Space Siege hands On

[bapenguin]

Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/ces-2008-hands-on-with-first-public-showing-of-space-siege/) got some hands on time with Chris Taylor's Space Siege. Even in pre-alpha state, Space Siege is already exactly what you'd expect. Instead of a hard-jawed warrior wading through waste-deep goblin blood with sword clenched, the protagonist is a hard-jawed space marine wading through waste-deep alien blood with a big gun clenched in his hands. There isn't a lot of game to actually play on the CES show floor, but what there is reminds us of how much fun it is to mindlessly click creatures to death. Despite the similar-sounding nature of the game, there were actually a number of changes to the formula on display; enough that we think some folks are going to be surprised.

This looks like it could be pretty good. There really hasn't been a game in this genre set in this setting.

[Gorvi]

Man, I'd love to play this. Here's hoping they bring this to a console.

[GrinR]

Siege of No New Ideas

[PathMaster]

It looks.....ok. Nothing really to write home about, yet.

[Telefrog]

It looks like a user mod of Dungeon Siege. Lame.

[Sandman]

It would be cool if the next game they do is Time Siege. Then they could have you grinding your way through dungeons of all different time periods...and even re-use assets from Dungeon Siege and Space Siege.

[Kamalot]

I wanted to make a mod of Dungeon Siege that used character models and art assets from Phantasy Star Online. Then I played Dungeon Siege II. I was almost sick at how terrible it was. :(

[Telefrog]

It would be cool if the next game they do is Time Siege. Then they could have you grinding your way through dungeons of all different time periods...and even re-use assets from Dungeon Siege and Space Siege.

Heck they could combine Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander. Make it Supreme Siege!

Your character would walk around grinding through monsters, but from very, very far away.

[Rirath]

Dungeon Siege was ok, but I never really counted it as AAA... more like a fun Diablo clone.
so why are they trying to now act like they're Gears of War or something?

What's with the "Chris Taylor!" hype in the trailers?

[Wyrm]

There's a game called Harbinger in this same exact setting with similar game play to Diablo.

Edit - Came out in 2003.

[Citizen Philip]

I am looking forward to this, I'm not fond of Diablo or Dungeon Siege - I really am curious if the science fiction flavour will be enough. Either way, I'll give it ago.

[Lint of Death]

I never played the sequel, and never finished the original expansion, but I liked Dungeon Siege a lot. The exploration, the environments and some of the characters were great. It was also incredibly refreshing to see a fantasy universe without nearly all of the typical fantasy races.

[SPBTooL]

Game Videos has some game play footage.
16996

[NeuroMan42]

Siege of No New Ideas

It looks neat but I fully agree with ya.

[biosc1]

That video was okay...but I can't help feeling like this is not a full price game. More like a $15 dollar game that you get on Steam :(

[Thumper]

Well, I do like space marines and I do like dungeon crawlers (I very much enjoyed Dungeon Siege). I'll keep an eye on it. Hopefully it doesn't release at full price though, or I'm not getting it right away. :D

I'm not sure if I like the fact that it's gonna basically just be you (and maybe a robot companion) all the time. One of the things I liked about dungeon siege was the party mechanics, simple as they were. I guess in a universe sans magic it's hard to make an interesting party. Guns, guns and more guns.

[GrinR]

Keyboard and mouse is the wrong interface for this game. I keep watching that clunky cursor and I can feel my hands itching for a controller.

[SPBTooL]

Keyboard and mouse is the wrong interface for this game. I keep watching that clunky cursor and I can feel my hands itching for a controller.I agree and it made me think that the control system SK are implementing in Too Human would work real well for it and other Diablo style games.

[Bingley Joe]

VERY want!!!



.. but only if I can play it co-op, and from my sofa

[captainstrombosis]

VERY want!!!



.. but only if I can play it co-op, and from my sofa

Random is most likely going to flame you to death, might I lend you a flame retardant suit?

[Codicier]

Joystiq says it's in pre-alpha state, but when I looked up the release date it said February 5th. That can't be right, can it?

Either way, it looks cliched, but I don't need innovative ideas to enjoy a solid gameplay concept. If you're covering something I've already played, then all I want is that your implementation be good.

[Derella]

If it let me play as my own character, I'd probably pick it up. Why do we need a pre-made hero in a game that probably won't have a personal story?

[Telefrog]

If it let me play as my own character, I'd probably be pick it up. Why do we need a pre-made hero in a game that probably won't have a personal story?

Oh, I'm sure it will be absolutely rich in story. If any of the other Siege games are an indicator, Space Siege will drip with plot twists and character development.

[Rirath]

One of the things I liked about dungeon siege was the party mechanics, simple as they were.

I've always preferred to solo in these games, so I hate when I have to bring henchmen along or form parties. That said, the simpler the better if I have to. I don't want to micromanage them, personally.

One other thing I really liked about Dungeon Siege was the 'level a skill as you use it' mechanic. It just makes sense.

[Bingley Joe]

Random is most likely going to flame you to death, might I lend you a flame retardant suit?

Will it help stop my loins from burning with desire to play this game?


... in co-op and from my sofa? :p

[Amalor]

Taylor's games look great on paper but they lack a certain something that would make them memorable or worth finishing. Not really sure what that is ,but While I buy all his games I rarely play them for more that a few days and never finished one but I still can't bring myself to say they are bad games. Odd I guess.

[gojira]

...how much fun it is to mindlessly click creatures to death.

Ugh. Not my cup of tea. I'm happy for those who enjoy this style of game but I think I'll be giving it a pass.

[mos]

Haven't read this yet, just replying to the name: any game named "Space Siege" sounds awesome.

[maharahaj]

Sweet. I loved both Dungeon Siege's despite its point, click, drink HP potion, drink MP potion, drink HP potion, drink MP potion, drink HP potion, drink MP potion, click some more play style.

It was a mindless game I could play and relax to for the most part, the dungeons were ENORMOUS, and I have a compulsion to uncover overhead maps completely; so D. Siege fit the bill perfectly.

[Wyrm]

Taylor's games look great on paper but they lack a certain something that would make them memorable or worth finishing. Not really sure what that is ,but While I buy all his games I rarely play them for more that a few days and never finished one but I still can't bring myself to say they are bad games. Odd I guess.

I feel the same way. I really enjoy his games, and I think he's a great game designer, but they're not meaty experiences, which is to say, you don't walk away from them full.

Dungeon Siege is great. For like a week. Then you realize that it's not ever going to offer you much more than what you do in the first few minutes. Even Supreme Commander, which is brilliant in its execution, just seems to lack a certain something. The something that makes me boot a game up again and again at odd hours during the day because I feel an urge to play it. The same urge that forces me to stay planted to my chair for days at a time, reworking my strategy or tweaking my character. His games are fun, but lacking that special quality of, say, a Blizzard title.

[YoungAlCapone]

I do not like the look of this one. I agree with GrinR here, looks like Taylor is running short on new ideas.

I do not like the loss of humanity (http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3165344) idea, where in order to upgrade your character you lose humanity and the losss of humanity results in NPCs acting differently towards you. Sounds like it is basically going to be upgrade your character at the expense of the story, or vice versa. Hopefully it is better implemented than that, but that is the impression that I get.

I liked Dungeon Siege a lot, but never played the sequel, I just wasn't looking for epic loots and levels at the time. Sounds like in this one they won't even have that much gear to collect though. Maybe if the coop is fun.

[Demo_Boy]

So everyone is dissing this game and the screencaps I have seen are lame, but the gameplay video sells the whole thing WAY better.

DS was a very solid click and collect game, but the two issues I had with it were the party AI doing all the work for you, and the lack of agency the player had to shape his character's talents away from the means his equipment led him to play.

It looks like SS adresses these issues by removing the party AIs and giving the player skill trees he can choose how to improve. This is great.

If anything I would suggest that Chris work on:
the tempo of the gameplay so there are more actions per second (vitally important) and

actions chording, eg such as the ability to fire weapons and change stances at the same time, or ability to move and shoot at the same time

As far as retail is concerned, I am curious to see how they are going to slot this in. I see it as a $39.99 PC game, and certainly a retail product on 360.
If there is a good control layout on the 360 (and of course MP coop) this could be a big hit -- the only competitor on 360 seems to be a poorly reviewed Arcade game called Arkadian Warriors.

Any hoo, I really like these guys and I hope they do well.

[Neosho]

I don't know what all you pansies are talking about, i want to feel my fingers go numb from extended clickage.

These games were a blast for 12 hour marathon lan party sessions with my friends back in HS, every time another one of his games gets released we hamachi or whatever-lan our computers together and go kick the shit out of monsters together for an evening or 14. It's good, pointless fun.

[reimomo]

Nobodies mentioned the most important issue: will the movie sell?