Project Revolution (video game)

Project: Revolution was an introduction first-person shooter (FPS) video game for the Dreamcast, that was launched in its beta form at the 2000 Electronic Entertainment Expo. It was developed by TalonSoft in conjunction with Volition, who later took the then unfinished beta and ported it for launch on the PlayStation 2 under the name Red Faction.

The game went into development in late 1999, it used a new type of geographic software called "re-flex" (renamed Geo-Mod by Volition) which allowed the integration of fully destructible level maps. It also took the physics engine from the highly successful Unreal, series as well as its graphics engine, with some key tweaks, that allowed the game to take full advantage of the Dreamcast power, with limited slowdowns and no in-level loading, a problem that plagued the PS2 release of Red Faction. It also took advantage of the Dreamcast's online support at the time, allowing up to 8 people to take part in an online version of the game's mission mode, as well as up to 18 people in the online arena brawl. It also incorporated a 2 player mission mode as well as support for four player battle modes.

Story

The game takes place in a fictional universe during a galactic cold war between the GFR (Galactic Federation of Republics) and the GUSP (Galactic Union of Socialist Planets). The GUSP has been in opposition to the Galactic Senates allowance of the GFR to set up labor colonies in the Orion system, which had been determined part of the GUSP's territory after the GFR-backed invasion of the Degas system which the GUSP successfully repelled. The conditions in the labor camps have worsened over the past 5 years as the guards begin to crack down on miners who have begun to openly speak of revolution, as well as killing random laborers to keep the others in line. The tension between the guards and the laborers is at boiling point, and it appears that a revolution is the only way for the laborers to free themselves, and for the GUSP to push the GFR out of their backyard.

The story starts deep in an underground mining facility on the distant planet of Oovoo IV (in the Orion system) were the main character is resting in the barracks with the other miners, when there is a large explosion followed by heavy gunfire. A group of rebel miners break down the doors to the barracks and proceed to distribute weapons to the slightly shaken miners who eagerly join the revolt. The player attempts to enlist other miners, and fights the guards to reach the surface, and head toward the rebel outpost. Once the player reaches the rebel base it is revelaled that the team of laborers that helped liberate Mine 4 (M-4) were aided by a team of GUSP mercenaries, and that the GFR is sending troops to help suppress the miner rebellion on Oovoo IV before it spreads to the neighboring planets in the system.

Characters

Sgt. James Mcloud (Playable character): Leader of the GUSP mercenaries, a veteran of numerous military engagements (chiefly the defence of the Degas system) Sgt. Mcloud is not afraid to use military tactics that are frowned upon in the GFR's world of "civilized combat".

Fara Sopot: Female leader of the rebel uprising, Fara is not afraid to get her hands dirty and is quite often seen leading troops into the fray. Although she usually butts heads with Sgt. Mcloud she seems to have a soft spot for him and vice versa.

Victor Ryhnhold (Playable character): Main character witnesses the murder of his best friend at the hands of power drunken guards.

Re-Flex

One of the major software developments for Project: Revolution was the Re-Flex geographic software which unlike past games which only allowed limited level alteration via scripted events in the game, or specifically pre-rendered sections of the level, allowed unlimited alteration of the environment. This was possible because of the way it designates altered (or "Re-flexed") areas. Whereas other game engines would have to modify the shape of the altered object to create a similar effect, Re-flex creates special objects which represent empty space. When, for example, an explosion blows a hole in a rock wall, the Re-flex technology creates an "empty space" object which is the approximate size and shape of the explosion. The use of a specially designed test level in the beta version shown at E3, and the decision to release it exclusively for the Dreamcast, was chiefly to demonstrate the unlimited possibilities that the Re-Flex geography system was capable of; which was once thought impossible to do on a home console.