Neal Stephenson Sets Out to Make Realistic Sword-Fighting Game, Clang
By Wired UK
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June 11, 2012 |
3:14 pm |
By Mark Brown, Wired UK
Historical fiction author Neal Stephenson is using Kickstarter to help fund a motion-controlled sword-fighting game called Clang. It will be, according to the pitch, “Guitar Hero, with swords.”
Wired U.K.
The inspiration for Clang comes from Stephenson’s self-confessed swordsmanship geekery, combined with his dissatisfaction with how sword-fighting is portrayed in current games.
So, Clang will feature a deep combat system — including stances, pommel strikes, grappling, feints and parries — all controlled by the Sixense Razer Hydra motion controller. It’s a bit like the Wii Remote, but more accurate and with way less latency.
The idea is to build a robust engine for his firm, Subutai Corporation, and other developers to play with. As such, Clang starts as a one-on-one arena fighter, and then a rich world and some knockabout adventure tales (penned in conjunction with publishing house 47 North) will be added later on.
Also, the game will begin with the “Queen of Weapons”: the two-handed longsword used in Europe during late medieval and early renaissance times. But if a developer or an ambitious modder wants to add in Japanese kenjutsu or Viking sword-and-board, then they can go ahead.
Stephenson explains his plans for Clang in two videos (above and below), one of which (bizarrely) features Valve boss Gabe Newell making a crowbar and letting the author know that game development “takes time.”
The Subutai Corporation is asking for $500,000, and has so far raised $160,000 in pledges. Backers will receive different rewards depending on their donation, including T-shirts, fighting manuals, signed posters, the ability to name a character and invitations to company parties.
“We’re ready,” says Stephenson. “We’ve got geeks in suits of armor, we’ve got geeks in front of computer workstations, we’ve got a lot of people out there who like playing games with sword fighting in them who might be ready to step it up to something more interesting.”
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