Silent Storm engine

The "Silent Storm" enginecite web | last =Knudsen | first =Kurt | title =Silent Storm Interview | publisher =GamersHell | date =September 30, 2003 | url =http://www.gamershell.com/articles/688.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] is a turn-based tactics game engine developed by Nival Interactive for their video game "Silent Storm". The engine was reused for ""cite web | last =VanDyk | first =Dave | title =Silent Storm: Sentinels Review | publisher =GameShark | date =September 28, 2004 | url =http://www.gameshark.com/reviews/1925/p_0/Silent-Storm-Sentinels-Review.htm | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] , "Night Watch"cite web | last =Clare | first =Oliver | title =Night Watch | publisher =Eurogamer | date =December 9, 2006 | url =http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=67512 | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] , "Hammer & Sickle"cite news | last =Coffey | first =Robert | title =Hammer & Sickle | language =English | publisher =Computer Gaming World | date =February, 2006 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zdcgw/is_200602/ai_n16013943 | accessdate = 2007-12-13 ] and "Day Watch"cite web | title = Gamers Gate launch worldwide download premiere: Day Watch | publisher = GameZone | date = May 16, 2007 | url = http://pc.gamezone.com/news/05_16_07_03_51AM.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-18] , and will be used in the upcoming game, "Jagged Alliance 3"cite web | last =Nino | first =Mike | title =E3 2007 Jagged Alliance 3 Interview | publisher =StrategyCore | date =2007 | url =http://www.strategycore.co.uk/e3/pg/07jaggedalliance3 | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-10-20 ] . A modified version of this engine was used for "Heroes of Might and Magic V"cite web | last =Nino | first =Mike | title =Heroes of Might and Magic 5 interview | publisher =StrategyCore | date =2005 | url =http://www.strategycore.co.uk/pg/HOMM5interviews | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-10-20 ] .

Features

The engine features an advanced physics modelcite web | last =Rausch | first =Allen | title =GameSpy: Silent Storm Review | publisher =GameSpy | date =February 25, 2004 | url =http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/silent-storm/494779p1.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] —nearly all structures are destructiblecite news | last =Coffey | first =Robert | title =Silent Storm | publisher =Computer Gaming World | date =April, 2004 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zdcgw/is_200404/ai_n9515299 | accessdate =2007-12-13] , and ragdoll physics is employed for bodies with variation according to the precise velocity and impact of projectiles.cite web | last =Kasavin | first =Greg | title =Silent Storm (PC) | publisher =CNET | date =January 26, 2004 | url =http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/silent-storm-pc/4505-9696_7-30984281.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] Three-dimensional mapping allows for obstruction calculationscite web | title =Q&A: Silent Storm developers | publisher =GameSpot | date =January 15, 2004 | url =http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/silentstorm/news_6086595.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] and cover effects from any direction. Bullets ricochet, and their stopping power depends on the strength of the weapon. Also modeled are materials' effectiveness at stopping ordinance and visibility based on lighting conditions. All these effects are, however, exaggerated for a more cinematic experience (e.g., a hail of non-fatal bullets only makes the target shake, but a single fatal bullet can send the target flying), which has been praised by some reviewers as a feature. Reviewer Greg Kasavin commented that "pray and spray" tactics are quite viable, as the game uses silhouettes to mark enemies' estimated positions when they happen to lie out of eyesight but within earshot.

Mechanics common to role-playing video games are also featured, such as the ability for characters to be customized over time. The player's units gain experience points over time for completing actions, which can later be spent on purchasing new skills and abilities. The engine also uses an action point system, whereby players can select from various different actions, such as firing modes, stances and forms of movement. A sequel, "Silent Storm: Sentinels", introduced weapon degradation to the series.

Reception

The engine has been praised for its ability—commonly found in RTSs—to allow users to select and issue orders to multiple units at once, and for allowing players to select which items to pick up from a list (a feature also found in "Diablo"). Also praised were the quality of its graphicscite web | last =O'Hagan | first =Steve | title =PC Preview: Silent Storm | publisher =ComputerAndVideoGames.com | date =August 7, 2003 | url =http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=94816 | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] cite web | title =Hammer & Sickle Review | publisher =Yahoo! Games | url =http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/pc/reviews/hammer---sickle-689c73.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] and weapon and environmental sounds, though these sentiments were tempered as the engine began to age. Reviewers also appreciated the destructibility of the environmentcite web | title =G4 - Reviews - Silent Storm | publisher =X-Play | date =June 4, 2004 | url =http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/918/Silent_Storm.html | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] , role-playing elements and "squad-based tactical combat".

Criticisms include the engine not taking into account the relative position of objects in 3-dimensional space when making selections using the mouse. For instance, when selecting and issuing actions to a group of soldiers, the selection may include soldiers that occupy different elevations, making the orders nonsensical. The engine has also been criticized for slow performance, even on top-of-the-end (at the time) computers.cite web | last =Di | first =Luo | title =Reviews: H&S - The Cold War gone horribly wrong. | publisher =1UP.com | date =March 9, 2006 | url =http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3148681 | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] Finally, the engine has been criticized for the length of time required for the artificial intelligence to complete its turnscite web | last =Keller | first =Matt | title =Hammer & Sickle Review | publisher =PALGN | date =January 29, 2006 | url =http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3738 | format =HTML | accessdate =2007-12-13 ] , a lack of any multiplayer support and the uncooperativeness of its camera controls.

References