[PC, Wii U] Shadow of the Eternals, successor to Eternal Darkness, seeks crowdfunding

[PC, Wii U] Shadow of the Eternals, successor to Eternal Darkness, seeks crowdfunding

I loved Eternal Darkness on the Nintendo Gamecube, it was one of those rare survival horror experiences that scarcely surfaces anymore. However, with the recent fall of Silicon Knights I'd thought that all hopes for a sequel had been snuffed out.

That changed over the weekend when a bunch of information was uncovered for a project title Shadow of the Eternals. It has since been confirmed (thanks for uploading the trailer, IGN) that Shadow of the Eternals is coming and it will be a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness available for the Wii U and PC from Precursor Games.

Reportedly the creators of the original Eternal Darkness are working on the project, including the original producer Dennis Dyack. The crowdfunding is set to kick off on the 6th of May, and the team is hoping to raise $1.5 million to create the 12 episodes.

A full reveal is planned when the campaign begins.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

(This post was last modified: 05-05-2013 06:51 PM by LemonManX.)

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Is an Eternal Darkness Sequel Really Coming?

UPDATE (5/6/13): More information posted in a new post!

Many people agree that one of the best games on the Nintendo GameCube was “Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.” The game was a third-person horror adventure that also incorporated puzzle elements. The horror genre was shocked by another feature not really seen in a game since Eternal Darkness. Every character had a “sanity meter,” so in addition to watching out for your physical health, you also had to watch your mental health. If it started dropping, you began hallucinating. One of the most frustrating, yet cool, examples was when the game seem to freeze on you, stating that the entire save file had been deleted.

Fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years. Today, IGN posted a trailer for “Shadow of the Eternals,” an upcoming game that is in development. What is so special about this title? It is by the same people who brought us Eternal Darkness. This sequel, or spiritual successor, to the original has very little details right now. However, there is a website, Facebook page, Twitter profile, and YouTube channel. The website says to expect information about their “crowdfunding campaign” at 12:00 PM Eastern on May 13. Due to the lack of available information, one can only speculate if this game will hit a Nintendo console. Until then, be sure to like them, follow them, and send them a note sharing how much you would appreciate Shadow of the Eternals to be available on Wii U.

Until then, enjoy the teaser trailer below…

UPDATE (2:45 PM Eastern 5/3/2013): According to NeoGaf, there is a cached version of the Precurser Games’ (creators of “Shadow of the Eternals”) website that contained the following information. Please note this is not confirmed by Precurser Games, so until Sunday/Monday, take this with a grain of salt.

When Detective Paul Becker is called to one of the bloodiest gang massacres in Louisiana state history, only two survivors remain from a brutal conflict between two rival cults. As Becker begins his interrogations of the suspects, their combined recollections will uncover the truth about the ‘Ancients’.

Shadow of the Ancients is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Reqiuem. Featuring an ensemble cast of heroes and villains, the game will span over 2500 years of history throughout Egypt, England, Hungary, and the United States. Players will question the perception of reality as they try to balance the mechanics of combat, magick, and sanity events to progress through the adventure.

Shadow of the Ancients will take players on a memorable journey throughout time; weaving historical fact with disturbing fiction to create an experience unlike any other.

———–

How long is each episode?
Each episode will be approximately 2-4 hours of gameplay.

When do you plan to release?
Q3 2014.

What platforms will Shadow of the Ancients be on?
We will be focusing on the PC and Wii U platforms. Other platforms may be added in the future.

Why no Kickstarter Campaign?
We would love to do a Kickstarter, but currently Kickstarter is only open to companies that are in the US or UK. We hope that we can work with Kickstarter in the future to make this option a reality.

However, by integrating the community into the development of the game, we can centralize our site with our crowdfunding system to manage this properly. Upon pledging on our site, you will be granted a Forum Ribbon to our Official Development Forums, where you can share your ideas and feedback about the creation of the game. It does not matter whether you sign up for the forums before, or after pledging – our database will recognize you.

———–

Shadow of the Ancients will be an episodic series, and to complete the first episode and continue production on future episodes, we need approximately 1.1 million dollars. Any money raised beyond this will contribute to future episodes, additional characters, in-game perks, and additional platforms. The more money that we raise, the more we will deliver based on what our fans want.

———–

BOUND SUPPORTER LE ($50) includes the following: Everything from Sane Supporter; Shadow of the Ancients Season 1 (Episode 1-12, two free episodes); Access to ‘Edward’s Secret Study’.

Receive the entire first season of Shadow of the Ancients (twelve episodes). Each episode features at least one playable character, access to a variety of new play mechanics, historically accurate weapons, locations and new magick.

[Updated info via NeoGaf & GoNintendo]

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Shadow of the Eternals Announced as Spiritual Successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

A few days ago, we reported on “Shadow of the Eternals,” which seemed to be the sequel to the much-loved GameCube title, “Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.” Today, it has been confirmed this will be the spiritual successor for the game, will be available on Wii U, and it is being developed by many of the same people who created the original game. Their new company, Precursor Games, is crowd-funding this episodic game, in order to work directly with the fans. Find out more below.

PRESS RELEASE

Canadian Developer Precursor Games Launches Crowd-funding Campaign for “Shadow of the Eternals”

Hamilton, Ontario – May 6th 2013 – Precursor Games today unveils its debut project Shadow of the Eternals. Developed by the creators of the critically acclaimed Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, Shadow of the Eternals is an episodic action/adventure game that is likely to gain the attention of gamers everywhere.

Featuring an ensemble cast, Shadow of the Eternals will span over 2500 years of human history. Players will question their own perception of reality as they progress through this mind-altering psychological horror. The Pilot Episode is slated for release Q3 2014 on the Nintendo Wii U and PC.

The emerging studio is taking crowdfunding to the next level by giving the community the ability to contribute content to the game. Precursor Games has also revealed a campaign video and rewards tier system to go with their 1.5 million dollar goal, including pre-orders and exclusive merchandise.

“Precursor Games intends to leave no stone unturned in order to create an unparalleled experience for gamers”, said Paul Caporicci, CEO of Precursor Games. “We have a talented team, incredible technology with CryENGINE and a new business model where we directly integrate the fan base into the development process, allowing for new possibilities and game direction. We are very excited to see where this new direction leads.”

The Shadow of the Eternals crowd-funding campaign is can be found at www.ShadowOfTheEternals.com.

About Precursor Games:

Founded in July of 2012, Precursor Games is comprised of veteran game developers with over 20 years of experience. Precursor Games is an agile, efficient, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative company dedicated to community participation. It is looking to change the way games are made in an ever-changing industry by taking advantage of the emergence of digital distribution, episodic content and community-driven crowdfunding.

FAQ’s

Is Shadow of the Eternals DRM-free?

Yes, we plan to release a DRM-free version. Specific details will be announced in the future.

What platforms will Shadow of the Eternals be on?

We will be focusing on the PC and Wii U. Other platforms may be added in the future if desired by the community and the right funding goals are met.

How do I download Episode 1 on PC or Wii U?

This game is planned for digital distribution on both PC and Wii U. Details will be announced at a later date.

Will Shadow of the Eternals only be in English?

No, we will have subtitles for other languages. Details to follow.

Can you explain the stretch goals?

Shadow of the Eternals will be an episodic series, and our initial goal is 1.5 million dollars. This includes production on the Pilot Episode, game engine costs and core system development. Future episodes of Shadow of the Eternals will be significantly less to produce, and we look forward to announcing the possibility of more episodes based on the success of our campaign.
Additional money raised beyond this will also contribute to things such as in-game perks, additional gaming platforms, and other surprises. The more money that we raise, the more we will deliver based on what our fans want.

Why Crowdfunding and Self-Publishing?

The primary reason to crowdfund Shadow of the Eternals is because it allows us to work directly with our fans, and gain valuable feedback in developing the project. We can develop a rapport with our audience that would otherwise be difficult in a traditional setting.
Secondly, the games industry is currently in a state in which publishers no longer take chances on a project like this. We feel that the best way to bring this title to the public is to release it independently.

What happens if you do not reach your goal?

Our financial goal is a flexible one, and Precursor Games is committed to creating Shadow of the Eternals. All contributions will go directly towards the development of this game and making it a reality.

I would like to pledge, but I don’t really want to design anything. Is this okay?

Of course. Precursor Games will not force you to be involved in the creative development of Shadows of the Eternals if you do not wish to be.

What will the gameplay be like?

The gameplay in Shadow of the Eternals will utilize various mechanics for the different characters and locales, including physical combat, magick, exploration, and sanity systems.

What is Shadow of the Eternals about?

In Shadow of the Eternals, we follow the investigations of Detective Paul Becker, who is called to one of the bloodiest massacres in Louisiana state history. Only two survivors remain from a brutal conflict between two rival cults at the abandoned Pleasant View Hospital: one a suave, clean-cut business man – and the other a hardened, rogue-like biker.
Both men have seemingly lost all memory of who they are – and yet they are compelled to kill each other. As Becker begins his interrogations of the suspects, their combined recollections create the world of Shadow of the Eternals.

What is the Pilot Episode about?

Episode 1: “A Dream within a Dream” is a story that takes place in Hungary, 1610 AD in the castle of Erzébet Bathory. Bathory is considered to be one most notorious female serial killers of all time; torturing and killing as many as 400 young women to death in her obsessive quest for eternal life. We follow the character of Clara, a handmaiden and lover of Bathory’s, and the events that take place during the time of these murders.

Who do I play as?

You play as several characters throughout human history. Throughout Season One you play as Paul Becker, a Louisiana police detective. In the Pilot, you play Clara Rusznyák, a handmaiden to the noblewoman, Erzébet Bathory.

Why is this game episodic? What does that mean?

This means that the game will be delivered in chapters over time, and not all at once. This will allow Precursor Games to interact with gamers, and receive feedback that will both influence and improve the creative decisions involved in producing each episode.
Each episode will feature one or two characters that are part of a larger ensemble cast, as well as different locations across 2500 years of human history. As more episodes are released, players will piece together how each character’s fate is intertwined with one another.

How long is each episode?

Each episode will have approximately 2-4 hours of gameplay.

What kind of game is this?

This is an action-adventure game with horror elements.

Does this game feature multiplayer?

No, this is a single player experience. We believe that single player games are very much alive in this industry, and present a cinematic experience to the gamer unlike any other.

When do you plan to release?

Q3 2014, with subsequent episodes to quickly follow.

EPISODES

Pilot Episode – A Dream Within A Dream

The pilot episode of Shadow of the Eternals begins when detective Paul Becker is called to one of the bloodiest massacres in Louisiana state history at Pleasant View Hospital. The massacre is survived by two individuals who seemingly have no recollection about who they are or what has transpired.

Becker’s interrogation of the suspects brings us to Hungary 1610 AD at ?achtice Castle – home to the noblewoman Erzébet Bathory. Bathory is also a notorious serial killer; torturing and killing as many as 400 young women in her obsessive quest to retain her youth. You play the role of Bathory’s handmaiden and lover Clara, who is blackmailed by the authorities into gathering information about a missing nobleman’s daughter.

Events are soon set in motion that will change Clara’s life forever.

Episode Highlights:

Travel back to 1610 Hungary and explore ?achtice Castle – the home of Erzébet Bathory
Use a variety of mechanics including magick, combat, and sanity to guide Clara through this horrific tale
Piece together a complex mystery while questioning the perception of reality

[Shadow of the Eternals Website]

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Eternal Darkness concept art shows endings that could have been

by Richard Mitchell on Feb 15th 2011 12:00AM

You have to like Eternal Darkness to work at Joystiq. It's on the application exam (right next to the section on Metal Gear Awesome). As such, it is our duty to share the discovery of some Eternal Darkness concept art on the Behance Network page of John Dobbie, former assistant lead artist for Silicon Knights.

The various pieces depict several endings that never made it into the final game (which ended up with four possible endings). The images depict a zombie apocalypse, giant structures built with human bones and humanity marching directly into the mouth of the lobster-like god, Chattur'gha.

Head over to Dobbie's Behance page to check them out.

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