Red 5 Studios Licenses the Offset Engine

[Kaspian]

It was announced (http://www.armchairempire.com/videogame-news/PC-Games/February-2006/red-5-studios-licenses-offset.htm) today that Red 5 Studios, a relatively new studio consisting of ex-Blizzard employees, has inked a deal to use Offset Software's new game engine, the Offset Engine, for a new MMO in the works. There is no word yet regarding the details of the deal, but Red 5 is planning to have demonstrations of the engine in action at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Jose.

Those who don't want to wait can take a gander at some of the early footage of the engine over at Project Offset's downloads (http://www.projectoffset.com/downloads.html) page.

[Dakar]

Isn't this the same engine that many people thought was non-existent and simply vaporeware?

Very interesting.

[makkura]

indeed, the game looks amazing, kinda like oblivion.

[Kelegacy]

So now we have Red 5, Factor 5 and Level 5. What the heck is up with the numeral 5 suffixes?

[Abash Alarmist]

Yeah, the first thing that I thought of when I saw the title was how were they going to make a Rogue Squadron game with that engine.

[Tia]

So now we have Red 5, Factor 5 and Level 5. What the heck is up with the numeral 5 suffixes?

maybe they meant 3?

[sickfallout]

I can't wait to see this engine put to use.

[GrinR]

*yawn* Wake me when they write the Fun engine.

[Knite]

So now we have Red 5, Factor 5 and Level 5. What the heck is up with the numeral 5 suffixes?

It was bigger than 3, and edgier than Stellar 7 ?


(BTW, my vote is on Red 5 being a Star Wars reference.... )
red 5 standing by...

[Oblivion]

how many ex-blizz employees out there?!

[president_fred]

how many ex-blizz employers out there?!
I once played a Blizzard game do I count?

[Oblivion]

damn too slow with the edit :)

[RMan]

how many ex-blizz employees out there?!
Hehe, well, if you cleaned their break room it's wise to put it on your resume, they've got the widest coattails around these days.

[EGO]

I've been in their lobby once, so I think I'll be putting together a start-up claiming ex-Blizz employees, vapor engines and revolutionizing MMO play. :D

Seriously, what's with all the start-ups tackling MM0's as their first game!?!? Are these people suicidal?!?

[mos]

When you're an ex-blizzard employee, it's not really your first game.

[ElectricMonk]

i think the engine video looks pretty good, the game could be nifty too

[RMan]

Seriously, what's with all the start-ups tackling MM0's as their first game!?!? Are these people suicidal?!?
Yea, no doubt. I guess few of these guys could get funding if they went from WoW to working on a shooter. Regardless, if you're making a WoW-like game and are trying to do it with less than 50M you will almost assuredly fail, and if you can drum up that kind of money then you still have to capture likely half the market to make it profitable (which means competing with Blizzard or whoever's the king when your game is done, not a pleasant proposal if you ask me). As an investor it has to be scary, and as a developer, as you said, it’s suicidal (say what you like, but if you’re not terrified to compete with Blizzard, then you’re a fool).

[swiftdraw]

Please, no more MMO's... I don't care what the graphics are like or who is making it, the market is flooded enough.

[Kyle Jones]

Please, no more MMO's... I don't care what the graphics are like or who is making it, the market is flooded enough.

Here here! I've had enough generic grind and level MMOs to last me a lifetime. Sure, give me a little innovation on a few new ones, stuff like Huxley or even that neat looking Seed game, but stop just throwing up Ultima Online games with different graphics. People always say WoW has the current set for the bar, but I still think UO set it a bit higher with the depth of it especially combined with the time it was released.

In all fairness, we just need more new games with strong single player on the PC again. Games with unique worlds, innovation, and things that make me want to play it.