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Atari's item-crafting MOBA Minimum makes Early Access debut
Atari and Human Head's stylized third-person shooter Minimum is out now on Steam Early Access, giving players an early look at the project's current state as development progresses over the coming months. Created by the now-shuttered TimeGate Studios, Minimum was picked up by Atari last month, with Prey studio Human Head taking over development duties. Minimum features five-on-five strategic gameplay bolstered by a blueprint crafting system that allows players to build and customize their own unique armor and weapon loadouts. The Early Access version of Minimum is priced at $19.99. [Video: Atari]
Atari, Human Head resume development of shooter Minimum
Atari has partnered with Prey developer Human Head to resurrect Minimum, a free-to-play online shooter presumed lost following the closure of its creator TimeGate Studios. Announced last year, Minimum is a third-person shooter with strategy and progression elements, featuring competitive gameplay bolstered by a weapons-crafting mechanic. Gameplay is partially similar to Respawn's Titanfall, as players can equip traversal-enhancing jetpacks and summon gigantic Titans during battle. A beta version of Minimum will launch for PC platforms this spring. [Image: Atari]
Human Head 'fully intends' to make a more savage Rune sequel
Now that Prey 2 has been pushed back, it seems that Human Head co-founder Ted Halsted wants to put up the green light on bringing back the 10-plus year old action title, Rune. "I can't reveal what we've got planned," he says, "but we fully intend to bring digital viking mayhem into the here-and-now."There were rumblings of a sequel a few years ago, but the potential game's publisher at the time decided to pass on funding development. These days, Kickstarter is the funding method of choice, but Halstead only says he's glad there are multiple methods to funding, and the team "certainly wouldn't rule out Kickstarter."What else can we expect from this not-officially-announced project? Halsted says a second game would offer a more savage viking world, with updated combat, and a big emphasis on clan-based multiplayer. "We're envisioning an action-world of warrior tribes," says Halsted. They're just not, you know, announcing it yet.
Prey 2 delayed beyond 2012, has 'not been canceled'
Prey 2 "will not be released in 2012," Bethesda Softworks announced this morning. The game has apparently "not been canceled," but at this point doesn't match Bethesda's "quality standards."Bethesda released a statement this morning revealing the delay. "The delay is due to the fact that game development has not progressed satisfactorily this past year," it reads. Despite the game showing "great promise," the publisher is "unwilling to compromise our quality standards to meet a release schedule."The Human Head-developed sequel to 2006's Prey suffered rumors regarding its cancellation earlier this year – rumors which Bethesda refused to engage at the time. Given Bethesda's track record with shooting down cancellation rumors, that put Prey 2 in a nebulous place for the past month.Update: Bethesda declined to comment "beyond anything that's in the statement."
Prey 2 cinematic teases parkour-fueled, bounty-grabbing mayhem
The latest trailer for Prey 2 doesn't feature any actual gameplay (see our preview for that), but it does feature Johnny Cash's cover of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage." Perhaps we'd feel duped if it weren't such a thrilling clip.
Prey 2 ditches portal and gravity gameplay
Ask most who played the first Prey what they thought of it and you'll invariably get some variation on: "It was just okay, but I really liked the stuff with gravity manipulation (à la Kineticarnage) and portals (à la ... well, Portal)." Well, friends, it appears developer Human Head has been listening to you. Well, listening to you and hating you, because it's done away with both of those things for Prey 2. Speaking with PS3M Magazine (via Beefjack), lead designer Chris Reinhart said, "We explored a lot of the ways you could use portals and gravity in combat, and I really wanted to shift away from making it too much of a puzzle game." We're glad to hear the brainy "puzzle game" bits have been left to rot, and we think we join in a chorus of gamers here when we say, "Finally, a shooting game."
Prey 2 has parkour-style movement, new main character
We already met Killian Samuels -- Prey 2's notorious "sky cop" and main character -- in the game's first teaser, we just didn't know it at the time. According to the newest issue of Game Reactor (via NeoGAF), Samuels is a sheriff and prison guard, though neither title explains the bizarre glowing electronics in the middle of his forehead. Anyway, Samuels will apparently be employing free-running ("parkour") as he bounds away from enemies in chase scenes, and will otherwise use the game's large areas for shadow-sneaking (as well as shadow-murdering enemies, of course). The game supposedly won't have any multiplayer, motion, or 3D support, and is said to be open-ended in terms of structure. Also, crucially, Game Reactor's interview with developer Human Head promises a wide variety of the game's iconic door ... things. And no, we refuse to explain that last bit any further. [Image credit: Game Reactor]
Human Head survives fire, no data loss reported
Early Friday morning (late Thursday night for most), a devastating fire feasted on a historical building in Madison, Wisconsin. Local news coverage identified the multi-use building as home to Human Head Studios, developer of last year's long-incubated shooter Prey. Thankfully, the level designers had been released from their shackles for the night. No one was harmed in the fire.But what of the precious MEE data? Had Marc Ecko's rags-to-renders dream gone up in ... smoke? According to today's update from Human Head, no. "[Though] we suffered some equipment and furniture loss due to smoke and water, we suffered no significant data loss," reports the studio. A temporary relocation plan seems to indicate that Human Head is eager to get back to work on the Ecko-endorsed project, shedding any stigma earned from Prey's 5-year development cycle.
Human Head rolls with Marc Ecko game division
The division of MEE has disclosed a partnership with Human Head Studios to develop an original IP for consoles. While both parties share a recent history of novelty acts (see: Ecko's Getting Up; and Human Head's Prey), neither has succeeded in producing a truly exceptional title. So then, perhaps it's a bit early to trumpet the forthcoming project as a game that will "push the boundaries of entertainment," no? But, as Ecko claims, he's now got "Michael Jordan" on his team. So does that make him Pippen -- or Kwame Brown?Last month, former Human Head CEO Timothy Gerritsen revealed that he had left (in November) because he did not agree with the direction the studio was headed. According to MEE president Mike Lynch, that direction is to "change perceptions of what a game can be." Yackety-yack...
Human Head CEO quit in Nov, talks now
FiringSquad reports that Human Head CEO Timothy Gerritsen has left the studio; in fact, he did so shortly before Thanksgiving last year. When questioned, Gerritsen said he departed on friendly terms, but was driven to leave because of creative differences. Gerritsen did not like the direction the other owners were steering Human Head in.Gerritsen confirmed that he would remain in game development, though he declined to give specifics. Human Head co-founder and president Paul MacArthur has been acting as interim CEO.
Human Head hints at Prey 2 features
Prey was one of the first Xbox 360 games to really have a good deal of hype before its release. While the game itself may not have fulfilled all the hopes and dreams of its followers, it did turn out to be a fairly solid shooter. The level designs were interesting, the weapons were cool, and the story was neat, if a little sparse. In a retrospective interview with CVG, Human Head's Chris Rhinehart speaks briefly about what's in store for Prey 2. Rhinehart hints that portals will definitely have a larger presence, and that enemy AI will use them more effectively. He also mentions a Prey mod which gives players a portal generating wrench (not unlike the gun in Portal). We can only imagine that Human Head is considering something similar for the sequel. He concludes by saying that the team has ideas that are "way beyond" what was seen in the first game and that Human Head will "definitely be taking things in a different direction next time." We really enjoyed Prey, and we're looking forward to what Human Head will do with a sequel.What would you like to see in Prey 2?[Via 1UP]
Prey content to be cheap as free
This just in: downloadable content for Prey -- to be available "when it's done" -- will cost you nothing. Absolutely nothing! To be fair, the actual price is zero MS Points. We'll leave it to our readers to make the conversion to their particular currency*.*Hint: it's nothing.[Via Joystiq]
Prey gets patched, new content soon
Some of you may have noticed an update last time you loaded Prey. This may or may not have been a recently announced patch from 3D Realms -- according to their site, the ETA for the patch is still "soon". Looks like ten years just wasn't enough time to test and polish all the bugs (I keed! I keed!). Seriously though, the patch should address the multiplayer lag issues on the 360 version and a few other bugs as well. In addition to the patch, expect to see some new content soon. Included in the content will be some new maps tooled for smaller groups. These should accommodate 2-4 players (and possibly limit lag). 3D Realms will be releasing 6 new player models as well (4 female and 2 hunters). Thus far, none of this content has been priced and no release date has been given. New content is great, fellas, but how about some more multiplayer modes?[Via Joystiq]
Get Prey on the cheap
Joystiq reports the wonderful news that Prey is deliciously region free. That's right, any copy of Prey from anywhere will play in any old 360 you happen to have lying around. As an added bonus -- and this is the real reason for this post -- you can pick up the heavily discounted Asian version from Play-Asia for $40 US plus shipping. See? Sometimes there are advantages to the 360's abysmal performance in the Asian market.[Via Joystiq]
Metareview - Prey (Xbox 360)
Is this the answer to our summer woes? Well, let's put it this way: it's either Prey or Chromehounds -- if you're an Xbox 360 owner. We're goin' with the Cherokee alien abductee, even if Prey is a short-lived romp. This one's got 'summer blockbuster' written all over it... Detroit Free Press (100/100) is not noted for its gaming insight, but chimes in with praise: "This is one game any Half-Life or Doom fan can buy without reservations." 1up (80/100) wants more of the gimmicks: "If only the Native American mysticism had figured in more. If only the spirit "death walk" had developed into something more than a shooting gallery. If only the voice acting and storytelling were a little better." GameSpot (75/100) deals a low score -- by its standards -- summing it up: "[Much] of the game's potential for unique thrills feels wasted by its straightforward level design, and the multiplayer doesn't add much to the package."
Preyse for Prey
And you thought the parade of awful Prey puns was finished! Ha! But seriously, folks, reviews for Prey (PC) are starting to hit the net. Evil Avatar has the scoop on some of the first. GotNext praises the game for its first person story telling and unique level design: "Just as Doom and Quake seemed more concerned with what makes an interesting level than how its denizens might realistically design such a place, The Sphere is full of bizarre puzzles, portals used to create dizzying Hall-of-Mirrors-style confusion, and other tricks that could serve no practical function to the aliens living there, but would surely please M.C. Escher and Enro Rubik alike." The other review from the Detroit Free Press seems less informed -- does "Doom clone" even mean anything anymore? -- but gives the game high marks for weapon and level design. Both reviews knock the game for underdeveloped characters and a slightly lacking story. Also of note, the multiplayer is limited to deathmatch and team deathmatch only. Hopefully, we'll see some more game modes offered by Marketplace. Overall, GotNext gives Prey 4.5/5 stars and DFP gives it 4/4 stars. Not too shabby. [Via Evil Avatar]
Prey Demo now available on Xbox Live
Major Nelson kindly informed us that the Xbox Live servers are hosting a brand new chunk of code. At last, Xbox 360 owners get the opportunity to explore Human Head's topsy-turvy alien abductee sim, Prey. Contained within the 1.17GB demo (well over the 449MB PC version), you'll find a first-person shooter tinged with insanity and laced with opportunities to shoot yourself in the back. It's not often we get to play a corridor-crawler where the walls vomit body parts, your grenades attempt to bite you and the gravity behaves like it's trapped within some sort of interstellar tumble dryer. It's also not often that we get a Live demo on a Friday -- must be more alien meddling. Grab the demo and be sure to let us know what you think. Please note that the demo is not available in the regions of Germany or Japan, so folks living there won't get to prey it right away (sorry).
Our Preyers have been answered
Hey, remember that last post? That post that said the Prey demo was coming this Sunday? Well, screw that post. That post is dead to me. The long and short of it is that the Prey demo is available right damn now. Major Nelson himself hath emailed us and decreed it so....What? Are you still reading this? Go get it! At 1.17 gigs you'd best get started now. I have.
Preyse the lord, Prey demo is dated (again) [update 1]
OXM reports that the effing Prey demo we've all been waiting for will finally hit on July 2nd. If you don't have a calendar handy, that's this coming Sunday. Could it be true? Does this mean the end of all the awful Prey puns? Excitement for the demo might be somewhat deflated after the long wait, but hey, it's got to be better than the Chromehounds demo, right? By the way, if you can't wait for Sunday, be sure and read Joystiq's hands-on coverage. [Via openXBOX360]Update: ignore all of this. It's wrong. Click here for details. Seriously, click it. It'll make you happy.
Prey Limited Editions revealed
We're only a few weeks away from the release of Prey, and 3D Realms is whetting the appetite of collectors with the announcement of the game's limited edition packaging. For an extra $10, you'll get the DVD edition of the game in a shiny metal box that includes a book of artwork and two pewter figurines (three, if you pre-order now). Come on, you know you want that Mutate figurine!See also: Prey PC demo available, Xbox 360 demo WRU?[via TeamXbox]
