Permadeath is a fickle mechanic in a lot of games that attempt to use it as a form of ultimate punishment to the player. Some games absolutely nail it, forcing you to face your failure or decisions in a particular situation with the prospect of losing a character forever, be it your own or a friendly AI. Upsilon Circuit, a new online RPG, embraces this mechanic – and then kicks it up to a ridiculous level.
But before any of that, just what is Upsilon Circuit? It’s an online RPG that pits two teams of four players against each other, as they battle their way through dungeons filled with monsters, loot and tons of options. Looking at the surface, it’s a traditional dungeon crawler RPG with some fantasy elements thrown into the mix. But that’s not even close to what makes the game standout.
What’s unique, and risky, about the entire title is that Upsilon Circuit will only have one server and eight people playing at any given time. The catch comes in with lives – once you die in the game, you’re out of it. Not for a few minutes, not until you get another turn. Once you die, you can never play Upsilon Circuit again, but you can still contribute to the trials and tribulations of players who take over.
As much as the game depends on players actions within the dungeon, it’s the audience driven dungeon masters who essentially control the flow. Think of Twitch Plays Anything actually being incorporated into a game, and you’ll get a sense of what Upsilon Circuit is trying to do. Audience members are in full control of players’ skill trees, EXP distribution and the loot they’ll have access to. So it could essentially work in various different ways. The crowd could buff up players who they enjoy watching so that they can continue for longer, and cripple those who they find boring.
Pair that with a dynamic that forces players to be extremely cautious with every move they make, and you’ve got a really interesting recipe for a game. Tip toeing around every corner might seem safe, but it probably won’t win the hearts of the audience. Going all Rambo through every door could drastically reduce your life expectancy in the game, but the risk will probably win you godly favour. It’s a keen balancing act that I’m at least interested to see in action.
However, the game is still in development and without a launch window as of yet.
Last Updated: March 12, 2015
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 11:07
WOW, ok now THAT is amazing. Very interesting indeed. Imagine the stress while playing this!!!
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:05
are you high?
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 12:51
Are you serious?
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:01
yes, you really think this drivel is AMAZING, then you must be on some good shit.
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 13:24
The idea behind this is very interesting, something new, not a copypasta of something else. The way people will play will be so much more intense. I don’t think it will be super successful, but will be a great social experiment. You have ONE shot at it, as in with your actual life. The way people play it will be totally different.
But trying to convince ryanza to see any other opinion than his own is quite impossible
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:31
Its just new. Its not good. Its not interesting. Its just attention seeking to lure in video game journalists to actually promote what is just shit. Why not make it that when you sign up you give them all your personal info and agree that if you die in the game, then they come to your house and kill you as well. See what I did there I made it even more outside and the box and as you would put it “interesting”, but in reality its just even more shit and as I proved anyone can do this!
ANS PS TEAM GREEN FOREVER.
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 13:34
As I stated previously, it is impossible for you to see any opinion other than you own. Which is quite sad. Anyway, enough feeding you
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:35
But I am hungry for more, seriously dont you even know what a troll is? You can have an opinion Thats fine, pity its a stupid and bad one though.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:40
lol
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:07
Imagine not wanting to play this. OK good, now make it a reality.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:23
Team green forever!
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 12:51
Ok Ryanza
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:00
So you agree to pledge your soul to the superior team. TEAM GREEN FOREVEVER EVER
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 13:22
Yes, team red is the superior team Ryanza
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:32
PROPAGANDA!
Ryanza
March 12, 2015 at 13:42
IDK why my nickname came up. And then being associated with the guy who went out of his way to troll me over some shit. Western propaganda will be the response from that troll to this post.
If you look at how he types you will notice how he types at a person, are you high, are you this or that. I tend not to do that.
I mean you guys turned anti Ryanza by saying the opposite of what I say. So why would you assume I would do that and speak in this manner to people.
Anyway. it’s weird that my nickname popped up. I wonder if you are this timmy and keeping him alive. Plus you staff. so you can figure it out.
Don’t support western propaganda it seems. fucking stupid trolls. oh i hate them.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:46
WESTERN PROPAGANDA!
Relevance it helps.
Support DRM.
Brought to you be the Admirals Anonymous account to boost his own ego. Ryanza loves a good conspiracy! Is he right though?
Ryanza
March 12, 2015 at 13:57
western propaganda is not my words it’s your words.
relevance was me asking you to explain why you acting and carrying on the way you are.
support drm is the opposite of what i say.
So your words, not wanting to explain why, and saying the opposite of what i say. Ya stupid trolling. Just look at how you speak to people. I guess that in itself reveals a lot about your person.
Admiral Chief you said i should flag the comments. I did that. Now let’s see what happens. My guess nothing.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 14:00
Mommy mommy I flagged a comment! Grow up kid, why dont you run away for another week and not comment like you did before.
Ryanza
March 12, 2015 at 14:04
What comment was funny because look at your actions. lol. And how many times are you going to bring up my name and use my nickname and follow my comments and reply the same damn thing to all my comments. What’s the word??? childish. lol.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 14:05
As long as you keep loving it and replying. #Ryanza_is_Timmy_1988_no1_fan.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 14:07
you know you want to refresh Ryanza
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 14:01
Good guess!
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 14:22
I know you and him are the same, and yes, I figured it out
Ryanza
March 12, 2015 at 14:28
Please don’t insult me by suggesting that I am that stupid cunt. You should be smarter than that. I respected you enough to let you know it was not me. Guess that didn’t go over well. Still weird to me that I’m being associated with that troll.
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 12, 2015 at 11:08
It’s an interesting idea, I don’t see it being fun to play though.
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 11:08
Fun to watch, dreadful to play
Chaos Lord Norm
March 12, 2015 at 11:09
Ballsy. Very ballsy.
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 11:09
Krogan ballsy, 4 TIMES!!!
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 12, 2015 at 11:10
And every PC has the genophage 😉
Rock789
March 12, 2015 at 11:19
Definitely… Stupid. But ballsy.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:09
Ill go with it being just stupid.
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 12, 2015 at 12:10
Still better than the kim kardashian game.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:16
Yes of course. What … I meant I wouldnt know. *RUNS
Chaos Lord Norm
March 12, 2015 at 11:12
Guess I won’t be playing this game. When starting a new game I tend to throw caution to the wind and go bat shit mental to gauge things till I die, then play again with a bit more caution.
Migs
March 12, 2015 at 11:12
Man, that sounds crappy. Especially if you had to pay to play it.
$60 for 10 minutes of play, then can never play ever again with no refund, yaaaaaar
ReaperOfSquirrels
March 12, 2015 at 11:12
I’d just sit there messing with everyone… CONSTANTLY… no buffs or loot from me!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHA DIE SUCKERS!!!!
I mean… ummm… seems interesting.
Chaos Lord Norm
March 12, 2015 at 11:13
I think this model opens up the opportunity for (some what) high trolling against those actually playing .
Tarisma
March 12, 2015 at 11:17
your just gonna get No Life Credit Card McDickington trolling players constantly. It will ruin the game
Chaos Lord Norm
March 12, 2015 at 11:27
My thoughts too.
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 11:28
“DANCE PUPPET DANCE!!!”
Scruff304
March 12, 2015 at 12:30
You’re…
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 13:22
You forgot to mention the missing fullstop at the end.
Scruff304
March 12, 2015 at 14:26
I used three in my last comment to make up for it. 0_o
It is OK, I unfortunately know him personally :-þ
EA Announcement
March 12, 2015 at 11:18
The future of EA games. $60 for a game and die within the first 5 minutes. Then buy the same game again for $60 and die within the first 6 minutes. OMG progress. Another $60.
Pariah
March 12, 2015 at 11:19
Just, why? No thanks.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 11:51
Agreed.
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 11:39
Another game where you need friends to play with you. MP is certainly picking up
Admiral Chief
March 12, 2015 at 11:41
Friends you say?…
Rock789
March 12, 2015 at 11:48
Captives who are chained up and made to play online with you? That sound better? 😉
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 12, 2015 at 12:06
It puts the controller in its hands or else it gets the hose again!
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 12:09
ROFL
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 12:15
I like this comment, but refuse to upvote due to mainstreamness.
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 12:16
*Hoses @Sageville:disqus
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 12, 2015 at 12:28
Refusing to upvote is the cause Clarice but what is the first principle?
To covet. And what do you do to covet Clarice?
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 12:39
Sandwiches, we always covet sandwiches.
In all the forbidden methods.
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 11:55
They’re rather expensive
Rock789
March 12, 2015 at 11:48
Sadly, yes.
In all honesty, the day SP dies is the day my love of games comes to an end… I’ll just have to enjoy all the classics then – no new games for me from that point on. MP for me is more of a side dish – it is most certainly not the whole enchilada! 😉
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 11:51
I’d buy my last Pc ever and just spend money on GOG.com
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
March 12, 2015 at 12:08
No worries SP will never die cause the ultimate SP experience will still not be released.
I believe one day in the distant future our alien overlords might finally force Gabe’s head-jar to finally finish HL3.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 11:48
This game actually sounds like they said, right how can we make a game that is totally pointless and everyone hates.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 11:46
Honestly this is just bulshit, These people are just looking for attention.
Ranting Raptor
March 12, 2015 at 11:54
Well it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It certainly isn’t mine. But the concept is actually pretty cool. It’s fresh. I think it could do rather well
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 11:57
Its fresh, just for freshness sake. That in lies the problem. Firstly there is little chance you will probably get a chance to play (8 players at 1 time). If you eventually do you will die in no time, and wonder what all the waiting was for. Bring back the box, stop thinking outside of it!
Ranting Raptor
March 12, 2015 at 11:58
It’s a starting point. Honestly the industry needs new ideas injected in to it
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:20
Actually the industry needs 2 things. New and Good ideas.
Ranting Raptor
March 12, 2015 at 12:41
And this is both new and good. It may not be robust. But it is a good idea.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 13:42
Its a stupid bad idea.
Gerhard Davids
March 12, 2015 at 11:58
We need people to thing outside the box else you would still be taking a horse to work.
If you asked farmer back then what they’d need they would tell you “a faster horse” not a car or tractor.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:00
But these people have no shelter outside the box, they have inhaled some kind of trippy drug and are coming out with this bulshit. Ok they can go outside the box, but they must put on a gas mask(Compromise 🙂 )
Gerhard Davids
March 12, 2015 at 12:02
Nah man, still can’t agree. The reason? If it’s too far outside the box for one of us we can simply ignore it. Same way we can ignore all the shooter clones that have merged with the box and is having little box babies inside the box ending up looking like a Russian nesting doll.
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:03
I dont even know what to say to this, and I am a troll, so well done sir!
Ranting Raptor
March 12, 2015 at 12:15
Someone screenshot this moment!
Timmy_1988
March 12, 2015 at 12:17
I mean “Russian Nesting doll” how do you even reply to that. Ryanza could take hints from Gerhard.
Ranting Raptor
March 12, 2015 at 12:42
Yeah look. It’s a tough one hey
Loftus
March 12, 2015 at 11:58
Finally a game were internet trolls can pay to troll !
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 12:03
….but I die all the deaths in games….
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 12:17
You’re acing Helldivers at the moment tbh
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 12:20
#ForeverSummoningDeadTeammates
Hammersteyn
March 12, 2015 at 12:46
hahahaha
Kensei Seraph
March 12, 2015 at 12:11
I see this going very badly.
http://cdn.gifbay.com/2013/09/when_i_troll_fj-82130.gif
Sageville
March 12, 2015 at 12:16
I’m thinking very low replay value….
hairyknees
March 12, 2015 at 12:33
Dafuq?
hairyknees
March 12, 2015 at 12:34
Oh I died? TIME TO MAKE A NEW ACCOUNT!
*registers lots of new email addresses*
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 12, 2015 at 14:09
You’ll probably wait longer to start playing again than you will on telkom’s help line.
konfab
March 12, 2015 at 14:04
This is like an audience controlled 90’s game show 0__0
konfab
March 12, 2015 at 14:08
Imagine what would happen if 4chan decides to raid it.
It would be amazing.
Peter Pan
March 12, 2015 at 16:21
Interesting! I wonder how they will make it profitable though.
J_Joestar
March 12, 2015 at 18:53
so you are going to need to augment your play style to appeal to the audience to help give you buffs and bonuses to survive? makes me think of Hunger Games…
ratamacue76
March 12, 2015 at 21:14
Sounds like a ripoff wrapped up and sold as “innovation”.