Just found out about this from our Kickstarter thread, thanks to gandalf.nho. It's made by just one guy, and looks to be shaping up impressively. In particular, you can play from a commander POV (RTS) or in first person from a soldier robot's perspecitve. Thought some of you might be interested in this, like myself.

Also, the guy's just asking for $5k. He's at $3k now and I don't doubt he'll meet his target, but if you back now, you can get access to the beta (or current build if you pledge $20).

Regarding DRM-free or not - which I know will be the #1 concern of many people here - I just PMed the dev and he's not familiar with GOG, but he'll look into it.

'nuff said I guess, check the link out if you're interested. Videos are there too.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/330858688/dysis

Hey! I already messaged you back to thank you - but I shall do so again here - thanks for starting a thread and introducing me to GOG.

(small intro) - Hey everyone! I'm Chris Farrell, creator of Dysis (aforementioned Kickstarter project), and I'm definitely into the DRM-free release - I'm just checking out the GOG site now to see how I can get involved!

I've been working on Dysis for quite a while now, and I'm really excited to announce it and get it onto Kickstarter. It is a RTS/FPS hybrid where you control a large army of robots, but have the ability to command any of the robots in a first person mode - so you can dictate commands, build up your base, then get down on ground level and lead your troops to victory by your own hand (or... robotic arm/gun thing).

I've got a website setup here: [url=http://dysis.net]Dysis.net[/url], but as lowyhong said, I'm running a kickstarter at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/330858688/dysis and would love it if you checked it out. Feel free to ask any questions (here, or there, or shoot me an email).

Thanks so much for your time -
All the best,
-Chris

Cheers mate. Got 2 questions for you. I like what I'm seeing of the gameplay so far, but how are the units going to be like? Or rather, how diverse is the selection of units?

Also, why $5k? There are many RTS Kickstarters asking for a lot more.

-edit- One more question: have you played Sacrifice and Battlezone? How does Dysis compare to them?

I haven't played those two games, but I'll try to answer your question anyway. The unit selection will be pretty diverse - there will be multiple tech trees from low end starting units to the higher end killing machines. Robots will be classified in a couple different ways - offensive/defensive, and building/searching/researching (searching for resources). Plus there will be different drive systems for the robots (by this I mean, wheeled, vs tread, legs, airborne) - so this will determine how your robots do on varied terrain (so wheeled will do great on flat surfaces, essentially getting a speed bonus because it can accelerate up to a higher top speed, but legged robots would be able to climb up higher slopes).

I hope to allow huge armies of robots that you can select and direct at a time - once I expand the tech trees, I'll be looking into grouping the bots in a large selection into squadrons to be more easily controlled.

I'm asking for $5k because I determined that it is the minimum that I need (and that's what Kickstarter recommends). I would love to get more, but since Dysis doesn't have a huge fan base already, I was a little worried that asking for too much would result in nothing. But I've got a set of stretch goals (which I am going to be updating soon to add some new exciting stuff at the $10k and expand the $20k tier). Basically, with 5k, I can get some of the tools I need to whip up the models to create a diverse tech tree - but at 10-20k or more, I could ideally get all the software I need and expand the tech trees to their maximum (because 3D models without good modelling software/texturing software is a long process), plus add in new gameplay features!

Of course I've added the $10k robot reward tier just in case anyone is feeling super generous - I build humanoid robots for boxing/soccer in my day life, and so I can custom create an award winning model for anyone who wants to back the project to that extent, haha :)

Yeah I like the idea of having my own custom robot too, but it's too bad I don't print money :P. May sell my house or soul (whichever is worth more) if your robot fires lasers from its eyes though.

Thanks for the reply btw. Regarding the tech system, will you be able to construct the individual parts of your robot, or are they going to be preset builds?

Oh and by the way, personal plug: Activision's having a sale here right now :D

Darn, I knew I should have added those lasers (though... actually, I could remove the motor from an extra servo placed on the head, replace it with laser internals and use the same PWM commands for movement to fire lasers - so.. yes - if you pledge for a robot and requested so, I will absolutely include a head mounted laser), but I digress.

Currently the robots are just preset builds (they may have upgrades like higher powered weapons, but not switching out weapons on a single robot model), but I do plan on including an modding API to the game (plus I have a character/robot animator tool that I built specifically for the models in this game), so you could adjust things yourself with a mod.

Thanks for the Activision tip - I'll check that out!

Best,
-Chris

Sweet thanks. Looking forward to the beta :)

Looking forward to my railgun ;)

How is this not getting more pledges? :((( Btw Chris do you have a specific vision for the first person aspect? How will the handling of the robots be like? From a gamer's POV, the feel of shooting stuff is important, otherwise the FPP becomes a tacked on gimmick.

Have you played Space Rangers 2 before? It was sold on GOG a while ago, but the publisher 1C requested for the game to be taken down (which I'm guessing has something to do with their upcoming remake). Anyway the game has an RTS segment that's similar to what Dysis proposes, except it's not voxel based. You can also go into first person view. The problem with Space Rangers 2's FPP is that it feels like a floating camera attached to the front of the robot's head. Doesn't feel much like you're the robot, only that you're controlling it.

Now the Mechwarrior games though - those really do the robot simulation well. Your movement feels like it has some weight attached, and the guns 'feel' right, esp in Mechwarrior 3. I'm not suggesting Dysis come even remotely close to the scope of those games though, but it's worth bringing them up as a benchmark.

I also suggested Battlezone just now (which you can legally acquire for free here). It's an FPS/strategy game that does a good hovercraft impression, thanks to the sounds (engine hum etc) and movement physics. Might want to check it out for some inspiration 8)

Hey guys! You know how the advice commonly given to creative people is "write what you know", and the result is either derivative crap or yet another novel about an English professor contemplating adultery?

This guy makes fighting robots IRL. There's literally no other person who's more qualified to make a game about fighting robots. Dysis is going to be awesome. If you're at all interested in Sci-Fi RTSes, you should back this.

Also, DRM-FREE. Dunno, but I just pledged $250, that's 25 lowbies.

:salute:

I just wanted to commend the dev on good communication with his potential fanbase. You're doing a great job!

Unlike a certain someone else recently. >.>

EDIT: Actually, this also looks great. Although I think GOG would be an excellent place for the final release, I think during the beta (while the game is being updated frequently) Desura would be the perfect place.

Because I have this little red devil in a GoG t-shirt on my right shoulder right now whispering "buy the whole activision promo, you don't have of them and they are great, go on - do eeet - press the buy button, you do not need to eat - do eeeeeet"

anyway, the game look great, however I am not a big fan of competitive multiplayer, if I do multiplay then it is always co-op, not sure how suited my play style is to this? ... and then there are 3089 I would not mind to back right now...

Another voice in your head says: -

"Psst. Christmas is only 2.5 months away."

Because of planety annihilation. The game looks cool, but you chose a really bad time to come forward with it, Chris.