Schlagwort: 17-bit

  • Surviving the night in Song in the Smoke, out tomorrow

    Surviving the night in Song in the Smoke, out tomorrow

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Song in the Smoke is a game of survival. It’s a simulation in which the player is alone in the wilderness, with only their wits, strength, and perception on their side in the struggle to live another day. It’s not simply an expression of “man against nature,” but rather an attempt to capture the timeless feeling of tuning into nature—paying attention to its frequencies, making thousands of small decisions that together make up the difference between life and death. It’s a game that tries to connect players to a form of existence that modern life has largely disconnected us from.

    A typical day in Song in the Smoke begins before dawn, with light slowly peeking over the horizon through the misty air. As I wake from my slumber, I watch warily as the final embers of my campfire crackle, making sure to ride it all the way up until sunlight.

    As is always the case, I have much to do today. Night will always be cold and dangerous, so my first order of business is preparing for this immutable reality. I actively begin the search for firewood; I can only carry so much, and must think strategically. My campsite is a potential base for tonight, so I leave some of the logs and branches I’ve gathered there. But one never knows where they’ll end up by nightfall, so I’m sure to keep plenty of wood in my satchel as well.

    I’m also constantly looking for raw materials of all sorts. Specifically, I need to fix my club—it’s a good, sturdy club, but the rock is about to break, so I keep an eye out for a suitable one to replace it with. I’m also running low on leather straps, which are a key to building dependable clothing and tools. In this case, I’m fortunate to have some on my camp’s drying and tanning rack, otherwise I’d have no choice but to go hunting.

    The other key to survival is, of course, food. Nature provides enough small snacks for regular sustenance—berries and mushrooms make up much of my diet. But I need a big meal every day or two, and out here in the wild, animal flesh is my only option. I’m not going hunting on this particular day, as hunting and harvesting occupies a good chunk of my daylight hours. Today, I want to travel light and forge ahead to reach new territory, so I bring along some dried meats that I’ve been saving.

    I’ve also packed a whole suite of arrows to protect me against predators; my bow is cleanly tuned and ready for action. Danger comes in many forms out here, and even the best laid plans can be laid bare by a lion waiting in ambush. I keep a lookout for small stones that can be converted into arrowheads, should I need more.

    As I make my way north, I’m exploring the new space and peeking my head into all its nooks and crannies. I’m searching for all manner of raw materials, but also statues and carvings from my ancestors who came before me. I can only place three campfires per world; as such, I need to consider their locations carefully, in order to cover the entire area over the course of the day. Space mapping is therefore an essential part of life out here in the wild.

    I’m constantly, acutely aware of the passage of time. As the light starts to fade into a warm red, and the crickets and cicadas come to life, I realize it’s probably too late to venture forward; I want to be building my campfire by dusk.

    I get back to my camp with a bit of time to spare, and I feel comforted. I build my fire up, careful to maintain its heat and fuel levels. I cook the food I foraged and caught that day, as it’s more nutritious that way. I’m thankful for a full night’s rest, a full belly, and a warm fire to keep out the darkness.

    The PlayStation VR adventure of Song in the Smoke launches tomorrow, October 7 on PlayStation 4.

    Website: LINK

  • So überlebt ihr ab morgen eine Nacht in Song in the Smoke

    So überlebt ihr ab morgen eine Nacht in Song in the Smoke

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Bei Song in the Smoke geht’s ums Überleben. In der Simulation seid ihr allein in der Wildnis und habt nur euren Verstand, eure Stärke und eure Wahrnehmung auf eurer Seite, um einen weiteren Tag zu überleben. Es ist nicht einfach nur ein Ausdruck des ewigen Kampfs “Mensch gegen Natur”, sondern ein Versuch, das zeitlose Gefühl einzufangen, wenn man sich wirklich auf die Natur einlässt – auf ihre Frequenzen achtet und tausend kleine Entscheidungen trifft, die zusammengenommen den Unterschied zwischen Leben und Tod bedeuten. Dieses Spiel versucht euch mit einer Form des Lebens zu verbinden, den man im modernen Leben kaum noch entdecken kann.

    Eiin typischer Tag in Song in the Smoke fängt schon vor dem Morgengrauen an – wenn das Licht langsam über den Horizont und durch den Nebel kommen wird. Als ich wach werde, sehe ich erst noch verschwommen die letzte Glut meines Lagerfeuers ausbrennen und stachle sie noch vor dem Sonnenlicht wieder an.

    Wie immer habe ich viel zu tun. Die nächste Nacht wird – wie immer – kalt und gefährlich, also muss ich mich als erstes genau darauf vorbereiten. Ich suche nach Feuerholz – ich kann nur eine gewisse Menge tragen und ich muss strategisch planen. Mein Lager der letzten Nacht ist eine mögliche Lagerstätte für die nächste, also kann ich hier ein paar Stücke und Zweige lagern. Aber wer weiß, wo ich wirklich heute nacht sein werde – es ist also wichtig, auch Holz in meiner Tasche zu tragen.

    Ich bin ständig auf der Suche nach Rohstoffen. Spezifisch sollte ich heute meine Keule reparieren. Sie ist grundsätzlich gut und stabil, aber der Stein bricht vielleicht bald und ich sollte mich nach einem neuen umsehen. Mir fehlen auch Lederstreifen, die ich brauchen werde, um zuverlässige Kleidung und Werkzeuge zu schaffen. Heute habe ich zum Glück schon welche im Camp trocknen, sonst müsste ich jagen gehen. 

    Der andere Schlüssel zum Überleben ist natürlich Essen. Die Natur liefert genug für regelmäßige Snacks, denn Beeren und Pilze machen den größeren Teil meiner Ernährung aus. Aber ich brauche alle ein bis zwei Tage auch eine größere Mahlzeit und hier draußen ist das Fleisch von Tieren meine einzige Option. Heute speziell gehe ich nicht jagen, weil das einen großen Teil der Stunden meines Tages in Anspruch nehmen würde. Heute möchte ich mit leichtem Gepäck unterwegs sein und den Weg in ein neues Gebiet finden, also nehme ich getrocknetes Fleisch mit, das ich aufbewahrt habe. Ich packe auch einen ganzen Köcher Pfeile ein, um mich vor Feinden zu schützen, und mein Bogen ist vorbereitet auf Angriffe. Es lauern viele Gefahren dort draußen und selbst die besten Pläne können leicht von einem Löwen, der im Hinterhalt lauert, zerstört werden. Ich bleibe also wachsam und suche nach kleinen Steinen, aus denen ich Pfeilspitzen machen könnte, falls ich mehr brauche.

    Auf meinem Weg in den Norden erkunde ich neue Gebiete und sehe mir wirklich jedes Detail genau an. Ich suche nach Rohmaterialien, aber auch Statuen und Schnitzereien von meinen Vorfahren. Ich kann nur drei Lagerfeuer auf der Welt platzieren und sollte ihre Position gut überdenken. Nur dann kann ich das gesamte Gebiet an einem Tag durchsuchen. Kartierung ist ein essenzieller Teil des Lebens hier draußen.

    Das Vergehen der Zeit ist mir ständig bewusst. Als das Licht langsam warm rot wird und die Grillen und Zikaden lebendig werden, wird mir klar, dass es zu spät zum Weitergehen wird. Ich will beim Sonnenuntergang mein Lagerfeuer aufbauen. 

    Ich komme mit etwas Puffer zurück zum Camp und fühl mich beruhigt. Hier baue ich mein Feuer, achte darauf, dass es genug Hitze produziert und genug Materialien zu verbrennen hat. Ich koche das gesammelte Essen, weil es mir so mehr bringt. Und dann schlafe ich ein, dankbar für eine ruhige Nacht, einen vollen Magen und das warme Feuer, das die Dunkelheit fern hält. 

    Das PlayStation-VR-Abenteuer Song in the Smoke beginnt morgen, am 7. Oktober, auf PlayStation 4.

    Website: LINK

  • Embrace the primal wilderness of PS VR survival game Song in the Smoke

    Embrace the primal wilderness of PS VR survival game Song in the Smoke

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    The sun is setting, and the dense trees are casting long shadows across the forest. My fire is fading, too, its light flickering in the gloom. From the bushes, I hear a growl, low, and hungry.

    I have one question. How do I survive the night?

    That’s the same question we at 17-BIT want you to ask yourself while you’re playing our brand new VR survival game, Song in the Smoke, coming to PS VR in 2021.

    Song In The SmokeSong In The Smoke

    Song in the Smoke’s world is a beautiful, yet deadly one, but fortunately, it also gives the player a range of options to keep themselves alive for another day. I cycle through them quickly as the monster in the bushes comes closer. 

    I could craft a stronger weapon. I have a tree branch, and could take my knife to it, carve it down into the perfect shape for a new bow, before stringing it with sinew that I dried yesterday. Or should I break the wood, snapping it in two with a motion of my hands, before burning it for vital warmth, hoping that the flames last all night and keep whatever is stalking me at bay.

    Or I could turn the tables by trying to hunt what is hunting me. I can hide from the beast, and then find it by tracking its scent and following its footprints, taking the time to crouch and sharpen my senses in the cover of long grass, before lining up a shot with my bow and loosing an arrow into its heart. 

    Or maybe I should explore, try to find a new camping spot before the sun goes down. I saw a strange green glow on top of a cliff yesterday, but night was closing in and I needed to get back to the warmth of my fire. There’s still some daylight, I could climb that rock face and uncover its mysteries, taking a torch to light my way and scare off the beasts of the night.

    Song In The SmokeSong In The Smoke

    Survive or die

    The first priority is always survival in Song in the Smoke. That means hunting and scavenging for food to stave off hunger, and it means choosing safe campsite locations to sleep at to avoid exhaustion. It also means concocting antidotes and healing tonics for poison and injuries, as well as staying warm, crafting clothes and building fires as I move from forests, through plateaus, to frozen peaks.

    It also means defending myself against attacks from the predators that share this world with me. Song in the Smoke’s beasts move with a weight that’s only possible in VR, and their attacks feel like being hit by a furry train. But while they’ve got their teeth and claws, I’ve got a weapon of my own – a crafted club – that I can use to block and parry their attacks. Facing down 200 kilograms of angry lion isn’t easy, but if I time my deflection just right, I can disorient the beast long enough to escape his attention. Or I could even strike back, swinging my club with my Move controller to send him running for safety with his tail between their legs. If I’m really lucky, my blow might take him down for good, allowing me to plunder his corpse for trophies and other valuable resources. 

    Song In The SmokeSong In The Smoke

    Hands-on survival

    It’s a dangerous world, but thanks to PS VR, my survival is put into my own two hands. I eat by bringing food to my real-life mouth; turn herbs into tonics by mashing them with tools and pouring them into containers, and carve wood by taking a knife to its surface. When I need to defend myself – or hunt for my dinner – then I can also rely on human instincts. Firing a bow feels natural: I pull the string with my Move controllers, line my eye up with the arrow, and release. If I’ve aimed it right, then my target is hit in its heart, and I’ll eat tonight. If I miss, then my prey will be spooked, and I’ve wasted an arrow. 

    If I want to eat properly, I’ll need a fire. After I’ve built a pit, I’ll smash two rocks together, hoping for the spark that lights my kindling, before building my precious campfire slowly, tending its embers to become a roaring flame. With enough fuel, I can keep it burning through the night, warding off the creatures that call the dark their home, and ensuring I can wake up fully rested.

    Are you afraid of the dark?

    When I’m feeling braver, I can capture some of that fire with a torch, and venture out into the dark. Some of Song in the Smoke’s most valuable rewards can be found under cover of darkness, but I’ve got to be careful. Night, as it was to our distant ancestors, is a real danger, and I’m not the only one padding through the depths of the forest far past my bedtime. Predators lurk in the gloom, watching from the shadows cast by my flickering torch. They’re joined by something else, as well – something truly primal – that stalks the midnight hours.

    But as I explore my environment, start to learn its secrets, track down its items, and battle its predators, I can do more than survive – I can start to thrive. I can craft better weapons, build tanning and drying racks to upgrade my items, and outfit myself with warmer and stronger clothes. When I’m ready, I can start to make plans to move on to the next zone, towards the mysterious giant tree in the distance, spurred on by visions of a strange shaman who seems to dwell in another world. 

    At first glance, the world of Song in the Smoke is like our own, but spend some time in its starkly beautiful spaces and the strangeness becomes apparent. Deer drink at watering holes alongside dangerous purple-feathered bipeds; odd weasel creatures frolic through foliage before disappearing into the undergrowth, and venture further in your journey and you might catch a glimpse of a beast so large it looks more like a lumbering boulder. Your journey may seem like a solitary one, but if you’re lucky, you might also spy some friendly souls to guide you on your path, or the remnants of people who may have come before.

    Choose life

    Every time you play Song in the Smoke, we want you to be asking yourself these same questions. Should I craft a new bow, or make do with old faithful? Is this the perfect campsite, or should I pack up and move into that cave on the cliff side? Am I ready to fight that strange shimmering monster that I saw stalking just over the ridge line? 

    And most importantly of all: how do I survive? In Song in the Smoke, the choice is yours. 

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    Website: LINK