Apocalypse Now – The Game’s Kickstarter went live on January 25th and has already gained $52,000 during the first day. The game is set to be in early access by 2019 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Oscar-winning film.
This would not be the first time Apocalypse Now has inspired a major videogame. In 2012 Yager Development and 2K Games released Spec Ops: The Line, the controversial third person shooter that drew heavily from Apocalypse Now. Moreover both Spec Ops: The Line and Apocalypse Now used the novella Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad as a primary source of inspiration. Similarly to Spec Ops: The Line, the developers intend for Apocalypse Now to put on full display “the unspeakable horrors of the Vietnam War” in order to highlight war isn’t a game or meant to be enjoyable. Furthermore, the player’s “reactions to each situation will result in consequences that will alter their journey as the story unfolds. Every decision matters and each player will tell their own story.”
Apocalypse Now is being developed by a new team of game industry leaders, in conjunction with American Zoetrope. The team includes: Rob Auten, a lead writer on multiple billion-dollar gaming franchises including Gears of War, Battlefield, and Far Cry; Lawrence Liberty, whose executive producer and director credits include Fallout: New Vegas, The Witcher, and DC Universe Online; Montgomery Markland, who was the lead producer on two of the most successful crowdfunding titles of all time: Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera; in a special advisory capacity, Obsidian Entertainment’s Design Director Josh Sawyer, who directed Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, and many more game luminaries to come.
Francis Ford Coppola said in the press release:
Forty years ago, I set out to make a personal art picture that could hopefully influence generations of viewers for years to come. Today, I’m joined by new daredevils, a team who want to make an interactive version of Apocalypse Now, where you are Captain Benjamin Willard amidst the harsh backdrop of the Vietnam War. I’ve been watching videogames grow into a meaningful way to tell stories, and I’m excited to explore the possibilities for Apocalypse Now for a new platform and a new generation.
“We will create a game that challenges what an interactive experience can be; just as the original motion picture challenged the concept of cinema,” said Montgomery Markland, game director. “We are making a game that we are excited to play. We will deliver a greater variety of experience and interaction than is currently available within the the relatively static industry.”
The Kickstarter is set to end on February 24th and needs to meet a goal of $900,000 in order to be funded. Check out their Kickstarter page for a prototype trailer of what the game can be as well as a message from Francis Ford Coppola about his vision for the game.
