Silica Preview: This RTS/FPS Hybrid Is the Best Kind of 'Buggy'

We played an early build of Silica, an intriguing RTS/FPS hybrid, and what we found was an interesting take on a genre that has been often attempted but rarely perfected. Previewed on PC by Jon Bolding.
#IGN #Gaming

[@darkmoon0219]

No matter what it's damn impressive for a one person dev...

[@doomknight5863]

damn one dev only this gives me hope wanting to start game development lel

[@anubisfox5765]

​@@doomknight5863 ya same

[@pilentus]

He had some help earlier on, but it is mostly just him.

[@alyasVictorio]

Even the unit models alone made by one person looks like a polished AAA game tho

[@thebozzyman4765]

How on earth has one person managed this?!

[@Troupe_Master]

This guy just needs a bigger team and more funding and this could really be something. Ill keep an eye out for this

[@powerdude_dk]

Or maybe he just needs funding. The issue, for me, with bigger team is that it's no longer only him developing, and it could be crucial for the game's design. Maybe if he's struggling with network coding or something else, he could get some help. But it's also a lot of work having to manage a team, instead of just being alone. The game will be done, when it's done 👍

[@jtn191]

Microsoft: hmb, Imma ruin it 😆

[@damiaanthelen5159]

@@powerdude_dk Most funding goes toward hiring employees though. If this guy is working an other job on the side, funding could help him focus on the game, true. But no matter how much funding he gets, if that money doesn't go towards hiring people ore outsourcing, then it's just sitting there.

[@alwaysright1283]

Buy the game. Boom, funding

[@KB-nt7eg]

​@@powerdude_dk 'Its also a lot of work managing a team, instead of just being alone.' Spoken like a true middle school kid with zero life experiences. Lol

[@zzzzz00999]

Reminds me of the Battlezone series. One of the greatest FPS/RTS games out there. So ahead of its time too

[@eli-shulga]

Amazing games, both of them. Love those as a kid

[@RESURRECT2]

Yesss.. battlezone, it was the best.

[@jeffk862]

Said the same thing on a different video. I'd love to see a Battlezone spiritual successor like this

[@arais_demlant]

BATTLEZONE 3 PLS

[@pfftnuffinpersonalkid1541]

Needs to be redone with China vs US as you know, we're heading to moon bases within the next 15 years with both of them competing.

[@SystemZ3RO]

At this point we need a modern take on Command & Conquer: Renegade sine it solves many of the issues this game will likely face in the future. Smaller scale maps with clear objectives for players to operate even without direct input from a commander.

[@madboi1591]

Problem is EA, they are too dumb to reboot the series .

[@ToxicTeraaa]

Renegade X is the closest we will ever get. Sadly.

[@nikarlos2014]

Why EA having battlefield doesn't make a command &conquer with battlefield elements

[@ToxicTeraaa]

@@nikarlos2014 They did. Tiberium was meant to be similar to battlefield but with the command-mixed in. Shame it got cancelled.

[@RicochetForce]

There's a game called Tempest Rising that is a spiritual successor to C&C. It also has some minor elements of being able to zoom in and specifically control one unit in skirmishes.

[@TheAbysswalker]

Give this man a Starship Troopers license! 😎

[@atarithepaladin1821]

YES PLEASE! A PROPER ONE WITH POWER ARMOR!

[@pilentus]

Absolutely

[@Janus1000]

Service guarantees citizenship!

[@talliardgallows81]

On the bounce

[@JS-rv3et]

would you like to know more?

[@MarkusWeigeltDE]

Had a few battles and they were actually super fun!

[@Mallard792]

This looks like an amazing blend of Natural Selection and PlanetSide! I'm excited to see where this goes!!

[@ThunderingVipers]

The scale of the game can itself be an issue. If there aren't to many human players, this will feel a lot empty with just beating AI units

[@rekrn12345]

Every game like this has failed the same way. The commander controlling everything decides the game. If you have a bad one or none at all it's game over. That and unbalanced teams.

[@floop74]

The worlds already look empty

[@dazza761]

Look at planetside 2. This may be a more modern take on that

[@rekrn12345]

@@dazza761 This isn't the same genre as planetside 2.

[@durakeno5575]

not an issue if you don't care about multiplayer....

[@brenon45]

IGN didn't know this genre isn't new. It's a reboot of a old genre that that had a very popular game called Battlezone and it's better sequel Battlezone2 Combat Commander. It is nice to finally see a comeback of this much more fun multiplayer genre that has been dead for a while

[@mynameisleeyesitis]

Battlezone 1998 was better than its sequel so you got that the wrong way around.

[@ZahhibbDev]

This feels similar to how Natural Selection worked, and I'm all for it!

[@PiotrKotnis]

The best RTS/FPS hybrid I've played so far is w/o a doubt Natural Selection 2

[@twisky1608]

Came here literally to shout out Natural Selection too 👍 This is just that on a bigger scale.

[@DazzlinFlame]

Oh no, tis an Onos.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Iron Grip: The Oppression comes in as second.

[@squirrelsinjacket1804]

Yup, played like 4000 hours in NS2 alone, and probably half that in NS1 before that.

[@HikariSakai]

Man I'd love C&C Generals as an RTS/FPS hybrid

[@HikariSakai]

@@VectorGhost that's not generals though, Renegade was using units from the og C&C Tib Dawn

[@bigkidBAM]

Savage vibes, fo sho! That game was such a hidden gem back in the day. Hoping the tech now can keep up with the ambition. And the gameplay balancing is going to be the most important part of this, IMO.

[@nemesisurvivorleon]

wooooow someone else who played Savage Battle for Newerth. What's uppp

[@liammorris1018]

Such a great game, can't believe the concept didn't take off.

[@zethrenbeltran4071]

Command and conquer renegade, anyone? Man this looks fun, love the desert setting and the dune feel of the game! Super impressive for a one man team!

[@therebelfrogy9287]

If this game manages to get the same scale as Planetside 2, which many games have failed to achieve, then it can survive

[@peonYouu]

really gives off that old vibe of NS and NS2 . amazing work with only 1 dev

[@CrusadingJello]

Bugs the size of cars and small buildings... Gonna love it. Buying it tonight, 100%

[@CrusadingJello]

Bought it. Giant bugs the size of buildings shrugging off tank shells. Tiny little 'crabs' that one-shot most infantry types, and do decent damage to all but armored vehicles. Also very annoying (fast, can leap, low HP but hard to hit)

[@123reivaj]

This is a really interesting video game! And although it is not something really new or original, it does well to give us variety and a breath of fresh air at a time when video games are more of the same.

[@spaceghostcqc2137]

We need a lot of rts + action game attempts to get 'the one' - the genre has so much potential but it's hard to get right.

[@Vampshroom420]

whats not original or new about this?

[@Marky-Mark1337]

​@@Vampshroom420 similar idea was used but it's old. Like 20 ish years old.

[@Ryandushara]

look up starship troopers buddy

[@Ryandushara]

@@Vampshroom420 ^

[@AlRoderick]

Playing on foot is inevitably going to feel bad compared to a vehicle on open terrain, this is the reason tanks were invented in the first place. The only time it's ever balanced to play against armor as a foot soldier is in a complex environment with a lot of verticality and cover where the tank isn't just inherently overpowered. In order for it to not feel that way, you have to make some compromises with any sort of realism in the combat, you'd basically have to make infantry superheroes.

[@hildebrand2252]

even when infantry are super heros a tank in an open field still has the advantage on a spartan with a rocket launcher in halo for example

[@samuelmendoza9356]

Infantry vs Vehicle combat can simply be balanced by this Boomer-era tech called Anti Tank Guided Missile. From the true boomer Wire-guided ones to more modern beam riding ones. To the ones that is fire and forget like the Javelin missiles. And make the terrain has some rolling hills and maybe some crevices to hide and the tanks will soon need escorts like its a logistic truck traversing hostile roads.

[@Skevens]

There's a fantastic (and free) Source mod called Empires Mod that pits two factions against each other with FPS soldiers and tank warfare with a RTS commander on each side. It's on the older side, but sometimes can be a lot of fun and still has a very active community that plays each Saturday and Sunday.

[@VictorECaplon]

This has a lot of potential, the main issue is the amount of units on the map and the early game. But man it is fun

[@Carbiniz3r]

Hopefully this has more players than eximus had

[@gutocracker]

Wow this game grabbed my attention, hope the devs take their time to perfect this great idea of a game!

[@doomnationalist]

Reminds me of Ground Control

[@juicyfruit5444]

I've got 4 hours in this so far, VERY fun game when everyone sticks around

[@AiAngel]

Reminds me of Battlezone! That was my all-time first favorite game as a kid

[@flamescion5225]

love this game pls share it more 🙏🏼

[@jeffthekiller8523]

5v5 tournament of this game would be insane .. audience would be overwhelmed with so many things going on .. 8 players duking it out in fps perspective while 2 players battling in rts perspective .. sheeesh

[@crude-dude]

This game looks awesome! I'm excited to try it out!

[@TheDustmeister88]

You guys remember how it feels running from one point to another on BF2042? I'm getting that vibe.

[@HellPedre]

yeah but that MP was AMAZING nonetheless!

[@brunoruiz3691]

whatching that frist clip after just seen the trailer. insane feels

[@kingragnork]

Anyone remember Urban Assault? Controlling the units you built allowed you to be incredibly powerful and resource efficient versus the AI. The Wasp was incredible.

[@Valpi_Soko]

Reminds me (no one will remember this game) of Warzone 2100. You could build any unit you want, customize it with various parts that changed how it works, and fight the AI who'd do the same

[@kamikeserpentail3778]

Looks interesting. Glad you can play as the bugs. Still skeptical, but it's on my radar now.

[@haroldtuazon5803]

Need more games like these

[@phoebed5333]

This is like an alternate-timeline Halo homage in which Bungie kept going with the original RTS elements instead of pivoting to action FPS after they discovered the joys of whipping a warthog around. A lot of awesome and unique concepts here and amazing work for a single dev!

[@atomspalter2090]

looks great!

[@eziowayne]

Whoa! This looks epic!

[@blundy1]

The spice must flow.

[@dm3280]

The theme and setting is cool, but it would be awesome if more games that are RTS/FPS hybrid comes out.

[@JamesL0717]

So this is like Natural Selection 2 in a Starcraft setting. I'm sold.

[@themoohawkman4067]

Gotta love people who main infantry in a combined arms game say they feel underpowered against something 10x their size. I’m sure the game would be totally balanced if every infantry unit could put out major firepower 👌

[@Zaki_Arx]

those who say that, need to group up 10 people and fight against something 10x their size and see who is overpower XD. should be a spectacular sight to see

[@Windex314]

Looks VERY interesting

[@Blitzkrieg_Wolf]

This looks amazing as a proof of concept, reminds me of the underrated classic Urban Assault. Same concept, RTS with FPS perspective controlling selected units.

[@medellpr]

There another version of this kind of hubrid is call excutive assult 2 but is on space ship plus ground unit ,u can control any unit .

[@mason157402]

There should be classes of foot soldiers- Big machine gunner armoured soldier, Operator soldier who can do building and has a decent rifle but his biggest contribution is building turrets, barricades and traps; a sniper who has a heavy sniper rifle that can take out most medium sized alien units which can protect vehicle units from aliens and has anti-tank/armor piercing or explosive rounds. Just ideas im thinking of. Maybe have a hero unit, some type of soldier that is almost like Master Chief in halo, he has body modifications and a powerful suit of armor and be used to go infiltrate and destroy alien hives. Just throwing out ideas

[@fishysalmon6346]

Ohh the nostalgia is real

[@maxwellahmadi2474]

This is what a fully realized Supreme Commander should've looked like

[@maxwellahmadi2474]

@@DrownedLamp JESUS CHRIST YOU ARE THE MAN THIS LOOKS INCREDIBLE

[@thechantedWhite]

Starship trooper

[@RcRushZx517]

impressive graphics and gameplay..

[@philippbr85]

Clearly a Battlezone 2 like game. Would be great if we get back those glorious days. 🤩

[@Svafne]

Sounds pretty cool

[@withgoodtaste]

Yes, yes. Just amazing.

[@stevemarsh8928]

This man is living my dream of building a game like this👀🤯

[@digsshayla8940]

Wow. This looks sick

[@payet_the_mechanic]

Command & Conquer + Starship Troopers + Dune.... genius!

[@fakboih5384]

If this get bigger This can be a new eSports

[@wildfire3440]

Damn this looks really cool. Id love to play the alien hive.

[@jackedgamer0036]

"Kind of buggy" that's every game now a days.

[@rekrn12345]

It's a pun because of the bug enemies.

[@pilentus]

But this game has actual multi-legged bugs. You can kill them with guns.

[@doggg4977]

Wanted a fps rts for years

[@safebet5841]

The great surroundings look particularly exciting. A sandy desert filled with nothing and a few buildings. What can go wrong there?

[@blackknight4152]

This looks like an updated Maelstrom:Battle for Earth begins.

[@horstschwarz6229]

looks very cool

[@alcoyot]

This looks awesome

[@Arkaen-AI]

Martin is gonna fix the bugs -- literally!

[@alyasVictorio]

As a one dev army, yes

[@PhuongLe-kv1hy]

This game need a tournament

[@roguestargun]

This is obviously a Starcraft fan game taken to the next level.

[@bootstrap52]

We will watch your career with great interest

[@19Crusader91]

Battlezone 98 and Combat commader comes to mind.

[@APEXGuerilla]

Breathe of the Silica

[@sk8erz6721]

....now you have silicosis.

[@LightoftheMostHigh]

Looks great

[@ParlonsAstronomie]

This looks like the perfect mix beween Ground control, Dune and Battlezone.

[@justcraziii]

"-Climaxing with extreme firepower-" SOLD!!!

[@justindowney2054]

Warcraft could use an updated system like this. 👍

[@ramireza6904]

"Oh no... One is down. Three taking command!"

[@mitchelltaylor661]

Dune meets starship troopers meets c&c

[@StealthMaster5k]

Someone managed to mash EDF, Godzilla, and Planetside into one game

[@HellPedre]

whether some moment looks empty or boring, when theres a lot of units involved it looks seriously amazing, will follow this closely!.... now if anyone would remake Uprising in UE5 now THAT would be interesing as well

[@Artemyst]

There's nothing like taking part in an 8 man tank assault while getting charged by dozens of bugs of all sizes.

[@icewendigo2320]

Movies like Ridley Scott's original Alien and Aliens, derive the Tension and Suspense from NOT Knowing where the Alien is. The Game AVP (Alien vs Predator) is really fun because as Marines you have to be on your guard because you dont know where the Alien is, and as the Alien you have to sneak around without being seen to close in on the unsuspecting marine, but this game has currently NO tension and suspense and sneaking, because enemies simply show up on the map and HUD. If it had a "Game Parameter" screen where you could turn off the Radar and HUD enemy signals (ex: *Radar [on] [off]*) the game would be *10X better*.

[@kevinkev1530]

Crazy from one dude did it looks cool

[@bradleyvirgin3161]

This looks insane

[@Dreadpull]

Dune: renegade? sign me up!

[@Nicolas-sf6je]

thats extremely similar to planetside 2, multiple faction on a gigantic map trying to capture a base using mainly vehicles and soldier being on the ground only to enter the base to capture them, very very very similar

[@mateosimon4237]

This is the sequel that Starship Troopers never got

[@AlexZSteinlauf]

Honestly all I've ever wanted from Halo Wars. Still think it'd be the perfect sandbox for an RTS/FPS Hybrid

[@Chubzdoomer]

Come to think of it, it's bizarre they never once tried doing a Halo/Halo Wars "merger" game. One guy handles the RTS tasks, and everyone else takes part in a large-scale Halo battle. That could've been massive back in Halo's glory days.

[@zacbowman137]

I'm still playing it

[@MEXpartan]

This would work perfectly with Starship Troopers license.

[@Sockpoppet]

A single person made this?!... whoa

[@WarpstoneHoarder]

Love the concept but the environment feels a bit sparse. Maybe they could make the maps a bit smaller and reduce engagement distances?

[@johnnamkeh1290]

The balance, unit range, pace and unit numbers are all based on large map gameplay, so that probably won't happen.

[@ytm23ak]

Bit OG battlefronty in that way

[@RikyyThePootisSlayer]

The rts element would suffer tremendously, sadly

[@rico653caines3]

@ildemaro2 isn’t the map size being huge one of the main/point things in the game?I feel like a smaller map would somewhat defeat the whole purpose.

[@damiengiquel2568]

Excellent

[@Qwuasohn]

How did he just brush over the fact that this was all made by a single person developer. This is insane if this was all done by a single person - the amount of work..

[@agps4418]

there should just be some factionwide reward that can only be gotten through first-person challenges, to make the FPS part meaningful

[@arealious25]

STARSHIP TROOPER VIBES

[@kirstencarpenter663]

This looks like fun . Need to up the violence and destruction. Destructible buildings, ragdoll effects, visible body damage. This game looks like fun .

[@foreseen4225]

day 1 I tried it, and if you looked in the direction of the sun(180 degree facing that side of the map) you might as well of flashbanged yourself, no tutorials, but it definitely COULD end up really fun eventually

[@curryking1]

This guy definitely played a lot of dune and command and conquer 🙏🏾

[@TriangleSmooth]

Does anybody remember Savage? That was a classic hybrid.

[@08Nez]

It's still going 😄

[@utra1]

@@08Nez really? I've tried to get get a match with no luck. well that was last year

[@TheFi1thyCasual]

This game is a ton of fun, it needs a lot of work but I’m all about it.

[@tgreaux5027]

Wait, one guy is developing this?!?! That's f-ing bananas.

[@47kushgar]

Planet side with RTS? Awesome !!