Singularity spawns multiple screenshots, first trailer
by Randy Nelson 
{ Feb 23rd 2009 at 4:00PM } 
click to enlarge
In Raven Software's latest FPS, Singularity, you play as a salesperson for Cingular Wireless, now AT&T Wireless. No, that's not right. Oh yes. You play as a character who, unlike a Cingular salesperson, can manipulate time -- travel through it, use it to make folks age to death ... y'know, the usual. Anyway, the game's publisher, Activision, has released the first trailer for it and a couple dozen screenshots. The game looks mighty good, but we won't be totally convinced until we confirm players can use time to grow beards quickly. That and play it at E3. The trailer's hanging out just after the break or skip the lame Flash-vid and download it in glorious HD from Big Download.
Gallery: Singularity
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MystileArmor @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:09PM
I got all excited when you said you take the role of a wireless cellphone salesman.... atleast that would be a fresh concept.
The whole time traveling stuff looks promising though, but it seems it might get a bit "gimicky" and repetitive.
CoolerThanNos @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:09PM
Looking pretty good, finally a new raven software game. Lets see how this one turns out.
Timerider @ Feb 24th 2009 10:47AM
This is by Raven? Their a local developer; maybe I could visit sometime *wink, wink*.
Timerider @ Feb 24th 2009 10:59AM
Yes, I misspelled "they're". Don't say anything.
Abobo @ Feb 24th 2009 1:02PM
Anything.
MarkHawk @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:17PM
The trailer and video looked very interesting. I won't say it's the worlds most unique game but it looks to have a unique charms to put it on my radar. Plus they really nailed some of those animations. Take note bethesda ;)
Hyams @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:20PM
Because the last FPS with a time manipulation gimick was so amazing.
wicko @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:33PM
Because one company failed means they all will.
Kevin949 @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:39PM
Braid? Ya, it was awesome!
Oooh, do you mean chrono trigger? Cuz that was fun too.
Oh wait, prince of persia! Hm...no that was entertaining too.
Btw, I know you're talking about timeshift but from the looks of this video vs. what that game was, it seems they use the same principle of time manipulation very differently.
Hyams @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:47PM
Pretty sure Braid, Chrono Trigger and Prince of Persia aren't FPS. ;-]
Although you're both right - maybe my cynicism is misplaced.
Mike @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:20PM
No, you're right. It's OK to be skeptical about any gimmicky FPS. Raven has made quality FPS in the past, although standards have changed quite a bit since the last one. Quake 4 doesn't give me a ton of hope that they're adapting too quickly. Here's hoping.
Kevin949 @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:21PM
Ya, true. Hehe. I was just bein a smart ass. *Shrug* I didn't really mind time shift, from the demo that is.
ripslymemc @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:09PM
First someone makes a doubtful/negative comment. Some guy corrects him, turns out he's wrong, but he was nice about it. The original person corrects him without being a total jerk about it, and quickly reverses his original comment. Another guy comes along and assures him that his original idea was correct, and he leaves it on a good note, without being too snobby or commanding with it. Then, second guy comes along and admits his mistakes too.
Bless your souls!
Nice to break the stereotype of gamers as angry, rude, pimply-faced teenagers/adults who do not care for other people. Great job guys.
Only on Joystiq.
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:19PM
Yay! Hugs all around!
Asim Fareed @ Feb 24th 2009 2:32AM
Hugs???? Don't be a gay mexican jew lizard LAWLLLLZZZ
Timerider @ Feb 24th 2009 10:42AM
Timeshift was pretty good. The weapons could have been better, and the multiplayer is basically nonexistent, but it was ok.
Megadanxzero @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:20PM
Does look like it might end up a bit gimmicky... Looks kinda fun though. I'm always interested if a game lets you shoot dead bodies at people
Broken89 @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:31PM
Looks Interesting.
Kevin949 @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:33PM
Hm...interesting to say the least.
Dave @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:34PM
Pick up and throw.
Tony @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:35PM
It doesn't look bad, although I could do without the lame backwards letters.
arrness @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:29PM
AGREED.
Tom @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:59PM
I'll take my backwards letters on a Toys 'R' Us sign, thank you very much!
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:24PM
In Soviet Russia, letters flip you!
Hife @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:40PM
Hmm looks like Half Life mixed with Resistance (don't know why, something about it just seems Resistance-ish). I'll keep my eye on it.
Popfrogs @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:30PM
It's the crappy color palette probably. You can always tell when a PC game gets ported to consoles thanks to the original Doom color schemes.
I'll reserve judgment on this title though, this trailer is all tease and very little gameplay (other than the Hey You Can Toss Explosive Barrels mechanic which they seem to be proud of).
Konrad @ Feb 24th 2009 1:13AM
Kinda reminds me a bit of Bioshock & Resistance moreso than Half-Life.
CaramelZappa @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:42PM
So you have the gravity gun from Half-Life 2, but you can grab objects that used to be there as well as the ones that are now. Yea okay.
zack929bb @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:54PM
Nice it seems as if its running off the cod4 engine. that gun looks like ak47 kinda combined with ak74u
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:33PM
looks similar to UE3 than CDO. I wouldn't be surprised if its running on a modified version of id4
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:34PM
*look more similar to UE3..... definitely not COD though
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:54PM
I saw a Game Informer spread on this and it looked like shit. The graphics, models and entire concept was just whack from the start. This looks like it will be meh-tastic.
EndCat @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:03PM
So it needs amazing graphics to be a good game?
Klink258 @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:01PM
Did you /watch/ the video?
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:21PM
End-Cat
If it's on the PS360 there isn't an excuse to have substandard graphics, models and environments. If a game can't look good in still images then it really has issues. Thats usually the place where us gamers are tricked into thinking the game looks good (think Haze). That's like asking if a plate of food needs to look good to taste good. It doesn't have to but we eat first with our eyes and then with our mouths.
Klink258
Yes I watched the video and it reaffirmed what I had previously though from the GI spread. It doesn't look like anything special. It looks like another Fracture, Dark Sector, Time Shift or Haze. Those are all games with terrific concepts and to a certain extent were fun games but in the end are average or below average at best in an already crowded genre. That's just one mans opinion and I hope that I'm wrong and it turns out to be awesome.
ronald.raygun @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:54PM
i know its overplayed but ...
in soviet russia, game rates you!
Killiam XXIII @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:20PM
In Soviet Russia, road forks you!
Duke @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:59PM
I read an article on this in made informer I think and they made it sound pretty interesting. I liked the idea of being able to revert time in an area of the world in order to solve puzzles. I recall them talking about one point where you revert time to raise an old sub out of the water and as you enter the sub the timeline begins to slip back to present day as you try to get through it. Seems like a fun idea that would add some tension to the game.
Duke @ Feb 23rd 2009 4:59PM
um, I meant Game Informer.
CaramelZappa @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:01PM
I like all the backwards letters in the trailer. Kinda silly.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:01PM
How to make a modern FPS:
1. Create generic male protagonist. Bonus points for faceless-ness, bonus points for mute-ism.
2. Choose a science gimmick (time/gravity/light/bees)
3. Inject 2-3 puzzles around said gimmick per 4 hours of gameplay.
4. Only show gameplay footage of science gimmick warping/throwing/blinding/stinging people.
5. "Choose how YOU play it!" also helps
Oh yeah, this stuff, too:
http://www.wegame.com/watch/Life_in_a_Game_Episode_71/
Fx.Dr @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:26PM
I don't know where you're coming from. I feel bees/tires/shoes/bagels are grossly under utilized in modern FPSs.
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:22PM
Try it sometime.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:09PM
Looks pretty cool. I hope the gameplay mechanics pan out the way I think they will.
Also, I hope it doesn't come out at a Soldier of Fortune quality level.
catapults.music @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:12PM
"You play as a character who, unlike a Cingular salesperson, can manipulate time -- travel through it, use it to make folks age to death ... y'know, the usual."
So, it's a Sprint sales person?
Dave @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:39PM
Sounds more like a Sprint customer service representative.
Richards | PSN: F4WMR @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:55PM
Interesting, worth a rent or a bargain bin pickup atm. The hand device reminds me of Conduit all seeing eye device, which saddens me a bit. The Conduit doesn't have much going for it, and I highly support it, but from the time of it's announcement to actually release, it has lost a lot of steam, and this title has just take a bit more. For all those who don't know, The Conduit is a NIntendo Wii FPS. Anyways, ya KILLZONE 2, FRIDAY! add me up!
The Dark Wayne @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:14PM
im more interested in uhh, youthing them to death? Birthing them to death?
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Feb 23rd 2009 7:24PM
It would be cool if you could reverse time to when the enemy is being born, and the enemy's mom will show up giving birth on a table, and you can then reverse time on the mother to before he was conceived, then you could impregnate the mother so the guy who was shooting you would never had been born!
That's the problem with gimmicks like these. They never turn out as cool as I imagine them.
The Dark Wayne @ Feb 24th 2009 9:08AM
Game informer's article actually showed pics of how you could revert them to a placental stage, so it's actually kinda like that, only without most of the mom