Carmageddon: Reincarnation

Carmageddon: Reincarnation

Official site logo
Developer(s) Stainless Games
Series Carmageddon
Engine Beelzebub[1]
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date(s) Steam Early Access: 27 March 2014
Public Beta: 14 February 2015
Full release: 21 May 2015
Genre(s) Vehicular combat, racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Carmageddon: Reincarnation (previously known as Carmageddon 4) is the fourth vehicular combat game in the Carmageddon series. The game was developed by Stainless Games, who also made Carmageddon and Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now.

Development

A financial report in 2003 revealed that Carmageddon 4 was in development. The developers were identified as Visual Sciences, who were also working on Carmageddon TV for the Gizmondo handheld console. The publishers were confirmed as Take-Two Interactive's newly formed subsidiary 2K Games (although the same article named the developers as original Carmageddon publishers SCi). Very little information was released about the game until late 2005, when recently merged publishers SCi and Eidos Interactive put development on hold for unspecified reasons. The game was subsequently assumed to have been canned, as no new information or press releases surfaced since that time, and Eidos moved on to focus on other projects.[2]

In 2011, after buying back the rights to the series from then-current copyright holders Square Enix Europe, original Carmageddon developers Stainless Games revealed that a new Carmageddon game was in early pre-production stages. Since then numerous concept artworks and early in-game test screens have been released on the official site. The game is planned to be released through digital distribution.[3]

On 8 May 2012 it was announced on the official website that Carmageddon: Reincarnation would be funded through Kickstarter, with a promised release in February 2013 via Steam,[4] although it's still unavailable for the majority of backers. Stainless Games aimed to raise over $400,000 (£250,000) via Kickstarter in order to produce the game. People who pledged more than $1000 for the project would have the chance to be featured in the game.[5] The $400,000 target was reached in 10 days, when it was announced that if the project raised $600,000 then Mac and Linux versions would also be produced. This new target was met by the campaign's end on 6 June 2012 - with a total of $625,143 raised.

Stainless sent emails to Kickstarter backers with updates on development, with the same content later posted publicly on the official Carmageddon website. On 20 December 2012, Stainless Games mailed their backers with news that they were expanding their scope on the game, but it would take "the best part of 2013" to accommodate these changes, pushing back the release date.[6]

On 20 March 2013, news was released that the game would receive an additional investment of $3.5 million from Bullfrog founder Les Edgar in order to develop the game for next-gen consoles.[7]

On 26 September 2013, news was released that early access to the PC version on Steam will be released in Q1 2014.[8]

On 31 December 2013, Stainless Games released a new blog on the official site which included a video demonstrating the vehicle suspension being used in the game.[9]

On 28 February 2014, Stainless Games released news regarding the Damage Technology used in the game. The post also contains a video which demonstrates the power of destruction of the vehicles (flat tires, broken off pieces, twisting/bending of chassis). From 27 March 2014 it was possible to get Early Access to the game via Steam. Whoever pledged $25 or more during the Kickstarter campaign was able to get the Early Pre-Alpha from 13 March 2014.[10]

On 30 January 2015, Stainless Games announced that the public beta will be available from February 14th, dubbed the "Valentine's Day Massacre".[11]

On 18 March 2015, Stainless Games announced that the final release date is 23 April 2015.<ref name"ReleaseDateNews">"Release Date News!". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 18 March 2015.</ref>

On 16 April 2015, they announced that the game needs further polishing and will be pushing the release date to a month later, on 21 May 2015.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Carmageddon Kickstarter FAQ - What engine are you using?". Kickstarter.
  2. ↑ "Carmageddon: Reincarnation History". Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  3. ↑ "Carmageddon: Reincarnation coming next year as a downloadable game". joystiq. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  4. ↑ "Carmageddon Kickstarter".
  5. ↑ "Carmageddon seeks Kickstarter cash comeback". BBC News. 2012-05-10.
  6. ↑ "Nobby's Christmas Message". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  7. ↑ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-03-20-stainless-secures-USD3-5m-for-next-gen-carmageddon-reincarnation
  8. ↑ "The Dawn of Early Access...". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Keeping you in suspension!". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Crushy Crushy Joy Joy! Early Access 27th March!". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Valentine's Day Massacre!". Carmageddon.com. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Release Date Update!". Carmageddon.com. 16 April 2015.

External links