After making Halo franchise one of the biggest games in history, Bungie filled their sails and went into the bosom of Activision -no exclusives, hint, hint. Then we all started waiting. For a company which came this far, what we have here is a very dangerous point. They can rise even more or crumble.
“We did a bunch of ambitious things on Halo deliberately to reach out to people,” Said Jason Jones, “We made the game run without a mouse and keyboard, and now nobody plays [first-person shooters] the old way anymore because they don’t want to.
It’s a first-person shooter video game or by Bungie’s way of putting it, a “shared world shooter” which won’t require a subscription fee and some time ago Bungie showed off some material about the game to the media behind closed doors. Now we have the awesome Reveal Trailer and some concept art.
Destiny, Bungie’s new online persistent world game but not only that, Bungie wants you to engage players all around the world by a “transmedia” experience, using consoles and apps for mobile devices which send you updates about new quests and what your friends are up to and will unfold over the course of ten years (which is the publishing deal duration of Bungie with Activision).
Here is the cool video:
The game takes place 700 years into the future. The arrival of the Traveler, the extraterrestrial protection of The Traveler, a massive white globe, hangs over the Earth, protecting our planet and emanating a mysterious source of power and strength. The Traveler ushers in a Golden Age, where humankind finally masters technology. Humanity had expanded colonies throughout the Solar System.
Cassini Derelict, Image Bungie, Inc.
Humanity of the Golden Ages had formed advanced citadels, powerful bodysuits, destructive weapons and lightning-fast space vessels with highly developed weapons systems. But these won’t protect them from the attacking aliens. Survivors of humanity gather in the Last City where mysterious Traveler’s sacrifice and last power resides.
Guardians. Image Bungie, Inc.
There they form the Guardians of the Last City - The Titans, The Warlocks, The Hunters – who harness the power of the Traveler to power up and fight against the enemies out there in the vastness of the universe. From the Cosmodome Breach to the ruins on the edge of the European Dead Zone, from the swamps of Old Chicago to the derelict fleets, giant obsidian pyramid ships, mile-long tomb vehicles floating in the rings of Saturn or the uncharted depths of Reef… These brave soldiers of Earth begins to explore the former colonies of Solar System and the threat from beyond.
Exclusion Zone, Image Bungie, Inc.
Pike, Image Bungie, Inc.
According to Jason Jones, the Project Director, Destiny has seven Seven Pillars which have guided it’s development since 2009. Here they are along with some select quotes from Jones:
Pillar 1: A World Players Want to Be In
“…the most important stories we tell aren’t going to be told by us. They’re going to be told by players – their personal legends built from shared adventures.”
Pillar 2: A Bunch of Fun Things to Do
“It’s a place where I can leave my mark.”
Pillar 3: Rewards Players Care About
“a lot of great things to earn, find, and make…”
Pillar 4: A New Experience Every Night
“every time you sit down to play Destiny you have a different experience than last time.”
Pillar 5: Shared With Other People
“Everything that’s fun to do is more fun to do with your friends…”
Pillar 6: Enjoyable By All Skill Levels
“All core activities can be enjoyed by a novice player…”
Pillar 7: Enjoyable by the Impatient and Distracted
[players] “don’t want to work hard, they don’t want to read, and they don’t’ want to go to the Internet to figure out our bullshit.”
The game was developed with a new game engine called Grognok that can deploy and edit terrain, objects, maps as well as lighting and audio.
Garden, Image Bungie, Inc.
Bungie stresses that while they will provide the overarcing storyline and lore, the player-base will create it’s own legendary story. These player stories will join the creative whole of what will become Destiny‘s ongoing saga.
“Players create your own legend as you and your friends venture out into the solar system to reclaim the treasures and secrets lost after the collapse of humanity’s Golden Age.”
Hellmouth, Image Bungie, Inc.
Players will be continuously connected in Destiny’s story, The Last City will become Destiny’s third person social space, and over the course of their adventures players will progressively be able to wield rare and exotic weapons, gear, and powers.
Dark Patrol, Image Bungie, Inc.
Mary O’Donnell, Mike Salvatore and Paul McCartney (yes) brings the music to the game.
A lot like Star Wars but it looks awesome and very promising and before we can play the game and pass the judgement, we will enjoy these.
Stay tuned for more…
N.
