TUG, the sandbox RPG with a focus on the fans

Tug, or The Untitled Game, is an in-development sandbox RPG which uses Voxels to create almost infinite, procedurally generated content to explore.

Sounds like minecraft, right? Well the differences are becoming apparent quite quickly.

TUG uses a game engine developed in-house by Nerd Kingdom. Already, it allows for dynamic lighting, contoured hills with rolling slopes, and physics objects which are capable of bouncing and rolling around.

This is just to start. Nerd Kingdom employs people with a variety of backgrounds, not just videogame developers, to create systems and mechanics within the game which play very, very well.

They have a long list of planned features, and while the kickstarter may be over (and unfortunately they were not able to make their stretch goals), they plan to continue developing features with constant feedback from the fanbase.

Here's their Kickstarter page.

And for people who know these names, they are already getting cooperation from the Minecraft modding community, namely Azanor, developer of the wildly popular Thaumcraft mod, and the Feed the Beast modpack team.

I've been reading up on this game and watching the video they've released for several hours now and I'm absolute fan-girling over it.

edited 9th Jun '13 2:04:54 AM by Vyctorian

"Nerd Kingdom employs people with a variety of backgrounds, not just videogame developers, to create systems and mechanics within the game which play very, very well. "

The heck does that mean?

Also the whole "Grows up into an adult" thing reminds me of Fable which is setting off my PTSD triggers. D:

edited 9th Jun '13 2:06:56 AM by Thorn14

I know, right? This is just the most ambitious thing I've ever seen and I'm just going to weep in joy if they pull it off

Basically, they're employing researchers, economists, professors of learning, and others, in order to try to make A) Gameplay mechanics which accurately mimic real life while still being fun, and B) the game more efficiently, and C) to learn what players respond most to.

Watch the videos, they explain a lot more than my 4 am brain does.

edited 9th Jun '13 2:07:34 AM by Enkufka

Not really sold though. I want to know what that means first.

Remember I've worked very hard to try to prevent myself from ever getting hyped ever again.

I've seen so so so many ambitious projects crumble.

edited 9th Jun '13 2:07:59 AM by Thorn14

I know thorn. I actually meant to fanboy to Vyctorian but you ninja'd me. :V

Well, I'm going to let myself be hyped for this.

edited 9th Jun '13 2:08:24 AM by Enkufka

I did...I'm weary. Just because you have an economic designer doesn't mean it works well into a game though.

But maybe I'm overly analyzing since it really feels like "Fable + Minecraft" and I feel like I'm hearing the same promises before.

Such sweet sweet lies back then...

edited 9th Jun '13 2:10:55 AM by Thorn14

I know. And they know too.

it seems that they're trying to make the mechanics so that the inter-personal gameplay stuff, guilds and economies, develop naturally, rather than being forced into it by the developers.

anyway, I gotta sleep.

There's the option of simply staying away from the hype carnivals instead of showing up just to whip out jade glasses in front of everyone.

God forbid I have a discussion on a forum.

Also skepticism isn't jade glasses you know.

edited 9th Jun '13 2:59:38 AM by Thorn14

They have multiple college professors and other PHD's on board many of which have either worked with game developers as consultants or have experiencing programing games themselves in addition the field they have their degrees in.

Several modders from the minecraft modding community have jumped on board as well, and have been playing around with the pre-alpha build; they seem to be enjoying it.

The Alpha is set to release in July with what is functionally Minecraft's Creative mode.

It is ambitious but not quite in the same way is fable, characters appearance changing based on stats isn't all that new nor revolutionary it's just instead of you controlling the customization slider that's tied to your stats instead , and it's not like the promise of a tree sprouting from where a single seed was planted which we got in Fable, though Minecraft proved that a tree sprouting up from a seed is possible in this day an age.

Oh I know, I'm just saying that you gotta admit a ton of things sounded like when fable was first hyped.

Oh, it does but sounding like a nearly decade old game isn't that big of an issue.

What they are talking about does seem somewhat ambitious but many of the features have already been covered in other much older games that proved that these features are possible, this is just the first time those features are connected by the same game.

The sound design aspect is what I'm the most skeptical about of everything they've talk about, well that and being able to effectively curtail in-game harassment.

Also for those interested in Alpha or Beta access they have this up: http://nerdkingdom.com/p/pledgepage.aspx

Beta is $20, Alpha is $40. Plus they have bonus pet, and mount options and the ability to leave a message in the game that all players can find, which is kinda cool if your into that kinda thing.

edited 9th Jun '13 3:50:49 AM by Vyctorian

Alchemy has been confirmed for the game, which appears to basically mean you can uncraft items. Also some new screen shots.

Interview with one of the developers for TUG.

There was a build playable at E3.

That's awesome, they've been sharing some fan crafts as well; [1] and, [2]. They're very connected to the audience and I like that.

So, you can still pledge money to the project even though it has ended on Kickstarter, and several bonus items will only be available until July.

I pledged last night, and chose the FTB mask, Thaumcraft Wisp, and an adorable Goatcat to accompany me. :>