Fracture

[RoxStar]

I'm surprised that no one has made a thread about this yet. Lucasarts is cooking up a new game with the central "gimmick" being that players can manipulate their environments in a third person shooter, futuristic world.

 

Here is a copy of the press release:

 

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- May 2, 2007 -- LucasArts and development partner Day 1 Studios today announced Fracture™, in which players reshape the battlefields in a futuristic conflict with global implications. This epic war fought on American soil pits cybernetically enhanced soldiers against warriors augmented by the benefits of advanced genetic engineering. The company that brought you Star Wars and Indiana Jones, as well as successful new intellectual properties such as Mercenaries (the No. 1 new IP in 2005) and Thrillville (the No. 1 original children's IP of 2006), presents a new franchise full of groundbreaking next-generation gameplay, an intriguing storyline and compelling characters.

 

"Exciting new intellectual properties serve a vital role to the growth of LucasArts," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. "Fracture represents the next step in this company initiative, complete with the intriguing story and compelling characters audiences expect of a LucasArts release."

 

Fracture advances players to the year 2161, where ecological and seismological disasters have radically altered the planet's landscape, and a clash in ideologies places society on the threshold of war. Players set foot on the frontlines of this epic conflict in the role of Mason Briggs, a demolitions expert fighting for the Atlantic Alliance, the side that relies upon cybernetic enhancement. Pitted against the genetically enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army, players will experience a revolution in 22nd-century warfare. In utilizing the core gameplay mechanic of Fracture, a destructive next-generation technology known as Terrain Deformation, players are equipped with an arsenal of futuristic weaponry to strategically reshape their surroundings on the fly. Every action they perform dynamically reshapes the earth in ways no videogame has ever seen. When Briggs throws a tectonic grenade on a level battlefield, the ground blasts upward to provide access to an otherwise unreachable area. Moving on, when he comes across what appears to be an impenetrable structure, Briggs utilizes the alt-fire functionality on his rocket launcher to create enormous craters to burrow underneath the wall. Surrounded on all sides by enemies, Briggs heaves a vortex grenade, creating a swirling tornado-like mass of boulder, dirt and debris to dispatch his foes. These are just a few samples of the possibilities for Terrain Deformation. Players not only change the battlefield -- they change the face of the battle itself.

 

"LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that's exactly what Fracture delivers," said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. "Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn't possible in the previous generation of consoles."

 

"LucasArts' excitement for Fracture is palpable, and it only inspires us even further to ensure the game lives up to its lofty expectations," said Denny Thorley, president of Day 1. "The opportunity to work with a company such as LucasArts, that knows not only how to launch large entertainment properties, but also successfully bring new IP to market, is truly a privilege. With Terrain Deformation leading the way, we know we're creating something special, and we have absolutely no doubts that LucasArts is the only company to make sure Fracture receives its due."

 

More information about the game can be found at the official Fracture website, http://www.fracturegame.com, which will continue to release details throughout the year.

 

 

"Exciting new intellectual properties serve a vital role to the growth of LucasArts," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. "Fracture represents the next step in this company initiative, complete with the intriguing story and compelling characters audiences expect of a LucasArts release."

 

^ That line stuck out to me in particular because, if true, it means that Tim Schafer should be back there!

 

http://lucasarts.com/games/fracture/ is the official site, they have a pretty nifty looking trailer up.

[Monkey Mania]

It's only a gimmick if you can play the entire game without using that feature.

 

I'm still not too sure about this game. I think I'll wait a bit.

[Commander Obi-Wan]

Fracture looks okay. The trailer didn't really impress me much. Albeit, there is still approximately a year till the release of the game. Then, maybe "Fracture" will appeal to me.

[DarthAve]

That line stuck out to me in particular because, if true, it means that Tim Schafer should be back there!

Tim Schafer's busy with that mysterious game his production company, Doublefine, is working on.

 

Unless this could be the mysterious game. A lucasarts/Doublefine collab?? SWEET

[Jeff]

I think it looks pretty cool, its a unique idea and I liked it when I first heard about it. We'll see as it is further developed.

[Joetheeskimo]

Let me guess -- it's for XBox 260, right? No PC? *Interest falls once again*

 

All of these "next-gen" games are fo XBox 360, leaving us PC-only gamers behind. I have news for you, game designers! PCs can be upgraded ad infinitum, but consoles are limited! You're investing in the wrong platform!

 

Mumble grumble harrumph grr...