Scum (video game)

Last updated

Scum
Scum game cover.jpg
Developer(s) Gamepires
Publisher(s) Jagex
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release29 August 2018 (early access)
Genre(s) Survival
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Scum is an upcoming multiplayer online survival game, developed by Croatian studio Gamepires, available under the Steam Early Access program. The game is described as a "prison riot survival game" [1] and will feature an open world. [2] [3] It entered Steam's early access program on 29 August 2018, with a full release initially scheduled for some time in 2021. [4] The game uses Unreal Engine 4. [5]

Contents

Gameplay

The gameplay takes place in Croatia where up to 80 players per server will attempt to survive and get off the island by first removing the implant which prevents them from leaving. The player will earn fame points through participation in various action-driven events or simply by surviving in a hostile environment. These fame points allow the player to be cloned back in case of death and used as currency to purchase or trade in various safe zones. [6] Players will be able to fortify existing structures and points in order to secure positions or store items when needed.

Characters possess four main attributes: strength, dexterity, constitution, and intelligence. These help players create characters to suit their preferred playing style. [7] It aims to simulate the human body, [8] and thus has an interface called the "BCU monitor" to track character's calories, vitamins, health, and other stats. [9] Players can choose to ignore these elements of the game, or can delve deep into these systems in order to improve the character's performance (speed, stamina, carry weight and so on). Another aspect is digestion; for instance, if a character gets all of their teeth knocked out, they will have to find a way to liquefy food to digest it. Toilet activities leave physical evidence that could be used to track that player. [10] Aspects such as combat depend on the player's own skill, but also are affected by stamina, health, and so on. Wetness, smell, medicine, cooking, hacking, crafting, hunting, and poison also play a major role in the gameplay. [11]

Players can easily alternate between third and first-person perspectives yet prevents third person peeking by hiding anything not visible from the first-person. [12]

SCUM also offers a realistic night vision that simulates photons hitting the lenses and the infrared light emitting from the goggles. [13]

Development

Scum was first announced in August 2016. The game was released into early access on August 29, 2018, its current stage is 0.9 and is due for full release in 2024.

Reception

The game was named as one of the best indie games of PAX East 2018 by Game Informer. [14] It received similar attention from GameSpot, listing it as among the most noteworthy games of PAX East 2018. [15] The game sold over 250,000 copies within its first 24 hours in early access, [16] 700,000 in its first week, [17] and over one million sales by the third week. [18] [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Furniss, Zack (17 August 2016). "SCUM, a prison riot survival game, is a-comin' early next year". Destructoid . Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Guide to the games of 2017". PC Gamer . 6 October 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Münster, Tobias (24 August 2016). "Scum – Sogar mit Story: Battle Royale von den Serious-Sam-Macher" [Scum – Even with a story: Battle Royale from the Serious Sam makers]. Gamestar.de (in German). Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Helm, Jordan (17 August 2016). "Devolver Digital Announce Riotous Survival Game SCUM". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Spotti, Davide (17 August 2018). "Devolver Digital annuncia SCUM, survival open world sviluppato con Unreal Engine 4" [Devolver Digital Announces SCUM, Open World Survival Game Developed with Unreal Engine 4]. Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Clark, Peter (13 June 2018). "'SCUM' Is a Survival Shooter Where You Have to Watch What You Eat". Variety . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Fraser, Calum (30 January 2017). "SCUM – Alpha Sign Up". Alpha Beta Gamer. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "SCUM: the survival sandbox that simulates the whole human body". VentureBeat . 14 November 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Sheridan, Connor (12 April 2018). "My time in Scum, the online survival game that let me poop in anger". GamesRadar+ . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Wilde, Tyler (9 April 2018). "SCUM's ridiculous survival meters include vitamins, muscle mass, and even a tooth counter". PC Gamer . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  11. ↑ Key, Robbie (29 August 2018). "Your Body Is A Temple In Survival Title - SCUM". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  12. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (17 April 2018). "PAX East 2018: SCUM Turns Out To Be Quite Slick Underneath". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "SCUM - Patch 0.4.90.25732". Steam . 25 September 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Khan, Imran (8 April 2018). "The Best Indie Games of PAX East 2018". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Fillari, Alessandro; et al. (15 April 2018). "19 Upcoming Games That Deserve Your Attention From PAX East 2018". GameSpot . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  16. ↑ Kidwell, Emma (30 August 2018). "SCUM is Devolver Digital's biggest launch after selling 250K copies". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  17. ↑ Livingston, Christopher (5 September 2018). "Scum sells 700,000 copies in a week, wipes all servers with new patch". PC Gamer . Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  18. ↑ "Scum sells 1 million units in three weeks of early access". GamesIndustry.biz . 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  19. ↑ James, Sarah (18 September 2018). "Scum sells over 1 million units in less than a month, celebrates with golden handgun". PC Gamer . Retrieved 19 September 2018.
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