TheShip.gifValve has a new online multiplayer game available for download via Steam called The Ship. The basic premise goes like this: Eccentric rich guy invites all these people onto his fantastic ship, free of charge (You included). You’re then given a name of someone else on the ship that you need to kill. Of course someone else has been given you’re name as well.

The primary game takes place online, where you and tons of others roam the ship, charged with killing the person who’s name they’ve been given. It’s a great idea for a multiplayer on-line game. So it would seem the whole thing plays out like a huge 3d chat room, except in the course of talking and meeting people your trying to find the person you’re supposed to kill. Check out some more gameplay elements here.

Here’s a quote from a message board about someone’s experience playing the game.
“I was walking through the cruise ship’s restaurant when I heard a Tommy gun open fire; I took a few hits and dove behind a table just in time. I should have noticed him following me, I had been careless. Popping out from behind the table I fired a few rounds from my revolver. I saw my hunter run into the kitchen…unsure whether I had shot him or not I darted for the bathroom. Crouched against the bathroom’s back wall, wounded, I waited, my shaking hands training the revolver on the door. The door opens; I fire the last round from my revolver, the bullet plunging into his shoulder. It wasn’t enough. He empties the clip of the Tommy gun into my body, I feel myself fall back against the wall and slide down to the floor…then everything goes black.”

Of course it’s PC only, damn me and my Apple G5. When it comes to gaming it’s like a big tease.

Here’s the basic story from the website:
“The rules of the Hunt are simple. Each of you is given the name of one of the other contestants on board, and you must Hunt them down and kill them with any weapon you can find on board. Depending on the game mode, either the last hunter left alive is the winner or the one with the most money in their bank account wins.

Ship02.gifAs well as having someone to Hunt, you have another player hunting you, so keep looking over your shoulder if you want to stay alive.

If you find yourself being followed, lose your hunter in the corridors and rooms of the Ship, or use the security guards and cameras to protect you, or alternatively lure them into a quiet corner and kill them before they kill you…attack is the best form of defense after all.

To find your Quarry, try talking to people or examining them to find out their names. Once you’ve found your Quarry follow them stealthily or lure them into a location where you can murder them. Mr X will give you the last known location of your Quarry every now and again. If they are arrested or are taken to sick bay you will be instantly notified.

If you were wondering, you can’t simply kill everyone just in case they are your hunter or quarry… Mr. X takes a dim view of such behaviour, and will fine you for random acts of murder.”

You can switch outfits to throw off your hunter and fool your target, and extra money is awarded for a kill with a specific weapon.

If anyone has played this please let us know in the comments section below. Since I can’t play it I’ll have to live vicariously through someone else.