Unity

**johnk_** · 27 Apr 2003, 10:53 AM

it's hard to get too excited about a game that just looks like a screen saver at this point..

they should try to get some footage of it in motion out there.. that's what originally got me excited about Rez 6 months before it's DC release.. gamespot had some amazing footage.
i'm not sure how far off unity is, but it doesn't look like much at this point.

**Agent X** · 27 Apr 2003, 11:22 AM

There are no screens of Unity yet!

The screens that people are calling "Unity screens" are from the VLM 3 for the GameCube. That's Jeff Minter's third version of the Virtual Light Machine (the first was for the Jaguar CD, the second was for NUON-enabled DVD players).

VLM 3 is supposed to be included with Unity, but that is not the game itself. So, in a way, I suppose you could call them "Unity screens" due to VLM 3's inclusion with Unity. But, I wouldn't say it's a good idea to label it as "a game that just looks like a screen saver," since the actual game hasn't been publicly shown yet.

**EightBit** · 27 Apr 2003, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by 680x0
what's strange is that I've never played N2O despite the fact you can't walk into a used game store and NOT find a copy for like $5. I should pick it up

Say what!? I've seen it once in a used game store since it came out and it was hovering around 50 bones. I wish I lived near your game stores. I want it, but its not so great that Im willing to spend over 20 for it.

EB

**Viper** · 27 Apr 2003, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by johnk_
it's hard to get too excited about a game that just looks like a screen saver at this point...

True. But these "screen saver-esque" Virtual Light Machine 3 screen shots are at least relevant to Unity, though, because the VLM 3 apparently uses code very similar to Unity's. The special effects and visualisation you see in the VLM are at least something of a good indication of what you can expect to see in Unity.

The main reason so many people are excited about Unity (thankfully) isn't because of its graphics. It's because of Jeff Minter's long track record in creating inventive, challenging, trippy and highly enjoyable gaming experiences. The fact that he's coded most of the games he's best known for on his own just makes his work all the more impressive, no?

**Lhadatt** · 27 Apr 2003, 04:12 PM

Bleh, learn to read, people...

Originally posted by Lhadatt
Minter has said that the VLM and Unity are actually one project with two outputs -- i.e. the technology will be the same, with the exception that Unity will be a shooter.

Minter's been rather secretive about this one. Given his knack for gameplay and the bits and pieces he's shown off so far, I don't see how this will be anything less than excellent. Keep an eye on his forum, he'll post pics there and then remove them after a while.

K3V: What did Qmann have to say about Lionhead and Minter?

**K3V** · 27 Apr 2003, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by EGM
Dynamic...Duo?

We don't know whether to laugh or cry. Peter Molyneux, the famed designer whose much-hyped Lionhead Studios has promised many console games but has yet to ship one, and Jeff Minter, prolific programmer of multiple versions (on failing systems) of the arcade-classic shooter Tempest, have joined forces. Their mission? To create a GameCube music-and-light show that's also a game called Unity (left). Based on their track records, expect it to suffer delay after delay until it is abruptly cancelled in favor of a llama picture-taking game.

**Johnny Nighttrain** · 27 Apr 2003, 05:15 PM

that's rough.

im not really a fan of either of these guys, but they seem to know how to make some really nice eye candy, and they're trying to make something that could end up being one of the best games ever made.

so im interested, and will keep a close eye on this one. if it sucks, then oh well, not much we can do about that.