Republic: The Revolution (close, yet why so quiet?)

[Concept]

I don't normally post about PC games, but something just occured as I was browsing the release schedules over at GAME. One of the most fascinating and potentially great games to have hit the PC in years is due out this Friday.

Yet at this year's E3 it was barely mentioned or even since by the press. There haven't been any major reviews (or any that I can think of) up yet either and it hits on the 27th.

So... Anyone have any information or links? Or perhaps got hold of an early copy?

At the moment it doesn't sound good. This kind of media blackout usually means one of three things:

1) The game's a complete turkey and they don't want anyone to know
2) The game's a sleeper-hit
3) The developers are so confident in their work they've chosen to implement a lock-down

What do you all reckon? The Republic was touted as being The-Next-Best-Thing (tm) this time last year. Sounded really interesting and imaginative to boot.

The UK development scene could really do with a major earth-changing type game right now.

But let me leave you with this... Eidos (The Republic's publisher) are pushing Tomb Raider out of the door before July when their financial review comes up. Could they be doing the same with this title as well? In other words, anyone know if it's being rushed to appease the Shareholders at Eidos?

Elixir didn't strike me as the type to rush their work, considering it's been in development for four years. Maybe it's because I'm a console gamer at heart who mostly browses console-centric listings. Simple thing is, there just tends to be a lack of overall hype considering one of the year's potential HUGE titles is seemingly ready to be thrust out upon the world...

[yashiro]

1) The game's a complete turkey and they don't want anyone to know

That one gets my vote.

[Adrock]

Well from what i remember it was completely toned down because there wasnt a chance in hell the game could be successfully implemented in the form they wanted. I reckon it'll be similar to Gangsters, which was absolute pap.

[Tom Salter]

Aye, I saw a video last year and it looked incredibly...awful.

I seriously hope Hassabis comes up with the goods, yet I doubt he will.

It's sad having to be so pessimistic isn't it?

[Concept]

I know. I was surprised when I saw the release so close. I'm half expecting to see Galleon on next week's list now...

Or not.

Considering that Demis Hassabis and his team were being talked up as the next prodigies of gaming design, I'm surprised barely anyone's mentioned it these past few months.

And following all those claims made about The Republic's engine and concept, it'd be a shame to see yet another game completely fall off the tracks.

But let's be honest. The timing of this release and the lack of publicity doesn't exactly bode well.

[c-cat114]

Must admit I`m interested in the release but not that I`d buy it.

The silence does suggest it`s being quietly placed on the shelves in the hope that no-one`ll notice though.

But regardless I`m interested in seeing the first round of reviews.

[Squirtle]

Maybe, just maybe, it's being shoved out early with a ****load of patches ready to go in a couple of months. This does like a game that could be expanded upon infinitely. Maybe what they release my just be the tip of the iceberg as to what may be available a year or so from now.

Just a thought.

[Spatial]

The release seems to be on for this friday, and there's been quite a steady bit of coverage in certain PC mags ( some of the ones I read anyway ) since the start of this year

Its strange though that some mags are still touting it as coming out towards the end of this year

That alone has me worried, but I've still got my copy on order ( only cos I'm getting it cheap as I very rarely buy PC games on a whim cos more often than not their ****e )

[jamielemon]

What will happen to hassabis if this game is a massive flop? leaving lionhead (or bullfrog, i forget who exactly) at the age he was at the time, to set up his own development studios (presumably with a lot of someone else's capital) was an incredibly audacious move on his part.

[badgerpie]

I was drinking with one of Hassabis' mates the other day. He mentioned that it was almost finished and ready to come out. I nearly fell out of my chair (though that may have been from alcohol).
He didn't mention at the time that it was being rushed out, but he might have just been standing up for his mate.
From the stuff I read a year or so ago i'm not looking forward to it, I remember edge saying it was technically impressive, but there wasn't much of an actual game within it. Anyway I wish the guy well, so hopefully its all come good in the end.

[Ish]

Wasn't there a preview with a second Elixir game recently in GamesTm or Edge. Madness... you'd think they'd finish the first game before starting on another. Unless of course they know Republic is pap - though I hope not: its 'grand strategy' concepts sounded cool to begin with.

[Concept]

This is all very strange. Still no reviews anywhere, and the game is due for tomorrow.

[PeteJ]

Their second game actually sounds quite good fun. Evil Dictator I think it's called, some gameplay movies have already been released.

It looks a bit like Commandos, but from the POV of the badies.

The problem I've heard about Elixir, is that almost all of the staff are the academic type - extremely clever, but not so much into games.

[SharkAttack]

This is all very strange. Still no reviews anywhere, and the game is due for tomorrow.

I saw a new date for this somewhere the other day - August.

The website is up and running. That fake country (it is fake right?) has its own website updating day by day with the latest "news".

[nips]

Yes, it is fake. It's a cool way to get people into the idea of a living breating world.

I thought that it was very impressive!