Blackpowder Games may sound unfamiliar to many, but its founders are known industry-wide because of titles like FEAR, No One Lives Forever, and Condemned, which were created at their prior place of employment, Monolith. People are bound to pay attention to their latest, Betrayer, announced today. Described as an “eerie and atmospheric first-person action adventure”, the game is on its way for a Steam Early Access release on August 14.
As the player, you arrive on the shores of a suffering Virginian colony in 1604, but the place isn’t what you expected — you’re confronted with mystery and ghosts. In this FPS you will “build up an arsenal of weaponry including muskets, crossbows and throwing axes, collecting untold treasures along the way,” the press release says — all while navigating “your own course through an untamed wilderness teeming with danger and discovery as you search for survivors and unravel the colony’s many mysteries.” A player will note the frequent appearance of a quaint figure clothed in crimson, who aids in various endeavors. Betrayer is distinct in its style and art direction, where a striking collage of black, white, and red grace the screen.
The title, which runs on Unreal Engine 3, is self-funded. In an interview with Gamasutra, Blackpowder’s creative director Craig Hubbard said that the idea of founding an independent studio was “ always a bit of a daydream.” The Blackpowder staff is comprised of a mere six people, which has proven to be beneficial for not only the team, but the game as well. Executive producer Larry Paolicelli says the smaller size allowed for a more harmonious group dynamic, allowing them to become “completely product-focused.” Paolicelli describes the difficulty encountered in achieving the desired outcome under the confines of a publisher and managerial constraints. The growing indie sector of the industry, he said, was an additional influence on the decision to become independent. The two seem confident with Betrayer, and wish to bring on “head-nodding” and “chin-rubbing” instead of “finger-pointing or eye-rolling”, says Hubbard. In addition to Steam Early Access, Betrayer will be available on iOS and Android at an unspecified date.
[Source: Joystiq, Gamasutra, Blackpowder Games, BGT (for above video)]
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