On this day… 2005

November 11th:
Momentum AS announced their new game, Culpa Innata.

So reports the World Union News, a futuristic portal doubling as the official website for a brand new 3D adventure game. Culpa Innata, which roughly translates to "innate sin" or "inherent guilt," takes place in the year 2047, in the seemingly utopian city of Adrianopolis. Earth's global community has evolved to the point where the wealthiest countries have combined under one capitalist banner of the World Union. This society is home only to the population's healthiest, smartest, and richest members. Prosperity and self-fulfillment are not only the prevailing interests but the science and law upon which the society is founded. The premise may sound inviting to those of us who'd like to think we would be among the chosen, but it's concealing a sinister undercurrent that is on the brink of erupting.

In this story-driven, third-person game, the player takes control of female protagonist Phoenix Wallis, a young World Union peace officer. Players will accompany Phoenix as she delves into the unprecedented murder of a fellow citizen in the neighboring Rogue State (a nation state that doesn't belong to the Union) of Russia, and its potential link to a professor's accidental but suspicious death in Adrianopolis. Her investigation soon becomes more than she bargained for when subversive (and elusive) characters begin taking a particular interest in Phoenix, leading her into a more complex mystery that challenges the very worldview she has sworn to uphold.

Players will have over forty unique locations to explore, involving extensive interaction and conversation with more than fifty characters. The world is rendered in full 3D with dynamic cameras, but the game employs an intuitive mouse-driven, point & click interface. Gameplay will provide organic challenges that run the gamut from dialogue and inventory-based tasks, to logic puzzles and high-tech gadget manipulation. Progression is fairly non-linear at times, with optional activities and dialogue choices offering the game some replayability.

Even at a glance, however, what sets Culpa Innata immediately apart from other adventures released in recent years is the look on each character's face. The developer has patented impressive facial modelling and animation technology that is plainly evident even in the still screenshots that have been released so far, and beautifully demonstrated in the trailer featured on the Culpa Innata website. As the game's cinematics are seamlessly blended into the game using the 3D engine, none of the images you'll see are pre-rendered.



So where did this game come from, and why all of a sudden? Developer Momentum AS is a newcomer to the gaming scene, but has been creating core technologies for use in digital entertainment, communications, and education for many years. Based in Istanbul, the team began planning the development of Culpa Innata in 2001. However, they chose to keep a low profile during their self-financed production until they were confident the game was nearing completion. Fortunately, Momentum's VP of Production, Burak Barmanbek, now reports that the game is well into development, though there's no official word on a publisher or release date yet.

In the meantime, your immersion in Culpa Innata's world can begin today. The game's website sets the stage for the level of depth and detail players can expect. Screenshots are presented as "scenic vistas," each accompanied by a brief description of the location and its significance. Key characters and plot points are introduced through faux newspaper articles, society pages, and even banner ads. And even in the most seemingly innocuous text, the underlying hints of social manipulation suggest that what starts as a simple murder investigation will be elevated to have a much more global—and personal—impact.