Software:H-Hour: World's Elite
| H-Hour: World's Elite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | SOF Studios |
| Publisher(s) | SOF Studios |
| Composer(s) | Penka Kouneva |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Tactical shooter |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
H-Hour: World's Elite is a tactical shooter video game, currently being developed by SOF Studios. The game released in early access for Microsoft Windows via Steam in May 2015. A version for the PlayStation 4 is planned to be released at a later date.[1]
Initial development was mostly funded by $252,500 from a successful Kickstarter campaign in July 2013.
Gameplay
H-Hour's gameplay takes heavy inspiration from the SOCOM series, to which the developers describe the game as a "spiritual successor". The game is intended to be best when played with a clan and organised teams, and aims to give players a realistic military combat experience.[2]
The game will initially be "8v8" only, with the possibility of testing and adding larger player-counts in the future.[3] Upon release the game will be multiplayer only.
H-Hour: World's Elite is planned to include six maps upon release and at least four gameplay modes. Additional community maps are planned to be supported.[4]
Development
H-Hour: World's Elite is being developed by SOF Studios, located in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Its creative director, David Sears, was also the creative director of the SOCOM series, and H Hour is envisaged as a spiritual successor.[5] The game was announced alongside a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in July 2013 which aimed to raise $200,000, ultimately raising $252,662.[5] These funds were used to create a prototype which could then be used as a pitch for publisher funding.[4] In April 2014, Sears posted a blog about difficulties in funding the project,[6] later leaving his position as creative director at SOF Studios in October 2014.[7]
Initial development and assets were created using Unreal Engine 3 and later transitioned to Unreal Engine 4.[8] The game is being developed for Microsoft Windows, with plans to port the game to the PlayStation 4.[1] The game was entered into Steam Greenlight in March 2014, approved in April, and released onto Steam Early Access in May 2015.[1][9][10]
As of March 14, 2016, all development on H-Hour: World's Elite was ceased awaiting further capital investment.[11]
As of March 21, 2016, a group of industry professionals including former contract workers at SOF Studios stepped forward to volunteer their spare time to continuing the development of 'H-Hour: World's Elite. Between then and the end of June 2016, several improvements were completed.[12] The game entered a beta phase in March 2018, alongside an announcement that the PlayStation 4 version was under development.[13]
As of August 2023, the SOF Studios website is no longer online and no updates have been made to the game in several years.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Corriea, Alexa Ray (27 March 2014). "SOCOM spiritual successor launches on Steam Greenlight". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/27/5554708/socom-spiritual-successor-launches-on-steam-greenlight.
- ↑ Campbell, Colin (4 July 2013). "How H-Hour aims to bring SOCOM back to life". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/4/4490582/how-h-hour-aims-to-bring-socom-back-to-life.
- ↑ David Sears (2013-06-07). "H-Hour player count". Kickstarter. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/01/6ygydy5a.jpg. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Takahashi, Dean (2 July 2013). "SOCOM creator crowdsources his next team-shooter game with H-Hour: World's Elite". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2013/07/02/socom-creator-crowdsources-his-next-team-shooter-game-with-h-hour-worlds-elite/. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Campbell, Colin (9 June 2013). "Former SOCOM developer unveils new shooter". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2013/6/9/4411794/socom-designer-unveils-new-shooter.
- ↑ Schreier, Jason (20 February 2015). "12 Successful Kickstarters That Never Delivered". Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/12-successful-kickstarters-that-never-delivered-1687019268.
- ↑ Tom (2014-10-23). "David Sears moves to advisory role for H-Hour". SOF Studios. https://www.sofstudios.com/index.php?/page/updates.html/_/general/david-sears-moves-to-advisory-role-for-h-hour-r192. Retrieved 2015-06-13.[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
- ↑ Hillier, Brenna (10 April 2014). "H-Hour: World's Elite built on Unreal Engine 4". VG24/7. https://www.vg247.com/2014/04/10/h-hour-worlds-elite-built-on-unreal-engine-4/.
- ↑ Papadopoulos, John (20 May 2015). "H-Hour: World's Elite – Spiritual Successor To SOCOM – Steam Early Access Now Available". DSO Gaming. https://www.dsogaming.com/news/h-hour-worlds-elite-spiritual-successor-to-socom-steam-early-access-now-available/.
- ↑ Cook, Dave (4 April 2014). "H-Hour: World's Elite Steam Greenlight campaign successful, new screens released". VG24/7. https://www.vg247.com/2014/04/04/h-hour-worlds-elite-steam-greenlight-campaign-successful-new-screens-released/.
- ↑ Tom (2016-03-14). "Weekly "Quick Look" - 14 March 2016". SOF Studios. https://www.sofstudios.com/index.php?/page/updates.html/_/general/weekly-quick-look-14-march-2016-r266. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ↑ Rosie (2016-07-01). "Consolidated Patch Notes". SOF Studios. https://www.sofstudios.com/index.php?/topic/10345-consolidated-patch-notes-by-quarter/. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
- ↑ Davies, Sean (26 March 2018). "PS4 Version of H-Hour: World's Elite Now In Progress As Game Enters Beta On PC". Finger guns. http://fingerguns.net/games/2018/03/26/ps4-version-of-h-hour-worlds-elite-now-in-progress-as-game-enters-beta-on-pc/.
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