Indie dev studio Atomicom joined forces with Games Co and JCB to produce JCB Pioneer: Mars. The game is a blend of survival and construction gameplay set on an alien planet. JCB Pioneer: Mars launches in Steam's Early Access this summer.
Made by an independent developer studio, JCB Pioneer: Mars will be published by GamesCo. The game will enter Steam's Early Access this summer.
The press release described the game: "Set on the titular red planet, JCB Pioneer: Mars asks the player to utilise hard science in their attempts to successfully colonise its dusty wilds."
The players will take over the control of JCB vehicles in order to explore their new surroundings, mine the needed materials, construct "large-scale buildings" and research new technologies to ensure "humanity’s future lies beyond planet Earth".
Atomicom
Atomicom drew on Dr Maggie Lieu's knowledge in astrophysics during the development process. Dr Lieu also makes an in game cameo appearance. The press release did not mention Mark Watney, a botanist and a space pirate.
JCB Pioneer: Mars' first focus is survival: as the player character wakes up on a hostile new planet, oxygen and a decent outpost will be the first items on their to-do lists. "As the player slowly begins to establish themselves on Mars, learning to combat the planets fierce and hostile weather patterns, they’ll begin a larger operation of colonisation".
Your next task will be to build a life-support infrastructure and mine Mars' natural resources to ensure the planned colonisation has the best chance of succeeding. "Meteor strikes, dust clouds and electrical storms all threaten the player’s survival and chances of a successful colonisation effort. But equipped with the futuristic, heavy-duty construction and mining vehicles specifically designed by JCB Engineers, every would be astronaut has a chance of surviving and thriving in the face of extreme planetary challenges".
Atomicom
"We want to provide players with a hardcore survival experience, one based on what an early human colonisation of Mars may actually look like," said Andy Santos, Design Director of Atomicom. "We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that the game is as realistic as possible while retaining the sense of adventure an early explorer of Mars would feel".
"We are hugely excited to partner with Atomicom and GamesCo on JCB Pioneer: Mars," said Worldwide Marketing Director, Michael Plummer. "It’s been a wonderful experience to see our visionary design and engineering team craft vehicles for future space colonisation. We are delighted that this will bring JCB to the attention of a future generation of potential customers, enabling them to use machinery on Mars before using them on earth".
No specific release date has been given, but you can check out the game's webpage for more details.
Atomicom
