TEK

Artex Software, fresh from their success with the excellent galaxy-conquering strategy game Exodus, are working on a brand new strategy game, TEK.

Unlike Exodus's turn-based control, TEK is a fully real-time experience similar to Command and Conquer or Dune 2. The graphics are all being created to a professional standard, and in high-resolution (unlike Exodus's lower resolution graphics). The game should also feature some great music, like Exodus, except that this time it will be played straight from CD. The in-game sound effects will be more varied and there will also be lots of human speech, as well as cut-scene films featuring real actors.

TEK is being developed for initial release on the NetStation, with Acorn being involved in the project, but will be released for general RISC OS machines shortly afterwards. The initial NetStation release was originally aimed for the end of July, with a full RISC OS release in time for Acorn World at the end of October at any rate, but it's possible these dates may slip.

TEK supports various methods of troop control - you can set options such as "Patrol quietly and just report", "Patrol and chase possible enemies" or "Patrol and stay on route", with mouse-based control of the game. Like most games of this genre you can't see the whole battlefield until you've explored enough, and installed radar posts.

The game features pre-rendered 3D models for the various game characters and vehicles, with dual-level Artificial Intelligence algorithms, with both a highly intelligent computer player (but with scalable ability) and each and every battle unit having its own, separate AI routines, taking note of its own intelligence, morale and loyality. The computer player apparently scans the battlefield for dangers, and invents strategies and reacts to the player's, rather than simply following a prerecorded battle plan.

^{Screenshot of demo engine running in 800x600, shown two-thirds actual size}

The game uses a "line of sight" rule when deciding what can see what, with trees and hills stopping units from seeing each other - and you can fire missiles over hills whereas lasers are blocked by them, for example. All units in the game gain experience as they progress, and if you accompany novice units with experienced ones they gain experience from them.

The game will even includr a level editor, although whether this will be a part of the launch package is not clear. It claims to be very user-friendly, however!

Multiplayer games are all the rage, and - unsurprisingly, given its development for the NetStation - TEK will join the fray by offering internal network, internet and dial-up modem multiplayer versions. Up to eight human players can take part at any one time.

The minimum specification for TEK is a Risc PC, but it will probably be just about playable on an A5000 in a medium resolution mode - but "medium resolution" is apparently 640x480, which compared to most Acorn games is high resolution! A StrongARM Risc PC will run the game at 1024x768 if you have 2Mb VRAM (necessary for screenbank switching), although the current development engine is just about fast enough in this resolution on an ARM710. The 640x480 mode is completely smooth, even with tracking cameras active.

Artex can be contacted via email at ArtexSoft@gmx.net.

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