BRINK Interview With Richard Ham and Edward Stern

unknown_gamer writes "BRINK turns out to be a lot more than just a regular shooter. The research behind the game — yes, there was research — turns out to actually be valid. Richard Ham and Edward Stern talk to Snezana about the actual scientific methods behind BRINK, the motivations behind the game, and about the game itself." A video up at Destructoid sums up the game briefly, and two others show an extended gameplay sequence. A preview from back in September at Rock, Paper, Shotgun explains BRINK in more detail. The game is due out Fall 2010. The developer, Splash Damage, seems willing to do a Linux port if the publisher, Bethesda, gives them the green light.

Comments

What you really need to know

[drinkypoo]

The game will be very pretty, it will be playable on consoles, and it will only be available on PC via Steam, meaning call-home, verify-after-install, can't-restore-backups-without-internet-connection (since you have to install and update Steam before you can play anything) and so on. If you must buy this game, buy it for the console. Steam is a mechanism for depriving you of your First Sale rights and interferes with Fair Use as well. Steam games are not playable as purchased, on their own. They're not PC games, they're Steam games. Do you really trust Valve so far?

Re:What you really need to know

[drinkypoo]

Please, hold the paranoia.

What paranoia? Where in my comment does it look like I think everyone is out to get me? We're talking about one company's plot to screw everyone, it's quite the opposite. Reading comprehension? YOU FAIL IT

Do you trust any of your software vendors? Really?

That has nothing to do with anything. I am not required to trust them when I buy an installable software product, unlike a Steam-powered game, because I can simply install from the media and use the software. If I cannot do so, I am protected by California state law, and may return the product regardless of the store's policies on software returns; my state protects me from defective merchandise. In fact, by state law, I may return it under any warranty to any outlet which sells the same product. Since the original warranty covers the product's ability to work at all (though nothing else) I can take it back any ol' place.

Do you worry about the phone company (VOIP or traditional POTS) listening to your calls or perhaps the fact that your phone can't operate in standalone mode?

My phone can operate in standalone mode. It's called airplane mode. Nice try though, son.

Both groups have legitimate areas to worry about as well as less legitimate ones but Valve hasn't installed spy ware (AFAIK) for any publisher.

Steam is spyware.

You can play your games without having to connect to Steam,

But you can not install a game without having to connect to Steam, even if you bought a retail CD/DVD. In fact, you can't even restore your "backups" on this basis. Please try to keep up. What was that I said about reading comprehension above? Your failure continues.

and its saved huge amounts of natural resources by being one of (if not the) most popular platforms for buying games without boxes and packaging materials.

Or a CD from which you can actually install and play the game without a working internet connection.