Prey Weekly Update #22

Joe Siegler · 06-16-2006, 09:57 AM

And we're back. Apologies for missing last week. Things were pretty busy leading up to Friday and I wasn't going to be able to write the update on time.

But I'm back this week and writing this early. Very early. Right now, it's 2:30 in the morning and I just woke up. Admittedly, I'm still rather tired, so apologies in advance if this update is a bit rambly. No, I'm not in some crazy crunch mode right now. I just have to be up early to catch a plane to Dallas.

So what has been going on lately in the world of Prey and at Human Head? A ton of stuff. Mainly, we've been playing the PC and 360 versions, as well as tweaking the 360 demo (the PC demo was wrapped up a bit ago). Time is getting tight with this, since the demo will be released next week.

http://www.3drealms.com/news/2006/06...update_22.html

mysteryperfecta · 06-16-2006, 11:19 AM

I just want to say "Good Luck" to Chris and crew with the upcoming demo release. I hope you get the response you're looking for.

Kristian Joensen · 06-16-2006, 11:19 AM

Interesting as always nice to know that some people are taken vactions and that tohers are doing some research that is great.

This caught my attention:

Quote:

Then there a pretty big Design Apocalypse around 2003 where we threw out a lot of stuff and started from scratch.

Eli Quinn · 06-16-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristian Joensen

This caught my attention:

Quote:
Then there a pretty big Design Apocalypse around 2003 where we threw out a lot of stuff and started from scratch.

Yeah, that period kinda sucked. We just hadn't been getting the top-notch results we desired so we had to rethink things a bit. Once we wrapped our heads around the tech completely we started to get some slicker-looking stuff.

Zizz · 06-16-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

They've been working on some new looks as well as creating some levels that are better designed for one-on-one battles

This is excellent really!! Im really excited to play some 1on1 lan games.

solobaricsrock · 06-16-2006, 06:27 PM

its so close i can smell it, and vicariously taste it!!!

Nessus · 06-16-2006, 07:20 PM

This is the only game I'm looking forward to ATM, I think it's great we can use our save from the demo and pick right up in the full game.

brabee · 06-17-2006, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Then there a pretty big Design Apocalypse around 2003 where we threw out a lot of stuff and started from scratch.

I think thats where 3DR helped the most

Altered Reality · 06-17-2006, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Then there a pretty big Design Apocalypse around 2003 where we threw out a lot of stuff and started from scratch.

What was the scrapped material?

Adabiviak · 06-17-2006, 12:48 PM

Where will you be in San Francisco?

Tim Gerritsen · 06-17-2006, 02:49 PM

I usually describe it as a design epiphany. Chris is so apocalyptic.

We weren't getting the organic look we wanted for the levels or the skins of the creatures. Ironically, it was after we did the Roadhouse (a real world setting) that things really came together. I think making real world items helped us get grounded properly in the tech. The art and level design staffs came up with some nice vertex painting techniques and finally nailed the organic look to pretty much what you see now. Once they had that, we were able to go back and sex up our monster designs (though we kept the underlying models for most of them).

Oh, and the look and development we pretty much did on our own, but 3DR was indispensible in a variety of ways. It couldn't have happened without them. They pushed us to make cooler use of the portals and gravity as well as keeping us focused on the core elements of the design. George and Scott were really great to have as the go to guys for ensuring we made the right call and the final polish came in large part because they held our feet to the fire (and we thank them very much for it). Also, their biggest help of all was in making sure we had the time we needed to get the game done. They made sure that quality was the focus, and not just making a date.

ShadeEX · 06-18-2006, 03:47 AM

Very nice update..

i think it was good for HH to trow out the stuff that didn't satisfy enough..
I know i don't release any art, drawing, picture or anything else for that matter..
that im not completely satisfied with..

Malgon · 06-18-2006, 06:17 AM

The Prey Weekly updates are a nice little insight on the stages of game development. My question is will the PWU continue after the game, so we can hear about HH's reaction to finally seeing the game in the hands of the consumers?

Micki! · 06-18-2006, 10:07 AM

Man, you guys need a break after Prey's release... Sounds like you guys worked veeery hard when developing Prey...
I'm sure it's worth the hard work though... You guys will be remembered by people in a long time because of Prey...

Joe Siegler · 06-18-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malgon

The Prey Weekly updates are a nice little insight on the stages of game development. My question is will the PWU continue after the game, so we can hear about HH's reaction to finally seeing the game in the hands of the consumers?

We've talked about when we'd end the PWU's, but haven't come to a definitive answer as to when. I believe the original idea was to stop when the game went gold, but I think I talked 'em into contiuning for a little past that. I figured they could talk about addtl levels, patches, reaction to public, etc...

We'll see what happens - I'm not sure if there's a firm end date anyway. Just have to see what still needs talking about post release.

hell-angel · 06-19-2006, 12:56 AM

From that update, prey was almost going into a DNF direction with an almost full scrape of content.

Malgon · 06-20-2006, 04:57 AM

Thanks Joe, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

06-16-2006, 09:57 AM	#1
Joe Siegler 3D Realms Staff	Prey Weekly Update #22 And we're back. Apologies for missing last week. Things were pretty busy leading up to Friday and I wasn't going to be able to write the update on time. But I'm back this week and writing this early. Very early. Right now, it's 2:30 in the morning and I just woke up. Admittedly, I'm still rather tired, so apologies in advance if this update is a bit rambly. No, I'm not in some crazy crunch mode right now. I just have to be up early to catch a plane to Dallas. So what has been going on lately in the world of Prey and at Human Head? A ton of stuff. Mainly, we've been playing the PC and 360 versions, as well as tweaking the 360 demo (the PC demo was wrapped up a bit ago). Time is getting tight with this, since the demo will be released next week. http://www.3drealms.com/news/2006/06...update_22.html __________________ Apogee / 3D Realms Employee: Dec 14, 1992 - May 22, 2009, Oct 23, 2014 - current "Lifting up the Cross to the waiting lost" - Petra \| John 3:16

06-16-2006, 11:19 AM	#2
mysteryperfecta	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 I just want to say "Good Luck" to Chris and crew with the upcoming demo release. I hope you get the response you're looking for. __________________ "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson

06-16-2006, 06:27 PM	#6
solobaricsrock	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 its so close i can smell it, and vicariously taste it!!!

06-16-2006, 07:20 PM	#7
Nessus	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 This is the only game I'm looking forward to ATM, I think it's great we can use our save from the demo and pick right up in the full game. __________________ "Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Last edited by Nessus; 06-16-2006 at 07:27 PM.

06-17-2006, 12:48 PM	#10
Adabiviak	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 Where will you be in San Francisco?

06-17-2006, 02:49 PM	#11
Tim Gerritsen	I usually describe it as a design epiphany. Chris is so apocalyptic. We weren't getting the organic look we wanted for the levels or the skins of the creatures. Ironically, it was after we did the Roadhouse (a real world setting) that things really came together. I think making real world items helped us get grounded properly in the tech. The art and level design staffs came up with some nice vertex painting techniques and finally nailed the organic look to pretty much what you see now. Once they had that, we were able to go back and sex up our monster designs (though we kept the underlying models for most of them). Oh, and the look and development we pretty much did on our own, but 3DR was indispensible in a variety of ways. It couldn't have happened without them. They pushed us to make cooler use of the portals and gravity as well as keeping us focused on the core elements of the design. George and Scott were really great to have as the go to guys for ensuring we made the right call and the final polish came in large part because they held our feet to the fire (and we thank them very much for it). Also, their biggest help of all was in making sure we had the time we needed to get the game done. They made sure that quality was the focus, and not just making a date. Last edited by Joe Siegler; 06-17-2006 at 03:12 PM. Reason: Merged two posts into one.

06-18-2006, 03:47 AM	#12
ShadeEX	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 Very nice update.. i think it was good for HH to trow out the stuff that didn't satisfy enough.. I know i don't release any art, drawing, picture or anything else for that matter.. that im not completely satisfied with.. __________________ Quote: "In an infinite universe where reality is interpreted through our continuously fluxuating perception, providing absolute definitive proof of anything becomes a little more than speculation based on random data." My Youtube Page-My Website(Not updated yet)-My Other Blog

06-18-2006, 06:17 AM	#13
Malgon	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 The Prey Weekly updates are a nice little insight on the stages of game development. My question is will the PWU continue after the game, so we can hear about HH's reaction to finally seeing the game in the hands of the consumers? __________________ -Most wanted games: Doom 4, Tomb Raider, Beyond Good and Evil 2

06-18-2006, 10:07 AM	#14
Micki!	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 Man, you guys need a break after Prey's release... Sounds like you guys worked veeery hard when developing Prey... I'm sure it's worth the hard work though... You guys will be remembered by people in a long time because of Prey... __________________ A true genius does not need boundaries such as 'common sense'

06-19-2006, 12:56 AM	#16
hell-angel	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 From that update, prey was almost going into a DNF direction with an almost full scrape of content.

06-20-2006, 04:57 AM	#17
Malgon	Re: Prey Weekly Update #22 Thanks Joe, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. __________________ -Most wanted games: Doom 4, Tomb Raider, Beyond Good and Evil 2