Ion: DayZ Creator's Sandbox Space MMO Announced
EXCITING!
DayZ creator Dean 'Rocket' Hall has announced his next game, Ion [official site], at E3. He calls it a "simulation MMO that explores mankind's expansion into space" and Space Station 13 is cited as an inspiration, which sounds like a fine mix for wacky emergent antics. It'll be simulation-heavy, and sounds great. Come have a look at the first trailer, and hear what he had to say about it.
First up, here's a description from the trailer:
"'ION' is an emergent narrative massively-multiplayer online game in which players will build, live in and inevitably die in huge floating galactic constructions as humanity makes its first steps colonizing the universe. Technology from Improbable allows ION to have a massive interconnected universe with fully simulated environments such as power grids, air pressure and heat; all to help stave off the unending vacuum of space."
Hall left Bohemia in December 2014 to start his own studio, having given a lot of forewarning. Here's what he had to say about Ion during Microsoft's E3 press conference this evening:
"I want a game that is not a game. I want a game that is a universe. A universe built not on scripts or quests, but on the laws of physics, biology, and chemistry, a simulation MMO that explores mankind's expansion into space. The chance to be a pioneer in a harsh universe swamped with the risk of death yet peppered with the havens of fortune. For the past year I have been working with the technology company Improbable to turn my long-term prototype into a reality. It worked. We are the architects of this new universe, but you - the players, through Xbox One Game Preview and PC will govern its destiny."
"Wait, hold up," you might say, "what's Xbox One Game Preview?" It's Steam Early Access for consoles, basically. The announcement of the program was about the only applause-free section of the event, then DayZ was mentioned and people roared. Here's Ion's trailer:
