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I've been reminded about a PC game that i played years ago and i want to play it again ... problem is i can't remember the title. It had some generic name like AI. I think the game came out a round 1995, and had a version on the PS1 (not sure though i played PC and its so long ago).

It was some weird hybrid game, Shooter, RPG and vehicle. You play as a prototype AI Core that is shoved into a drone body (looks like a turkey blob) hat hovers above the terrain and get released into some sort of abandoned military testing area. Cant tell you much about the story but you can do side quests, hunt other robots, mine resources and trade. You can replace your body with better ones (some suited to trade others to combat), change your weapons and systems. If you die your core is taken to a store where you can get a new body.

I think that's all i can remember other then there being different factions in each area which you can become part of. Any one remember this? Title and developer would be very nice ... it'll help me track down a copy.

Nevermind, re read your post and I'm talking out of my Arse

Was it an action game, or did you have to design your own AI? If it was the latter it was Carnage Hearts.

I was going to suggest Carnage Heart, but it never came out on PC, and the OP mentions the PC being what he played on most.

Not Carnage Heart but might have a look at that.

When i say robot drones its more like tau drone

Lots of different shapes but floating with guns. Controls were like in a fps wasd to move in a direction and mouse to look around, interact and shoot. I think there was also some throttle and turbo boost mechanic.

If i had to put the game in category then it might be a action-rpg. You level up and can then equipe new mods, weapons and bodes.

On the first level/area your floating around a canyon area with road/path ways leading to the factory (roads all have these solar panel lights that open like flowers in the day and close up at night). It might well be much new than i thought may be even as late a 2000, trouble is i can't trust my memory on this as i remember magic carpet as having amazing graphics (and good lord it doesn't)

I don't know but now i am very interested.

I initially thought Bioforge but some of the elements you describe seem a little unique. It actually sounds alot like System Shock but can't be.

Questions:
Was it Japanese? I will warn you that this will make it ALOT harder to track down and almost impossible to (legally) replay. If you cant remember, things like an overly complicated story, long boring, text-heavy, cinematics and poorly explained game mechanics may be a give away. Also unusual names for in game elements.

How would you describe the graphics? fully 3d with normal bitmap textures, Fully 3d with voxels, 3d without any textures or any other now obsolete 90's tech like Elipsoids, Rasters etc. Did it feature pre-rendered backgrounds, a fixed camera and a 3d character, like Resident evil or Commandos/fallout? An advanced question would be whether you could guess the graphics engine from your memories. Was it top-down?

Was it 'six degrees of freedom' movement? Like the game 'Descent' as there were alot of Descent clones in that period. I.e could you truly move in 3 dimensions?

The playing it on PC part is what is throwing me. I can think of PC mech games, and PS1 mech games, but no of ones that were on both, not counting emulators.

The game you described really reminded me of something and i've finally remembered what it was.


Unfortunately... The one i was thinking of, 'Evolva' is almost certainly not the game you mean.

For the publisher/developer Psygnosis PS1/PC was a common combination. However i've had a look through their catalogue and i don't think anything fits. I also had a look through Interplay's back catalogue and nothing's come up. I am afraid it's probably Japanese.

Right every thing i say now is grey and foggy ... this might not be accurate descriptions.
First thing i think the developer was a European company (though could have been Russian) definitely not a Japanese company.
Movement? You hover at a set height but can boost up (like a jump), feels like you are playing a FPS but you'll slide down hills and can glide a bit. can boost Forwards (run).
Graphics ... 3d simple bitmap texture, lighting was basic but there was a night and day cycle.

I wish there was a list of games with picture that i could look at I'm sure i could pick it out.

Theres a guy on youtube that's done a 'History of the FPS' there are loads of parts and i think it goes back to the 80's. It Might be in there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yijoe5tpzz8

I've actually been looking off and on for the whole day so i'll be really curious to find out what the game is. You could try a forum like Giant Bomb or Gametrailers if you really want to find out. The Nerds there will take it as a real challenge. Like an 'Identify this miniature' thread on the this forum lol.

I would recommend using a combination of Mobygames (has lots of lists) and Youtube (type in the name of a game you think fits, chances are there'll be a video for it).

well found a site with a good list of old games I'm now working my way through it ...
http://www.hotud.org
... The only problem with this site is there are soooooo many old games on it .... on the plus side most of them have downloads (bit of luck i find the game and a link to DL it). Other problem is i keep going "OMG i remember that ... DL" and then have to wait

Could also see if it's on gog.com. If it was popular odds are you can find it on there.

Another gaming website I'd support going to would be abandonia. IF it's not longer sold.

You've piqued my curiosity.

Would it be A.I.M. Artificial Intelligence Machine?

http://uk.ign.com/games/aim-artificial-intelligence-machine/pc-567394

It was released in 2004, which is a way after you said, but it fits the bill, and was developed by the Russian 1C Company.

 Avatar 720 wrote:
Would it be A.I.M. Artificial Intelligence Machine?

http://uk.ign.com/games/aim-artificial-intelligence-machine/pc-567394

It was released in 2004, which is a way after you said, but it fits the bill, and was developed by the Russian 1C Company.

................................. You are a Legend. yep 10 years later then i thought it was but that's it all right. Damn 28 years old and my memories all ready going ... Still looking at the graphics i think i know why i pegged it as being an earlier game.

The way I managed it in the end was finding a list of game developers, picking out any Russian or European ones, and checking out which games they made. The title of that one caught my eye, else I'd have dismissed it due to its release date.

You definitely got my interest with the initial description. I think I'm going to try to track down a copy.

Sometimes we get things done here on the Video Games board.

Actually Avatar's google-fu is probably the strongest I have ever seen...
It's genuinely scary...

 purplefood wrote:
Actually Avatar's google-fu is probably the strongest I have ever seen...
It's genuinely scary...

Absolutely true- and were my signature bar not already full to overflowing, I would be sigging this even harder than I exalted it. Well done!