Revolution preps Beneath A Steel Sky for iPhone
Classic point and click reborn
Broken Sword developer Revolution Software has announced its first iPhone and iPod touch game. Surprisingly, though, it's not one of the four Broken Sword adventures that's making its way to the App Store.
Instead 1994 cyberpunk point and click adventure Beneath A Steel Sky will be remastered and released by Revolution Pocket, the company's new label for digital distribution.
Set in a dystopian future when the Earth has been mysteriously ruined, the game tells the story of Robert Foster as he attempts to find out about his past. The action occurs in what's best described as a 2000AD version of Australia, which is dominated by low level conflicts between city states and the various power hungry groups that populate them.
The game, which will be called Beneath A Steel Sky: Remastered has been created using the original's code and assets. A new direct control system for the touchscreen has been added, as well as a context-sensitive hint system similar to that Revolution introduced to its DS and Wii release, Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars: Director's Cut.
The opening cut-scenes by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons have been renanimated and the game's audio has been resampled.
"The adventure genre is undergoing a renaissance, and we're thrilled to bring a revamped and remastered version of this classic adventure to a new audience," says Charles Cecil, Revolution's founder.
It's expected, in time, that Revolution Pocket will also bring back catalogue titles such as Broken Sword and new titles to various devices ranging from iPhone and PSP to DSiWare and Android.
"Digital distribution has changed the game for developers," Cecil explains. "By tackling development and publishing duties ourselves, we can retain complete commercial and creative freedom - not just in terms of content, but in terms of distribution and, crucially, pricing.
"We're bringing high-quality, intelligent, narrative-based gaming to a whole new platform and ensuring our games offer incredible value for money."
Beneath A Steel Sky: Remastered is due to be released during September.