Descent 4: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Game
{{Infobox Game
|image          = [[Image:D4LaserDrill.png|300px]]
|image          = D4ParkerConcept2.png
|imageinfo      = Laser Drill being used
|imageinfo      = An early version of [[Parker]] in his [[envirosuit]], posing next to a destroyed [[cutter]].
|cancelled      = Around 2000
|cancelled      = Circa 2000
|developer      = [[Volition]]
|developer      = [[Volition]]
}}{{Under construction}}
}}
'''Descent 4''' was a title in development by [[Volition]] starting sometime between 1996-1998, and subsequently being cancelled around 2000. It was to be the fourth title in the Descent series, and a sequel to [[Outage Entertainment]]'s Descent 3. Much of the engine work, and some of the assets that had been developed for Descent 4 would eventually be repurposed in [[Red Faction]].
'''''Descent 4''''' was a title in development by [[Volition]] as a sequel to ''[[Descent 3]]'', before its cancellation around 2000. Some code, concepts, and assets intended for ''Descent 4'' would be repurposed for ''[[Red Faction]]''.
 
==Development==
Development of ''Descent 4'' began at Volition in June 1998, near the completion of ''[[Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War]]''.<ref name="Dec98">[https://web.archive.org/web/20040615030406/http://www.volition-inc.com/oldnews.cfm?month=12&year=1998#11 D4 Information] (archived) - [[Volition]]</ref><ref name="PD">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100408214815/planetdescent.com/site/articles/asrale/9-11-00-asrale-volition.asp Volition Interview] (archived) - ''PlanetDescent''</ref> As ''Descent 3'' was still under development at [[Outrage Games|Outrage Entertainment]] with a rapidly changing codebase, Volition chose to not use the game's Fusion engine for ''Descent 4'', aware that doing so would lengthen ''Descent 4''<nowiki/>'s development while in return allowing them to implement new features.<ref name="GameInformer">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8tsuYH1AIk&t=1734 The Secret History of Volition Inc.] - ''[[Wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]'' ([[Wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]])</ref><ref name="Dec98"/>
 
On December 14, 1998, Volition announced ''Descent 4'' to the public, launching a website for the game on which concept art was posted.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/15/descent-4-in-the-works Descent 4 in the Works] - ''[[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN]]''</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050216051617/http://www.descent-3.com/dnet/news/archives.html December 1998] (archived) - ''Descent-3.com''</ref> The released material depicts the tentatively-named protagonist "[[Parker]]", the [[envirosuit]] and ship he would be featured with, the [[worm]] and [[cutter]] enemies, and an unnamed human character.<ref name="Dec98"/><ref name="D4site">[https://web.archive.org/web/20000301165215/http://www.descent4.com/ Concept Art] (archived) - ''Descent4.com''</ref> An internally-pitched demo video also showed off the cavernous environments in which the game was to have taken place, as well as model turnarounds, animations, and concept art of some characters, including the [[drone]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wjsPOzT9TE Red Faction- Descent 4 | Volition Inc. (Official Demo)] - Scott Lee ([[Wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]])</ref>
 
==Gameplay==
Volition planned for ''Descent 4'' to be a prequel to the original ''Descent'', and it was to feature destructible environments and a controllable player character as opposed to a spaceship like the previous games in the series.<ref name="PD"/><ref name="Eurogamer">[https://www.eurogamer.net/the-making-of-red-faction The making of Red Faction] - ''[[Wikipedia:Eurogamer|Eurogamer]]''</ref>
 
==Cancellation==
After the commercial failure of ''Descent 3'' upon release in 1999, Volition's then financially-struggling publisher [[Interplay Entertainment]] was not interested in a sequel, and refused to fund ''Descent 4''.<ref name="Eurogamer"/><ref name="GameInformer"/> Volition, eager to continue the game's development, subsequently parted ways with Interplay.<ref name="GameInformer"/> However, because Interplay owned the publishing rights to the ''Descent'' franchise, Volition was unable to take ''Descent 4'' to a different publisher.<ref name="GameInformer"/> Volition decided to instead begin work on an original project, and some existing source code, assets, and concepts from ''Descent 4'' would be repurposed for a new [[THQ]]-published first-person shooter, ''Red Faction''.<ref name="GameInformer"/> Shortly after the announcement of ''Red Faction'' in May 2000, Volition stated that development on ''Descent 4'' had been cancelled.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020815112833/http://www.voodooextreme.com/games/interviews/redfaction.html VE's Interview with Volition's Mike Kulas] (archived) - ''Voodoo Extreme''</ref> Remnants of ''Descent 4'' observed in the final version of ''Red Faction'' include the protagonist Parker, the envirosuits worn by [[miners]] and [[Ultor Security Guards]], the worm and drone mini-bosses, and the cutter NPC.
 
==Gallery==
===Concept art===
<gallery>
D4ParkerConcept.jpg|[[Parker]]
D4EnvirosuitConcept.jpg|[[Envirosuit]]
D4ParkersShip.jpg|Parker's ship
D4SuitConcept.jpg|Miscellaneous suit concept
D4CutterConcept.jpg|[[Cutter]]
D4DroneConcept.png|[[Drone]]
</gallery>
 
===Demo video===
<gallery>
D4LaserDrill.png|Parker using the envirosuit's laser drill on some rock.
D4ParkerFront.png|Front view of Parker.
</gallery>
 
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20000301165215/http://www.descent4.com/ Official site] (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/19990508091218/volition-inc.com/d4/ Official site (alternate URL)] (archived)


[[Category:Descent 4]]
[[Category:Descent 4]]

Latest revision as of 00:20, 2 September 2024

Descent 4 was a title in development by Volition as a sequel to Descent 3, before its cancellation around 2000. Some code, concepts, and assets intended for Descent 4 would be repurposed for Red Faction.

Development

Development of Descent 4 began at Volition in June 1998, near the completion of Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War.[1][2] As Descent 3 was still under development at Outrage Entertainment with a rapidly changing codebase, Volition chose to not use the game's Fusion engine for Descent 4, aware that doing so would lengthen Descent 4's development while in return allowing them to implement new features.[3][1]

On December 14, 1998, Volition announced Descent 4 to the public, launching a website for the game on which concept art was posted.[4][5] The released material depicts the tentatively-named protagonist "Parker", the envirosuit and ship he would be featured with, the worm and cutter enemies, and an unnamed human character.[1][6] An internally-pitched demo video also showed off the cavernous environments in which the game was to have taken place, as well as model turnarounds, animations, and concept art of some characters, including the drone.[7]

Gameplay

Volition planned for Descent 4 to be a prequel to the original Descent, and it was to feature destructible environments and a controllable player character as opposed to a spaceship like the previous games in the series.[2][8]

Cancellation

After the commercial failure of Descent 3 upon release in 1999, Volition's then financially-struggling publisher Interplay Entertainment was not interested in a sequel, and refused to fund Descent 4.[8][3] Volition, eager to continue the game's development, subsequently parted ways with Interplay.[3] However, because Interplay owned the publishing rights to the Descent franchise, Volition was unable to take Descent 4 to a different publisher.[3] Volition decided to instead begin work on an original project, and some existing source code, assets, and concepts from Descent 4 would be repurposed for a new THQ-published first-person shooter, Red Faction.[3] Shortly after the announcement of Red Faction in May 2000, Volition stated that development on Descent 4 had been cancelled.[9] Remnants of Descent 4 observed in the final version of Red Faction include the protagonist Parker, the envirosuits worn by miners and Ultor Security Guards, the worm and drone mini-bosses, and the cutter NPC.

Gallery

Concept art

Demo video

  • Parker using the envirosuit's laser drill on some rock.

    Parker using the envirosuit's laser drill on some rock.

  • Front view of Parker.

    Front view of Parker.

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 D4 Information (archived) - Volition
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Volition Interview (archived) - PlanetDescent
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Secret History of Volition Inc. - Game Informer (YouTube)
  4. ↑ Descent 4 in the Works - IGN
  5. ↑ December 1998 (archived) - Descent-3.com
  6. ↑ Concept Art (archived) - Descent4.com
  7. ↑ Red Faction- Descent 4 | Volition Inc. (Official Demo) - Scott Lee (YouTube)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The making of Red Faction - Eurogamer
  9. ↑ VE's Interview with Volition's Mike Kulas (archived) - Voodoo Extreme
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