''P.A.M.E.L.A.'' is a
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...
first-person shooter
First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...
open world survival horror
Survival horror is a Video game genre, subgenre of Survival game, survival of the players as the game tries to frighten them with either horror graphics or scary ambience. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel l ...
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
by Canadian company NVYVE Studios for
Microsoft Windows. The game takes place in a science fiction, utopian city called Eden, that includes areas such as malls, courtyards, and residential condos. The gameplay is that of an open world
sandbox, and contains no set path for the player to follow, forcing the player to find their own way to survive. The game also contains role-playing game-like progression, and a story to be discovered in the game world.
The game's central theme revolves around the darkness created by mankind's misguided pursuit of perfection, and the cost it has to the people living in the game world. The player assumes the role of a Sleeper, woken up from cryosleep by Eden's
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...
Pamela. Together they must survive through and discover what happened to bring about the fall of the floating utopia.
''P.A.M.E.L.A.'' was Greenlit on
Steam
Steam is a substance containing water in the gas phase, and sometimes also an aerosol of liquid water droplets, or air. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporizat ...
by the community on October 1, 2015, after receiving a significant amount of press coverage.
[Katie Williams]
"Open-World Survival Horror Pamela Revealed In Trailer"
''IGN'', 22 Sep 2015[Charlie Hall]
"Pamela's Newest Trailer Blends Bioshock with Stalker, Coming to Steam Greenlight"
''Polygon'', 21 Sep 2015 The game was released on 9 March 2017 in an Early Access state on Steam.
On 18 June 2020 the game left early access as version 1.0 was released.
Gameplay
In ''P.A.M.E.L.A.'', the player wakes up from
cryosleep
Suspended animation in fiction is the temporary halting of life processes of fictional characters followed by their later revival.
The process often serves as a plot device and is used in innumerable science fiction stories as a means to transport ...
in Eden, a utopian city.
Events have unfolded in the city which caused the population to be infected with a disfiguring disease, making them unpredictable and sometimes hostile to the player. The player must scavenge for supplies such as food and water to avoid starvation and dehydration, as well as find equipment to aid them in combat. The world includes a full day/night cycle, which forces the player to adapt their strategies depending on the time of day.
[Joseph Knoop]
"Bioshock Meets Mirror's Edge In New Sci-Fi Survival Horror Game"
''Game Informer'', 23 Sep 2015
Eden contains many different areas, including residential apartments, shopping areas, and outdoor courtyards. There are also several NPC factions in the game, which utilize a personality-based AI system to result in various behaviors towards each other and the player. The player is also assisted by Pamela, Eden’s AI overseer, who can aid the player in combat and exploration.
Development
''P.A.M.E.L.A.''’s development began in late 2014, with the
Unity 5 game engine.
The development team initially consisted of 4 team members. In March 2015, the game was announced at the
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual conference for video game developers. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, and a variety of tuto ...
, accompanied by an announcement trailer. In September 2015, the development team size had increased to 6,
and a new trailer was released which revealed new areas and NPCs.
On September 21, 2015, ''P.A.M.E.L.A.'' was posted on
Steam Greenlight
Steam is a video game digital distribution service and storefront by Valve. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 as a way for Valve to provide automatic updates for their games, and expanded to distributing and offering third ...
. After reaching the #1 ranking on the service within 48 hours, the game was Greenlit ten days later on October 1, 2015
The game was still in early access phase as of August 2019 with promises of groundbreaking features such as "story missions" and "bug fixes", this update came in the form of an update article released in August, a mere five months from their previous update, and a strong indication that the game will be released "before the end of 2018
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On June 18, 2020, version 1.0 of P.A.M.E.L.A. was released on Steam and GOG.
References
External links
* {{Official website, pamelagame.com/
P.A.M.E.L.A. Greenlight PageP.A.M.E.L.A. Steam PageP.A.M.E.L.A. GOG Page
2017 video games
Video games about artificial intelligence
2010s horror video games
Open-world video games
Video games developed in Canada
First-person shooters
Science fiction video games
Survival video games
Windows games
Windows-only games
Video games about zombies