ECTS: Black & White

By now, most fans of Peter Molyneux's games know just about every gameplay detail behind Lionhead's Black & White. However, at a press event held late last night, Molyneux demonstrated parts of the game not directly related to what's been written about previously.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Black & White is the game's "thermal engine." This technology is designed to mimic the heat and combustibility characteristics of fire, and like real fire, will cause combustible material to burst into flame when brought into contact with a heat source. The more impressive aspect of the thermal engine is actually the way it deals with non-combustible materials: Molyneux demonstrated this by placing a large boulder in the middle of a forest fire, which caused it to get red-hot after about 15 seconds. Molyneux then picked up the rock and flung it at a nearby town, and the boulder proceeded to set fire to everything it touched.

Black & White also has the ability to check the local weather patterns when you're logged onto the Internet, and to mimic them within the actual game. After reaching the age of one, your guardian creature will create its own web site, which it'll update regularly with in-game pictures of its friends, a log detailing how it's being treated by you, and other bits and pieces of news. Black & White will even examine your Microsoft Outlook contact list, and name each villager accordingly. When you receive email while playing the game, a villager will emerge from his or her hut and wave at you. Lastly, if a friend uses a mobile phone to page you through the web, your creature will lipsync the voice mail if you're playing Black & White at the time.

According to Molyneux, Black & White is filled with such quirky little features that have nothing to do with the game itself, but help distinguish the game nonetheless. As it stands now, the game is reported to be nearly complete, and should ship before the end of the year.