TIGSource Forums

I'm sure most of you already know about this, but I can't see any topic about it here.

Anyways, Chris Delay of Introversion posted another one (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1842) of his increasingly interesting posts about their upcoming(?) game(?) Subversion today. I've been following it's progress since the first post, and every time he posts something new, it feels like my head is going to explode from the sudden influx of awesome (though it might be because I'm a bit of an introversion fanboy).

If you haven't read them all, I recommend reading from the beginning (right here: parts 1 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=566) 2 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=571) 3 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=586) 4 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=600) 5 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=683) 6 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=733) 7 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1132) 8 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1230) 9 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1264) 10 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1366) 11 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1468) 12 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1837) 13 (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1842)), it's really an interesting read. Don't forget to check out the videos. I wish all developers would blog infrequently about vague projects.

So far it seems to be able to procedurally generate a city in extreme detail (down to the sensors and motors of sliding doors), is supposed to be very much customizable (with Lua scripts if I'm not mistaken), and looks like so:
(http://folk.ntnu.no/anderrye/shot1.jpg) (http://www.introversion.co.uk/blog/20090103/shot1.jpg)

Nobody seems to know just what the hell it is, however. Mayhap an uplink-like game where you mess with people's lives by short-circuiting the motion sensors of their sliding doors, or defeat evil by trapping them in an elevator? Only time will tell. In the meantime, care to speculate?

Judging from the name (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subversion_(software)), i assume your role is to find differences between several items that make up the buildings, remember each stage of the building's development and attach version numbers to them.

Once the engine is complete there is one thing that will complete it for me... Timetravel.

This system of making complex objects out of basic mechanical units is one that I've thought about games using. Heck, LittleBigPlanet has already laid the groundwork- anybody seen that crazy calculating machine? I imagine as time goes on, this method will become more popular, and allow for a greater amount of natural interactivity, as the last post suggests.

As for what Subversion itself is, I'm betting that the emphasis is going to be on the disruption of these mechanical units to reach your goal. Perhaps the player must infiltrate one of these procedurally generated buildings to obtain a file, and you have to figure out a way to break in. I'm hoping this will be multiplayer, as I can imagine running around with a bunch of friends in a city like the one they seem to be creating would be a ton of fun. I personally can't wait until he tries to make a vehicle.

It'll probably end up being an MMO, everyone's doing those things these days.

Yes, and it's utterly bonkers... :o

I hadn't looked to see what was new about Subversion for a while, but they really seem to be taking procedural content to new limits. I have no idea at all about what these limits might be for, though. They appear to have the flexibility to create almost any game they want with that engine.

My bet is going on something that mixes the hacking elements of Uplink with Syndicate-style technological street warfare. Please, let it be so...

Impressive, yes. But have you seen the engine for playing Conway's game of Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13GOFa1C4e4)? Now that's bonkers.

Impressive stuff.  :beer:


What about a game like "The Sims" but focused in... don't know what, hehe.

I want this to be a sandbox exploration game so bad, but it probably won't.

What would you do to make a game like this interesting, given that it has to be set in procedurally generated, contemporary-style cities? There would have to be some nice gameplay hooks, because otherwise I'd get terribly bored roaming around an environment like that.

I forgot to say a sandbox exploration game where the player character is an ant.

this game will be the independant version of GTA. At least it looks a little bit like it.

Fixed that for you.

I don't think a single game could contain the awesome... :o


A Sim Ant/GTA/Uplink/Syndicate mash up. My dream game.  :-*

I don't know exactly how it would work, but holy shit it sounds awesome.

Honestly, I would be happy just dicking around with the contents of buildings like The Incredible Machine mixed with a good dose of Asshole Physics (http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/asshole-physics-manifesto.php).

Seriously. I want to be able to block off doorways with people's furniture and hide their silverware.

I WANT TO RUB MY GENITALS ALL OVER PEOPLES' SILVERWARE AND THEN FORCE THEM TO EAT TIGERSAUCE WITH THEM.

I want to pull out just enough pins from the support beams (or whatever- architecture's not my strong suit) so that the floor collapses underneath a player. Preferably a group, for maximum hilarity/ swearing.

There's a new post/video (http://forums.introversion.co.uk/defcon/introversion/viewtopic.php?p=74148#74148) out, with hardcore physics action.

At this point I genuinely cannot see how this can end up any less than totally rad. Even if he released it in its current state, there's literally hours of guaranteed fun bouncing balls around in a procedurally generated city.

Seriously.

I don't understand that these blogs don't get more attention on indie news sites etc. Or even general gaming press. They are massively impressive, rally interesting, and they do other developers a great service by sharing all this info.

Their physics engine is quite impressive, i'm not sure if they have a "sleep" system going on but man, he is spawning particles like crazy and it's still runnung as smooth as a cat's belly  :durr:

You guys talk about Uplink like you think it's wishful thinking that Subversion will have anything to do with Uplink.

Anybody who's ever played Uplink knows about the secret IP to a certain "introversion.uk" that has mad screenshots for Uplink 2 IN 3D!!!  While obviously fake at the time, the screenshots of subversion are looking more and more like "Uplink 2" every post.

I have some ideas about what subversion will be like, like not being able to run on my computer, and some other stuff, but come on, this isn't even a longshot, this is pretty close.

Jeez, I thought the people on here actually played Uplink when they started talking about it...

Well, it's more like a collision detection system in that video. The only physics going on is simple inelastic bouncing for individual particles, nothing beyond that. No rigid bodies, springs, interacting bodies or anything like that. I'm still really impressed with the game engine itself though. I do wonder if they'll be simulating down to this detail across the whole city (i guess not, but stranger things have happened).

Subversion hey? I'll have to check it out. I hope they intend to provide regular updates, but I am left wondering if they'll commit to that.

Hey, cut it out with the rotten fruit!