The PS4 is going to have some pretty impressive technology behind it. It’s going to be even more amazing when we start seeing developers really put the new hardware to the test in an effort to bring us some of the most breathtaking and beautifully constructed games we’ve played. One such developer is attempting to do just that.
Ready at Dawn, the developers behind games like Daxter on the PlayStation Portable is jumping headlong into the new development environment for the PS4 with The Order: 1886 and from what we’ve seen thus far, certainly has the potential to impress a whole lot of people. With all the power that comes with Sony’s new console, Ready at Dawn is striving to get as much next generation software design into this game that they can.
Ready at Dawn has been working on this game since about 2010 and is scheduled for release sometime in 2014, so with about four years of development behind it, they are certainly taking their time with this. Shading and lighting in The Order looks quite impressive so far. Ready at Dawn is using something called Physically Based Shading, a type of technology that we’ve seen in quite a lot of CGI films already. Now they are trying to bring it to gaming in real-time.
"With all the power that comes with Sony’s new console, Ready at Dawn is striving to get as much next generation software design into this game that they can."
This is particularly impressive because objects like fabric, brick, and stone are being scanned while light interacts with the various depths, textures and contours of the object. This results in not only much more realistic and accurate shading but with roughly the same amount if not less work. On top of it all, this kind of shading adds quite a lovely depth and texture variation to objects in the game, especially as light interacts with them from different perspectives.
The Order: 1886 takes place in an alternate universe that is under constant threat from some kind of monsters.
As a result of the efforts to combat them, the technology and weapons that are available to The Order are incredibly advanced for the end of the 19th century. Machine guns, semi-automatic pistols and even some kind of wacky, steampunk lightning gun can be seen in action in the E3 trailer that was released earlier this year.
While there was plenty to show off with the weapons in this game so far we’ve seen virtually nothing of our supposed inhuman enemies. While they’re humanoid, they are certainly not human from what we’ve seen. The monsters whose silhouettes appear in the thick fog of what appears to be late 1800’s London. They are obviously quite dexterous, climbing and leaping at The Order members in the trailer, yet even after they get close they cannot be made out. They look and move somewhat like werewolves, though there is no way to know for sure.
"This Victorian-style design for the game is quite beautiful too, everything from the uneven, cobblestone city streets to the horse drawn carriages and elegant yet official clothing that our characters and NPC’s are wearing will certainly help to bring Ready at Dawn’s vision to life. "
This Victorian-style design for the game is quite beautiful too, everything from the uneven, cobblestone city streets to the horse drawn carriages and elegant yet official clothing that our characters and NPC’s are wearing will certainly help to bring Ready at Dawn’s vision to life. It does seem that the time frame and setting around the turn of the 19th and 20th century has been a popular one for games in the last year, with titles like Dishonored and Bioshock Infinite jumping to mind almost immediately. So far though, it looks like The Order: 1886 is going to be bringing a decidedly more dark and mysterious approach to the setting.
Little is known about the plot so far, so Ready at Dawn is doing a pretty good job at keeping this title under wraps, especially with 2014 creeping up on us quietly. We’re not sure what the enemy threat is and who The Order Represents. Is it some secret organization that’s been built to combat the monstrous threat that is plaguing the city? Only time will tell and there is sure to be more information trickling out of the studio before the release.
We do know that the game is going to be set in a third person perspective, but we are still unaware whether it’s squad based or if there is going to be any multiplayer or cooperative options. From the trailer we’ve seen so far it does looks like there are various weapon-types as well as characters. It wouldn’t be surprising if there is a Left 4 Dead style multiplayer to accompany the single player game.
"Frankly, this is a title we should be patiently waiting for, with the amount of time put into it thus far and the convincing world, it could be well worth it. Folks that have PS4 already on their way have something really beautiful work to look forward to."
Ready at Dawn Studios appears to have a good thing going here with The Order: 1886, they’ve put a lot of time and effort into the game up until this point and are using some wonderful technology to bring their visions to life.
There is still a lot we don’t know about the game, but it’s going to be exciting to find out as more of this title’s design comes to light before it’s release.
From the looks of it though, the studio is putting a lot of love into a project that’s been in existence since 2010 and doesn’t have a a release date until sometime in 2014.
Frankly, this is a title we should be patiently waiting for, with the amount of time put into it thus far and the convincing world, it could be well worth it.
Folks that have the PS4 already on their way have something really beautiful work to look forward to.