The shoot-em-up game show of the future, Hedone

Acony GmbH today released the first gameplay trailer for their upcoming game Hedone, a free, competitive MMOFPS. The idea here is that each player’s character is a citizen of an immortal  future society, where the only real fun to be had is in the Hedone games—a televised bloodsport that is like a humorous version of the Hunger Games or Smash TV.

Players develop their characters almost like an RPG, and use cash won in the arena to purchase better gear and weapons, from which there is a variety to choose. It’s not just about frags, though. The idea that the games are televised comes into the gameplay itself in a unique way. The player’s actions will determine how they are received by the audience, and players with more ‘fans’ get more sponsorship, which means more money and supplies for the arena. The ‘celebrity’ is the most important statistic in the game, as it’s ultimately the fans who will decide the player’s success or failure in the end-game.

An end-game recap showing the player their celebrity stats.

Playing to that, the ability to spectate matches, and participate in the culture of the game as both a combatant and a spectator, are central to the game’s development. Acony expects players to become involved in the culture and create their own real celebrity players, similar to the way StarCraft 2 has picked up a huge spectator culture. The game is run in seasons, so that stats and character development reset periodically, giving players the chance to compete against even the most seasoned players.

The official synopsis of the game is thus:

Imagine that the whole world knows your face and name. You have achieved things that others merely dream about, but you want more. The ultimate rush. Your life is your stage. Hedone is your life.

The game captivates with its incredibly high quality, its limitless options for customization, and a background story with all the makings of a Hollywood film!

With no cost to play, there is no reason not to check it out for yourself when the pilot season begins mid-January.