| Hawken | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Adhesive Games Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | TBA |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
| Platform(s) | TBA |
| Release date(s) | TBA |
| Genre(s) | Vehicular combat game First-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Online Multiplayer |
Hawken is an upcoming independent multiplayer mech combat game under development by Adhesive Games. The game focuses on creating an intense battle experience that captures the feel of piloting a mech while keeping the action fast-paced and strategic. The team of developers consist of 9 members (6 core members and 3 interns, including the art director, Khang Le)[1].In an interview with G4 Khang Le, the art director, stated that the team has been reduced to 7 (core) members with the 3 interns withdrawing to resume their education and that Adhesive Games has found a publisher[2].
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Hawken is a mech-based first-person shooter. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic human-colonized planet industrialized to the point of collapse, in which the hunt for resources has become a battle for survival.[3] Four game modes are planned for release: team deathmatch, free-for-all deathmatch, "siege" and another yet-specified unique team game mode; Khang Le has said that they also want to do a co-op "Horde" game mode, resource- and time-permitting.[4] Seven to eight unique maps have been planned for the game on release, with plans to provide additional downloadable content afterwards. There will be three different mech types: a light type, a heavy type, and an all-around type.[5]
The player assumes the role of a battle mech pilot, armed with cannon-like weaponry. Unlike many other first-person shooters, weapons will not require ammunition but are prone to overheat. Overheating will shut down all weapons of the mech, forcing the player to find a safe place to recover. It will be possible to choose weapons and upgrades for all mech types to match a play-style or role in a match. In combat, the player will be able to side dash, boost, and make 180° turns to compensate for the slow movements of the mech, which will in turn deplete the fuel gauge rapidly.[4] Turrets are also featured in the game as two types: stationary and placeable. Stationary turrets will be aligned to the team which activates the turret, while placeable turrets can be picked up and placed around the map by anyone.
Energy Units (EU) are used to fuel Turrets, buy items and launch Battleships (in siege mode). Destroyed mechs drop all EU they were carrying, which can then be picked up by other players.
On March 9, 2011 Adhesive Games announced Hawken with a trailer of the work-in-progress,[6] with only 9 months of development behind it.
Hawken has been developed using the Unreal Development Kit (UDK). “We were familiar with its reputation as possibly the most licensed game engine in the industry. Being able to begin production using a cutting-edge game engine with no start-up cost offers an important opportunity to indie developers like us,” said Khang Le. Despite their decision the team had almost no experience with UDK. “We’ve searched the UDN docs as well as online tutorials. Using a publicly available engine means it’s not only possible, but likely that there will be information online about whatever we’re trying to accomplish. Also, the UDK community has been very supportive. We often browse through the forum and read what’s possible or not before we make design decisions.”
The main focus for Le was to deliver the graphically intense vision he had for the game on a tight schedule with "triple-A" quality. Within one month of production they were already able to test out a prototype.[7]The actual name of the game came from the last name of one of their former 3d artists James Hawkins whom Khang Le was trying to make fun of resulting in the name "Hawken" in the process."We couldn’t come up with a better-sounding name. We had “Bolthead,” we had “Steel Vultures,” a ton of other names like that, but Hawken was just the name that had a cool sound everyone liked. And gameplay, you have a lot of aerial kind of movement where you kind of swoop into the enemy, so it sort of makes sense for us, too"[2].
"They witness an event that suggests there is more to the nano-virus than meets the eye. Now the race is on to discover the virus’ origins and true purpose before their respective clans wipe each other out in a final, climatic battle."
On 24 August 2011 an article on entertainment news website The Wrap was released confirming that DJ2 entertainment, an independent production company was able to obtain the rights for a film adaptation.[8] Adhesive Games was hesitant to release the rights at first, opting to focus on the game release instead. “I assumed someone already got it because it was so huge. Big names were chasing this,” said DJ2 producer Dmitri M. Johnson,“A-list directors and big hit agencies.”
The story will follow two young pilots from separate clans pitted against one another after a devastating virus has covered most of the heavily industrialized planet surface in toxic crystal. There is no director for the film at this point but in the article it is stated that Johnson is contacting big names.[8]