Tom Clancy’s The Division is a forthcoming massively multiplayer online shooter game by Ubisoft Massive who developed Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and Far Cry 3. With new footage released at the maker’s E3 press conference on 10th June 2014, it seems that the game, unlike its previous trailer, dives profoundly into the human tales lying behind the smashed edifices in the New York post-apocalypse. It is an open world third-person shooter set amidst the ruins of a plague-stuck New York City.
Source of Inspiration
The inspiration for this game is Dark Winter, an actual US government mock-up that analyzed the impact of smallpox epidemic in Atlanta. It frighteningly concluded that the entire nation would condense within less than a week’s time, as the essentials such as water, food, and electricity would be inadequate and all would shoot each other for bean tins.
The Setting
The map is truly large, as it covers the boroughs and Newark but that is not an end to the setting or landscape changing. It has been reported that the game will take players even to the beaches as well as forests on the rim. Until now, the details are not completely revealed about how the entire state will be recreated but there are high chances to fight interestingly on the Brooklyn Bridge and Rockaway Beach. The players are even expected to pass through rooftops, tunnels and subways.
Graphics
Although not many details are out about the new game, one thing is for sure that this one is going to rate very well in terms of graphics. I knew that the development had started far back in 2008 but what stunned me are the crumbling city streets that act as an ideal great platform for new generation visuals on Window-based PC. Well, the credit goes to the new game engine called Snowdrop.
The grimy streets are remarkably detailed with Hollywood-inspired lights and complemented by high-tech weather effects featuring snow that liquefies into sludge. The lighting system adds much realistic touch to the visuals with sunlight and indoor effects.
According to The Examiner, Ubisoft developers are adding several destruction effects, with bullets shattering, crashing, and splintering glasses, wood, and concrete items just as in the real world. Ubisoft itself claims to have the highest level of detailing never seen in a video game before, which is not hard to agree with what is known.
The Play
The focus is on working with teams to either worsen or eradicate the problems. Lots of player-versus-player action is expected such as administering territory instead of moving ahead all alone on the board. It is yet possible to act single, but only in a shared online world where no AI support exists.
There is also a survival factor that gets reduced as the time passes by. At the beginning, supplies for a few days will be provided after which you need to ensure adequate supplies to stay alive. For this, you need to access a black market that sells various items. There might be an emergent narrative as well for responding to the players’ actions.
In short, the fate of the city might depend on the competing players.