Runic Games - New game 'Hob' announced

Runic Games's new game has been announced: it is called Hob:

Runic Games Announces 'Hob'

We are excited to announce our new title “Hob”, an original IP for PC and console.

Hob is set on a beautiful and dangerous unknown world, with buzzing life above and the whirrs of mysterious machinery below. The more players delve into the world’s design, the more they uncover a planet in peril. Players must learn to survive, understand their true purpose through acquiring skills, and ultimately transform the nature of the world itself.

Hob is presented without text or dialogue. Narrative is revealed as players explore and interact with their mysterious planet, and the strange life forms that inhabit it. Hob features smooth controller gameplay, multi-layered puzzles, and striking visuals

The official Hob website, hobgame.com, is live today with screenshots, concept art, and the first teaser trailer. Gaming news outlet Polygon has the exclusive first interview with President Marsh Lefler, CEO Max Schaefer, Level Designers Patrick Blank and Rick Lesley, and Concept Artist Kyle Cornelius.

Go hands-on with Hob during PAX Prime in Seattle, August 28 through August 31. Come see us and try the game at booth #6602 – see the map below. We also have a very special Official Pinny Arcade pin! Find us at PAX and collect our limited edition Sprite pin on your pinquest.

More information.

Thank you for the info, APSTCP!

Hmm, not sure what to say about this one.

I loved ICO, though.

I don't understand what this will be like from this teaser obviously. Kinda reminds me of Bastion with that world generating in the distance.

It does look very pretty, but I have to say I'm somewhat disappointed. I was hoping that after Torchlight 1 and 2 Runic continued down the RPG path, maybe doing something turn-based.

I'll probably follow it and play it when it's released anyway but ehhh….

AFAIK, two of the lead guys behind Torchlight left the company. But I could be wrong.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
AFAIK, two of the lead guys behind Torchlight left the company. But I could be wrong.

Correct.

Travis Baldree and Erich Schaefer, two of the founding members of Runic, left Runic last year and formed Double Damage Games. Looks like they are working on a PC/console space sim.

http://rebel-galaxy.com/

Originally Posted by Nephologist
Correct.

Travis Baldree and Erich Schaefer, two of the founding members of Runic, left Runic last year and formed Double Damage Games. Looks like they are working on a PC/console space sim.

http://rebel-galaxy.com/

Ah, that's right. I forgot about that one.

That said, I haven't liked a Travis Baldtree game yet, and the last great game Shaefer was involved with was Hellgate London.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
Ah, that's right. I forgot about that one.

That said, I haven't liked a Travis Baldtree game yet, and the last great game Shaefer was involved with was Hellgate London.

You mean there is more than one Travis Baldtree game? I thought they - Fate 1 & 2, Torchlight 1 & 2 - were all more or less the same game, the latter 2 just made 'dark & gritty' by bringing in Schafer

Originally Posted by txa1265
You mean there is more than one Travis Baldtree game? I thought they - Fate 1 & 2, Torchlight 1 & 2 - were all more or less the same game, the latter 2 just made 'dark & gritty' by bringing in Schafer

You forgot whatever that little "MMO" was called that they made on the side, when running Hellgate. Mythos or something?

If you think Torchllight is dark and gritty, you have interesting standards

Try Path of Exile if you want that kind of depressing setting.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
You forgot whatever that little "MMO" was called that they made on the side, when running Hellgate. Mythos or something?

If you think Torchllight is dark and gritty, you have interesting standards

Try Path of Exile if you want that kind of depressing setting.

haha - forgot Mythos

I don't think Torchlight is 'dark & gritty' on any real scale, but I was playing Fate with my boys who were 6 & 7 without any concerns back in 2005 So my comparison is that Torchlight is like a PG version of the G rated Fate.

Torchlight 1 and 2 were good games in my book.

Originally Posted by rune_74
Torchlight 1 and 2 were good games in my book.

Don't get me wrong - I loved Fate and Torchlight so I am interested in this, just playing around

I found them all very underwhelming, personally.

Then again, I loved Hellgate London - and most people condemned it almost before it started, so what do I know

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
I found them all very underwhelming, personally.

Then again, I loved Hellgate London - and most people condemned it almost before it started, so what do I know

I wasn't rabid in my condemnation … just underwhelmed

hmm, Hellgate London, is that an ARPG like Grim Dawn and Torchlight?

Hellgate London is MMO garbage.

Originally Posted by crpgnut
hmm, Hellgate London, is that an ARPG like Grim Dawn and Torchlight?

It's dead now, but it was more like Borderlands than anything else. It was done by ex-Bliz North people - those primarily responsible for Diablo and Diablo 2.

There's something called Hellgate Global run by some asian company - but it's based on old code and inferior to the original game after it was fixed up.