Linger in Shadows

Last updated
Linger in Shadows
Linger in shadows ps3 cover.png
Developer(s) Plastic
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer(s) Michal Staniszewski, Marco Siegel, Wojciech Golczewski, Michal Witaszek, Krzysztof Deoniziak
Composer(s) Wojciech Golczewski
Engine Pico Engine
Platform(s) PlayStation 3
ReleaseOctober 9, 2008 [1]
Genre(s) Interactive art
Mode(s) Single-player

Linger in Shadows is a demoscene-project by the Polish demogroup Plastic, released on the PlayStation 3. It was first announced at Breakpoint 2008 in Germany.

Contents

Linger in Shadows differs in an important aspect from many demoscene products in that it was published by Sony on the PlayStation 3, who trademarked the name late 2007. [2]

Many news-sites which reported about the demo assumed that it was a tech-demo for a future game. [3] This was denied during presentations at E3, although it was revealed that the title does feature interactivity. [4] [5]

Features

A screen-capture from Linger in Shadows Linger in shadows.jpg
A screen-capture from Linger in Shadows

The interactive parts were first showcased at the Realtime Generation festival in Vienna by lead programmer Michal "Bonzaj" Staniszewski; [6] it was revealed that the interactive part of the demo is essentially the main storyline, with added interaction using the Sixaxis such as user-controlled camera and the ability to scratch back and forth in the timeline. It also allows the player to play around with some parts of the environment, like rotating certain objects or moving light-sources. The demo was later also presented at Nvision 08, in a somewhat updated state. [7]

The interactive part initially only lets the user to explore the first fifth of the demo, and the user has to perform various actions with the Sixaxis to unlock the next part, such as shaking the controller or holding it in a certain angle. The scenes also feature hidden greetings [ broken anchor ] to a number of known demogroups, which can be found in more obscure areas of the demo. Unlocking parts of the demo ("sigils") as well as finding hidden greetings both reward the user with trophies. [7]

The demo also features an easter egg, unlockable in the menu by pressing down both analog sticks (L3 and R3) on the Sixaxis. The resulting menu item allows the viewer to watch an "oldskool demo" with a starfield, two DYCP scrollers (using the Amiga character set) and various other early demo effects such as blitter objects and metaballs (intentionally made to look low resolution), with chiptune music accompanying it. [7]

Reception

Critical reactions to the project were polarized between two opinions: while some commended the unusual presentation and how the idea of interactive realtime art available on PSN is very much "outside the box", others claimed that the price was too expensive for a seven-minute experience, and that the controls were fiddly and not integral to the experience.

Game Chronicles called the visuals "stunning" and stated that it's "easily the best $3 you can spend in the PlayStation Store", giving it 96%. [9] Gamestyle on the other hand, while commending that the demo is "breaking new ground", called it "overpriced", [10] while Digital Chumps found "the controls frustrating and the entire experience extremely short and jarring". [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 3</span> Sonys third home video game console, part of the seventh generation

The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006, in North America, and March 23, 2007, in Europe and Australasia. The PlayStation 3 competed primarily against Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation Portable</span> Handheld game console by Sony

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, and is the first handheld installment in the PlayStation line of consoles. As a seventh generation console, the PSP competed with the Nintendo DS.

The DualShock is a line of gamepads developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation family of video game consoles. It is named for vibration-feedback and analog controls. Introduced in November 1997, it was initially marketed as a secondary peripheral for the first PlayStation console. The console's bundle was updated to include DualShock, and phase out the original PlayStation controller and the Dual Analog Controller. The DualShock is the best-selling gamepad of all time by units sold, excluding bundled controllers.

<i>MotorStorm</i> (video game) 2006 video game

MotorStorm is a 2006 racing video game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. Based on off-road racing at a fictional festival, the game was announced at E3 2005, and released in Japan on 14 December 2006 and worldwide in March 2007. The game received a positive reception and sold well and led to a sequel as part of the MotorStorm series, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (2008).

<i>Buzz!</i> Video game series

Buzz! is a series of video games originated by Sleepydog Ltd., developed by Relentless Software and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles. They are quiz games that see the players answering trivia questions while competing in the fictional game show Buzz!. Created specifically with multi-player party gaming in mind, the series launched in October 2005 and to date comprises 18 games; including 13 in the Buzz! series and five Buzz! Junior titles. The series made the transition to the PlayStation 3 with Buzz!: Quiz TV in 2008. The sixteenth game in the series Buzz!: Brain of the UK was released in March 2009. The latest Buzz! game is Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz which was released in October 2010.

<i>Killzone 2</i> 2009 first-person shooter

Killzone 2 is a 2009 first-person shooter developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the second main installment in the Killzone series, following 2004's Killzone.

<i>Heavy Rain</i> 2010 video game

Heavy Rain is a 2010 action-adventure video game developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game features four protagonists involved with the mystery of the Origami Killer, a serial killer who uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims. The player interacts with the game by performing actions highlighted on screen related to motions on the controller, and in some cases, performing a series of quick time events. The player's choices and actions during the game affect the narrative.

Various accessories for the PlayStation 3 video game console have been produced by Sony and third-party companies. These include controllers, audio and video input devices like microphones, video cameras, and cables for better sound and picture quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixaxis</span> Wireless gamepad by Sony

The Sixaxis is a wireless gamepad produced by Sony for their PlayStation 3 video game console. It was introduced alongside the PlayStation 3 in 2006 and remained the console's official controller until 2008. The Sixaxis was succeeded by the DualShock 3, an updated version of the controller that, like the DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers, incorporates haptic technology – also known as force feedback. A Sixaxis controller can also be used with PSP Go and the PlayStation TV via Bluetooth after registering the controller on a PlayStation 3 console.

<i>Super Rub a Dub</i> 2007 video game

Super Rub 'a' Dub is a downloadable game on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 video game console. It was announced on February 8, 2007 at the D.I.C.E. Summit, and released in April-May 2007 alongside a demo version. It was later ported to Japan under the name Pocha Pocha Ahiru-chan (ぽちゃぽちゃあひるちゃん) on May 25, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation Home</span> Social gaming platform developed by London Studio

PlayStation Home was a virtual 3D social gaming platform developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) on the PlayStation Network (PSN). It was accessible from the PS3's XrossMediaBar (XMB). Membership was free but required a PSN account. Upon installation, users could choose how much hard disk space they wished to reserve for Home. Development of the service began in early 2005 and it launched as an open beta on 11 December 2008. Home remained as a perpetual beta until its closure on 31 March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayTV</span> HDTV/DVR add-on unit for the PlayStation 3

PlayTV is an add-on unit for the PlayStation 3 video game console that allows it to act as a digital television receiver, and digital video recorder, using the DVB-T standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation 3 technical specifications</span> Overview of the PlayStation 3 technical specifications

The PlayStation 3 technical specifications describe the various components of the PlayStation 3 (PS3) video game console.

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of Sony.

<i>MotorStorm: Pacific Rift</i> 2008 video game

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is a racing video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to MotorStorm and is followed by MotorStorm: Arctic Edge for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, and MotorStorm: Apocalypse. The game was announced by Sony after their acquisition of Evolution Studios and it was released on 28 October 2008 in North America. The game sold over one million units as of 9 December 2008. As of 1 October 2012, the online servers for the game have been permanently shut down.

<i>MAG</i> (video game) 2010 multiplayer video game

MAG was a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive for the PlayStation 3. The game was released in North America on January 26, 2010, mainland Europe on January 27 and the United Kingdom on January 29. It was released in Australia and New Zealand on February 11, 2010. MAG received an award from Guinness World Records as "Most Players in a Console FPS" with 256 players.

<i>The Last Guardian</i> 2016 video game

The Last Guardian is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Japan Studio and GenDesign and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. Players control a boy who befriends a giant half-bird, half-mammal creature, Trico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PlayStation Move</span> Motion game controller by Sony Interactive Entertainment

PlayStation Move is a motion game controller developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Initially released in 2010 for use with the PlayStation 3 home video game console, its compatibility was later expanded to its successor, the PlayStation 4 in 2013, its PlayStation VR platform in 2016 and the PlayStation 5 in 2020. Conceptually similar to Nintendo's Wii Remote and Microsoft's Kinect, its function is based around controller input in games stemming from the actual physical movement of the player. The Move uses inertial sensors in the wand to detect motion while the wand's position is tracked using a PlayStation Eye or PlayStation Camera. The device was generally well received by critics, but has not quite met Sony's goals for integration into the market.

<i>Agent</i> (video game) Video game

Agent is an unreleased stealth action game under development by Rockstar North that was originally announced for the PlayStation 3. The game was planned to take place in a 1970s Cold War setting. Agent was teased in July 2007 and formally announced in June 2009. The trademark for the game's title was renewed in 2013 and 2017, and abandoned by November 2018.

<i>.detuned</i> 2009 video game

.detuned is a demoscene project by the German demogroup .theprodukkt, released on the PlayStation 3. It was initially released on September 17, 2009, in Japan as .detuned: Gumi Senpai no Fushigi Kūkan, and on October 15 worldwide. It is the second demo released on the PlayStation 3 after Linger in Shadows.

References

  1. ↑ "Linger in Shadows". Playstation.
  2. ↑ "Trademark Status & Document Retrieval". uspto.gov.
  3. ↑ Andrew Yoon. "Linger in Shadows: Beautiful, mysterious new PS3-game". Engadget.
  4. ↑ Eric Bratcher (16 May 2008). "Linger in Shadows revealed". GamesRadar+.
  5. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (2008-05-17). "Sony Pre E3 2008: Linger In-Shadow Impressions". GameSpot Preview Blog.
  6. ↑ "Eröffnungs-Special! - Linger In Shadows" (in German). Archived from the original on 2009-01-22.
  7. 1 2 3 "nvision2008.com". Archived from the original on September 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Linger in Shadows". gamerankings.com.
  9. ↑ Mark Smith (2008-10-11). "Linger in Shadows Review". Game Chronicles.
  10. ↑ Julier, Jason. "Review: Linger in Shadows (PS3)". Gamestyle. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17.
  11. ↑ McGehee, Steven (2008-10-17). "Linger In Shadows review". digitalchumps.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.