Gunmetal (PC)
| Gunmetal | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Mad Genius Software |
| Publisher(s) | Mad Genius Software |
| Designer(s) | Mike Jackson |
| Engine | Custom |
| Platform(s) | DOS, Windows |
| Release date(s) | 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Action adventure, First Person Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Distribution | CD-ROM |
Gunmetal is a first person shooter video game for the PC. It was developed and distributed by Mad Genius Software in 1998.
Story
The game takes place 300 years in the future. The world is completely controlled by corporations, and the concept of nation is unknown.
The player takes on the role of a newly hired security guard for the Nataka Corporation, a multi-planet organization patterned loosely after mid-20th century Conglomerates such as Siemens A.G., Sara Lee or General Electric.
The game starts with the outpost suddenly being attacked by enemy forces from Network 53, a branch of the Argus Industrial Corporation and a long-standing ally. Later, the Argus Corporation starts creating a destructive virus, the Keller virus.
The Keller virus quickly assumes control of all other Remote-Piloted Vehicles (RPV's) and many other electronics nearby. As the player was not in the Headquarters while the infection attacked, he is not affected. Following this, the war against the Keller virus takes place. A sole remaining technician named Pamela Lang helps the player travel to where he is needed.
After completing some levels, the player gets to the Keller core, which is the Argus base, in which the player finds the Keller core Protection program. After defeating which, the player goes inside the dead body of the Protection program and destroys the Keller core.
Production
Gunmetal has 26 published levels, three secret levels, four deathmatch-specific levels, and one easter egg. The easter egg is located in the pilot's lounge. It is a side scroller game called "Gandhi Kong." The player plays Gandhi, using the principles of passive resistance to save a village from a marauding ape.
Between each level the player is told a bit about the challenges in the upcoming level. They are then sent to an upgrade area where they can buy, sell and trade weapons, ammo and ship types to plan for the next level. A limited amount of credit is given at the start of the game, but by picking up destroyed enemies or earning "good employee" bonuses, the player can eventually afford a wide range of weaponry.
Game Engine
Gunmetal's game engine was developed by Mad Genius and was not, as many at the time suspected, a Doom clone. It includes realistic lighting, spotlights, direct sunlight, and partial reflectivity (for reflections in pools and other details). At the time, very few video games had all these features. It also featured original digital music.
Gunmetal supports the full range of multiplayer options available in 1998. As many as eight players over a LAN or the Internet can play at once. It also has a split-screen, two-player variation. The split-screen mode works in Net games as well.
The goal of Gunmetal is not fully revealed until the player completes the final level. Upon beating the ultimate enemy of both Nataka and human-kind, the player is awarded "Employee of the Month" and is given a video taped congratulation from the President of Nataka.