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Starhawk (2012 video game)

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For the Cinematronics game, see Starhawk (1977 video game).
Starhawk
Developer(s)LightBox Interactive
SCE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Composer(s)Christopher Lennertz
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single player, 2-4 player Split-screen multiplayer, 32 player online play

Starhawk is a third-person shooter video game to be released exclusively for the PlayStation 3 system on May 8, 2012 in North America. It is the spiritual successor to 2007's Warhawk.

Those who pre-order Starhawk through GameStop automatically upgrades to the Limited Edition of the game at no extra cost. The Limited Edition features two DLC packs containing new maps and multiplayer skins, the soundtrack and a PSN download code for the original Warhawk released on PSone.[2]

Gameplay

The most notable change from Warhawk is the addition of a single-player story mode, which was intended to be included in Warhawk but was eventually removed. The gameplay is similar to Warhawk. A new system called "Build n' Battle" allows players to build structures such as bunkers, defenses, and armories in the midst of battle, giving the game a real-time strategy (RTS) feel while remaining a third-person shooter. The game includes flying mechs called Hawks. A player respawns into a landing craft which they can steer with in a limited range to reach the battle field. Like Warhawk, there are 32-player online battles.[3] Starhawk also has a co-operative mode similar in concept to the Horde Mode in the Gears of War franchise.[4]

Synopsis

In 'Starhawk' the universe is in the future, where humans have begun colonizing other planets. The game is set in a distant colony called the Frontier, which was home to a massive battle after an event known as the Rush. The Rush took place when all of the rift energy miners, commonly referred to as Rifters, were mining for valuable rift energy. The rift energy was incredibly powerful, however, and transformed the miners into mutants known as Outcasts. The Outcasts are extremely protective of the rift energy, and kill any who attempt to harvest it.

The hero of the game is Emmett Graves, a man who was running a rift mine on the Frontier alongside his brother. But as is unfortunate and common on the Frontier, the farm was attacked by an Outcast war party. The rig exploded and both Emmett and his brother became infected with rift energy, which partially corrupted their bodies and to some degree turned them into the mutants known as the Outcasts. The brothers' technical engineer, Sydney Cutter, who was on a drop ship up witnessing these events, made a racial slur against the Outcast warband, calling them "mangy creatures". In the developer diary he was also heard to say, "It is a shame I tell ya," in reference to the events.

Emmett asked Sydney if he could modify any of the equipment he had lying around to save him. Sydney was able to modify some of his equipment and he created a regulator to suppress Outcast tendencies and embedded it into Emmett's spine. Emmett was impressed by Sydney's technical and surgical ability but was also left in a lot of pain and cursed with the mark of the outcast warrior, just like the ones that had attacked his family run business on the distant planet in the frontier during the Rush. Emmett didn't really see the irony in this and decided to abandon trying to fix his rift farm and instead decided to become a hired gun, like a gun slinger. "Anyone that comes out here either has a plan, or a problem. I came back with both," he was heard to say in the developer diary.

The brothers go to White Sands, a distant colony on the moon of Dust, which was quite distant from their distant planet on the Frontier.[5]

Development

In March 2009, Kotaku received unofficial word that the newly-created LightBox Interactive was developing a sequel to Warhawk. The game would be a "Warhawk in space", and had already been in development for some time at that point. Warhawk game director and LightBox Interactive president Dylan Jobe would not confirm the rumor, but told Kotaku "It's way too early to comment on anything but I can say that we have some really exciting stuff in development that our Warhawk fans *and* new players will love."[6] In April 2009, Sony trademarked the name "Starhawk", giving further credence to the rumor.[7]

In June 2010, Dylan Jobe tweeted that he was on his way to Sony for a review and playtest of LightBox's next title, and that the reviews with Sony had gone well. Jobe also stated that Starhawk is "very far away" from beta testing after one eager Hawk fan speculated that we could be seeing a Starhawk beta soon.[8] In October 2010, Dylan Jobe stated that the developer "won't rush" its unannounced Sony title and "We don't want to show it before its ready", but adds that it's "making absolutely fantastic progress".[9]

In February 2011, Dylan Jobe hinted that the studio is soon to reveal its secret Sony project.[10] In May 2011, Dylan Jobe tweeted: "The wait is over next Friday..." That was the same day US TV show G4TV planned to reveal a "Sony surprise" in its May 13 show. Further the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine speculateed in its rumour column that the PS3 exclusive flight-sim would feature "a story-driven campaign with full co-op support".[11]

On May 13, 2011, Sony officially announced the game as Starhawk. It was revealed that the title is being developed by LightBox Interactive in partnership with Sony's Santa Monica studio and will feature the same third-person shooter experience from Warhawk in a variety of new set space settings. While Warhawk was a multiplayer-only experience, Starhawk would feature a full single-player campaign.[12] Further Dylan Jobe revealed the game will support split screen play, but not PlayStation Move.[13]

As of April 2011, there has been an interactive Facebook page for Starhawk, run by the game's chief developer, where Facebook users and Warhawk users alike can suggest ideas on how they would improve gameplay from Warhawk to Starhawk. The developers often ask questions of users, such as "How can we improve the online Multiplayer game experience?" and fans of the page can respond with answers to the question, along with any ideas they may have.

Marketing and release

Prior to its release, Starhawk is being marketing and promoted heavily through the use of numerous Internet and TV trailers. In addition, beta testing is enterable by fans with feedback to the developer. For marketing considerations, a Limited Edition of the game is available exclusively at GameStop as pre-order bonus.

Private beta test

In November 2011, Sony's confirmed its Starhawk private beta test would go live on EU and US PSN on Tuesday, November 22. A selected number of players who had opted-in to receive PlayStation emails on the game's official site and who had played Warhawk was invited to the beta test. The private beta players had access to play Capture the Flag on "a couple of maps", plus access to the game's matchmaking system.[14] The beta closed on January 3, 2012, and the developer stated information gathered during the beta has been "incredibly valuable".[15]

Public beta

In January 2012, Sony confirmed that the open public beta for Starhawk would kick off on January 17 for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The open beta was not quite open at first however, as the developer intended to roll it out slowly to different users. PSN Plus subscribers and closed beta participants got it first on January 17. Holders of the Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception beta keys got it January 31. So-called "early access" codes from Facebook and GameStop would grant access on February 7, and an IGN promotion would see access opened up to more on February 14. Finally, on February 21, the beta opened up to all PSN users.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/332558/starhawk-us-release-date-announced/
  2. ^ http://www.vg247.com/2012/02/07/pre-orders-of-starhawk-upgraded-to-limited-edition-includes-code-for-warhawk/
  3. ^ "Starhawk Interview". Realm of Gaming. August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "Starhawk Interview". Realm of Gaming. August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  5. ^ Starhawk Trailer - HD. Sony Computer Entertainment. May 13, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  6. ^ Crecente, Brian. "Warhawk in Spaaaaaace". Kotaku. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  7. ^ Purchese, Robert (April 15, 2009). "Sony Trademarks Starhawk Name". Eurogamer Network. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/250075/starhawk-beta-very-far-away/
  9. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/272307/warhawk-director-wont-rush-new-sony-title/
  10. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/289222/warhawk-director-teases-new-sony-game/
  11. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/300636/starhawk-announcement-to-soften-playstation-network-plight/
  12. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/301205/sony-announces-starhawk-first-screens-shoot-in/
  13. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/302492/starhawk-beta-confirmed/
  14. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/326655/starhawk-private-beta-goes-live-on-psn-tuesday/
  15. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/330587/starhawk-private-beta-shuts-down-january-3/
  16. ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/332208/starhawk-public-beta-starts-next-week/
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