What would you say if we told you that there’s a studio-an independent studio-working on a new first person shooter that aims to be “the most believable and immersive sci-fi first-person shooter on the planet,” would you call us crazy? Zero Point Software has been developing this game, Interstellar Marines, since 2006 and today 3 mini, prequel-like games have been released to the happy cooing of over 67, 000 fans. The three games are: An interactive 3D tour called The Vault featuring several of Interstellar Marines’ characters; the advanced shooting range Bullseye where players test their skills against various targets aboard the military space shuttle AIV Kitty Hawk; and finally Running Man, a true first-person action experience where players face an onslaught of combat robots while training to become an elite marine.
Interstellar Marines is being developed by a studio that relies solely on community feedback and support, and we all know that listening to your fan base is crucial to the success of any game.
The ambition was always to make the most believable and immersive sci-fi first-person shooter on the planet. No photon lasers, no plasma-injected needle guns, and no impossibly bulky energy armors, but rather a realistic future where mankind is about to have its first historic meeting with another sentient species—with unknown consequences.
Interstellar Marines is about evolving the FPS with inspirations that the team has assimilated since the birth of the genre. The goal is a progressive step forward driven by compulsive interest in science fiction, role-playing, military realism, and respect for immersion. Interstellar Marines will connect players to a personalized action experience with satisfying character upgrades and dozens of weapons. A nuanced cooperative campaign (because playing with friends is awesome) will be anchored by compelling and unpredictable story twists, and competitive multiplayer gameplay will rival AAA efforts, while introducing memorable new elements.
So far no release date is set in stone for the roll-out of the Interstellar Marines Trilogy, however design and development continues on all aspects of the game — including more playable releases planned for 2011 and beyond. We will continue to regularly post news, media, progress reports and development insight on the dedicated www.interstellarmarines.com community site, with contests and special promotions planned for the months ahead.
Below you’ll find a video feature of the game as well as some screenshots. The three games already out are:
Running Man:
http://www.interstellarmarines.com/game/running-man/
Bullseye:
http://www.interstellarmarines.com/game/bullseye/
The Vault:
http://www.interstellarmarines.com/game/the-vault/
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