Bungie's Destiny reveal came and went, and while the game sounds incredibly exciting, there are still a lot of questions to be answered: Is it an MMO or an FPS? When is it coming out and for what platforms? What's the deal with that mobile app? Is the mobile app required, or just a neat feature?
Bungie seems to have given the bulk of their Destiny info to IGN, referring to the site on their facebook page, so let's root through this.
Is it an MMO?
Well, sort of. Bungie prefers to call it a "shared-world shooter." You will always be in a world with other players and have the opportunity to interact with them, it's not required.
It sounds like an MMO. How much will it cost to play?
At this time, just the cost of the game itself. There won't be a subscription to play, but you will need an online connection. So make sure your Xbox Live account is all paid off, because this game will grab onto some players and won't let go.
What systems will I be able to play it on?
At this time, it's only been confirmed for PS3 and Xbox 360. Though Bungie consistantly referred to Destiny as a "console shooter," Bungie CEO Pete Parsons told Examiner that "We would absolutely love to be on the PC...If you talk to the people upstairs, we play it on all platforms. So, stay tuned." On the other hand, Bungie co-founder Jason Jones told Destructoid he believes that Halo made mouse and keyboard gaming obsolete, saying: "Nobody plays shooters the way they used to play them before Halo 'cause nobody wants to." This could be a not-so-subtle indication that Destiny may not come to PC after all.
What's the gameplay like?
No one knows. Bungie didn't quite reveal Destiny. It was more of a tease, really. Whispers of deep space combat in space ships, heavy customization, and a lot of guns seem to be the name of the game. According to IGN, it's a combination of Borderlands 2, Planetside 2, and Halo.
What's the difference between Destiny and those games?
The massive environments seen in the concept art give off a Planetside 2-vibe. The customization and loot elements share Borderlands 2's "guns, Guns, GUNS," mentality. (We don't think Destiny will offer much in the way of Borderlands' zany humor, though.) As for Halo, Destiny will be a shooter (or have elements of such), and it's developed by Bungie, so you can figure that out... We wouldn't be surprised if there are some Mass Effect-style role-playing elements in there too.
What about the mobile app?
Bungie says that the Destiny mobile app will keep players apprised of in-game events, alert them to game invitations, and allow them to track their character's stats. Think of it as something like Microsoft Xbox Live app, but for one game. And no, it will not be required to play the game.
When do we get to play it?
A release date hasn't been confirmed yet, and rumors of the game appearing on next-gen consoles only clouds that picture. Activision has said that Destiny won't figure into their 2013 "guidance," which means the game's sales will not affect their 2013 calendar-year sales. Your guess is as good as ours, but we'd say early 2014.
Anything else we should know?
This game shows a lot of promise, even if Bungie hasn't actually shown that much yet. Big risk means big reward, but things could go south real quick. So keep your eyes on this one.
