The Great Circle is Indiana Jones for a post-Uncharted world
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Wow, this is fantastic news that I did not expect to hear. I have been waiting a long time for a successor as good as Chronicles of Riddick, and nothing has quite matched it. This at least has me encouraged.
Speaking of CoR, I don't even think it's available as a backward-compatible game on Xbox, which is tragic.
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They're the publisher. It's not like they're using the Creation Engine.
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I'm pretty excited for this game, now. I loved the new Wolfenstein games, and I'm a huge fan of the Riddick game.
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I do hope there's a quick animation of Indy pulling the book out from nowhere when the player opens the in-experience menu.Kyle Orland said:
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Bethesda is a publisher.
Machine games uses the idtech techstack which is completely separate from the bethesda game studios creation engine (elderscrolls fallout starfield)
This is the techstack which is used in doom and wolfenstein Both games that are rock solid.
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I'm going to miss the feel of the old SCUMM Indy games, but of course I'm going to buy it. I just paid the ridiculous asking price for Star Wars: Outlaws so I can get early access (coincidentally on my birthday), so I'm tempted to do that again for this.
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1) Hold on now. That latest Indy film felt a lot closer to the original than Crystal Skull ever would. No Shia LaBeouf, and (without spoiling the film) Indy was an archeologist instead of a member of the tin foil hat brigade investigating aliens. I'm very interested in and open to critiques, but let's not pretend that those last two entries have any significant similarities.
2) The climbing scenes def look Uncharted, which I consider very much positive! The rest of it... I'm skeptical I'd enjoy. Might give this a try if it's on GamePass, but not a purchase without some hands on time to see how it feels.
2) The climbing scenes def look Uncharted, which I consider very much positive! The rest of it... I'm skeptical I'd enjoy. Might give this a try if it's on GamePass, but not a purchase without some hands on time to see how it feels.
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Mungus the Unhyphenated
Ars Tribunus Militum
The first image in the article shows Indy's(?) hand holding up a WWII-era German Imco Triplex lighter, accurately rendered. It's little details like this that can make a game interesting and immersive. 
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This is the only game I'm unreservedly excited for this year, since Avowed got bumped to 2025. (Outlaws might turn out to be fun but I'll wait for the reviews, because I'm not really a fan of Ubisoft's design sensibilities.) Good to hear MachineGames saying all the right things!
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You feel that way because every headline and article and YouTube video about it lately makes it sound like it's a failure that will be removed from sale if it doesn't sell as many consoles as PS5, which makes about as much sense as saying the PS5 will fail if it doesn't sell as many as the Switch.
Like, Microsoft make a lot of money from games nowadays. It's not like their phone business, which was a constant money drain. Xbox isn't going anywhere for at least another generation.
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I have the same excitement for this game as I had for Starfield, which is concerning given what a letdown I found it to be. One other thing I am struck by is how far behind graphics wise Bethesda tied games seem to be, especially when you compare it to something like Spiderman Remastered.
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Yeah, they've got a bit of a reputation as a publisher now as well (Redfall).
You're accurate in that it'll be using idtech software and not creation engine, but it's still pretty good SoP in 2024 to wait a week or so.
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Ah yes, I too like to pretend that Temple of Doom doesn't exist.
More seriously, this game is looking better and better. Actually good movie-to-game adaptations are a rare breed (though much more successful, in general, than the other way around).
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Temple of Doom takes place in 1935, before Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936), so it doesn't fit into the gap between Raiders and Last Crusade.
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MachineGames not only uses the id Tech game engine but is also actively involved in its development along with id Software. The Wolfenstein franchise, as well as the latest Quake and Doom "enhanced" games and campaigns, use this engine and were developed by MachineGames. These are the only recent games using this engine. id also stopped selling licenses of this engine since they were acquired by ZeniMax / Bethesda.
I guess id Software and MachineGames used Indiana Jones to improve the engine, which is solid but also quite outdated when compared with the current generation of game engines. Its latest version was released in 2018 and has only received a modest update in 2021.
edit: spelling
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Because this game uses the proprietary id Tech engine. id Software slowed down developing its game engine after being acquired by Zenimax / Bethesda. Since then, this engine has only being used to develop a handful of games developed by MachineGames, such as Doom Eternal and the Wolfstein franchise. The engine is solid and does deliver high performance, but its graphic capabilities are significantly outdated when compared to current proprietary and commercial game engines. Maybe Microsoft, who now owns Zenimax, will attempt to revive the id Tech engine, but the momentum was already lost. Bethesda is facing a rather similar situation with its proprietary Creation Engine.
As an Indiana Jones fan, I do hope this game turns out to be a fantastic game, but if that happens it will not be because of its cutting-edge visuals.
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No mention of it in the article, so it's worth noting that this game is apparently no longer an Xbox exclusive - that trailer says at the end it's coming to PS5 in "Spring 2025".
I think this adds credence to the speculation that Microsoft's next Xbox is going to try and merge the console with PC. Given that they've also said that their next Xbox will be "the biggest technical leap in a generation", the way they're taking more and more titles multi-platform, and the evidence that the company execs gave in the Activision trial, I think the bullet point logic goes like this:
* The real money is to be made in the sales of games and subscriptions. And they've already conceded that on PC they won't be able to do that exclusively through their own store - all Xbox Games Studios games release on Steam too
* You still need a flagship device to fuel that engine, particularly Game Pass
* They think they've lost the "console war", to the extent that they'll make more money by ditching the idea of an exclusive platform and exiting the "war" completely
* Sony are also taking a multi platform approach and putting their big first party titles on PC. If you could get them on Xbox that neutralises a competitive advantage
* Give the next generation of Xboxes the ability to leverage new PC releases and the back catalogue of Xbox and PC titles
* Xbox OS is already a variant of Windows that runs games from different platforms in VMs. All you need to do to make an Xbox a PC is add another VM to that roster and allow other stores, which Phil Spencer has alluded to several times in interviews over the years.
* It's almost certain that there will be a handheld Xbox, a concept that will only really work if you make it a PC, because otherwise developers will have to tailor their games specifically for a lower-powered platform and that has apparently already been a burden for them with the Series S
There are only two big question marks in my mind. (1) Will it be upgradeable? and (2) if so will they continue subsidising the hardware?
All speculation of course, but I think you'd be nuts to assume that they're going to approach the next console generation just like this one, with two so called "premium" consoles duking it out for dominance of a slice of the gaming market that just isn't growing as much as others.
I think this adds credence to the speculation that Microsoft's next Xbox is going to try and merge the console with PC. Given that they've also said that their next Xbox will be "the biggest technical leap in a generation", the way they're taking more and more titles multi-platform, and the evidence that the company execs gave in the Activision trial, I think the bullet point logic goes like this:
* The real money is to be made in the sales of games and subscriptions. And they've already conceded that on PC they won't be able to do that exclusively through their own store - all Xbox Games Studios games release on Steam too
* You still need a flagship device to fuel that engine, particularly Game Pass
* They think they've lost the "console war", to the extent that they'll make more money by ditching the idea of an exclusive platform and exiting the "war" completely
* Sony are also taking a multi platform approach and putting their big first party titles on PC. If you could get them on Xbox that neutralises a competitive advantage
* Give the next generation of Xboxes the ability to leverage new PC releases and the back catalogue of Xbox and PC titles
* Xbox OS is already a variant of Windows that runs games from different platforms in VMs. All you need to do to make an Xbox a PC is add another VM to that roster and allow other stores, which Phil Spencer has alluded to several times in interviews over the years.
* It's almost certain that there will be a handheld Xbox, a concept that will only really work if you make it a PC, because otherwise developers will have to tailor their games specifically for a lower-powered platform and that has apparently already been a burden for them with the Series S
There are only two big question marks in my mind. (1) Will it be upgradeable? and (2) if so will they continue subsidising the hardware?
All speculation of course, but I think you'd be nuts to assume that they're going to approach the next console generation just like this one, with two so called "premium" consoles duking it out for dominance of a slice of the gaming market that just isn't growing as much as others.
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HuntingManatees
Ars Centurion
I'm also in this boat. My problems with the Wolfenstein games -- which I enjoyed quite a bit but less than I wanted to -- are absolutely not in the presentation. The re-imagining of technology and weaponry, the architecture, the incredible firefight noise -- all of the art came together to create an incredibly compelling mood and tone.
Same with "Butcher Bay." I am an unabashed fan of "Chronicles of Riddick," and especially its absurd production design, and the game understood both that Rococo "Vin Diesel, Dungeon Master" component of the series and the tension of "Pitch Black."
Indiana Jones, at least for the first three films, is a franchise in no small part about absolutely nailing a very specific feeling and style through impeccable technical production. MachineGames just seems like a great fit in that regard.
EDIT: Word writing hard.
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This looks quite promising in general, but I especially like the idea of separate difficulty sliders for combat and puzzles. If they could implement a third difficulty slide for platforming/traversal challenges I'd be in heaven!
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This looks absolutely amazing! I'm thrilled to see the shift in gameplay style, especially with the inspiration from the truly fantastic Chronicles of Riddick. I'm definitely looking forward to playing this on PS5 - can't wait to dive into the world of Indiana Jones again!
And just to be clear, I’m not sponsored by MachineGames or anything - it’s just that Chronicles of Riddick left an impression on me that I still can't shake!
And just to be clear, I’m not sponsored by MachineGames or anything - it’s just that Chronicles of Riddick left an impression on me that I still can't shake!
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I'm happy to see there will be a later release for the PS5, this looks like it could be a good time.
"Continuity Nazis ... I hate these guys."
Temple of Doom also makes Raiders worse after the fact, since it raises the question of why Indy would be so dismissive of the possible supernatural origins of the Ark of the Covenant after his prior escapades!
"Continuity Nazis ... I hate these guys."
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Will certainly give this a shot on Gamepass, but I'm keeping my expectations mild. MachineGames is a solid, not perfect studio so there's a decent shot this could be pretty good, and that would rock.
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I'm cautiously optimistic about this game. I really want it to be good. I need more (classic) Indy!
Also, that dudes name is Jerk? That's awesome. I want a friend who's named Jerk.
Also, that dudes name is Jerk? That's awesome. I want a friend who's named Jerk.
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Did you play through the Uncharted games or were those too subpar for you ?
Or are you just really stuck on 25 year odl nostalgia more than anything ?
/rhetorical
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Chronicles of Riddick was no Uncharted. Or at least not the parts of Uncharted that I liked. They're not exactly similar games.
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Hmmm, I'm on the fence about this one. I feel let down by so many games lately (in the last year or so). Add in the mention of stealth and I'll take a hard look at this before buying. Sometimes after a hard day, you just want to run-n-gun and/or have some fun. I find stealth elements to be the opposite of fun. But there is hope, so I will wait and see...
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