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Multiplayer horror game The Flock will on August 21, Vogelsap has announced.
Gamers who pre-order The Flock on either the Humble Store or Vogelsap’s website, or buy the game during the launch week on Steam, will receive an extra game key to give to a friend.
When The Flock launches, the game’s population counter will be set at 215,358,979. With every in-game death the population counter will tick down by one. When the total reaches zero the game will no longer be for sale, and only those who already own The Flock will be able to take part in the next phase of the game – an unannounced climactic finale.
Vogelsap adds, however, that it would adjust the population counter if they release The Flock for consoles.
“We’ve asked ourselves what kind of experience people would be getting from The Flock years after release. Hardly anyone would be online and those still playing would be either great at the game or brand new. That’s not a fun player-experience,” said Jeroen van Hasselt, creative director at Vogelsap. “So we think it’s worth sacrificing that possibility in order to try and improve the experience for most players when they are actually playing the game.”
The Flock takes place in the year 3000 on a post-apocalyptic Earth where pollution has not only prevented sunlight from reaching the surface of the planet, but also led to the extinction of humanity. The planet’s new dominant species is the Flock, a hideous race of skeletal beasts that prowl mankind’s ruins. The Flock are thriving until the appearance of a mysterious Light Artifact that not only draws them to its illumination, but also transforms them upon touching it into a humanoid being known as the Carrier.
Every game of The Flock is a battle of stealth and survival for three to five players. When controlling members of the Flock players must try to take down the Carrier. As the Carrier players must be ready to use their only weapon, the illumination of the Light Artifact, to kill any Flock they come across.
