Dishonored (video game)

Dishonored
Developer(s)	Arkane Studios
Publisher(s)	Bethesda Softworks
Engine	Unreal Engine 3 (Modified)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
Release date(s)	Q2 2012
Genre(s)	Stealth, action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Dishonored is a first-person stealth action video game being developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.^[1] Harvey Smith, known for his past work on the Deus Ex franchise as well as Thief: Deadly Shadows, and Raf Colantonio, who worked on Arx Fatalis and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, are the lead designers on the game.

Setting

The game is set in an open world that blends both the past, future, and things in-between, of our reality. Nobles ride in carriages, masses of man-eating rats lurk in the dark gutters, the sound of automated factories can be heard in the distance, and towering war-machines prowl the cobbled streets. The economy of the world, which is going well into its industrial age, is booming with the success of a useful, multipurpose fuel; whale oil. Locations include the desolate Isles, the mighty Pandyssian Continent, and the city of Dunwall.

Synopsis

The player controls Corvo, once a legendary guard for the Empress, who seeks vengeance against the Lord Regent who framed him for the assassination of the Empress. Corvo is not only a fine swordsman, master-at-arms, and cunning infiltrator, but also possesses great supernatural powers. The game is presented in open world format as the player can roam The Isles as well as the distant Pandyssian Continent, though the primary setting for the game is the steampunk-esque city of Dunwall.^[2] The game is in the first-person, with an emphasis is placed on stealth action and the utilization of gadgets as well as the environment to eliminate opposing forces. ^[3] In the Game Informer cover story, it was mentioned that every enemy in the game can be neutralized non-lethally, if the player so chooses. Lead designers Harvey Smith and Raf Colantonio have described the game world as a "simulation"; if the player encounters thugs harassing an innocent passerby, they can be fought off, but the thugs themselves exist within the game world prior to the event, rather than simply spawning in at a designated time or place. If the player encounters the thugs ahead of time, they can be defeated and the mugging will never take place at all.

Corvo has access to swords, daggers, and guns, including powerful but slow pistols and muskets. Some of his supernatural powers are the ability to freeze time for a certain period, and possess the bodies of small animals.

References

1. ^ Goulter, Tom (12 July 2011). "Dishonored: Bethesda’s new assassination game reacts to your level of violence". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dishonored/news/dishonored-bethesdas-new-assassination-game-reacts-to-your-level-of-violence/a-20110712183715687066/g-2011070710427800088. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 
2. ^ Miller, Matt (15 July 2011). "The World of Dishonored". Game Informer. http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/07/15/the-world-of-dishonored.aspx. Retrieved 20 July 2011. 
3. ^ Biessener, Adam (12 July 2011). "Getting To Know Dishonored". Game Informer. http://www.gameinformer.com/games/dishonored/b/xbox360/archive/2011/07/11/getting-to-know-dishonored.aspx. Retrieved 20 July 2011.