The Ultimate SOMA Discussion Thread

[Paddy™]

Some news from Thomas, via Giant Bomb:

About 8 months ago we finished the alpha version of SOMA. This was a version of the game containing about 2/3rds of our intended content and story, featuring full voice overs and reasonably polished graphics. This was tested internally and sent out to a few trusted people. We collated all the feedback and then sat down and went through the game using it as a guide. As a result we've made major changes to some of the levels in the game, as well as to some of the overall systems. Implementing those changes and then finishing off the last 1/3rd of the content is what we've been doing since then.

The development process is quite different from our previous games. In the past we've fixed on a design at an early stage and then done our best to get something done to a specific deadline. But with SOMA we've been much more iterative. We've been testing out various designs, seeing how they feel and then revising. We know that this can sometimes lead people into a dangerous spiral - there have been cases where games never get completed - but we feel we're on the home stretch now, with most of the features locked down. In a little more than a month, the whole of the game will be pretty much set in stone. After that several months of polish will follow and then we'll be finished and the game will be ready for release.

After more than four years of work it feels nice to finally have a goal in sight. I'm very pleased with what we've got and believe we'll deliver a very special experience. With SOMA we've aimed to go beyond simply scaring the player and instead to tap into disturbing thematics concerning our very existence. This has been far from easy, and is why the iterative process, while painful, has been so vital. The end is near! We'll have major updates for all of you before the year is over.

And a new piece of concept art:

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/orig...nnamed.jpg

Many thanks to Halid, who informed me of this through the Info Portal!