonic Rounds for more effective combat
Reload times reduced for better combat flow
Cover System Enhancements
Blind fire functionality added
Turn corners while in cover and engage in flanking maneuvours
Cover animation improvements
More responsive and smooth cover transitions
All new Floating Cover system
Grab bouyant object to use as dynamic cover in water
Use floating cover on the surface or during underwater combat
New Climbing Combat system
Ability to shoot and engage in combat while climbing or hanging
Levels and Game Balance
Enhanced and redesigned levels
Exclusive new levels to explore throughout the game
All new mechanics, puzzles and combat added
Dramatic new end sequence using Hydro Kinetic abilities
Decrypting doors sequence shortened
Tutorial added for hack mini game
Improved feedback, waypoint design and tutorials
Better checkpoint design
Improved difficulty setting design
Rationalised waypoint system choice allows players to set their preference for how much hand holding they want independently of difficulty setting
Darknet
Contextual Dev Feedback System - bring up Dev Feedback from the pause menu at any time to comment on your experience
Your feedback is uploaded to Dark Energy augmented with contextual information about the gamestate
Dark Energy will continue to act upon gathered data from the playing community
GUI and Front End
Menus reworked
Front end menus re-designed
In game menus re-designed
Value
Pre-purchase the Steam version for just $10.19 / £7.64 (including 15% pre-purchase discount)
New locations, mechanics and narrative elements extend the lifespan of the main game massively
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-26-steam-ps3-hydrophobia-prophecy-revealed
Hydrophobia Prophecy is described as version 1.5 of the game that began life on the Xbox 360 last year.
It also follows the December 2010 release of Hydrophobia Pure on Xbox Live Arcade.
The game includes new levels – around 70 per cent of the game is new - and existing levels have been reworked.
The cover system has been improved, and combat is now possible from climbing points. The game is said to have a "proper, dramatic new ending", with an expanded storyline. There are new voice actors, too.
And the game has been augmented, developer Dark Energy Digital said, with feedback gathered from the Hydrophobia Listening Post (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-26-hydrophobia-listening-post-launched).
"It's Hydrophobia 1.5, really," managing director Deborah Jones told Eurogamer.
"It's also not the original and it's also not Pure."
"The game is now hugely longer," DED boss Pete Jones added. "We've honed, refined and developed the stuff people liked, and we've added a bunch of new stuff that's gone down really well in usability tests."
The Steam version launches on 9th May, with a pre-order price of £7.64 / $10.19.
The PlayStation Network version, which launches shortly after the Steam version, supports the Move controller, and will be similarly priced.
Here, the navigation controller controls player movement, and the Move controller is used to control the camera and aiming.
Pete Jones said "the ultimate decision" on whether DED will bring Prophecy to the Xbox 360 is Microsoft's, but "it's our intention to do so".
The Steam version of Prophecy includes a developer feedback system, called Darknet, built in. It allows players to pause the game and send contextually augmented feedback to DED's servers in real-time.
Prophecy brings the Hydrophobia story arc to a close, but DED wants to expand on the concept with "other stories within the Hydrophobia universe".
"We want to be the first game and the first developer that truly has a one-to-one connection with the community," Jones said.
"We're a bit of a slow starter and we made mistakes in the beginning, but we've got there in the end. We've been committed heart and soul to this project. We believe in it completely. We've created something now we're all very proud of."
Screenshots of the Steam version are below, along with a list of Prophecy's many enhancements. These are on top of Pure's additions:
Graphics
Enhanced environmental lighting throughout the game
High resolution textures
Updated video texture work
Hugely improved particle systems throughout the game
Depth of field effects implemented
MLAA anti-aliasing
Improved lighting and shadowing solutions
HydroEngine Enhancements
Enhanced character DripMapping technology
Improved reflection and refraction mapping
Enhancement underwater visual effects
Underwater depth of field effect
Enhanced particle system and improved performance
New high resolution RippleMap simulation responds to characters and objects
Jump distance more accurate relative to movement speed
Added stationary jump
Speed of movement through vents increased and animations improved
Speed of movement with MAVI increased
Various animations refined to provide better feedback
Narrative and Backstory
Scoot character remodelled
Scoot character recast, now played by Oliver Vaquer (GTA: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors, Law & Order)
Characterisation improved with remastered voice acting and additional scenes
Mila characters role has been enhanced with compelling new scenes
Storyline enhanced and completed
Dramatic new plot points shed light on the back story and the Prophecy of Malthus
New in game video communications enhance the narrative without disrupting gameplay
Compelling new cutscenes and dramatic twists
New mechanics designed around the deeper narrative
Hydro Kinetic powers brought into the main story
Dramatic new ending completes the story arc
Wading and Swimming
Reworked Kate's bracing animation and responsiveness
Eliminated undesirable situations where the character was swept out of player control
Increased speed of recovery after being wiped out by water
Removed invasive reactionary animations after being wiped out by water
Art Direction
Improved environmental lighting
Re-designed locations add variety and drama
Spectacular new environments introduced
Reworked environmental assets
Audio
New and improved music tracks
Re-mastered audio and improved sound design
New SFX added to various feedback systems
Puzzles
Improved lock-on effect for electric cable puzzles
Added mini-puzzles to existing areas
Exclusive new environments introduce new physics based puzzles
Ability to manipulate floating objects to solve bouyancy based puzzles
New narrative based challenges
Combat and Cover Systems
Individual bone based enemy lock on feature (depending on difficult setting)
Improved aim assist functionality
Dynamic aim reticule adapts to different ammo types and combat behaviour
Destructable object system reworked for greater feedback and effectiveness
Greater variety of ammo earlier in the game
AI enhancements and performance improvements
Instant ammo collection features eliminates unneccessary button presses
Rebalanced Sonic Rounds for more effective combat
Reload times reduced for better combat flow
Cover System Enhancements
Blind fire functionality added
Turn corners while in cover and engage in flanking maneuvours
Cover animation improvements
More responsive and smooth cover transitions
All new Floating Cover system
Grab bouyant object to use as dynamic cover in water
Use floating cover on the surface or during underwater combat
New Climbing Combat system
Ability to shoot and engage in combat while climbing or hanging
Levels and Game Balance
Enhanced and redesigned levels
Exclusive new levels to explore throughout the game
All new mechanics, puzzles and combat added
Dramatic new end sequence using Hydro Kinetic abilities
Decrypting doors sequence shortened
Tutorial added for hack mini game
Improved feedback, waypoint design and tutorials
Better checkpoint design
Improved difficulty setting design
Rationalised waypoint system choice allows players to set their preference for how much hand holding they want independently of difficulty setting
Darknet
Contextual Dev Feedback System - bring up Dev Feedback from the pause menu at any time to comment on your experience
Your feedback is uploaded to Dark Energy augmented with contextual information about the gamestate
Dark Energy will continue to act upon gathered data from the playing community
GUI and Front End
Menus reworked
Front end menus re-designed
In game menus re-designed
Value
Pre-purchase the Steam version for just $10.19 / £7.64 (including 15% pre-purchase discount)
New locations, mechanics and narrative elements extend the lifespan of the main game massively
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-26-steam-ps3-hydrophobia-prophecy-revealed