http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169105
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=169107
some intresting things....
" "The game takes place in two fully open worlds that are five kilometres on a side, with the second world 'unlocking' roughly one-third of the way through the game," he explains.
"This gives a playable area of 50 square kilometres, through which the player is allowed to freely travel at any time. The story's also non-linear, dynamic and procedurally assembled using a simple drama-management engine to populate the story with key characters and facilitate the convergence of the story toward major climactic events."
Er, okay. What does that actually mean?
The story - the procedurally assembled story, that is - charges you with killing a man who's allegedly responsible for selling arms to both sides of a conflict in a failed state.
Along the way you'll become embroiled in other stories and conflicts, while you either accept missions provided by the game's principal factions, or play both sides against the middle to further your own selfish ends.
The idea is to create a world in which you can plough your own furrow while the story shapes itself to enhance the drama of your actions. "Ultimately," says Pharand, "while several major climaxes will take place for all players, the characters involved in those events, the locations where those events occur and ultimately what they mean, is up to the player."
"Our AI is needs-driven, and the main needs are Rest, Duty and Social," explains Pharand. "Scattered all around the world are what we call SmartTerrain Points - locations where NPCs can perform actions that fulfil those needs. For example, a Sleep point will fulfil the Rest need as long as the NPC is sleeping."
As an example, we're told how gazelles will trek to watering holes each morning, drinking water before heading out to eat and sleep in the plains in the afternoon. Enemy patrols, meanwhile, will converge upon their base-camps at night, which means that the experience of raiding a camp at night or during the day will be drastically different. Planning your assault is now about more than just spotting your enemies. It's about choosing your moment, too.
"
PC exclusive BTW.
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