OmniBus (video game)
| OmniBus | |
|---|---|
 Logo of OmniBus | |
| Developer(s) | Buddy Cops, LLC |
| Publisher(s) | Devolver Digital |
| Designer(s) |
|
| Programmer(s) | Jeremy Crockett |
| Artist(s) | Amir Badri |
| Writer(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Crockett |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Action, driving |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
OmniBus is an upcoming 2016 physics-based action driving video game in development by American indie development studio Buddy Cops, LLC and published by Devolver Digital. The game follows OmniBus, an unstoppable force, with which the player must accomplish missions or to defeat other players in head-to-head combat. Inspired by classic PlayStation games and 1994 film Speed, it is scheduled for release in Spring 2016 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux.
Gameplay
In OmniBus, the player controls OmniBus, an unstoppable bus of unlimited power, with which the player is able to break through everything that comes in his way, with the exception of pinball bumpers and the floor below them.[1] The player may chosse from 12 busses, all of which feature different attributes, varying in speed, agility, handling and special features.[2] The gameplay is very fast-paced, which is caused by the inability to stop or slow down, rather, the speed increases over time.[1] The only way to slow down is by lifting into the air, which can be achieved by driving over ramps or jump platforms, or running into a bumper.[3] Mid-air, the player is able to rotate the bus in all directions, and must land on their wheels to keep driving.[4] If they land somehow else, they are tossed back up until they either land back on their wheels or their roof.[2] If they land on their roof, get stuck, or fall off the map, it is game over and the player must restart the level.[5]
OmniBus gives the player the choice between free play and story mode.[6] In free play, the player may choose their bus and is then set to drive around a city and collecting money by destroying buildings and other objects, and performing tricks such as flips or rolls.[3] While in story mode, the player is given a specific instruction to accomplish using a specific bus.[7] Varying from keeping control over your vehicle, over surviving a specific amount of time, to collecting objects in a crowded area, these missions are spread over five worlds, with seven missions each, all of which feature different goals to achieve.[5]
In addition, OmniBus features local multiplayer for up to four players in head-to-head deathmatch mode, where each player has to knock other onto their roofs or off the stage in a last man standing format.[6]
Development
OmniBus's art style was heavily inspired by classic PlayStation games' low-poly 3D design, and the plot of an unstoppable bus by the 1994 film Speed.[7] Development on the game began in summer 2014, when DePaul University students Amir Badri and Jeremy Crockett decided to make a physics-based game about a bus, however, the development was halted when summer break ended.[8] In January 2015, development was picked up again, with Badri and Crockett attending multiple Indie City Games in Chicago, Illinois for tips, ideas and motivation.[8] The team then released a demo of OmniBus for Microsoft Windows to itch.io on May 14, 2015.[9] Due to the positive response, they launched a Kickstarter campaign for OmniBus on August 21, 2015, asking for $5,000, which was successfully funded on September 4, 2015.[5] After being featured as Project of the Day by Kickstarter on September 9, 2015, the campaign ended on September 20, 2015 with a total of $8,136 pledged by 313 backers.[10] During the campaign, the game was showcased at indie game festival Bit Bash in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 2015, and at the Boston Festival of Indie Games in Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 12, 2015.[11]
On January 14, 2016, it was announced that they had made a publishing deal with Devolver Digital for OmniBus.[4] This was followed by a trailer titled "The Story of OmniBus", which depicted the game as a lost and multiply canceled Atari Jaguar and later 3DO exclusive title from the 90s, that is finally releasing in 2016 after 24 years of being vaporware.[12] It was then announced that it would be release in Spring 2016 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux.[13] Together with Devolver Digital, OmniBus was brought to PAX South 2016 in San Antonio, Texas from January 29, 2016 to January 31, 2016.[2]
References
- 1 2 Priestman, Chris (January 17, 2016). "PS1-Style Driving Game OmniBus Will Let You Break Everything". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Marks, Tom (January 30, 2016). "Omnibus pits an unstoppable bus against very brittle buildings". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 Savage, Phil (July 9, 2015). "OmniBus is a PS1-style physics game about a bus that won't ever stop". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 LeClair, Kyle (January 14, 2016). "Devolver Digital and Buddy Cops Unveil ‘The Story of OmniBus’ Video". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Cunningham, James (August 25, 2015). "OmniBus is a Million Modes of Ridiculous". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 Saed, Sherif (January 15, 2016). "OmniBus is a bus simulator with PS1 graphics and the plot of Speed". VG247. Videogaming247. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 Rudin, David (July 10, 2015). "This PS1-style videogame is basically Speed with hysterical vehicle physics". Kill Screen. Kill Screen Media. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- 1 2 Aldrich, Bea (October 11, 2015). "DePaul video game ‘Omnibus’ earns recognition". The DePaulia. DePaul University. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ↑ Savage, Phil (August 26, 2015). "OmniBus has a demo and a Kickstarter". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ↑ Smith, Adam (January 14, 2016). "Katamari Meets Bus Simulator: OmniBus". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Positive Internet. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ↑ Hall, Charlie (July 28, 2015). "Chicago indie game fest Bit Bash 2015 will be bigger and better than ever". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ↑ Pereira, Chris (January 14, 2016). "This Fantastic Trailer Portrays Its Game as 20-Year-Old Vaporware". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ↑ Prescott, Shaun (January 15, 2016). "PS1-alike OmniBus careering onto Steam in Spring". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved February 5, 2016.