'Selaco': A Modern Game Built On A Classic Engine

Indie game developer Altered Orbit Studios is currently building a new FPS on a modernized version of the classic “Doom” engine from the 1990s, complete with polished visuals, top-tier artworks, voice acting and visceral gunplay.

“Selaco” is an upcoming first-person shooter that’s heavily inspired by “F.E.A.R.,” a classic game that mixed horror game elements with brutal and cinematic action combat based on Hollywood films like “The Matrix.” “Selaco” is being built on the GZDoom engine, which is a refined version of the original Id Tech 1 used in “The Ultimate Doom” and “Doom 2.”

The game combines elements of retro action games with a few modern twists. It will feature the same style of cinematic shootouts that the original “F.E.A.R.” had. Environments in “Selaco” are fully-destructible using voxel-based tech; bullets can punch individual holes through walls and other soft materials, transforming rooms into wrecks filled with blood, bullet holes and smashed furniture.

Selaco is inspired by FEAR and the cinematic Hollywood shootouts in many famous action movies Photo: Altered Orbit Studios

The spectacle of “Selaco’s” shootouts are complemented by a custom AI that mimics the behavior of “F.E.A.R.’s” clone soldier squads. Enemies will adapt on the fly, changing their tactics based on how players move and fight in the game.

Enemies will hide behind cover if players are too aggressive. Conversely, the AI will try to aggressively rush and push players who are hiding. Defensive players can expect to get hit with grenades or get outmaneuvered as the AI move in to their flanks.

“Selaco” is a story-driven game about an attack in the eponymous underground facility of Selaco that houses refugees from Earth. Players will see through the eyes of Dawn, a captain of the facility’s security force who must push back the invading forces while finding out the truth behind Selaco’s history.

Altered Orbit Studios said that they aren’t taking the story lightly. They’ve hired a professional writer to help create a believable and engaging world that can keep players hooked from start to finish.

The increased visual fidelity, environmental destruction and smart AI will all be done in the GZDoom engine, which heavily upgrades the Id Tech 1 engine with a plethora of modern features without sacrificing its primary source code, making it accessible and highly customizable.

“Selaco” currently has no concrete release date, but the developers are actively working on it.