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Flagship Studios First Project Title Announced

Posted by Zonk on from the better-sounding-than-heckgate dept.

Voodoo Extreme has newsbits from around the interweb about Hellgate: London, the first title in the works at Flagship Studios. The home of well known ex-Blizzard employee Bill Roper is crafting a title that sounds a lot like the Blizzard hit Diablo. From the article: "The game is set five years after a war against demons has already been lost. London is depicted as a burnt out shell of itself. The demons are in the process of "hellaforming" earth to make it more suitable for their kind. A handful of humans have survived."

22 comments

  1. "hellaforming" by Frodo+Crockett · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Worst. Word. Ever.

    --
    "The newly born animals are then whisked off for a quick run through a giant baking oven." --heard on Food Network
    1. Re:"hellaforming" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      You guys are hellaforming, you guys are hella lame, you guys are hella stupid, hella hella hella.

    2. Re:"hellaforming" by Red_Icculus · · Score: 1

      I agree. I thought of that word when I was 8 years old.

    3. Re:"hellaforming" by infonography · · Score: 0

      Cartman: You guys are hella stupid.

      Stan: Why do you keep saying 'hella", Cartman?

      Cartman: 'Cuz I'm hella cool, that's why.

      I would say your on the money there Red Icclus.

      --
      Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
    4. Re:"hellaforming" by cgenman · · Score: 0

      How did they do it?

      First, the demons took off in their hellacoptors. They then called on the Covenant to come down from Delta Hella. They remade their Humanity's DNA to form a spiraling Hellix. It was Hellatious, even though they just wanted to say Hello.

      All I have to say, it be glad they're not Helzaforming.

      --
      The ______ Agenda
    5. Re:"hellaforming" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was Hellatious.

      Of or pertaining to hellatio?

    6. Re:"hellaforming" by euxneks · · Score: 1

      Don't you mean hella stupid? =P

      --
      in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
  2. Where have I see this before. by BaronSprite · · Score: 2, Funny

    Burnt out london? Fire? I wonder if Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey are going to appear somewhere in there.

  3. screw the story synopsis... by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ..what's the gameplay going to be like?

    *# PC Gamer describes the game as Diablo played from a first person perspective and set in a post-apocalyptic London.
    # Roper consders the game to be an RPG. His arguments: combat is entirely stat based, not twitch based. Hits, misses, and damage will depend on the stats of your character and their weapons; and ranged weapons cast spells (they're actually being referred to as "spell delivery systems").
    # The game is set five years after a war against demons has already been lost. London is depicted as a burnt out shell of itself. The demons are in the process of "hellaforming" earth to make it more suitable for their kind. A handful of humans have survived.
    # A third person view will probably exist, for melee fighting and whatnot. There will also be a third person "vanity mode" so you can view your character. Multiplayer will exist and support 16 to 32 players. Co-op gameplay will be emphasized, but deathmatch is a possibility. Roper says you will not be able to play as a demon.*

    well, here's hoping that it's a good one. and not just a hack'n'slasher. played recently project snowblind.. had all the makings for a good game.. but ended up being average as the potential wasn't used to the full in the levels(the game itself was very much like deus ex - but the levels were built for a straight shooter).

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:screw the story synopsis... by Frodo+Crockett · · Score: 1

      # PC Gamer describes the game as Diablo played from a first person perspective and set in a post-apocalyptic London.
      # Roper consders the game to be an RPG. His arguments: combat is entirely stat based, not twitch based. Hits, misses, and damage will depend on the stats of your character and their weapons; and ranged weapons cast spells (they're actually being referred to as "spell delivery systems").

      Yeah, those two are what really worry me. Diablo was fun because it was a twitch game, and Diablo 2 even more so. Roper's remark is also confusing, since melee combat in the Diablo series depends greatly on stats. Whatever the game turns out to be, I hope it won't suffer from the rampant cheating that plagues Diablo 1 and 2.

      --
      "The newly born animals are then whisked off for a quick run through a giant baking oven." --heard on Food Network
    2. Re:screw the story synopsis... by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      yeah and stats has NOTHING to do with it being a rpg or not.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:screw the story synopsis... by Metsys · · Score: 1

      ...and not just a hack'n'slasher

      Don't you mean slack'n'hash?

    4. Re:screw the story synopsis... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I would say that the modern definition of an RPG is a game with stats and levelling. I guess that's sad, though I never liked roleplaying anyway.
      Roleplaying during a single-player game against a computer is surely utterly unfun.

    5. Re:screw the story synopsis... by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      I would say that the modern definition of an RPG is a game with stats and levelling.

      He also put emphasis on there going to be questing going on, and character customization, other important RPG elements, which I agree with.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    6. Re:screw the story synopsis... by TopherC · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that quote from Roper hit a nerve with me too.

      It's too bad that the term "RPG" now has this dual meaning. The two definitions are worlds apart. It means either "computerized stats-based avatar-building game", or "role-playing game". The former refers to strategy games like Diablo where players try to perfect chcaracter builds and collect ever-more fantastically rare and powerful items to either compete against each other or to make the game easier and easier.

      That, obviously, has nothing whatsoever to do with role-playing where the objectives are story telling, creating an atmosphere, and developing a believable personality. I'll argue that Neverwinter Nights was the first computer game which aspired to be an RPG, as it was the first game to really allow for a DM.

  4. Info by Meagermanx · · Score: 2, Informative

    It would have been nice to see some screenshots, concept art, or something. All I know is it's going to be a lot like Diablo II, according to some people.
    They just say "Well, it's an RPG set in hallasized London. ANTICIPATE!"
    Ooooh. I can't wait to... Do... Something. In London. I'm glad they released so much information on the game mechanics.

  5. Burned out shell? by RogueyWon · · Score: 4, Funny

    As somebody currently living in South East London, I've got to wonder if we'd actually notice any difference if the legions of hell rose up and sacked the place. Might even be an improvement. I mean, at least demons probably don't drive around in "riced up" Vauxhall Novas with cheesy rap music blaring from the windows at maximum volume.

    I bet the demons wouldn't fleece the human survivors for stupid amounts of council tax either...

    1. Re:Burned out shell? by Frodo+Crockett · · Score: 1

      I'd suggest you move to sunny California, but we have the exact same problems.

      --
      "The newly born animals are then whisked off for a quick run through a giant baking oven." --heard on Food Network
  6. Source article has a lot more info by kafka47 · · Score: 2, Informative
    This story reports in detail about the history of this company we've never heard of, and gives us info on a game we've never heard of. =)

    The article also explains why we don't have screenshots. Because PC Gamer has the exclusive on those.

    /Kafka

  7. Three words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    John. Romero. Daikatana.

    Roper wasn't exactly the gaming genius behind Diablo.

    1. Re:Three words by Frodo+Crockett · · Score: 1

      So if we give Flagship Studios enough Roper they'll hang themselves?

      --
      "The newly born animals are then whisked off for a quick run through a giant baking oven." --heard on Food Network
    2. Re:Three words by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      Maybe not, but the Erich Schaefer was a Design Lead and Project Lead on Diablo I and Diablo II, and both of the Schaefer brothers are employed by FS as well. Dave Brevik was another Design Lead on Diablo II, and he's also in. I think it's fair to say a lot of key designers behind Diablo II are there.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!