GeneChing
07-09-2012, 11:49 AM
Another Kickstarter campaign...
Neal Stephenson Sets Out to Make Realistic Sword-Fighting Game, Clang (http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/06/neal-stephenson-clang/)
By Wired UK
Email Author
June 11, 2012 |
3:14 pm |
By Mark Brown, Wired UK
Historical fiction author Neal Stephenson is using Kickstarter to help fund a motion-controlled sword-fighting game called Clang. It will be, according to the pitch, “Guitar Hero, with swords.”
Wired U.K.
The inspiration for Clang comes from Stephenson’s self-confessed swordsmanship geekery, combined with his dissatisfaction with how sword-fighting is portrayed in current games.
So, Clang will feature a deep combat system — including stances, pommel strikes, grappling, feints and parries — all controlled by the Sixense Razer Hydra motion controller. It’s a bit like the Wii Remote, but more accurate and with way less latency.
The idea is to build a robust engine for his firm, Subutai Corporation, and other developers to play with. As such, Clang starts as a one-on-one arena fighter, and then a rich world and some knockabout adventure tales (penned in conjunction with publishing house 47 North) will be added later on.
Also, the game will begin with the “Queen of Weapons”: the two-handed longsword used in Europe during late medieval and early renaissance times. But if a developer or an ambitious modder wants to add in Japanese kenjutsu or Viking sword-and-board, then they can go ahead.
Stephenson explains his plans for Clang in two videos (above and below), one of which (bizarrely) features Valve boss Gabe Newell making a crowbar and letting the author know that game development “takes time.”
The Subutai Corporation is asking for $500,000, and has so far raised $160,000 in pledges. Backers will receive different rewards depending on their donation, including T-shirts, fighting manuals, signed posters, the ability to name a character and invitations to company parties.
“We’re ready,” says Stephenson. “We’ve got geeks in suits of armor, we’ve got geeks in front of computer workstations, we’ve got a lot of people out there who like playing games with sword fighting in them who might be ready to step it up to something more interesting.”
Neal Stephenson Sets Out to Make Realistic Sword-Fighting Game, Clang (http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/06/neal-stephenson-clang/)
By Wired UK
Email Author
June 11, 2012 |
3:14 pm |
By Mark Brown, Wired UK
Historical fiction author Neal Stephenson is using Kickstarter to help fund a motion-controlled sword-fighting game called Clang. It will be, according to the pitch, “Guitar Hero, with swords.”
Wired U.K.
The inspiration for Clang comes from Stephenson’s self-confessed swordsmanship geekery, combined with his dissatisfaction with how sword-fighting is portrayed in current games.
So, Clang will feature a deep combat system — including stances, pommel strikes, grappling, feints and parries — all controlled by the Sixense Razer Hydra motion controller. It’s a bit like the Wii Remote, but more accurate and with way less latency.
The idea is to build a robust engine for his firm, Subutai Corporation, and other developers to play with. As such, Clang starts as a one-on-one arena fighter, and then a rich world and some knockabout adventure tales (penned in conjunction with publishing house 47 North) will be added later on.
Also, the game will begin with the “Queen of Weapons”: the two-handed longsword used in Europe during late medieval and early renaissance times. But if a developer or an ambitious modder wants to add in Japanese kenjutsu or Viking sword-and-board, then they can go ahead.
Stephenson explains his plans for Clang in two videos (above and below), one of which (bizarrely) features Valve boss Gabe Newell making a crowbar and letting the author know that game development “takes time.”
The Subutai Corporation is asking for $500,000, and has so far raised $160,000 in pledges. Backers will receive different rewards depending on their donation, including T-shirts, fighting manuals, signed posters, the ability to name a character and invitations to company parties.
“We’re ready,” says Stephenson. “We’ve got geeks in suits of armor, we’ve got geeks in front of computer workstations, we’ve got a lot of people out there who like playing games with sword fighting in them who might be ready to step it up to something more interesting.”