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How Quantum Break mixes TV and games for a new experience

Remedy is taking the next step in their love for pop culture by formally blending their new game, Quantum Break, with a companion TV show.
Ozzie Mejia
Ozzie Mejia
8
Remedy wants their next title, Quantum Break to represent the next step of interactive entertainment. But what is that, you ask? Well, it's TV, of course. Quantum Break, is more than just a game. It's an interactive experience that ties into a companion TV show. "This time around, we are going a lot further with Quantum Break," explained creative director Sam Lake to the audience. "It's much more than a triple-A game. There is a top-of-the-line action TV show that ships with the game. Both the game and the show are meant to be consumed together. Episodes of the show interweave with episodes of the game. For us, this really is a dream come true. Looking at our past games, it's a logical leap forward." To demonstrate the synergy between the two media forms, Lake showed off a snippet of the live action Quantum Break show. Co-protagonist Beth Wilder stepped into a diner and met up with another main character, Jack Joyce. They discussed the contents of an envelope, containing information about a defunct paint factory whose rights were picked up by a rogue organization. This scene would come up again in a later in-game scenario. A fully in-engine cutscene saw a character named Sophia taking a call, just as a helicopter was about to crash through her high-rise window. Time quirked out and the scene was completely frozen, setting the scene for Jack to enter and reveal some of his time-based powers. The most interesting one on display was his ability to pull people out of a time break by grabbing and holding onto them.

TV show moments help influence your in-game story

Though player choice will play a part in Quantum Break, Lake dismisses the notion of the game as a mere "Choose Your Own Adventure" style of storytelling. Remedy is set to tell one story, likening player choices to creating a "director's cut." Story paths will diverge through narrative points of interest called "junction moments," with consequences that will carry forward through the rest of the game. "Your junction choices in the game are a big part of affecting how your custom experience in the game shapes up and how your director's cut of the show turns out," added Lake. "They are all big memorable moments with big consequences in both the game and the show." Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the junction points is that these sequences will be played out as the game's villain, Paul Serene. Because of his enhanced time powers, Serene is capable of seeing different future possibilities. It's up to the player to determine which path to take. However, Remedy remained quiet in regards to specific gameplay mechanics, noting that they would address them in detail at a later date. Quantum Break is launching exclusively on Xbox One in 2014. Makes sense, given the platform's incredible love of TV, TV, and TV.
Senior Editor
Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?

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  • Shacknews legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
    reply
    June 12, 2013 10:00 AM

    Ozzie Mejia posted a new article, How Quantum Break mixes TV and games for a new experience.

    Remedy is taking the next step in their love for pop culture by formally blending their new game, Quantum Break, with a companion TV show.

    • Rauol Duke legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      June 12, 2013 10:02 AM

      This was the one thing MS showed that really hooked me. The more I hear the more I want to play it. Not $600 want to play it, but when I finally do get an XBox it'll be the first thing I try probably.

      • threeup legacy 10 years
        reply
        June 12, 2013 10:05 AM

        Quantum Break and Below are new ideas coming to Xboxone I'm definitely watching. Some big maybes as well, what is D4? Do I want to play a new Panzer Dragoon? or Sunset Overdrive?

        • Deathlove legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
          reply
          June 12, 2013 10:07 AM

          Sunset Overdrive is definitely on my radar. Ugh, stupid games for jerks.

      • [deleted] 1750374658 legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        June 12, 2013 10:15 AM

        [deleted]

    • rtricoche legacy 10 years
      reply
      June 12, 2013 10:09 AM

      Hate this concept. I dont watch nor do I want TV in my games.

    • [deleted] 2065296303 legacy 10 years
      reply
      June 12, 2013 10:17 AM

      [deleted]

    • finalSpart4n legacy 10 years
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      June 12, 2013 11:17 AM

      I'm a big Max Payne fan and this is one of the games I'm very interested in. mixing of tv show sounds great. heck some of the tv shows in max payne should be produced as well. another exclusive that i'm excited about for my new xbox one.

    • cptstern legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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      June 12, 2013 11:43 AM

      shackers will hate it because of the laugh track

    • w3rktd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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      June 13, 2013 12:41 AM

      i really like the concept of this. watch live action storylines and then get to play the dream sequences or whatever.

    • [deleted] 1243182645 legacy 10 years
      reply
      June 13, 2013 6:24 PM

      [deleted]

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