Happy 20th Anniversary to System Shock!
Today, September 22, 2014, marks the 20th Anniversary of System Shock, one of the best games of all time.
Celebrating this anniversary, here is the reveal of the previously secret project to remake this game.
Why remake System Shock?
It is an amazing game, complex and way ahead of its time. The story is superb, the setting ominous and inspiring, and the gameplay engrossing. The original's controls are, however, hard to get used to, unalterable, and a major deterrent to new players. In addition, the original is rather tricky to get working on modern systems and is prone to crashing. The purpose of recreating System Shock is to allow a new generation of hackers to live the story and explore the world of System Shock while retaining all the powerful nostalgia and style of the original for those who have played the original.
Why is it called Citadel?
Citadel is the name of the space station on which the game takes place.
What is different in Citadel compared to the original?
The main differences in Citadel are going to be 3D models for all objects and enemies as opposed to flat 2D images, smooth natural lighting, improved controls, improved interface HUD, portability to Linux and Mac, increased complexity in level geometry, and support for multiplayer coop and deathmatch. The image textures and pixelated style will remain the same or very nearly the same, the main differences are an increase in geometry rather than an increase in resolution (although the video resolution on your monitor will be as high as your native screen resolution).
Hold the phone! There's going to be Multiplayer?
Yes. Cooperative and deathmatch are definitely going to be supported. There is also plan to have other game modes if time permits, such as capture-the-demodulator (instead of a flag) and also a mode similar to Halo's Firefight.
You say this project was secret, when was the project started?
The project was started by one man on July 7, 2014, on a cell phone while sitting on the beach.
When can we expect a release?
On December 23, 2014, the 20th Anniversary of the enhanced CD release of the original System Shock.
You aren't planning on doing this alone by December 23 are you?
I should hope not.
Can I help then?
Yes, provided you are competent in the DarkPlaces Quake engine, or C code, or 3D modelling, or 3D animation, or digital art. 3D Animation is the area that is in dire need at present, especially for all of the enemies. Please contact me via ModDB message system if you think you have what it takes.
Since you are using the DarkPlaces Quake engine, that means we will be able to create mods and new levels, right?
Absolutely. After the game is released, all tools, editors, resources, and source code will be made available in an organized package that will allow newcomers to get started easily in creating their own experiences in the world of System Shock.
Sounds great, but I'm still skeptical. There have been other remake attempts before, why will Citadel succeed?
System Shock is one of my favorite games of all time. I was first introduced to it when I was only 4 years old. I loved it then. I love it now. For years, I have wanted "them" to remake it. I have seen others have the same sentiment: "they should remake first system shock."
I am they.
I have the resources, the skill, the time, and most importantly the motivation to see this through and will hopefully be able to build a small team to speed the process to see this finished by December 23. Further, Citadel has more progress than any other remake attempt. There is already a working inventory, working damage system, working menu, working enemy AI, and a vast majority of the code framework already completed in terms of gameplay. Also, I want to point out that the scope of Citadel is much more limited compared to the scope of others. Citadel is not going to be an HD remake of the original. Citadel will only have a more 3D world using the same textures as the original game but with better lighting.
Citadel will succeed.
How much of the game areas have been mapped out/converted at this point?