Today, Flying Lab Software showed a brief demo of Delta Green, its upcoming horror action game, as part of a presentation at the LithTech booth at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California. Delta Green is based on the tabletop role-playing game of the same name. Players will control a secret government organization dedicated to fighting supernatural creatures. The game will use the LithTech Jupiter system, the next-generation 3D engine being used in Monolith's upcoming sequel to No One Lives Forever.

　　According to Russell Williams, the game's executive producer at Flying Lab, the developer chose the Jupiter system for its powerful lighting system and its ability to combine third-person and first-person perspectives with close-ups and other dramatic camera angles. Since Delta Green is a horror game, the use of lighting will play an important part in setting the mood and making the player feel uneasy and claustrophobic.

　　The brief demo shown in the presentation featured a character shining a flashlight around a dark room, illuminating objects such as furniture and paintings. When the beam of light fell on a writhing tentacle, the camera angle shifted to an over-the shoulder shot as the character turned the light, fully revealing a huge supernatural monster. The character pulled out a pistol and shot the monster, which then swung its pointed tentacle around and pierced the chest of the character, lifting him--and the light source--off the ground. The sequence ended with the light falling to the floor and rolling away.

　　After the demonstration, Williams went on to describe how the game's AI will let the character's squad members coordinate with other agents and carry out proper tactical assaults. When the player selects three squad members to enter a door, the agents will move together as a team and automatically take strong tactical positions. Since the characters in the game are supposed to be trained fighters, players will simply issue orders rather than having to micromanage their every move.

　　The monsters in the game are inspired by some of the creatures described in H.P. Lovecraft horror novels. Other than the huge tentacled creature shown in the demo, players will encounter a variety of nonhuman enemies, ranging from masses of bubbles to a monster that can change its shape to mimic the form of the player's squad members.

　　Delta Green is scheduled for release in 2003. For more information, take a look at our previous coverage of the game.