Sci-Fi Military Simulator “GearStorm” Is Available on Steam Early Access

A military simulator and sandbox-style survival game, GearStorm has launched on Steam Early Access. The title is said to feature engaging stories, exploration, crafting, FPS action, and base-building in a fully destructible, procedurally-generated alien world.

In GearStorm, players get the tools to build and fortify FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) against enemy incursions, mine the soil for valuable resources, and leverage advanced weapon systems (including vehicles) to neutralize everyone and everything that threatens the future of humanity.

Now that sounds like there’s a lot of fun content to enjoy in a single indie game.

Furthermore, Skilled Exomarines can team up with other players and take on the multiplayer campaign or create their own quests (writing dialogue, defining objectives, and placing mission markers) with the built-in “Gamemaster” mode and in-game quest creation system.

Server admins can spawn anything, teleport anyone (including themselves), build without limits, fly – and alter any stat of any weapon or vehicle in real-time.

In “an industry first,” players can create their very own campaigns on a fully customizable server for epic multiplayer sessions among friends.

Iron City Games co-founders Brian Rivers and Shawn Ellis “both have storied careers in technology software development and technology management.”

Brian is fairly well-known by gamers for the popular Midas Magic mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – released under the moniker Xilverbulet.

“I’ve modded games in the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series since the early 2000s. I was lucky – and my mods were rather well-received for a good while. Creating stories and experiences for other players was really rewarding and incredibly enjoyable. That’s one of the reasons I’m passionate about GearStorm. It has tons of characters and quests – and the modding tools are incorporated right into the game. GearStorm gives the power to create to ALL players – not just an elite few,” shared Brian Rivers (Co-Founder & President, Iron City Games)

“Brian’s exploits as a top modder made it clear that we could do one better and make an actual game. GearStorm puts everything we love about games together in one neat package: a massive planet with alien flora and fauna, a game-changing in-game quest authoring system, beautiful Unreal 4 graphics, and tons of gameplay variety with FPS, RPG and even sandbox/survival mechanics in both single and multiplayer. We spent five years working on GearStorm and are thrilled to finally share it with gamers everywhere,” said Shawn Ellis (Co-Founder & CEO, Iron City Games)

The Key Features of GearStorm include:

• Experience intense military sci-fi gameplay in first- or third-person POV.
• Play your way: single/multiplayer campaign, multiple factions and alliances, and ancient mysteries to uncover.
• Terraform the environment as you see fit.
• Leave your mark on an entirely destructible open world.
• Survive using exploration, resource management, and a powerful crafting ecosystem.
• Build an elaborate base and even manage your own colony!
• Explore an alien planet and build up your character by completing quests.

According to the press release:

In the year 2185, the human race is in its death throes. Earth itself is a desolate waste – ravaged by decades of war far more malignant and savage than any before. The final straw comes in the form of the Phage – a virulent genetically-engineered biological weapon that weaponizes the infected into rageful bio-mechanical horrors. The unstoppable Phage spreads like wildfire through man and beast alike. With no way to undo what was done, the remnants of humankind retreat into bunkers, walled cities, and fortresses. Every single human falls victim to the Phage.

Earth was all but lost until a glimmer of hope appeared. NASA’s space telescope TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) had been in operation for nearly a century and discovered an extremely unlikely habitable extraterrestrial world. These probes reported amazing findings dozens of light-years away on Apollyon – a small Earth-like planet with isolated continents in a large ocean. These islands showed signs of ecosystems, flora, and fauna.

The mad rush to escape this hellish Earth led to tragic mishaps and loss. Previous attempts to send manned generation ships to Apollyon failed – whether due to infighting or mechanical failure. In a final act of desperation, small unmanned probes fitted with advanced bio-printers were launched to seed Apollyon to save the species. These probes were encoded with the DNA and mental recordings of Earth’s finest and cast off toward the planet.

You’re one of these ghosts – a fabricant sent to an alien world to renew humanity.

GearStorm is currently available on Steam Early Access (Windows only) for $11.99 (a 40% discount). On November 27, 2018, the game will return to its original retail price of $19.99.

As for Iron City Games, it was founded in 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama by Brian Rivers and Shawn Ellis – two avid gamers, modders, and seasoned technology professionals “who bring 50 years of combined software development and management skills to create a singular vision.”

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Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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