1st April 2006, Cambridge, UK. Frontier Developments Ltd. (‘Frontier’), the leading independent games developer, today released new screenshots from its major game for fifth generation consoles - “The Outsider”. These in-game screenshots of early morning scenes show how Frontier’s engine can use lighting to great effect, showing optical scattering and various film grain/emulsion effects. They are taken from an early game location which will be shown ‘behind closed doors’ at the forthcoming E3 trade show in Los Angeles.
Frontier re-emphasises its position that cutting edge graphics are merely the starting point, they do not make a true ‘next generation’ game. Consequently Frontier has also been focussing on new game-play elements that are now possible on the new console platforms - Frontier’s aim with “The Outsider” is to bring the sort of freedom of action first seen in “Elite” bang up to date.
” The Outsider” is a gripping, high-tech thriller which radically enriches the player’s experience by abandoning the traditional, prescriptive, mostly linear story of current generation games, and replaces it by simulating characters’ motivations and aims. This gives the player genuine freedom to change the story outcomes in a way that has not been seen before - each player will get a truly unique, sophisticated, visceral experience rather than simply switching between ‘good’ or ‘evil’. The techniques used are enabled by the greatly increased processing power available on new machines, including the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Frontier is based on the prestigious Cambridge Science Park and is continuing its sustained growth - it currently has a number of vacancies on several unannounced exciting projects as well as ‘The Outsider’ for 3D modellers, animators, concept artists, game designers, engine technology programmers and game programmers, and is keen to hear now from top quality applicants who can contribute to the future of games at both senior and less experienced levels who are either already experienced in or new to the games industry.
The Outsider game web-page is at www.frontier.co.uk/outsider
About Frontier
BAFTA nominated Frontier is based in Cambridge, UK and is one of the games industry’s leading independent developers, having built upon the innovative creations of founder David Braben, co-author of the seminal ‘Elite’. Frontier work with a number of top publishers and is currently developing for PlayStation2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, and mobile platforms such as Pocket PC and Nokia Series 60 phones. Additionally, Frontier is developing stunning leading edge proprietary technology for the next generation of games consoles.
Frontier has a proven reputation for original game design and commercial success, and aims to revolutionise perceptions of what gaming is all about by using innovative technical and artistic approaches on all leading-edge gaming platforms. It received three BAFTA nominations and various awards for its recent console games “Dog’s Life” and “Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo”, and scored a Christmas 2004 No.1 position in the USA with its RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3 PC, which has also been the recipient of various awards and a prestigious Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences nomination. More information on Frontier can be found at www.frontier.co.uk