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Unity Preview - Jeff Minter's Latest Trip?

Posted by simoniker on from the llama-drama dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a new preview of the abstract Gamecube shoot-em-up, Unity, over at TotalVideoGames.Com. Unity is being created by the infamous Jeff Minter at his one-man ungulate-loving Welsh development house, Llamasoft - Minter is especially well-known for his psychedelic shooter remakes like Tempest 2000 and his interactive VLM ('virtual light machine') programs for the Atari Jaguar and the ill-fated Nuon. Fortunately, Unity is being made for a non-dead platform, and has help and backing from Peter 'Populous/Black+White' Molyneux's company Lionhead. On a related note, iainsimons points to a rare public appearance by Minter to talk about Unity - at an Indian restaurant in Nottingham, UK, no less. We hope there's no llama curry on the menu.

3 of 19 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Jaguar? Nuon? Argh! by Yorrike · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Perhaps I should expand on this. .

    I'm actually very happy that Jeff is bringing such an innovative looking game to the GC. I was slightly annoyed that Sega decided to take Rez to the PS2 rather than the 'cube, as the PS2 version seemed to lack the sole and spirit of the Dreamcast iteration.

    The GameCube is the right place for a game like this. Older GameCube owners are almost gauranteed lovers of fine gaming, and I'm sure Unity will find a fan base amoung the people who lapped up Eternal Darkness and Zelda:WW.

    Even though the game seems like more of a graphics demo at the moment, I'm eagerly awaiting the time when I can play Unity. However it ends up being played : )

    --

    Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?

  2. Nuon - Pure Minter Yak! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I still use my Nuon DVD player everyday. There's something fun about having a DVD player with Jeff Minter code built into the chip.

    The Nuon is an amazing chill-out box. The VLM is built-in, and (IMHO) much trippier and fluid than the Jaguar version (and it's got joystick control! That is, if you can find a Nuon joystick!)

    It's also got some great homebrew stuff:
    - Bomb by Andreas Binner (a very fun, cartoonish Bombuzal clone)
    -several whacked out apps by Tim Prezzano (Ambient Monsters! A strange underwater journey, and an Atart2600 pacman port)
    - and some future stuff by Skah_T that looks amazing.
    Screens at http://www.nuon-dome.com/download.html

    It looks like Unity will finally allow the Gamecube to surpass the Nuon as the ultimate chill-box!! Sweeeeet..

  3. Re:OT by hyphz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > I remember a game like missle command, with
    > evil guys floating down towards our hero - a
    > large Llama sprite running back and forth
    > shooting diagonally and ricocheting off the
    > side of the screen.

    Metagalactic Llamas Battle At The Edge Of Time.

    I'm scared I know that.