Well this was unexpected! 3D Realms is back, teaming up with Voidpoint for a brand new FPS named Ion Maiden [Steam, Official Site] and the first part is now available in Early Access with Linux support.
It's using an upgraded version of their "Build engine" to include bigger levels, more colour support and many more modern features. However, they said it's being built using original old-school tools and methodologies. They say it's the "true successor to classic shooters such as Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior and Blood".
Direct Link
From the press release I got sent today:
Ion Maiden laughs at the idea of constant checkpoints and straight paths through shooting galleries. But just because this is a true old-school first-person shooter doesn’t mean there won’t be all the good new stuff the last two decades have brought. Headshots? Hell yeah. More physics and interactivity? You betcha. Widescreen, controller support, and Auto Saves? 3D Realms and Voidpoint took the best of both worlds and cooked it all into a bloody stew.
3D Realms and Voidpoint are proud to bring back the Build engine, which powered Duke Nukem 3D, Blood, and Shadow Warrior, in all of its hand-crafted pixelated glory. They’ve spent a lot of time tinkering under the hood to take advantage of new technology and techniques. Bigger levels, hundreds of new colors, and morphing maps that transform mid-level are all just a few of the advancements made to the engine.
On top of crafting an oldschool FPS with modern touches, they are also hinting at some form of multiplayer too.
"Bringing back classic build-engine shooters has been our aim for years, so we’re diving right into a spiritual successor to the games which put 3D Realms on the map,” Frederik Schreiber, Vice President, 3D Realms. "The team assembled for this project knows exactly how to execute our vision, and we couldn't be more excited to finally bring back a true 3D Realms shooter."
Pretty nice that it has full Linux support—exciting! The current version is a "polished exclusive multi-hour preview campaign", with a plan for the full game to be ready in "Q3" of this year.
You can grab it from Steam, or from their official site for a fully DRM free build. From what I understand it will also head to GOG sometime as well, but I've not been told when.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Doc Angelo Feb 28, 2018
Last edited by Doc Angelo on 28 February 2018 at 6:28 pm UTC
Last edited by axredneck on 28 February 2018 at 6:31 pm UTC
Quoting: Doc AngeloApart from the name "3D Realms" there is nothing interesting here. Sounds like a cash grab with weird definitions what Early Access means.I for one am definitely game for another 2.5D sprite based shooter. They look and play fundamentally differently to true 3D FPS games and in 2018 I think we can be mature enough to realize that one does not have to supersede the other.
Certainly a desire to cash in on nostalgia is a big factor here, but this could also serve as the springboard needed to bring back some properly retro FPS titles again, rather than the mass of swarm shooters or procedurally generated roguelite FPS games we have been getting. I welcome that with open arms.
Last edited by Hamish on 28 February 2018 at 6:53 pm UTC
Doc Angelo Feb 28, 2018
Quoting: HamishI for one am definitely game for another 2.5D sprite based shooter. They look and play fundamentally differently to true 3D FPS games
What makes the gameplay different for 2D-Raycasters (Doom/DN3D) in comparison to polygon based shooters (Quake/Doom 3/etc...)? You have some restrictions while designing levels for Raycasters, but apart from that, I don't see why the render technique would interfere with the game design.
Mblackwell Feb 28, 2018
Quoting: Doc AngeloApart from the name "3D Realms" there is nothing interesting here. Sounds like a cash grab with weird definitions what Early Access means.
I'm sorry you think that. Myself and the rest of the developers are huge classic FPS fans and long time members of the BUILD/Duke and Doom modding communities and have put in years of effort toward this release. I hope that you will give it a chance, even with your reservations.
Quoting: GuestQuoting: MblackwellQuoting: RafiLinuxQuoting: MblackwellI hope everyone enjoys the game! Everyone at Voidpoint and 3D Realms has been working extremely hard to bring a kick-ass classic experience true to the engine's legacy.
Will this be coming to GOG or itch.io?
Yes to GOG. It is already available DRM free directly from 3D Realms.
Quoting: EndeavourAccuracyThey really couldn't finish the game first, and have to release into Early Access, huh?
No money left to add Steam Cloud support (or Achievements)?
I'm willing to bet Voidpoint just reused a (mildly tweaked) old 3D Realms engine.
Other than the nostalgia factor, nothing about this looks appealing.
Thanks for supporting Linux, I guess. Now, can we get more real games?
The Preview Campaign is a complete multi-hour, replayable campaign and even has an extra goodie when you complete it. Buying now gets you access to it plus the much larger Single Player Campaign.
This is not like other Early Access products.
Ugh, I hate when they do special "get this special content if you buy the game NOW" sort of thing that games do
Especially when I have no money to buy the game right now :(
The full game releases later this year, so plenty of time left still!
Doc Angelo Feb 28, 2018
Quoting: MblackwellMyself and the rest of the developers are huge classic FPS fans and long time members of the BUILD/Duke and Doom modding communities and have put in years of effort toward this release. I hope that you will give it a chance, even with your reservations.
Maybe a better trailer would help. Apart from stating that other games are bad and this game is not, I just see retro graphics without much that could catch the eye. What makes the game good and different from others? "Real Retro" means completely different things for different people. Maybe elaborate on that a bit in a trailer. I'm sure there is more to show without revealing too much of the main story campaign that's not yet available.
And as I said, the Early Access definition doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It's more like a share ware episode, but you have to pay the full price for it instead of testing it for free.
Last edited by Doc Angelo on 28 February 2018 at 7:59 pm UTC
Quoting: Doc AngeloAnd as I said, the Early Access definition doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It's more like a share ware episode, but you have to pay the full price for it instead of testing it for free.I think it's pretty clear.
It's a game you have to buy like any other, currently while they polish it and finish the rest, like all other Early Access games they're giving you a slice of the content that they feel is polished enough to show.
Luke_Nukem Feb 28, 2018
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