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View Full Version : Peter Molyneux next master piece, BC!!!!



JJaX
05-24-2002, 11:34 AM
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2867793,00.html

We had a chance to sit down with Peter Molyneux for a look at the upcoming game from Intrepid Games, BC. First announced in October of last year, there has been little information released on the game since. Molyneux mentioned it briefly during our recent Q&A with him, but the game has remained under wraps. While his recent descriptions of a game that involved shepherding a pack of primitives to evolve called to mind an experience along the lines of the god games he's known for, today Molyneux chose to label the game as an arcade adventure.
The game's premise puts you in the role of a tribe leader. Your goal is to lead your tribe by teaching them the skills they need to survive. Your tribe will face such hazards as ravenous dinosaurs and a vicious rival race of ape men. Living to see another day will require your tribe to work as a unit and use what little brains they have to exploit the natural resources around them and to discover new technology and knowledge.

The premise introduces you to two main challenges--you'll have to find enough humans to have a prosperous tribe, and lead your tribe to a distant valley that's free of predators in order for them to evolve. Molyneux likened the puzzles in the game to those found in Ico, in that they'll all be integrated into the environment in that you'll be given a clear objective that you'll have to creatively reach. The game will offer a hundred unique technologies to discover, a wide array of weapons to pick up, and a simulated food chain. You'll also be challenged by the sheer scope of detail that the game is slated to have. You'll have to worry about ensuring your tribe is fed and protected against your simian rivals, raptors, and tyrannosaurs as well as environmental hazards such as cliffs, and poisonous berries and fruit the tribe will have to learn to distinguish. Not exactly Super Mario Bros., is it?

After setting up the game's quirky premise, Molyneux walked us through a look at the game in action. The demo opened with our virtual alter ego emerging from a cave overlooking a valley. The clarity in the game's textures was insane. The fine detail in the weathered rock and interior of the cave walls was gorgeous. Our prehistoric self was quite fetching as well, featuring such fine detail as the hair on his face and body and self-shading. Yet the eye candy of the cave was nothing compared to the view of the valley once the main character emerged and stood at the edge of a cliff. The virtual world was one of the most "alive" things we've seen in a game yet. Dinosaurs of all various species were seen racing around. Some ran through the grass, both in herds and individually, while the larger herbivores sipped water at the foot of a lake. In the skies, pteradons and birds were flying about, flocking and dipping according to their whims. When the main character roamed the valley floor he disturbed the tall grasses that grew in patches everywhere. Playing voyeur during the character's travels was simply cool. Molyneux proudly pointed out the AI for all of the wildlife in the game was specific to its species. We watched a pack of raptors hanging out by a group of herbivores for a bit--the raptors wandered near them, which spooked the herbivores and sent them racing past the main character.

The demo left the local wildlife behind and took the main character into a small cluster of the tribe going about their business. As the leader wandered through the group, Molyneux pointed out how the main character would direct the tribe. Players will "tag" the available members of the tribe and assign them tasks in order to teach them how to do certain tasks. He presented several examples of how the feature would work. You'll "tag" members of the tribe who will follow you on your way around. If you take them out into the open and throw a spear at an animal, you'll be able to teach them hunting behaviors. If you give them an egg, you'll have to teach them how to break it open.

Eventually they'll attempt to puzzle things out on their own. Molyneux pointed out a group of three tribe members gesturing towards each other and stated they were trying to learn speech. Teaching your tribe communication skills would become an important and useful part of gameplay as it would give you a better idea of how to manage the group based on their feedback. Molyneux then triggered a scripted event where the main character approached two tribe members who were hunting with spears. Just as the leader neared them, a Jurassic Park-quality Tyrannosaurus Rex lunged from offscreen and helped itself to one of the hunting party. The large and impressively detailed Rex was just a baby according to Molyneux, who stated its mother was three times its size.

At the moment, BC does not have a set release date other than a vague Spring 2003 time frame. While the build we saw demoed was roughly 50 percent complete, Molyneux stated that, given the ambitious nature of the gameplay and the high standards everyone involved with it are pushing for, he couldn't give a more definite date. Look for more on the game in the coming months.

Ninja Scroll
05-24-2002, 11:36 AM
WHAT!?! :eek: :confused: :eek:

JJaX
05-24-2002, 11:38 AM
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen002.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen004.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen006.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen007.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen008.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen009.jpg

JJaX
05-24-2002, 11:38 AM
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen010.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen011.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen012.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen013.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen014.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen015.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen016.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen017.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/e32002/xbox/bc/bc_screen018.jpg

JJaX
05-24-2002, 11:42 AM
All i can say is WOW!!!!

This is like a dream come true, Ive loved dinosaurs since i was a little kid.

RadRider
05-24-2002, 11:43 AM
The game looks stunning. I've been interested in it since about January. Now that I can see it looks as cool as I thought it would, I want it!

Taranis
05-24-2002, 11:45 AM
wow, those screens are cool. A pretty cool premise, too. I think you can always rely on Molyneux to have new kinds of gameplay.

Spaztic
05-24-2002, 11:46 AM
WOW! This game looks really cool!

Knight
05-24-2002, 11:56 AM
Hey the last 3 screen shots don't work!!

JJaX
05-24-2002, 11:59 AM
Originally posted by Knight
Hey the last 3 screen shots don't work!!

Right click and do a show picture. If they still dont work go here

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/filters/products/screenindex/0,11104,537533,00.html?page=2

l Maximus l
05-24-2002, 11:59 AM
Ever since I saw the first screen shot of this game and the fact that Peter Molyneux was making it, I knew this would be bad ass! It's awesome to see some new screenies! Thanks JJaX!! :D

This looks like Turok on steroids!!! :D

Knight
05-24-2002, 12:05 PM
Originally posted by JJaX


Right click and do a show picture. If they still dont work go here



I did that & it didn't work!!

JJaX
05-24-2002, 12:07 PM
So go to the link

Knight
05-24-2002, 12:10 PM
Originally posted by JJaX
So go to the link

I did

l Maximus l
05-24-2002, 12:11 PM
Originally posted by Knight


I did

Hmmm...the pictures work for me just fine... :confused:

JJaX
05-24-2002, 12:11 PM
Originally posted by Maximus


Hmmm...the pictures work for me just fine... :confused:
Me too

Knight
05-24-2002, 12:16 PM
I don't have money for all the good XBox games, I need more money!!

JJaX
05-24-2002, 12:20 PM
Originally posted by Knight
I don't have money for all the good XBox games, I need more money!!

get a job

Knight
05-24-2002, 12:24 PM
And I need some money for pc games as well!!
I'm going to be do some Classes next month(from 6-10 to the end of July)(College) so I'm going to wait to after I'm don with the summer classes to look for a Job!!

MOrgE
05-24-2002, 12:39 PM
all ya gotta do is just weigh out the options...

XBOX...College.........XBOX....College.....XBOX... College....
...
...
...
XBOX :)
hahahahahahaha!!
:cool:

Knight
05-24-2002, 12:41 PM
Originally posted by MOrgE
all ya gotta do is just weigh out the options...

XBOX...College.........XBOX....College.....XBOX... College....
...
...
...
XBOX :)
hahahahahahaha!!
:cool:

You know you can have Both College & XBox??

Knight
05-24-2002, 01:00 PM
E3 2002: B.C.
First screens and a wealth of info can't be overlooked.





May 22, 2002 - We would've like to have played B.C. but it's just not in a condition that lends itself to hands-on play just yet. However, this doesn't mean we have nothing to say about Intrepid's ambitious prehistoric action arcade title. Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios is providing professional guidance and assistance on this game, which explains why Molyneux himself was the giving the demonstration. One thing we can say about B.C. is that the visual elements and game design are things that could only be done on the Xbox. You've heard this before about your favorite Microsoft console, but wait'll you hear about what's going on in B.C.


Peter Molyneux's favorite word when it comes to describing his games is "simulation." The whole concept behind B.C. as well as the marvelous Project Ego is to create a living, active world that simply reacts to what you do with the main character. In the case of B.C., that living, breathing world is prehistoric and filled with cavemen, dinosaurs and all kinds of smaller critters. It's the ridiculous level of detail that's making us feel like B.C. is going to be such an accomplishment.



The smaller creatures in the lush highlands that serve as the opening area in B.C. includes little vegetable eating dinosaurs, birds and mice. Molyneux mentioned something about functional anthills but we were unable to find any to confirm their existence. The mice, however, were present and would scurry through the tall grasses that also happen to sway in the breeze. The smaller dinosaurs we saw were kangaroo-sized herbivores that spend quite a bit of time freaking out and running away from slightly larger predators. Sometimes you'll see one of those meat-eaters actually catch one of those scampering little veggie-eating dinos. The stampeding dinosaurs and the predators that try to kill them are just one example of how life is and will continue to go on and do its thing in B.C. until and unless you decide to interfere.



One particularly impressive example is when Molyneux took one of the caveman characters and ran him into an open field. On his way to the field, a giant pterodactyl swooped down looking like he was going to attack but pulled up at the last moment. The folks at Intrepid had to explain to us that the bird was swooping down looking to eat our little caveman because they like to eat anything that's smaller than them. He pulled up out of his dive because he realized our hero was too big to eat. This is how interactive the environment gets.



The control scheme itself is relatively simple. You can control any member of your tribe of cavepeople but, much like a typical real time strategy, you need to make sure the other members of the community are doing something that benefits the group as a whole. One woman was grinding grain into powder using stones as a pestle and mortar but only after she was given the stones and took the time to figure out how they work. An elder caveman was trying to teach a younger caveboy how to crack open a giant ostrich egg but only after the elder caveman was given the egg to investigate. A group of three cavepeople were grouped near a fire gesturing and behaving as if they were having a conversation, even though they were not. They're cavemen so they don't know how to speak just yet, but this is how they show the effort that they're trying. Eventually they will speak but only if you facilitate this by letting them hang out with each other. In all of the above examples the benefits are clear. Ground up grain and ostrich eggs are good for food, which every society needs. The benefits of communication are obvious since it leads to instruction and learning which makes everything easy.



The whole tribe development process seems complicated and convoluted until you learn to look at it in a different way. The cavemen trying to talk or the elder trying to learn how to crack an egg open are analogous to a status bar in an RTS game where you're waiting for a peon to finish building a barracks or castle or something. Rather than simply showing a green bar the grows, B.C. shows the people actually trying to figure out the problem that you've asked them to solve. Taking one caveman character, you tag the members of your tribe you want to control and then lead them to an area or object you want them to deal with. You aim your character at the object, hit the "go" button and they start trying to figure out what it is you want them to do with it. With the three gathered around the fire, they were all tagged, lead to the campfire and then commanded to "go." Since the fire was already burning (something you had obviously invented way before) they chose to explore the social implications of a campfire gathering. They wanted to start telling stories, perhaps scary, but didn't have any language to carry it out.



B.C. is still early in its development process but it stands to reason that however effective you've been as a leader for your tribe determines how quickly and how intelligently they approach the tasks you set before them. In the above example, wouldn't it be possible for the three cavepeople to learn how to cook while gathered around the campfire? These are the interesting and invigorating questions that Intrepid is dealing with right now in finalizing the depth of B.C.



If you couldn't tell, B.C. has instantly and convincingly joined Project Ego as one of the most interesting and ambitious titles scheduled for the Xbox. We have a feeling that your first glimpse at these first shots of B.C. will do a lot of convincing especially since they come directly from the demonstration that we saw.


-- Aaron Boulding

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/360/360483p1.html

melon
05-24-2002, 01:42 PM
This is the first time i heard about this game, and it sounds very cool and Xbox like...u know what i mean?

silvertrace
05-24-2002, 01:47 PM
nice pics JJax, that guy kinda looks like hes from Altered Beast, that old sega title.............:eek:

wonder if u gotta fornicate "caveman style" with those lil ladies;)

RadRider
05-24-2002, 01:49 PM
I don't like RTS games, so I don't like the fact that they try to simplify the wondrous-sounding BC by comparing it to RTS games. In fact, I don't think the comparison is that accurate at all. Although the game might share a few things with RTS, the goals are different, and the base gameplay sounds different as well.

Man oh man I want this game. The graphics look stellar, and the gameplay sounds like something reallly involving. I can't wait. :D

JJaX
05-24-2002, 02:08 PM
Originally posted by silvertrace
nice pics JJax, that guy kinda looks like hes from Altered Beast, that old sega title.............:eek:

wonder if u gotta fornicate "caveman style" with those lil ladies;)

I wouldnt be surprised if you had to mate for the sake of future generations.

In black & white you could just pick up a person and drop them next to someone of the opposite sex and they would run off to make some babies ;)

Ninja Scroll
05-24-2002, 02:22 PM
Originally posted by JJaX
All i can say is WOW!!!!

This is like a dream come true, Ive loved dinosaurs since i was a little kid.

And I have loved boogers ever since I was a kid.
Picking at em and flickin em at peeps, dat was a dream come true for me yo!

:D

JJaX
05-24-2002, 02:25 PM
Originally posted by Ninja Scroll


And I have loved boogers ever since I was a kid.
Picking at em and flickin em at peeps, dat was a dream come true for me yo!

:D

JJaX reveals a childhood memory to the world and gets mocked for it.

*Sigh*

But yes picking my nose and flicken it is good fun too. I do that when i drive by people on the highway.

Ninja Scroll
05-24-2002, 02:30 PM
Originally posted by JJaX


JJaX reveals a childhood memory to the world and gets mocked for it.

*Sigh*

But yes picking my nose and flicken it is good fun too. I do that when i drive by people on the highway.

Hehehehe, I was'nt mocking your lame childhood dream junior!:rolleyes: :D
Flicking booger was really my dream yo!:cool:
As a matter of fact I got a few I feel like flicking at my Manager right about now!!:D

Hugh_Jass
05-24-2002, 06:25 PM
Originally posted by RadRider
I don't like RTS games, so I don't like the fact that they try to simplify the wondrous-sounding BC by comparing it to RTS games. In fact, I don't think the comparison is that accurate at all. Although the game might share a few things with RTS, the goals are different, and the base gameplay sounds different as well.


You're correct. This sounds far more like a resource management game than it does a RTS, which is right up my alley. To be honest, I thought the combat ruined Black & White. I loved tending my worshipers and teaching my beast. Once the fighting with rival gods started I lost interest. The same goes for Pharoah and Serf City (a.k.a., Settlers).

Survival at the dawn of Man sounds like a wonderful concept and Pete Molyneaux is the genius that can pull this off.