Gas Powered Games: The Little Game Developer That Could?

Dungeon Siege and Age of Empires were game series that once stood out as a breath of fresh air away from their competition. Then, we had Demigod, and other such later games from Gas Powered Games that were decent, but were bested by the competition. This became a recurring theme from GPG, but the development team that brought us memorable games from our past has gone for a hail mary with Wildman. This latest project could very well be the game to put them back on the map or be the final nail in the coffin.

This game is astounding in not only is it a Kickstarter project, but the fiscal goal GPG seeks to reach. A mere $1.1 million will get this game brought to your PC.  Whether this is an achievable goal or not, is not for one to declare with such dedicated fans that have already allowed Wildman to break the $300k marker. But, one thing that is true is Gas Powered Games is putting their best into what could be the their very last game as a company.


Wildman is easily summed up as three games - Supreme Commander, Dungeon Siege, and Demigod - crammed into one. One game that sounds amazing on paper, but in practice is a game of a different color. Wildman is going to attempt to bring out the best of those three games while boasting magnificent claims that would make Peter Molyneux drool.

You take to war as the Wildman as he strides through the middle of an ongoing skirmish. This war was started because... well the story is still a bit hazy as far as why Wildman fights and carries on such a war. For now, let’s just say Wildman’s bloodthirst stems from being just too wild to only fight in one battle. Not only is this wild and crazy guy unable to be contained to just one battle, but also in one genre.

Wildman takes to dungeon crawling and slaughtering of hordes of mindless monsters. Why would this manly man go to such lengths and put life and limb on the line?  To acquire loot and level up so he can go onto the battle and conquer. This aspect may also seep into the RTS side of the game since you are able to upgrade your army with stolen technology. Sounds too good to be true?  It may very well be.


There would be more confidence flowing forth concerning Wildman, but the Kickstarter page is par for the course and instills very little confidence to those not already fans of GPG and their games. The first video answering questions about Wildman raises more questions while lowering faces into open palms. Initial showing of the game in development reveals that, as of right now, you control only Wildman and none other. Will this change to be closer to Dungeon Siege’s core, which would enable to player to incorporate others to directly join Wildmans’ side? That, as well as other details of the game, is unknown. What is known is the simplicity that makes Wildman not seem so wild.

Wildman is seen smashing creatures to bits while watching his fellow wild, though not as wild as him, men pummeling a hut releasing said creatures and then, after the hut’s demise, proceeding automatically to the next stationary goal. However, the concept of the game states that the player needs to be ready to evolve and be ready to change tactics upon encountering different enemies or old enemies with new plans. The problem there, gamers don’t play concepts and talking of concepts is cheap.


If the game were to release as is, Wildman would most likely let down its supporters. From reports of the game as it stands, rather than integrate each aspect of the three games so that they synergize, each one of the three sources for Wildman takes a turn. First, you have Demigod wherein you control one super powered being in the middle of a battle ground. After the battle has been won in your favor, you switch over to Dungeon Siege, sans pack mule, and go exploring, grinding, and looting. Supreme Commander stands as the Jan Brady of the trio of games wherein it gets a turn after the older and younger sister have had their fill.

The taking of turns may be pointless to even discuss if Wildman doesn’t generate enough capital, or rather put on enough show so that its peddler hat will be filled by those that pass by to watch the dancing monkey. Sad to say, aside from the fans, very few people will have even heard of GPG or even realize the game developer is gone. If the project reaches $1,100,000, Wildman sales are strong, and the game does not break a single promise that is made from the concept, then Gas Powered Games will be known as the game dev that came back from staring into abyss.