October 1997

• Updated Prey Logo

A slightly modified Prey logo has been posted on 3D Realms' Prey Page. Here it is below. Click on the logo for a larger version.

• Schutema's Prey storyline

Paul Schutema talks about the development of the storyline in Prey in his last plan update.

I've been pounding away on the Prey story, and have been spending a whole ton of time working through the character balancing. It's sort of intriguing doing a story for a game as opposed to a strictly linear piece of fiction. In linear fiction, the author has far more freedom to allow his muse to flow out naturally, and refine and adjust things later. In Prey, I'm having to think through balances and conflicts at the front end, in order to make things work solidly within the context of the game.

This has me thinking about character archetypes far earlier than I'm used to, but it's been leading to some fairly cool surprises as far as conflict and tension. Most stories, of at least novel length, need to address eight main character archetypes in order for the story dynamics to have the proper tension and resonance. A lot of time, most of this is covered subconsciously by the author as the story evolves on paper (or on the PC)--one of the prime tasks of the author during revision is to then address the areas where this didn't work and make the characters balance accordingly.

In Prey, we're tagging the archetypes (such as protagonist, contagonist, skeptic, etc.) in the early stages--this allows me to see their conflicts, attractions and repulsions in a far earlier, far more abstract state--I'm finding that it's actually helping my creativity rather than hindering it.

• Movie Expanded

More on the interview from Infinite MHZ. This interview was conducted at E3 '97, so the information is not new. Paul talks about Apogee software, Shadow Warrior, and mostly Prey in the interview. The highlight of the interview is when Prey is shown for itself.

Where to download the video:

• Preystation
• Blues News

RealVideo Streaming:

• 28.8K Connections
• 90K Connections

Screenshots

The interview starts, with Paul Schuytema in the Prey shirt.

Paul starts up Prey on his computer.

Here is the "crystal" weapon being fired.

• Paul Schuytema interviewed on Cable TV

Infinite MHZ, a Cable TV Computer games show, interviewed project leader of Prey. This interview was aired on TV, and put into an awesome AVI for everyone to see. This AVI is 55MB, so beware. Click here to download from Preystation.

• New Picture (kindof) of Talon Brave

A new image was shown on Apogee's News Page today as a header, and it includes Talon Brave. Talon is the character second from the left with the long hair. Although this image does not show much of Talon, it gives us a little idea of how he looks.

• 3D Realms to hire new 3D Modeler for Prey

One more, final position has to be filled on the Prey team. And it is a 3D Modeler/Animator. Here is a short description for Apogee's Job Page:

Creation of both high and low polygon-count models for our upcoming 3D blockbuster "Prey." Ability to create an organic model and convincingly animate it. Ability to thrive within a team environment. Ability to share ideas and accept constructive criticism. A burning desire to exceed expectations. The job pays a salary, PLUS a royalty-like bonus (which most game companies do not), as well as medical and dental benefits.

• First Gamecenter Prey article coming in November

Paul Schuytema tells more about the new deal between Prey and Gamecenter in this week's development update:

Last week, I spoke with George Jones of Gamecenter, and we're golden for a Prey development journal. The first installment will hit the web in early November, and it will focus, in detail, on some of the specific challenges and problems that the team encounters as we work through the development cycle. Each installment will most likely focus upon a particular aspect of Prey development and insights will be provided by the team members closest to the "fire."

• Update from the desk of Paul Schuytema

The Prey Development page has been updated again with some new information:

In development news, the coders are hard at work, cranking towards their next milestone. We've nailed down all of the environments for the shareware chapter of the game, and Matt and John are beginning work on their respective areas. Steve and Scott have been bolstering our texture library with some simply amazing art. Allen has been modeling some of our "golden" game entities, but he's also taking time to brainstorm some new ideas that are very cool indeed. I've been working through the tedious, yet very fun process of performing a full dramatic analysis of the major story elements of the complete game.

• Gamecenter teams up with Prey

It looks like Gamecenter/C|Net wants to get in the action with Prey early. Schuytema talks about it here:

Also, we'll be starting a development diary soon with Gamecenter. I'll be talking with George Jones about the details of that later today, but it should be an exciting forum to get some "down in the trenches" and super-focused news about what we're up to during the remainder of Prey's development cycle.

• 3D Realms hires Seattle band to do Prey music?

This seems to be the case, according to Paul Schuytema. The band is a secret as of now, but I'll see what I can do to find out more :)

In other news, the trip to Seattle was a huge success. I lugged my office PC (sans monitor) all the way there (I wiped all the code and design docs off of the HD, just in case it got lost in transit), and gave the Prey demo to the band, and they were blown away. We talked about what we want to do, musically, with Prey over a nice pasta dinner and glass of wine, and they seem on exactly the same wavelength as our development team. It looks like things will be "golden" soon-we just have to fax, sign, fax, sign and fax again some documents, and we're good to go. I'm sorry I can't give you any more info, but I'm wearing one of their t-shirts right now-who knows, if I accidentally step in front of our video capture cam, you might discover their identify.

And here are some bands that are based out of Seattle:

Soundgarden, Alice n Chains, Pearl Jam, Bush, Presidents of the USA, Berserkers, Bullets, The Paradise Vendors| Fliberty| For The Love Of Suffering| Portrait of Poverty| Soilent Greeen| Rubber| Beluga| Crisis Rebirth| Vktms| Soda Jerk| Los Gatos Locos| Danny Galactic and Headon Collision| STINK| AbuseMentPark| Freddy James Rockin 88| Caustic Resin| Blue Collar| Jack Trippers| Indigo Starvation| Keith Anderson| Cannibal| Braindead| PeaSoup| BRISTLE| Whipped. ...more

Would anyone like to say which one it is? :)