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Mike Bithell's Volume finally looks like an actual game
The last time we saw Volume, it wasn't a proper game so much as a mass of half-formed yet intriguing ideas involving stealth mechanics and neon walls highlighted by the involvement of Gollum actor Andy Serkis. In the new "Enemy Reveal" trailer, however, developer Mike Bithell's stealth game begins to take shape. [Image: Mike Bithell]
Robin Hood stealth game Volume stars actor Andy Serkis
Volume, the stealthy follow-up to Mike Bithell's Thomas Was Alone, stars famed character actor Andy Serkis as the main antagonist – the powerful and dastardly CEO, Guy Gisborne. Serkis is best known for portraying Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films, though he also starred in The Prestige and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, among many other films. Bithell announced Serkis' involvement on Twitter and he released a short audio clip of Serkis on the job. Hear the audio sample after the break. So, yeah, the role of Guy Gisborne in Volume will be played by the awesome Andy Serkis. Yes. That one. - Mike Bithell (@mikeBithell) October 31, 2014
Ninja Theory's 'Enslaved' promises a mix of brains and brawn
It's been a while since we last heard about Enslaved, the brand new IP coming from Heavenly Sword developer Ninja Theory and partner Namco Bandai, but IGN has broken the silence with a preview. The game sounds intriguing: Players control an Andy Serkis-modeled brawler named Monkey, who's neurologically tied to a techno-chick named Trip as they roam from a New York 150 years from now and out into a post-apocalyptic America. The game is actually based on an old Chinese tale named Journey to the West, in which a sage and a powerful monkey go on a quest to find Buddhist wisdom, with the sage getting in all sorts of dangerous traps that the monkey (controlled via headband, just like the game) has to help him out with. Likewise, the game offers up a set of challenges that will require Monkey to work with and defend Trip, who offers tools and advice all along. The third-person combat (against various robots and post-human bad guys) is supposed to be tough at first, but much easier with a little strategy and help from Trip. We'll keep an eye out for it at E3 -- the saga of Monkey and Trip could turn out to be one of 2010's more original endeavors.
First details, screenshots of Ninja Theory's Enslaved
Click to enlarge After teasing the partnership a little over a month ago at Germany's Gamescom, publisher Namco Bandai and UK-based developer Ninja Theory are ready to finally reveal some details of their upcoming "original, new IP" for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3: Enslaved. The game takes place in a "perilous, post-apocalyptic America" and centers on protagonists Monkey and Trip. That's right, protagonists, plural. You'll control the musclebound Monkey, while Trip -- a "technologically savvy but sheltered young woman" -- remains AI-controlled. Think: Half-Life 2's Alyx ... except considerably more manipulative. Recognizing her need for Monkey's "raw strength and power," Trip has linked their slave headbands so "if she dies, he dies." Uh, thanks partner? Helping Ninja Theory along its quest is Andy "Gollum" Serkis who is lending his considerable motion-capture acting abilities to the developer once more, following his work on the PS3-exclusive Heavenly Sword. Also joining the project is novelist, screenwriter, and video game newcomer Alex Garland, who you may recognize from his work on the novel The Beach and the screenplay for 28 Days Later. Enslaved is "planned for release in 2010," which we'll unofficially translate as "late 2010." Since you've got some waiting to do, why not take a peek at the first screenshots from the game? %Gallery-74258%
Andy Serkis: Game narrative is lacking, but has much potential
If Gollum says it, it must be true. Andy Serkis, who played the loathsome creature in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie adaptation, has said that he feels game stories are generally lacking. "There's no heart in them. We put so much into the writing of film scripts and plays, but not into games. And games are where the audience is going to be. I absolutely think that gaming is a massive storytelling arena in the making and now the technology has arrived to do that. It's a fascinating time." We absolutely agree with Serkis that this generation is the launchpad for real cinematic storytelling. Games like Uncharted and Metal Gear Solid 4 are paving the way, but with such a young medium there's still plenty of room for improvement. Serkis' background may be in Hollywood, but he did a lot of motion capture and dialogue work for the under-represented PS3 title Heavenly Sword, stating afterward that he'd love to work in games again. Perhaps if game stories keep improving at the rate they have over the last couple of years, it won't be long until we see him donning the skin-tight motion capture suit again.
Andy Serkis spearheading East England game industry network
Gamasutra reports that Andy Serkis is to become a ringleader of sorts for a new game industry network in the East of England. The actor, best known for his motion-captured portrayal of Gollum in Lord of the Rings and Bohan in the PlayStation 3's Heavenly Sword, will kick off "Games Eden" in the hopes of encouraging and supporting game development within the region. The endeavor aims to keep industry members in touch through an international website and a series of networking events, with the envisioned result being the growth of the economy within the region. Awfully nice of him, really.Funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), East of England International (EEI), Screen East and FDMX, Games Eden will be guided by one of those committee things (we're told Princess Leia is a poor example of one) comprised of representatives from the likes of Sony, Zoonami and Ninja Theory. As gaming continues to grow larger and more lucrative, you can likely expect similar initiatives to take root in industry hot spots around the world.
Heavenly Sword motion capture session with Andy Serkis
Some of you may know Andy Serkis as the fellow who voiced the beyond-logical-description character Gollum in some movie about rings and lords... Pride and Prejudice, methinks. There were lordly people in there and much exchanging of rings. We kid, naturally. Anyway, it's pretty interesting and entertaining seeing this guy get into character for his role in Heavenly Sword. Reminds me of myself, when I get into character at the start of every single day of my life. Get it? No? It wasn't a joke, you say? Now I'm confused.
Gollum's meatspace counterpart does PS3 title
After groundbreaking roles playing digital counterparts Gollum and King Kong in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and King Kong respectively, Andy Serkis, the world's most famous motion capture-actor, is giving video games a shot.He'll be playing the role of the villainous King Botan in Ninja Theory's upcoming PS3 action title, Heavenly Sword.The BBC is running a short piece, with some gee-whiz tech jargon thrown in to wow the unwashed masses ("one of the processors inside the machine is solely devoted to recreating the movement of clothes and hair") as well as some interesting details on Serkis' specific involvement, noting that he's "taking care of all the performance capture, the casting and is heavily involved in writing."Hollywood involvement in games is nothing new (remember Bruce Willis in Apocalypse?) but Serkis is the Marlon Brando of motion capture and, as such, might be able to bring some real talent into the acting backwater that is video games. Then there's the whole question of whether or not that belongs in video games ...See also:PS3 Impressions: Heavenly SwordMajor PS3 titles missing launch date[Thanks, ben]
