Happy 2011!

The key turns and I squeeze through the door into the darkness that is my apartment. Through the darkness I scan the room, trying to see if I can see if I’ve been robbed. There, I can just faintly make out the outline of my TV and then my computer. I navigate across the room to the light switch and feel a tingle as I flip it on and verify that everything is in order. I check kitchen, mice have nibbled on my oven mitten, and have to throw out a stale heel of bread and a couple of hot dog buns, but otherwise good to go. I check the bathroom: toilet flushes, faucet runs. I plug in my heater and plunk down into my chair and fire up my computer. I literally spasm with excitement. Oh, it does feel good to be back in the gaming saddle.

The control scheme for the trailer and tech demo is a rolling ball of whatever element the player is currently using.

There are a couple of videos that show the remarkable technology molding the game world. The first is the trailer available on Ubisoft’s official From Dust page. In addition to the trailer, there is also a tech demo available on YouTube.

The tribes in From Dust have a minimalist approach to clothes, but do take the time to make their hair look spikey.

But what’s the fun in having control over an empty world? Luckily there will be humans running around the world as well. It’s not exactly clear from the trailer or tech demo whether the player is set as a god who guides the tribe of primitive people, or if the player is some kind of leader of the people who slowly acquires more godly powers. The trailer mentions the humans having lost their power to control the world, but trying to get it back. If my game experience tells me anything, it would be that both will be available modes of play. Most likely there will be a campaign where the player is a part of the tribe, and through the cunning use of limited powers must save his or her tribe from any number of geological catastrophes. In addition to this campaign mode, there will undoubtedly be a sandbox mode as well, where the powers are unlimited and players can go wild.

From Dust's engine is amazing to see in action. I only hope that the effect isn't lost on hardware less powerful than the demonstration computer.

Let’s hope that I don’t get these powers IRL.

And thus is the power of a god. I hope that any inhabitants are able to swim (and avoid the downward pull of currents in the water as a result of the entire freaking island sinking into the sea).

Till next time,
-S