Protocol: Terminate is an upcoming co-op horror survival set to release on PC, with an AI that adapts and learns from each player's actions.
While a release date has yet to be announced, we here at Netto's Game Room were given the chance to speak with One HP Studio to learn more about the title.
Hello my name is Ben and I'm one of the co-founders of Netto's Game Room. Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Maria, and I'm responsible for community relations and marketing.
Today we're discussing your upcoming game Protocol: Terminate. The game is a co-op horror survival title, which features an AI that will learn from player actions. What inspired you and your team to develop such a title?
The topic of AI is coming up more and more often these days, and we wanted to explore what a future where AI is out of control might look like.
When it comes to the AI, could you tell us a little more about how it will adapt to not just the player, but the squad's actions as well?
Essentially, the game will evaluate your gameplay — your support points, behavior patterns, and other actions — using simplified algorithms. Then, once enough data has been collected, the AI (in this case, the main robot) will begin to adapt to the player in subsequent sessions. If you like to block doors, the AI will learn to break them down, taking away that advantage. If you prefer to stay as far away from the team as possible during skirmishes, the AI will do everything it can to prevent you from doing so. If you discover a robot's weakness, it will gradually learn to cover it, making the game more difficult for you. Squad behavior is more complicated. The game will evaluate the average performance of all players and selectively adapt its behavior to each of them. For example, “John” might reward the ability to break down doors, while “Joseph” might reward the ability to set traps more often, and so on.
The game plays like a first person shooter, but this is one where the answer to your problems isn't always to shoot it. How does stealth play a role in your survival, and what tools are available for those who wish to hide in the shadows?
Yes, indeed. Even though our game is fundamentally a shooter, that doesn't mean we haven't paid due attention to stealth. Stealth is a crucial aspect of our game. Players will constantly face equipment shortages, and shooting will be kept to a minimum, if it is used at all. The ability to move silently, use hacking, and skillfully install mods is designed specifically to make stealth a key part of the game.
Could you tell us a little more about the mission structure in the game? Are these self contained stages, or does the game feature a larger interconnected world?
Generally, missions will gradually reveal the story of what happened, ultimately leading to a specific ending. However, missions are divided into contracts, which can be either story-driven or “secondary.” Secondary contracts are necessary for gameplay but don't reveal anything new about the story. The structure, if visualized, is as follows: Mission 1 (Contract A, Contract B, Contract C, etc.), Mission 2 (Contract A, Contract B, Contract C, etc.).
When it comes to the co-op aspects of the game, will players be able to freely jump in and out of matches, or will squads need to stick together until the end? Additionally, for those who would rather go at the game solo, is this a possibility? Or is the title built fully around the idea of having a squad?
Players start and finish the game together. Single-player play is also supported, and the game will adapt to your capabilities and the number of players. Furthermore, contracts offer missions of varying difficulty. Players can choose contracts based on their preferred difficulty level.
Protocol: Terminate also features an equipment and customization system, which allows players to build their characters to fit their own personal playstyle, and to support the team in unique ways. Can these builds be carried over into future play sessions, or is something unique to each run?
Player customization includes weapon modifications, passive perks, additional equipment, and armor pieces. All of this is selected before each session. Players are free to continue using the same equipment in subsequent sessions. However, the idea is that different contracts will require different approaches, and over time, players will learn to select gear suited to specific tasks.
What is the player progression like? Will players rank up and unlock new content as they continue to play? And if not, what would you say the main motivation will be to keep players coming back for more?
Yes, the game will feature a progression system. Global character leveling will unlock new equipment and other rewards. The more you play, the more tactical options you'll have. However, this is only a secondary form of motivation. We're building the game around a generative approach and a high degree of variety to increase replayability. Taken together, everything we've included will provide a great deal of variety and replayability.
While this still might be too early to discuss, do you have an idea of what the game's future might look like? Such as including new enemies, locations, weapons or skills?
We certainly have general plans. In addition to adding new locations, equipment, and weapons, we're also paying special attention to Legionnaires. As a reminder, Legionnaires represent the pinnacle of AI development. They are immortal enemies who will accompany you in every session. Each Legionnaire has unique abilities and stats, but they all share the same goal: extermination. With the addition of new Legionnaires, even old missions and contracts will be given a new lease of life and offer a completely different experience.
At the moment the game has also been only announced for PC. Is it something you'd like to bring to other platforms if given the chance?
Currently, we're only considering PCs. However, we're also working on the technical feasibility of launching the game on other platforms.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Add Protocol: Terminate to your wishlist and stay tuned for more news :)
And finally, just for fun, what would you say is your personal favorite horror survival game?
Of the games with a somewhat similar atmosphere, I'd highlight Outlast: Trials. Unlike our game, it is entirely stealth-based, but it also features the concept of “immortal enemies."
For more on Protocol: Terminate, players can head over to the Steam Page to wishlist the game today.
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