GDC09: Hands-on with sci-fi shooter Section 8
by Justin McElroy 
{ Mar 26th 2009 at 6:56PM }
It's a clever way to make even death enjoyable, and it's just one of the smart tweaks TimeGate has made to the eternal battle between gun-toting guys in space armor and -- well, other gun-toting guys in space armor.
Gallery: Section 8 (Xbox 360, PC)
The game we spent time with at GDC could probably best be described as being halfway between Tribes and Battlefield. Two forces of armored warriors vie for control points that they must hold longer than the opposition to win. It's a pretty standard structure and one you should be familiar with. The mode we saw wasn't really a structural revelation, but it was the small things that really set it apart.
For instance, there are some added perks to having a control point. Weapons are activated to defend your newly capped point, making it harder for the enemy to take it back. Less practically, there's also a cool visual cue to mark a capture -- like massive missiles being launched into the sky.
It's a sci-fi world, but one with a touch of realism. From the rocket launcher to the machine gun, the weapons we played with all felt very substantial. The more realistic approach to sci-fi is also evident when you call in support in the form of tanks or armored suits, which drop from the sky on your command, landing with a satisfying thud. Details like that really help to ground the world and make experiences fun that would be rote in other games.
Though there are vehicles, they're not the quickest way to get around. TimeGate allows you to quickly sprint from location to location, and though you can't do it while attacking, it's really useful for cutting down traveling time and quickly getting you back into the action.
The acid test, of course, will be how the experience flows when it's you and a bunch of buddies battling it out online. But at the moment, Section 8 is saying "triple-A" a lot more clearly than anything SouthPeak has released in years past.
Also, there are jet packs.
For instance, there are some added perks to having a control point. Weapons are activated to defend your newly capped point, making it harder for the enemy to take it back. Less practically, there's also a cool visual cue to mark a capture -- like massive missiles being launched into the sky.
It's a sci-fi world, but one with a touch of realism. From the rocket launcher to the machine gun, the weapons we played with all felt very substantial. The more realistic approach to sci-fi is also evident when you call in support in the form of tanks or armored suits, which drop from the sky on your command, landing with a satisfying thud. Details like that really help to ground the world and make experiences fun that would be rote in other games.
Though there are vehicles, they're not the quickest way to get around. TimeGate allows you to quickly sprint from location to location, and though you can't do it while attacking, it's really useful for cutting down traveling time and quickly getting you back into the action.
The acid test, of course, will be how the experience flows when it's you and a bunch of buddies battling it out online. But at the moment, Section 8 is saying "triple-A" a lot more clearly than anything SouthPeak has released in years past.
Also, there are jet packs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shadsy @ Mar 26th 2009 7:00PM
The Universal Jetpack Theorem states that if a game contains a jetpack, it is better.
This game will be awesome.
Ashkental @ Mar 26th 2009 7:24PM
But if we change the jetpack to fluid grapple balancing (spider webs, bionic arms, etc) the theory remains the same UNLESS the sequence reaches number 3
DiL @ Mar 26th 2009 9:07PM
proved in san andreas (jetpack) > gta4 (no jetpack)
Markez @ Mar 26th 2009 7:01PM
Is this a FPS set in subsidized housing... IN THE FUTURE!?
Bissy Boy (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:28PM
LOL
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Taylor Swift Defense Force, Gobot in disguise) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:06PM
Just got done listening to the Joystiq Podcast (YEEEEHAAAAAAAW!). This sounds like it might spice up the FPS market (at least from a gameplay standpoint) and I hope it succeeds
t3kni9e @ Mar 26th 2009 7:06PM
Sweet, more Halo DLC
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 7:14PM
i suppose that would be funny if it had anything in common with halo besides guns and armor
Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:19PM
...and vehicles
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 7:21PM
so every game that has vehicles is like Halo? Really? that's what you're going for?
Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:47PM
"i suppose that would be funny if it had anything in common with halo besides guns and armor"
and vehicles! that's what i'm saying! work with me, wayne!
t3kni9e @ Mar 26th 2009 7:49PM
Lol, easy now... just a joke cuz that pic looks alot like a covenant elite. I have no idea wtf this game is anyway. I tend to block out FPS games now days because gaming is plagued with them.
t3kni9e @ Mar 26th 2009 7:54PM
Chill I was j/k cuz that pic looks an awful lot like a Covenant Elite... Besides looking at other peoples comment, it seems im not the only one who thinks it looks Halo-ish.
Premature ejaculation man @ Mar 26th 2009 8:27PM
Yeah, it does look similar to an Elite on roids.
CH3BURASHKA @ Mar 26th 2009 7:07PM
For some reason, even though I know that this is pretty much the peak of genericity(?), I'm extremely anxious to see it and play it. However, I was as excited for Dark Sector, and we all know how that went. Not to say that DS was crap, it was just very underwhelming.
Also, anyone else get the Haze vibe? It's about a powerful army taking down underpowered rebels. I bet 20 bucks the guy finds out he's been fighting on the wrong side. Anyone else willing to bet?
joeybeast @ Mar 26th 2009 7:09PM
Looks like Master Chief got himself a Nano suit.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 7:13PM
Jetpacks and orbital drops = purchase
grudgeoms @ Mar 26th 2009 7:13PM
I'm sorry to say guys it looks like Halo! They just changed the name and added more aliens.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 7:20PM
there are no aliens in any of the screenshot or mentioned in the write up, there are also no green super suits, no short purple aliens no tall blue aliens, no regular human soldiers, and no giant fucking rings.
Markez @ Mar 26th 2009 7:28PM
No green super suits, no sale.
Ihavepants @ Mar 26th 2009 8:24PM
Halo invented science fiction guyz.
Casey Vincent @ Mar 26th 2009 7:15PM
Halo and gears just had a kid. Aww he is so cute and colorful.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 7:19PM
I don't see anything that would make you relate this to Gears. There are no chainsaws, no hulking ubermen, no ugly underground aliens, there isn't even a lot of brown
Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:48PM
wayne, don't take the comparisons so seriously
grudgeoms @ Mar 26th 2009 8:36PM
But it does resemble something from Halo! Don't bullshit dude lol
Casey Vincent @ Mar 26th 2009 8:37PM
I was mostly joking - but some of the characters look a little steroided out like Gears (huge fricken' armor).
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 9:09PM
it doesn't look anything like something. Although I suppose you could say it looks like a generic sci fi super armor in which case it would look like anything
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 9:11PM
*it doesn;t look like anything from halo
Bissy Boy (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Mar 26th 2009 7:27PM
I remember seeing the introductory trailer for this a few months back and was very impressed. This game is looking super bad ass IMO.
If any of you haven't seen the trailer here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS76A8QM9oY
Though none of that is any indication of what the game will play like and how well it will look it does give you an idea of the story and art style. I'm super impressed with everything I have seen thus far from Section 8.
Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 26th 2009 8:33PM
the animations are incredible.
Anticrawl @ Mar 26th 2009 7:43PM
I am looking forward to this game bigtime. Reminds me of my days playing Tribes on the PC.
Also doesn't this look like a Hunter from Halo? - http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/section803120802.jpg
Anticrawl @ Mar 26th 2009 7:45PM
No wait upon further inspection of the fullsize image I linked to it's just some guy landing from a really high fall. Almost looked like a hunter, with that glowing kneepad being his canon and the hunched over look.
Deany @ Mar 26th 2009 8:00PM
Is that me or have they used the head from Starscream from the Transformers movie?
AwesomeTown @ Mar 26th 2009 8:07PM
At least to me, this sounds more interesting than the shooters out now. Not that I don't like the ones out now, but this just seems like more fun.
Conor @ Mar 26th 2009 8:14PM
Look at that screenshot quickly and you'd swear it was something from halo 3.
j.howlett @ Mar 26th 2009 8:40PM
i concur. usually when something gets copared to halo it's because of a helmet and has something to do with space. i'm not making any judgements on the game, but that shot looks like halo art
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 9:10PM
did you guys play Halo? Halo was bright primary colors with bloom and blurs, this is bland by comparison.
Premature ejaculation man @ Mar 26th 2009 8:30PM
I love battlefield type games. Haven't played tribes.
So I think I'll check this out.
Anticrawl @ Mar 26th 2009 8:31PM
The developer needs to license speedtree because that vegetation is terrible.
Sly (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Mar 26th 2009 8:35PM
no ps3 version? sad sly is sad. maybe sales on 360 and PC will be good enough to make them consider a ps3 port. that trailer johnny linked to is incredible.
Vcize @ Mar 26th 2009 9:06PM
Well, Tribes is pretty much the epitome of awesome, but it sucks without a mouse/KB (I'm not one of those mouse/KB snobs by any means, but the console ports of Tribes were just awful to try and play with a controller), so we'll see how this goes.
Anticrawl @ Mar 27th 2009 3:06AM
I didn't even know there was a console port of Tribes until today.
Zach S @ Mar 26th 2009 9:39PM
If Halo and Gears had a baby, the characters in this game would pop out. Seriously, they're basically beefier Master Chiefs with large guns- doesn't mean it doesn't look cool, though! (just visually derivative)
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 26th 2009 10:07PM
this is blowing my mind, I can't see any resemblance to Halo at all, and even less to Gears. The graphical effects like the shine and the luster and the brightness and just the graphics in general dont look anything like those games to me. I guess if so many people see it I must be missing something or losing it
Vcize @ Mar 26th 2009 10:16PM
I think with regards to Gears people are just talking about the character shape/size, not the textures or anything to do with the environments. They have the super-muscle build to the point where it's almost a caracature (sp?) just like Gears does, right down to the oddly bulging thighs and abnormal back hump.
Premature ejaculation man @ Mar 26th 2009 10:17PM
Nothing like gears. Plus there's too much colour for that.
I'd get a picture of an Elite in that pose to help sway your opinion, but I don't want to go to the effort. To me, its just some of the looks on the armour. That's all, everything else is different/
Ihavepants @ Mar 26th 2009 10:17PM
It's a shooting game in the future, so logically it can only be the exact same as the only works of fiction that have been created in that genre before- Halo and Gears.
Duh.
Discotheque @ Mar 26th 2009 11:10PM
Really? The article picture could be confused with a Halo 3 shot.
I don't understand the Gears relation though either.
Zach S @ Mar 27th 2009 3:55AM
The poses of the characters look very similar to Halo, as do the colorful armor with random lights on top of black wetsuit-like exosuits, which are styled, at least from the waist down, very similarly to Halo's Spartans (not to mention the emblems on their shoulders). Their surroundings are also reminiscent of Halo, with things like those rounded-ish-cornered box things and grey concrete bases in the middle of lush green scenery. The weapon some of the characters are holding looks much like the Spartan Laser in Halo 3.
As far as Gears, it's really the inhuman size of the characters, with almost impossibly wide shoulders and legs, as well as the size of their guns. Plus, if you look at the guns, you can see that they look very much influenced by the Lancer and sniper in Gears, with some random blue glowy lights and overall shape and way-of-holding-it.
Hope that helps to clarify why exactly people would be making these comparisons.
The Dark Wayne @ Mar 27th 2009 8:33AM
well okay I can understand the elite likeness stuff, and maybe the colors but i still dont really see that. But hold on, you're telling me it looks like Halo because it has roundish boxes and concrete? See that. is what's blowing my mind. And also if anything the guns in that picture just look like longer blue versions of the F.E.A.R. assault rifles that timegate worked on.