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[[Image:Duality concept art - BioCorp VR avatar.jpg|thumb|Look familiar?]]
[[Image:Duality concept art - BioCorp VR avatar.jpg|thumb|Look familiar?]]
Duality is an abandoned video game project set in a futuristic megapolis, with visuals that resonate with Oni and Oni2 themes.
Duality is an abandoned video game project set in a futuristic megapolis, with big corporations, slums and elaborate virtual worlds (cyberspace and the like). Some of the concepts are visually close to Bungie's Oni, and more generally the dystopian setting (to the best of our understanding) seems rather fitting for an Oni2 kind of game.


Like [[Strident]], Duality was developed by Trilobite Graphics / Phantagram Interactive (Korea) in the early 2000s.
Like [[Strident]], Duality was developed by Trilobite Graphics / Phantagram Interactive in the early 2000s, but never made it to beta stage. There are no hands-on reviews and no detailed accounts of the game's universe or gameplay. The official promotion was limited to two trailers, as well as a mix of screenshots and concept art (several dozens of images). Several years after the project died, additional samples were revealed when a few developers started showcasing select assets in their portfolios (or, in rare instances, releasing them for public use).


==What We Know==
==Portfolios==
Duality never made it to beta stage, and there are no detailed accounts of the game's factions or gameplay details.
Phantagram is Korean, but in Duality's case it appears that the actual development team was Spanish. Six contributing artists are known at the time of writing, and four of them have active portfolios on ArtStation:
 
*[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/4bNKW4 Alberto Gordillo], concept artist (and art lead?). His concept art portfolio offers a broad overview of Duality's factions and entities, with succinct but informative annotations.
The biggest source of information on the game's factions and entities is [https://gordillo.artstation.com/projects/4bNKW4 Alberto Gordillo's portfolio on ArtStation].
*[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/l9g5V Emilio Serrano Garcia], animation artist. His demo reel showcases character animations and gameplay, and he is also sharing the Mercenary character in Gumroad, [https://milio-serrano.gumroad.com/l/OOshZ HERE].
*[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Jl8YXa Guillermo Toston], environment artist. He is sharing five screenshots of modular architecture (TechCorp interior).
*[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/D9d2o Alberto Moreno], prop artist. He is showcasing an animated BioCorp asset (organ-growing machine).
*Oscar Perez Ayala, character artist. Credited by Emilio Serrano and Alberto Moreno as the author of the Mercenary character.
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20220218153354/http://jsmart.me/about Jorge Sanchez Magdaleno], concept artist. He showcases designs for an advanced prop (<nowiki>http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/8sp60q5kr1ewe8eeudgha2e22x9ynx</nowiki>, dead link) and for a dozen characters (<nowiki>http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/2ov8dx1nxnxqoqbrjefppgyk546h5q</nowiki>, dead link).
Further concept art is (or used to be) available from gaming websites (IGN, GameSpot, etc), along with promotional screenshots, wallpapers etc.


==Factions==
There seems to be at least three main factions - TechCorp, BioCorp and Templar -, each with their areas of influence.
There seems to be at least three main factions - TechCorp, BioCorp and Templar -, each with their areas of influence.


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The only named character we know of is "Cpt. McKenna" (owner of the "Electric Sheep" club?).
The only named character we know of is "Cpt. McKenna" (owner of the "Electric Sheep" club?).


A provisional not-quite-review mentions three playable characters: a female Hacker, a male Mercenary, and a "Virtual Being".


==Concept art==
<gallery>
[https://gordillo.artstation.com/projects/4bNKW4 Alberto Gordillo's portfolio on ArtStation] (non-exhaustive collection of art, annotated)
Image:Duality concept art - BioCorp VR avatar.jpg|A concept visually similar to Oni's [[Daodan]] (actually a cyberspace avatar).
 
Image:Duality concept art - Characters by Jorge Sanchez Magdaleno.jpg|An Oni Ninja lookalike, among other designs.
Two concept art sheets by Jorge Sanchez Magdaleno: Props (<nowiki>http://jsmart.me/portfolio/8sp60q5kr1ewe8eeudgha2e22x9ynx</nowiki>, dead link) Characters (<nowiki>http://jsmart.me/portfolio/2ov8dx1nxnxqoqbrjefppgyk546h5q</nowiki>, dead link)
</gallery>


Art from other sources (mostly video game sites) not covered by the two portfolios will be uploaded to the wiki.


<gallery>
Image:Duality concept (symbiote in overpower?).jpg|a concept similar to Oni's [[Daodan]] symbiotes
</gallery>
==Trailers==
==Trailers==
There are two trailers. Neither of them is overly exciting.
There are two trailers (neither of them overly exciting) and the demo reel shared by Emilio Serrano.


{{divhide|&nbsp;First trailer|align=left}}
{{divhide|&nbsp;First trailer|align=left}}
The trailer follows a Hacker (she) and a Mercenary (he) as they break into a heavily guarded facility (TechCorp?), steal some important stuff, and then escape.<br>
The trailer follows the Hacker (female) and the Mercenary (male) as they break into a heavily guarded TechCorp facility, steal some important stuff, and then escape.<br>
The Mercenary uses regular stealth, acrobatics and weaponry, whereas the Hacker spends most of the time in the enemy faction's intranet fighting weird monsters.
The Mercenary uses regular stealth, acrobatics and weaponry, whereas the Hacker spends most of the time as a VR avatar in TechCorp's intranet, fighting weird monsters.


'''Segmented/incomplete version''' on IGN's YouTube (6 segments): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRhl00E1hBg 1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS0EbEy8NIw 2] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5myN36hTCCY 3] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S4V8_tOAM8 4] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzLr6_gbCs 5] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEu97jLFs6Q 6]
'''Segmented/incomplete version''' on IGN's YouTube (6 segments): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRhl00E1hBg 1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS0EbEy8NIw 2] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5myN36hTCCY 3] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S4V8_tOAM8 4] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzLr6_gbCs 5] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEu97jLFs6Q 6]
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{{divhide|&nbsp;Second trailer|align=left}}
{{divhide|&nbsp;Second trailer|align=left}}
This trailer is higher-resolution and shows some actual gameplay (mostly stealth), as both the Mercenary and the Hacker make their way through enemy territory.
This trailer is higher-resolution and shows some actual gameplay (mostly stealth), as both the Mercenary and the Hacker make their way through enemy territory. A basic game menu is shown to illustrate character selection, and appears to be using the [[Xenotron]] font.


'''Full version''' on some guy's channel dedicated to canceled games: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkZ_76eFG2Q <nowiki>Duality [XBOX Trailer Action/Stealth - CANCELLED!]</nowiki>]'''
'''Full version''' on some guy's channel dedicated to canceled games: '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkZ_76eFG2Q <nowiki>Duality [XBOX Trailer Action/Stealth - CANCELLED!]</nowiki>]'''


The final sequence of that second trailer is a hint at the third playable character - the "Virtual Being". Apparently it plays chess.
The final sequence of that second trailer can be interpreted as a hint at the third playable character - the "Virtual Being". Apparently it plays chess.
{{divhide|end}}
 
{{divhide|&nbsp;Animator's demo reel|align=left}}
Titled '''Demo Show Reel''', this video showcases many animations both for the playable character (mostly Mercenary) and for the enemies (mostly BioCorp troops). Included are several types of environment/prop/character interaction (climbing, stealth locomotion, entering/piloting a power suit, grappling a hostage), and a few animated cutscenes not featured in the official trailers. The "implant clinic" and its doctor are featured, as well as the "Evil Hacker".
 
You can watch it on Vimeo ([https://vimeo.com/101737929 '''Demo Show Reel''']) or via Serrano's ArtStation portfolio ([https://www.artstation.com/artwork/l9g5V HERE]).
{{divhide|end}}
{{divhide|end}}




[[Category:Duality]]
[[Category:Duality]]

Latest revision as of 14:28, 11 June 2023

Look familiar?

Duality is an abandoned video game project set in a futuristic megapolis, with big corporations, slums and elaborate virtual worlds (cyberspace and the like). Some of the concepts are visually close to Bungie's Oni, and more generally the dystopian setting (to the best of our understanding) seems rather fitting for an Oni2 kind of game.

Like Strident, Duality was developed by Trilobite Graphics / Phantagram Interactive in the early 2000s, but never made it to beta stage. There are no hands-on reviews and no detailed accounts of the game's universe or gameplay. The official promotion was limited to two trailers, as well as a mix of screenshots and concept art (several dozens of images). Several years after the project died, additional samples were revealed when a few developers started showcasing select assets in their portfolios (or, in rare instances, releasing them for public use).

Portfolios

Phantagram is Korean, but in Duality's case it appears that the actual development team was Spanish. Six contributing artists are known at the time of writing, and four of them have active portfolios on ArtStation:

  • Alberto Gordillo, concept artist (and art lead?). His concept art portfolio offers a broad overview of Duality's factions and entities, with succinct but informative annotations.
  • Emilio Serrano Garcia, animation artist. His demo reel showcases character animations and gameplay, and he is also sharing the Mercenary character in Gumroad, HERE.
  • Guillermo Toston, environment artist. He is sharing five screenshots of modular architecture (TechCorp interior).
  • Alberto Moreno, prop artist. He is showcasing an animated BioCorp asset (organ-growing machine).
  • Oscar Perez Ayala, character artist. Credited by Emilio Serrano and Alberto Moreno as the author of the Mercenary character.
  • Jorge Sanchez Magdaleno, concept artist. He showcases designs for an advanced prop (http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/8sp60q5kr1ewe8eeudgha2e22x9ynx, dead link) and for a dozen characters (http://www.jsmart.me/portfolio/2ov8dx1nxnxqoqbrjefppgyk546h5q, dead link).

Further concept art is (or used to be) available from gaming websites (IGN, GameSpot, etc), along with promotional screenshots, wallpapers etc.

Factions

There seems to be at least three main factions - TechCorp, BioCorp and Templar -, each with their areas of influence.

The corporate districts are complemented by a dilapidated "Underworld", possibly ruled by another dominant faction.

Each of the three main factions/corporations has an "intranet" (VR environment) that can only be accessed on-site.

A vast public cyberspace also exists, apparently overseen by an "A.I. council".

Fantastic locations exist within the cyberspace, among them a "VR sanctuary".

The only named character we know of is "Cpt. McKenna" (owner of the "Electric Sheep" club?).

A provisional not-quite-review mentions three playable characters: a female Hacker, a male Mercenary, and a "Virtual Being".


Trailers

There are two trailers (neither of them overly exciting) and the demo reel shared by Emilio Serrano.