Duality

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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.