Comments on: Free Shadowgrounds With Tank Universal

By: Madjack

Madjack — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:55:55 +0000

Hi all

Since there’s been a few comments about the indie tank game, Tank Universal, just thought I’d bring you up to speed (as the game’s developer).

TU’s about to be released on Steam (Aug21) at the value price of $9.99. You can pre-order now (and receive Shadowgrounds as a free game with your order, but you’ll have to hurry).

There’s also a shiny, new demo due out shortly as well – so if you’ve downloaded a demo off the net, please note that it’s not ‘representative of final gameplay’ – as they say. The new demo will be available from Steam, but I’ll also reinstate the website download link shortly.

Thanks for the comments – always a buzz hearing that people have enjoyed the game!

Phil Jones
Dialogue Design

By: Caiman

Caiman — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:09:54 +0000

I’m in the opposite situation: I own TU but don’t have Shadowgrounds! However, I love TU. The full game is a little different to the demo, in that the demo implies it’s a full-on Battlezone-esque FPS-style tank shootery thing (someone else can do the comparison bit, I’m useless at it). However, the full game starts more like Tron 2.0 in first person mode, and becomes a game of cat and mouse with you infiltrating the giant glowy computer system. Only in the later missions does it really develop into the full-blown battles that you see in the demo.

It is, however, most excellent and I still play a couple of months on from purchasing it – a bit rare for a game these days.

By: ascagnel

ascagnel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:19:34 +0000

@subedii:

I believe that’s a no, unfortunately. I bought TF2 myself at launch, and then received the Orange Box later on as a gift, and was unable to gift that TF2 install as well. I think those two gifts were a one-time thing.

By: subedii

subedii — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:45:50 +0000

Another one here that already owns Shadowgrounds (and Survivor) on Steam. Shadowground was a pretty decent top-down shooter. Survivor was even better, it seemed as if they really nailed the game design in the sequel.

Quick query then, if I make this purchase, will I be allowed to gift my “spare” copy of Shadowgrounds as I was for HL2 and Ep1 when the Orange Box was released?

By: Dominic White

Dominic White — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:41:14 +0000

I wish they weren’t giving away Shadowgrounds – I already own it. It is a lovely little game though. As has been mentioned, it’s the closest thing we’ve seen to a proper 3D Alien Breed.

Wish they’d give away something else – something I don’t already have!

I quite liked the Tank Unlimited demo, though. Feels like a mix of Tron 2.0 and Battlezone (a little of the original, a little of the strategy/shooter hybrid), which is not bad at all. And at £5, it’s hard to say no. For people who don’t own Shadowgrounds, it’s worth it just for the *free* game.

By: Mogs

Mogs — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:38:27 +0000

Tron 2.0

Nuff said.

By: lobsterjohnson

lobsterjohnson — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:45:01 +0000

Does TU get much more complicated outside the demo?

I am such garbage with even a bit of strategy, the demo was fun but I’d hate to get stuck with a full game that is expecting me to order units around and such.

Too stressful for me, much prefer point at things – make go boom.

By: Heliocentric

Heliocentric — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:06:54 +0000

i’m really not sure how i feel about tu. Shadowgrounds i already own. Its lovely, but after playing the demo and the skirmish for a while i felt oddly deflated. I had little sense of progress. I think that the mech warrior games share a philosophy with this game, but at their root was epic customisation. Get a puma an lbx 20 and an erppc sacrificing armor and you can out maneuver anything that isn’t so light you can kill it in one hit. Team play could prove interesting too (too many cheaters online though). Eh, £6? I’ll think about it.

By: Optimaximal

Optimaximal — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:05:52 +0000

I’ll buy it when I get home – can’t complain at £5 when you get something which is known to at least be ‘good’ for free!

You listening Capcom?!

By: Mr Pink

Mr Pink — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:12:55 +0000

I got Shadowgrounds for £1 from the bargain bin at Zavvi on Saturday along with Prey, also for £1. Helps comfort me on my sub-Crysis/Far Cry 2 PC.

By: ascagnel

ascagnel — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:55:26 +0000

Shadowgrounds alone is worth the $10USD. It’s a great top-down Alien Breed style shooter. The only thing its missing is online Coop.

Tank Universal I’ll wait til it unlocks, the demo was fun though.

By: hydra9

hydra9 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:51:33 +0000

The demo seems to have been taken down at that link. I just downloaded it from GamersHell, though.