It's been a long time since we first heard about TimeGate Studios' Section 8. Based on the "not even pre-alpha" game on display at this year's EIEIO, it's going to be even longer before we see a final game. It's currently slated for the third quarter of next year on Xbox 360 and PC. But developer TimeGate Studios – they did the F.E.A.R. expansions, if you'll recall – did give a short gameplay demonstration, and revealed one of the major facets of the Section 8 experience.
The game's name comes from the nickname given to the future 8th Armored Infantry, of which your character is a member. This group consists of soldiers who have volunteered to wear a super-powerful armored suit (awesome!) and be launched into combat from space. The joke is that you would have to be crazy to volunteer for that, so the squad is informally called "Section 8" after the military code for a psychologically-motivated discharge.
In the game, you'll be able to choose any area of the stage that is currently in your control to "burn in" (that's what they call the launch process). This is the game's method of respawning, and it is pretty much the most exciting way to start over that I can imagine. The whole map is visible when you choose, a massive desert expanse in the case of the demo. You have some control over your descent, so you can fine-tune your aim. You also have jetpacks that allow you to soften your landing -- your shields go out temporarily if you crash down at top speed. Another tantalizing possibility, for which the exact details have yet to be finalized: using your flying body as a projectile weapon. You can choose to land on enemy vehicles, which, at top speed, could be devastating to an enemy tank. Or hilarious to somebody who sees you slam into that tank.
The concept of big guys in neat armor shooting at each other may have been well-explored in the FPS genre, but TimeGate may be onto something with the burn-in concept, which takes the worst part of the game (being dead) and makes it fun.
Reader Comments (20)
Posted: Mar 13th 2008 3:18AM (Unverified) said
embiggen is a perfectly cromulent word. look it up.
(in case you didn't know, this is a pop culture reference to an episode of the simpsons that the internet picked up on long ago. the word embiggen has been in use for many years now)
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(in case you didn't know, this is a pop culture reference to an episode of the simpsons that the internet picked up on long ago. the word embiggen has been in use for many years now)
Posted: Mar 12th 2008 10:37PM (Unverified) said
It's coming out for PS3 too JoyStiq. http://ps3.ign.com/objects/746/746149.html
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Posted: Mar 12th 2008 10:58PM BlackIceJoe said
I was thinking the same thing. I was wondering what happened to the PS3 version. I thought there was one now I know I was not dreaming.
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Posted: Mar 13th 2008 2:55AM (Unverified) said
here in memphis, stoners don't live in section 8. It is, well, more like this http://a799.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/31/l_abb8a9a92165ae48dc8a4d9daef2a836.jpg
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Posted: Mar 13th 2008 2:49AM iHavePants said
You know what, that screen had me really interested, but then I read that they made the FEAR expansions... no thank you.
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Posted: Apr 1st 2008 1:29AM (Unverified) said
There are multiple teams working on different projects at TimeGate. The Section 8 team isn't the same as the FEAR team. Also, they aren't using the same engines, section 8 being a next-gen game. (FEAR=Lithtech, Section 8=Unreal Engine 3) And the art direction is different as well. The graphics, gameplay, and storyline will be much better in Section 8 than FEAR expansions. This is TimeGate's baby, you can bet that there's no holding back on this one.
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Posted: Mar 13th 2008 12:04PM SpaceRunaway said
This sounds like it's been lifted from Starship Troopers (the novel) which is a fantastic thing.
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