Bigben Interactive announces CRPG 'Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory' for PC and consoles, releases later this year
Bigben Interactive announced today that dystopian science-fiction CRPG Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory will release later this year for PC and (unspecified) consoles. This isn't the first time we've heard of a video game adaptation of the Paranoia tabletop game, Rock Paper Shotgun published a quick article just over a year ago with the first murmurs of a project in the works from the developers at Cyanide Studio (Call of Cthulu) and Black Shamrock (Of Orcs And Men). But today we get an official announcement and a first look at the game along with a first trailer.
I do not personally have experience with the tabletop game Paranoia, but I'm all for the idea of a sci-fi themed game playing under the whim of a tyrant AI known as "The Computer". One of Paranoia's more interesting key gameplay components is the idea of color-coded clearances -- players start at "Red" clearance which provides a very basic set of allowable actions, all the way up to "UltraViolet" which bevies a nearly unrestricted set of permissions including executing those of lower rank. All of these clearances are based on a garnered level of trust between a Troubleshooter (player) and The Computer. All in all, it definitely sounds like a neat premise for an RPG.
Here's a little bit about the game from its Steam page, followed by the first images from the game:
Paranoia is a CRPG that takes place in humanity's last idyllic refuge, Alpha Complex, which is controlled by Friend Computer. All citizens enjoy a life of joy, cheerfulness and cleanliness. Questioning the benevolence of Friend Computer is an act of treason. Having access to information beyond your security clearance is an act of treason. Refusing to drink your daily dose of Bouncy Bubble Beverage is an act of treason. Treason is punishable by summary execution.
Stay alert! Trust no one!
Traitors are everywhere, plotting to destroy The Computer, Alpha Complex itself, and our precious way of life. Identify them, report them – or eliminate them as the treasonous scum they are. Keep your laser handy!
You lead a team of Troubleshooters with RED security clearance. Your job is to find trouble – and shoot it. Friend Computer monitors your every move, alert for any sign of treason, and will undoubtedly reward you for prompt and heroic action in defence of Alpha Complex – or punish treasonable acts, possibly by assigning you to be used as reactor shielding.
- A retro-futuristic world filled with technologies as wondrous as they are deadly
- Create and lead a team of four Troubleshooters working for Friend Computer
- Choose your specialisations from 16 available skills
- Unique character progression through cloning (if you die, you progress!)
- Tactical combat system with active pause inspired by classic CRPG games
- Original enemies, including malfunctioning robots, aggressive drinks dispensers and defective clones
