
I mean, maybe not when it was the old art." "At indie scale, you can't make something an eSport."

"They were like, 'Your game is way under-priced at $15.' So, there you go. "The players told me to do it," Hecker says about the price increase. This is notable for any interested spies and snipers, as the game's price is set to rise when it hits Steam: The beta is $15, while the Steam Early Access version will cost $25. Anyone who buys into the beta via Hecker's website will automatically receive the Steam version as well. These 10 maps are live today in the SpyParty beta, and they'll be available in the Steam Early Access version when that launches April 12th. But today, SpyParty is gorgeous, featuring fully shaded and colored villas, restaurants, mansions and balconies, and a cast of striking, diverse characters. As SpyParty has stewed in beta over the past decade or so, it's largely featured placeholder art - blocky, 3D characters and environments plastered in primary colors.
SPYPARTY GAME FULL
So I narrate the tutorial with full voice."Īlongside a shiny new tutorial, the Steam Early Access version of SpyParty will have a total of 10 updated maps built by Hecker's partner in crime, artist John Cimino. People learn to play, they like the game when they play. "So I was like, I'm gonna try to emulate that. "All the fans man the booth and they teach you to play," Hecker says. These volunteers steer new players through the game in real-time.

The tutorial is an attempt to emulate the successful formula Hecker has instituted at conventions like PAX and GDC, where he's shown off SpyParty at booths staffed by some of his most dedicated beta players.
SPYPARTY GAME MANUAL
Thankfully, on Steam Early Access, the manual has been replaced by an interactive tutorial narrated by Hecker himself. Demos used to be accompanied by a printed four-page user manual outlining the game's most important intricacies. With 21 fully fleshed-out characters and 10 maps, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of avenues for the spy to be caught in each round, and just as many opportunities for them to conceal their actions, complete the mission and win the game. Certain spy moves will trigger sounds or actions at the party, while specific characters are known to behave in unique ways when they're controlled by the AI - the sniper is looking for any inconsistencies or slipups by the sole human in the room. Meanwhile, the sniper watches everything from afar, attempting to pick out the spy and shoot them on the spot.
SPYPARTY GAME SERIES
The spy's job is to blend in with these AI characters while stealthily completing a series of tasks for their mission. The spy attends a party packed with AI characters making small talk, wandering the room, drinking, and generally behaving as fancy humans would. It's a one-on-one battle of wits and detection, where one player is a spy and the other is a sniper.

SpyParty is the Turing Test in video game form. Their names are parodies of either actual people or spy tropes.You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu.

Jackson, Roker, DornĪll but four of these characters share a model with another character.
SPYPARTY GAME CODE
They have not yet been officially named, although the internal names used in the code are given below, along with additional common nicknames given by the SpyParty community. There is a setting in the game options that allows you to mix styles, making all characters available on all venues.Įxcept for the twins, these characters all have unique models and animations. By default, old and new art styles cannot be mixed new art style venues can only have new art style characters and old art style maps can only have old art style characters. There are also two additional, non-playable characters not listed below: Toby and Damon. Any of these characters can be selected as the spy or as a cast member. Below are all the playable characters in SpyParty.
