STACK #136 Feb 2016

FEATURE GAMES

I Didn’t Know That! • The first Far Cry title was developed by Crytek Studios in Germany, way back in 2004. CryEngine game engine was first used for Far Cry . • Ubisoft Montreal took over development of • The renowned

“We spoke with Andrew and Brenna Byrd, who are linguists at the University of Kentucky. They were our language specialists, and they helped us to adapt the language at the time – Proto Indo European, or “PIE” – into something that could be understood by a modern audience.” Far Cry Primal is a significant departure from a formula that has proven highly successful for the French developer. It’s a gamble, but one you have to applaud Ubisoft for taking. Davies is confident that fans of the franchise will not be disappointed. “In Primal , we offer a lot more freedom in how players discover missions and the order in which they

the franchise after Far Cry: Instincts in 2005.

“There are large bonfires you will need to light to stake your claim on the land, and you’ll also need to learn from the Izila tribe (an opposing tribe in the game), who have weaponised fire and will use it against you." In Far Cry Primal , players assume the role of Takkar, a clansman in the fictional Oros. Oros is supposed to represent the eastern regions of Europe during the Stone Age period. According to Davies, the Danube River that flows through ten modern countries in Europe was followed by primitive humans migrating from Africa. This presented the studio with a huge gameplay area that includes forests and ice-filled environments. Takkar must rebuild his tribe – the predominant focus of the game – to prepare to counter the deadly aggression of two opposing enemy clans. Ubisoft has an abundance of experience researching historical details for its games, namely the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and again turned to experts for knowledge and guidance during this project. “Our research was very extensive, and we spoke with several specialists for topics such as culture, beliefs, and anthropology,” Davies tells STACK .

the series,” Davies says. “You’ll need to enter the mindset of a hunter- gatherer, looking for wood, stone, and binding materials to create your own clubs, spears, arrows, and other tools. Over time you’ll be able to upgrade your weapons into more powerful versions and craft new alternatives, such as a stronger two-handed club.” Additionally, the aforementioned fire plays a big part in the game, both as a survival aid and a weapon, and Davies outlines how it's incorporated into the game. “What may surprise you is the variety of uses [fire] has. You’ll find that igniting your weapons opens up new strategies – a club can become a torch to navigate dark caves, while a burning arrow can set your enemies on fire.

can play them. Far Cry has always been very generous with the overall amount of content we provide, and Far Cry Primal is no different.”

• The infamous

Uwe Boll directed an awful screen adaptation of the

• Far Cry Primal is out

franchise that went direct to video. • Ubisoft sent a team of devs to ‘rough it’ in Kenya for two weeks in order to research the African setting for Far Cry 2. • Far Cry 3 sold just

on Feb 23

GAMES

over 10 million copies globally. • Troy Baker, the

voice of Pagan Min in Far Cry 4, chose to ignore the script when auditioning,

instead opting to improvise by threatening to

cut the face off a Ubisoft assistant who just happened to walk into the room.

Facts About The Mesolithic Age The Mesolithic era is widely accepted as the period between 10,000 BC and 4,500 BC. Following the end of the last glacial period, humans no longer needed to shelter in caves and more traditional settlements appeared along riverbanks. The bow and arrow first appeared during this era. Flint was used for arrow and spearheads. Pottery became a way to store food and water. Popular art of the era moved from cave walls to rock faces with more of a focus on humans than animals.

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