By Jim Rossignol on August 7th, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
WARNING: A shameless self-promotional post lies ahead!
With months of Sir, You Are Being Hunted development behind my Big Robot team, and many months more ahead, we’re beginning to get ready to show you it in action. The first glimpse of that is below, in a trailer made up of footage from the alpha build. Sir is a procedurally-generated, first-person action game made in Unity by a team of four. It’s about being hunted across bleak islands by automatons and robo-hounds. It’s about sci-fi weirdness, tea, murder, and some raised eyebrows. We’re now aiming for its appearance in 2013. Please do take a look.
And if you have any questions, I’ll be in the comments.
07/08/2012 at 13:05 Mordsung says:
The music really clinches it.
I also liked the retro credits and camera work. Reminded me of Hitchcock.
07/08/2012 at 14:13 Dr. Evanzan says:
Yeah, the music and general style add a lot to the trailer.
They really boost the tweedpunk atmosphere.
The game itself is looking great too, they’ve really nailed the British countryside look for the landscape.
07/08/2012 at 14:19 Hoaxfish says:
or a bit of Hammer Horror
07/08/2012 at 14:37 Smashbox says:
It’s like a There Will Be Blood trailer with robots.
Which is to say, stop teasing me already.
07/08/2012 at 19:55 SuperNashwanPower says:
This trailer is proof once and for all. There is far too much violins in video games nowadays.
08/08/2012 at 04:38 Grargh says:
On top of that, procedurally generated games often have an awefully cello story.
07/08/2012 at 20:35 Andy_Panthro says:
My initial thought was “Robo-hound of the Baskervilles”
07/08/2012 at 13:05 mikmanner says:
Great music! Is that original for the game?
07/08/2012 at 13:10 Jim Rossignol says:
Not, it’s a public domain track. See the YT description for details.
07/08/2012 at 13:12 mikmanner says:
It’s great, reminds me of P T Anderson films.
07/08/2012 at 15:11 Naum says:
I could’ve sworn it was one of Bartók’s quartets, or at least extremely similar. Will have to double-check on my MP3 player.
07/08/2012 at 15:58 LionsPhil says:
Hunh, I thought you’d fed a random number generator into a string synth, what with all the procedural-ness.
07/08/2012 at 16:57 MikoSquiz says:
“Would you like some original music for the game?” he casually enquired. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.
07/08/2012 at 18:09 Viper50BMG says:
I already asked that question of him, but I think I might have scared him off, or somesuch.
07/08/2012 at 18:31 Urthman says:
Whoever is the Big Robot in charge of picking classical music for your games is ace. I loved the use of Vaughn Williams in the Fallen City intro.
07/08/2012 at 13:09 zebramatt says:
How might one acquire oneself a segment of THAT hoopla, one wonders!
07/08/2012 at 13:09 Easy says:
Very atmospheric! Like watching a trailer for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Really looking forward to this.
07/08/2012 at 20:23 Eddy9000 says:
You might like this article:
http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Kraid/the-cabinet-of-p-b-winterbottom-164262.phtml
07/08/2012 at 13:10 Tom De Roeck says:
Has the unity bug stuff stopped? (the stuff you complained on twitter about)
Will there be coop?
Can I drink tea while playing?
How many settlements are on one countryside?
Will I have to gather oil in order to survive?
And lastly, when can I preorder?
And lastly lastly, the trailer was ok, but it could be awesomer. Want my professional help next time? (for free, of course)
07/08/2012 at 13:22 golem09 says:
Tea drinking while playing will b e available as DLC later
07/08/2012 at 13:57 Jim Rossignol says:
> Has the unity bug stuff stopped? (the stuff you complained on twitter about)
Yes, but we invented new ones.
> Will there be coop?
Maybe.
> Can I drink tea while playing?
Definitely. And in the game.
> How many settlements are on one countryside?
Depends on how the level is generated, but the average island has half a dozen small villages.
> Will I have to gather oil in order to survive?
No, but you will have to gather other things.
> And lastly, when can I preorder?
In a few weeks.
07/08/2012 at 14:17 Dr. Evanzan says:
More questions:
Are you planning a beta (open or closed) prior to launch?
If so, any chance for RPS subs to get a beta invite?
(And on a related point:
Do you still care about folk having RPS subs?
Or is the income irrelevant now that you’ve got better ad support?)
Edit:
Also, @Tom, I’m not sure the trailer could have been ‘awesomer’.
I’m fairly sure it was dialled up to 10.
07/08/2012 at 14:35 Jim Rossignol says:
>Are you planning a beta (open or closed) prior to launch?
No plan yet, but it’s possible.
> If so, any chance for RPS subs to get a beta invite?
A good suggestion.
> (And on a related point: Do you still care about folk having RPS subs? Or is the income irrelevant now that you’ve got better ad support?)
We do care, yes. It still pays for writers, servers, it’s a significant help. We are also aware that some people choose to ad block and pay the sub, which we appreciate enormously.
07/08/2012 at 15:42 Vesuvius says:
So Jim, I have a kind of (shamefully) basic question. What’s the gameplay? Is it just running away blindly or are their ways to deceive or defeat your pursuers? Are there ways to stay informed about what the pursuers are up to if you’re doing well (because I would assume that if you’re doing well you don’t want to be anywhere near close enough to visually keep tabs on the robots).
It looks charming, I just have no idea whatsoever what the player actually DOES in it.
07/08/2012 at 13:10 Mollusc Infestation says:
Will we be able to talk to the robots? AND IN THE GAME. And so on and so forth. My anticipation for this game is literally palpable.
07/08/2012 at 13:21 Screamer says:
On the talking to robots thing, can’t the protagonist come to some sort of agreement with said robots? Over some tea?
07/08/2012 at 13:39 GameOverMan says:
Listen, and understand. Those robots are out there. They can’t be bargained with. They can’t be reasoned with. They don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.
07/08/2012 at 13:49 MajorManiac says:
Although they do presumerably stop for elevenses.
07/08/2012 at 13:55 Paul C says:
They’re robots, not monsters.
07/08/2012 at 14:22 Hoaxfish says:
It turns out the real monster… was man!
07/08/2012 at 14:40 emotionengine says:
Some robots just want to watch the world* burn.
*(or the British countryside, at least)
07/08/2012 at 13:10 Caspian says:
Well, this looks utterly splendid and delightfully quirky.
07/08/2012 at 13:52 Stochastic says:
Yup. Nice work Jim et al!
07/08/2012 at 13:11 Creaturemagic says:
Take my money now!
07/08/2012 at 13:11 tehsid says:
Any chance on a date we can preorder, if at all?
*edit* Never mind! Found the answer on your forum.
Good luck with the project, I’m really looking forward to it.
07/08/2012 at 13:13 westyfield says:
Looks great, my compliments to the electro-chefs!
Who’s the music by?Edit: Oh, that question was already asked/answered.07/08/2012 at 13:13 nerdook says:
Looks awesome! Always did have a soft spot for procedurally generated stuff. Any idea when you guys will have a gameplay video ready?
07/08/2012 at 14:00 Jim Rossignol says:
We have a few weeks more work to do on the robot behaviour (some tweaking of pathing, detection, and combat behaviour) and visual bits (things like muzzle flashes and smoke) then we will start showing that stuff.
07/08/2012 at 14:03 nerdook says:
Wishing you guys the best of luck. Can’t wait!
07/08/2012 at 13:13 affront says:
Looks pretty good, I like the environments.
I do hope that the hunters being robots will end up having a noticeable impact on gameplay/mechanics and not just be in there as a “just because” gimmick or a politically correct workaround, though.
07/08/2012 at 13:17 El Stevo says:
A politically correct workaround for what?
07/08/2012 at 14:16 HothMonster says:
people hunting people
07/08/2012 at 20:26 Eddy9000 says:
Don’t get me wrong, I really respect you people…I mean, er, robots. So exotic, in fact some of my best friends are robots.
07/08/2012 at 13:23 John Walker says:
Bloody robots, coming in our countryside, murdering our humans. And we just sit back saying this is fine. It’s political correctness gone robomad!
07/08/2012 at 13:26 Rovac says:
our humans?! oh, you’re a carnivorous T-Rex
nevermind
07/08/2012 at 20:20 Optimaximal says:
Don’t be fooled, John isn’t one of those nasty carnivorous T-Rex’s… Most of us like to think of him more like a cuddly Ankylosaur.
07/08/2012 at 13:38 affront says:
Huh, I would have thought a little human-on-human slaughter and general degradation to nothing better than livestock for the purpose of nothing but entertainment would be seen as less “PC” to most.
Even though it shouldn’t, as only sentience should matter (as long as these robots are that, anyway), but still…
DOES it do anything but “robots, COOL!”, then? Assuming Jim told you anything about it.
It would seem a waste to me, if not.
07/08/2012 at 13:45 Spacewalk says:
It’s a robomination I’ll tell you.
07/08/2012 at 14:00 Jim Rossignol says:
The dogs have an important role, yes.
07/08/2012 at 18:51 Dances to Podcasts says:
I always suspected that the prevalence of robots/masks/helmets in games was just because faces are hard.
07/08/2012 at 13:14 Spacewalk says:
Should I make a note for Elmer season on my calendar?
07/08/2012 at 13:18 GallonOfAlan says:
Wait until 2013?
I’m equally as corybantic as a retail purveyor of millinery, and I am not intending to be in additional receipt of it.
07/08/2012 at 13:18 Rovac says:
looking good, Jim
When can we see the game in action? like the survival stuff?edit : whoops, already asked.
2013 feels like a half the lifetime
07/08/2012 at 13:20 Binary77 says:
Looks wonderful, Jim! The style of that trailer really complements the art style. I personally can’t wait hear their voices properly. Have you got that far yet?
07/08/2012 at 14:01 Jim Rossignol says:
Not quite, just terrible placeholder yodelling in there at the moment.
07/08/2012 at 13:22 orihaus says:
But can we talk to the monsters?
07/08/2012 at 13:35 Jim Rossignol says:
These are not monsters, they are robots.
(No.)
07/08/2012 at 16:50 Pattom says:
Everyone knows robots cannot speak, they beep! And beeping at them is probably seen as deeply offensive. Which is not the temperament you want them in when the robots have rail-shotguns and mecha-hounds.
07/08/2012 at 20:31 Eddy9000 says:
I would love it if a developer included a ‘talk’ button in their Doom-a-like fps that did nothing but made the player-character say things like ‘Oh hi there’ and ‘let’s be friends’ as he got torn to pieces by the various monstrosities and demons.
07/08/2012 at 13:23 Lord Custard Smingleigh says:
These days, this qualifies as a “release” trailer.
07/08/2012 at 13:27 catmorbid says:
Looks nice, great music and mood. Like the style. But that really doesn’t tell anything what the game’s really about, like as in what the player does in the game, except maybe avoid enemies and maybe shoot some occasionally, but other than that, is there a story? What about loot to be had? Or any RPG elements? Inventory? Breaking and entering those houses I saw there and looting them for stuff?
Also, with all the music and the mood and the graphical style, I was somehow reminded of the very first Alone in the Dark game. Damn it was scary…
07/08/2012 at 14:02 Jim Rossignol says:
We shall reveal all in time!
Specific thing: The houses can be looted, but not entered as such.
There is a beautiful, hand-drawn inventory which we will show soon.
07/08/2012 at 13:29 VelvetFistIronGlove says:
Frightfully boffo, what!
07/08/2012 at 13:30 tikey says:
But… but… Where’s the live action trailer?
07/08/2012 at 14:36 Jim Rossignol says:
I’ll chase one of the local farmers around with a camcorder for that.
07/08/2012 at 19:14 Dances to Podcasts says:
Don’t forget to placeholder yodel while doing so!
07/08/2012 at 13:30 Nallen says:
How close does it look to your original vision; did you think in the early days it could look this great?
07/08/2012 at 14:07 Jim Rossignol says:
It’s a lot more detailed than I’d imagined, but these things evolve, I suppose.
07/08/2012 at 13:42 Iskariot says:
You can shamelessly self-promote as much as you want, because I am really looking forward to this.
I think it is a very original concept and this could become a very cool game.
It is high on my ‘to buy’ list.
07/08/2012 at 13:43 Groove says:
This looks fantastic. I’ve no idea what I’d do in the game, aside from being eaten to death, but still.
07/08/2012 at 13:50 finniruse says:
Really excited for this games, but I NEED COOP. NEED IT. Will COOP be included?
07/08/2012 at 14:38 Jim Rossignol says:
I can’t rule it out, but I am definitely – for the sake of the hearts of the programmers – not going to confirm it.
07/08/2012 at 20:22 Optimaximal says:
Programmer 1: “Shit, he’s talking again…”
Programmer 2: “Who the heck let him say that THIS time?!”
07/08/2012 at 13:50 db1331 says:
The animations looked pretty robotic to me.
07/08/2012 at 14:03 Jim Rossignol says:
Appropriate, eh?
07/08/2012 at 14:18 db1331 says:
Indeed ;-)
07/08/2012 at 14:31 The Random One says:
I think he was trying to make a pun.
Come on Jim, don’t robo him of his fun.
07/08/2012 at 19:19 Dances to Podcasts says:
As a purely logical construct I didn’t get it.
07/08/2012 at 20:34 Eddy9000 says:
Your pun mecha me groan.
07/08/2012 at 23:59 TyrOvC says:
Someone needs to hunt down some more puns.
07/08/2012 at 13:53 Lemming says:
This looks great, well done Jim and co!
07/08/2012 at 13:53 MajorManiac says:
To think those beautiful landscapes are procedurally-generated when they look hand-made. That is brilliant work.
07/08/2012 at 13:54 Drake Sigar says:
Should have renacted that cornfield scene from the origional Planet of the Apes. I would have loled!
And yes, I know Simpsons did it.
07/08/2012 at 13:57 hello_mr.Trout says:
if this trailer is built out of the alpha footage, will subsequent trailers look much different, or is this roughly the look of the final game? are you intending to have in game music/ambient audio also? what are some of the remaining areas which need completion before 2013 release?
i am quite excited about the english stalker vibe this seems to have :D
07/08/2012 at 14:06 Jim Rossignol says:
> if this trailer is built out of the alpha footage, will subsequent trailers look much different, or is this roughly the look of the final game?
It will look like this, yes. There might be some significant tweaks, but some of these are final assets. It’s alpha in the sense of “most of the features are unfinished/broken right now”.
> are you intending to have in game music/ambient audio also?
Yes, we are working on that at the moment. We have some good, sinister stuff.
> what are some of the remaining areas which need completion before 2013 release?
AI, more AI, additional art content, music and other audio. Quite a bit, really.
07/08/2012 at 17:58 wu wei says:
>> are you intending to have in game music/ambient audio also?
> Yes, we are working on that at the moment. We have some good, sinister stuff.
(please please please be dubstep)
07/08/2012 at 14:09 Milky1985 says:
Is there going to be an “End game”,a target to aim for (a way off the island by collecting stuff or something else etc) or is it a dayz style just survive as long as you can?
07/08/2012 at 14:39 Jim Rossignol says:
The end game is to escape from the archipelago.
07/08/2012 at 14:56 Milky1985 says:
Ah brilliant!
Thank you very much for your answer kind sir
07/08/2012 at 14:17 HothMonster says:
Which store will have the best pre-order dlc?
07/08/2012 at 14:37 Dr. Evanzan says:
Whittard, it includes a pack of promotional robo-tea.
07/08/2012 at 14:39 Jim Rossignol says:
Woolworths.
07/08/2012 at 14:55 Milky1985 says:
So a free penny sweet with each pre-order!
07/08/2012 at 14:42 derbefrier says:
i am impressed. looks good. cant wait to see some gameplay now
07/08/2012 at 14:44 Hodge says:
This game gets better every time they reveal more of it.
07/08/2012 at 14:51 Totally heterosexual says:
Where are the women at? :(
07/08/2012 at 14:54 Voon says:
would the Alpha be released anytime soon?
07/08/2012 at 15:44 Jim Rossignol says:
Depends on definition of “soon”. By most definition the answer is “no”.
07/08/2012 at 14:56 Freud says:
There is a disturbing lack of any mention of quick time events.
07/08/2012 at 15:09 Qazinsky says:
Yeah, and how they are going to keep us on-rail through these areas are beyond me, can they really call this a game without those features?
07/08/2012 at 15:12 HexagonalBolts says:
I sure hope there are cover mechanics and that saves are constrained to certain pre-designated save points just before lengthy cutscenes that cannot be skipped.
07/08/2012 at 15:11 HexagonalBolts says:
Does the game generate procedural terrain on the fly, i.e., will every replay be different – or has procedural generation been used in a more elder-scrolls sort of way to create one map that is always used?
07/08/2012 at 15:15 Jim Rossignol says:
You will generate a map and then play on that. But each individual player’s map should be different.
The map is generated in full the first time you play, unlike our Lodestone tech where it is generated as you move.
07/08/2012 at 15:18 ArcaneSaint says:
So when’s the ARG for the reveal of the gameplay trailer’s teaser trailer announcement starting?
On a more serious note: what kind of DRM are you planning to use, or are you going to release it completely DRM-free?
07/08/2012 at 15:43 Jim Rossignol says:
> So when’s the ARG for the reveal of the gameplay trailer’s teaser trailer announcement starting?
That started years ago. You are living it right now.
> On a more serious note: what kind of DRM are you planning to use, or are you going to release it completely DRM-free?
DRM free.
07/08/2012 at 15:34 neonordnance says:
Looks bloody brilliant, Jim. Can’t wait. Will definitely be purchasing. I have a few questions; please forgive the overly specific nature of my inquiries:
1. What platforms are you looking at? Will a Steam release be possible? Desura? Origin? IMPULSLE (shudder)? Just a direct download from the website?
2. DRM-free, I presume?
3. What price point are you looking at? Something like the recent Double Fine downloadable games? Or more expensive, with more features?
4. How much variety will there be in the enemies? Just the two robots and the dogs, or are they just the tip of the robot overlord iceberg?
5. Ditto for the weapons– just a rifle and a blunderbuss or are there many more options?
6. Will the weapons have stats like Borderlands, will they be tiered like STALKER: Misery, or will they all be the same quality? Do they wear out or break? Can they be repaired?
07/08/2012 at 15:42 Jim Rossignol says:
> 1. What platforms are you looking at? Will a Steam release be possible? Desura? Origin? IMPULSLE (shudder)? Just a direct download from the website?
Certainly a direct download, hopefully Steam and Desura too. It’s hard to be certain until we are close to release.
> 2. DRM-free, I presume?
Yes.
> 3. What price point are you looking at? Something like the recent Double Fine downloadable games? Or more expensive, with more features?
We haven’t decided exactly, but it will be priced in the indie downloadable bracket of things, yes.
> 4. How much variety will there be in the enemies? Just the two robots and the dogs, or are they just the tip of the robot overlord iceberg?
So far we have the robots, the dogs, and the poacher – he’s the chap with the blunderbuss at 0.51. He is quite unlike the other, taller robots and is about traps and ambushes. We then have three other enemies that I have yet to reveal. One of those I won’t reveal until people discover it for themselves in the game.
> 5. Ditto for the weapons– just a rifle and a blunderbuss or are there many more options?
There’s an axe, a shotgun, a rifle, a blunderbuss, dynamite, and a bear-trap. There are a few special items too, which will be rare and important.
> 6. Will the weapons have stats like Borderlands, will they be tiered like STALKER: Misery, or will they all be the same quality? Do they wear out or break? Can they be repaired?
The weapons all have unique qualities, and their own stats. But they are not like Borderlands. More like Stalker, yes, although when you get hold of a weapon will depend entirely on your interactions with the world. We think it should be possible to complete the game without firing a shot, or even picking up a weapon.
07/08/2012 at 15:53 neonordnance says:
Thanks for the quick answers! Super pumped for this now!
Speculating off your answers, I’m going to go ahead and guess that the weapons are each going to have a very specific role, almost like tools, Half-Life 2-style.
08/08/2012 at 09:27 GallonOfAlan says:
I will be buying the living fuck out of this.
07/08/2012 at 15:39 Raziel_Alex says:
I think there might be something wrong with it: it doesn’t seem to be located in the Middle East, wth man? And will we have air support, kill streaks and new skins for the M16? If not, sorry man, I’m not sold (although someone should probably sell me to the royal family).
07/08/2012 at 15:49 niasyn says:
I think one of your kickstarter rewards should be a monocle. Just sayin’.
07/08/2012 at 15:53 Lemming says:
Thought I’d posted this earlier, but the comment seems to have gone so:
Well done Jim and co! Looks fantastic!
07/08/2012 at 16:00 scatterbrainless says:
Delicious looking. Mod support? How about a convoluted, bureaucratic, soviet-style health system? Are there environmental hazards besides mad toff robots?
07/08/2012 at 16:14 G_Man_007 says:
Looks great Jim, kind of a STALKER-meets-Hound-of-the-Baskervilles-had-an-affair-with-a-60s-British-B-movie, and I hope the music from the trailer is in the game, gives it a good feel. This, Black Mesa: Source, AND news of a Blood remake in one day? All too much…
07/08/2012 at 16:19 jonfitt says:
You guys nailed the look of it. It drips malevolent rural British atmosphere. I’m thinking American Werewolf, and Hound of the Baskervilles.
Also, I said it before, but there’s a little of Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting in there, with robots.
It’s great to see it in motion, I look forward to seeing how it shakes down.
07/08/2012 at 16:22 Bobtree says:
Brilliant trailer.
07/08/2012 at 16:32 Web Cole says:
I say, rather!
07/08/2012 at 16:35 beatdarwin says:
I’m calling it right here: Seamus McNally. Next March.
07/08/2012 at 16:41 grundus says:
Excellent, I can’t wait. Well, I can, because if I couldn’t wait but had to then I’d probably have to die, but you know what I mean.
07/08/2012 at 16:54 DXN says:
Looks bloody marvellous! Well done lads. I’ve a few questions:
* Look at all that lovely deep grass. Will there be some sort of camouflage system, I wonder?
* Are there any plans for an A-life/Radiant style AI system, where following/stalking the robots would show them carrying out their whims/tending to their needs and suchlike? Or do they just show up on a random basis?
* Any owls?
* This is just bloody wonderful stuff really, isn’t it? Admit it.
07/08/2012 at 17:02 Text_Fish says:
Awesome. You need to resurrect Vincent Price to do a voice over.
07/08/2012 at 17:04 Hanban says:
Did you participate in any manhunts while doing research for the game?
07/08/2012 at 17:08 PopeJamal says:
Sir, you are being funded! By my wallet! Upon release!
I’ve completely ignored this title for some reason until now. Shame on me.
-Interesting premise
-Classy trailer (I really liked that)
-Procedurally generated for infinite fun
-Survival!
-Linux support
I’ve been asleep at the wheel!
09/08/2012 at 01:08 Christian Dannie Storgaard says:
Indeed. I did do a little impromptu clapping routine upon seeing that Linux was selected to become a host of this fine splendour. Game, Sir, Your Are Being Hunted, you are being purchased.
07/08/2012 at 17:11 DD says:
Just wanted to say this looks really great! Been watching this for a while as the concept sounds awesome. I thought the screenshots were good looking but its really atmospheric in motion.
07/08/2012 at 17:12 Muzman says:
Did Hammer ever make any sci-fi? I’d hope it was something like this if they did.
07/08/2012 at 20:36 Optimaximal says:
Plan 9?
07/08/2012 at 18:00 Greggh says:
Oh my, this is looking promising! Good work there chap!
Am I the only one who didn’t think the music fit? It was cacophonic with the footage – no pun intended.
07/08/2012 at 18:00 GreasyChops says:
Looks/ sounds exciting.
However…… Tweedpunk
08/08/2012 at 01:52 chesh says:
Not since the last Dishonored trailer has a trailer made me want to holler and cheer.
08/08/2012 at 03:48 derps says:
Take my monies please!
08/08/2012 at 08:00 crinkles esq. says:
Will there be a weather system? Fog? I think that would add immensely to the atmosphere.
Also, will there be a robotic version of Downton Abbey?