GDC '08: Crytek revisits Crysis

CEO Cevat Yerli joins lead designer Sten Hubler and producer Bernd Diemer to dissect highly decorated FPS; emphasizes need to stay true to the original vision but retain flexibility.

SAN FRANCISCO--The 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo offered gamers a number of reasons to be excited about the coming year. However, trumping much of the noise coming out of that show was a solitary tech demo from Far Cry developer Crytek for its upcoming EA-supported shooter, Crysis. The Frankfurt, Germany-based developer had already established itself as a technological powerhouse with Far Cry's stunning CryEngine, but crowds were not prepared for the lush tropical environments and jaw-dropping breakable foliage on display.

As impressive as the showing was, it came very close to not happening. That and other tidbits were presented to a bleary-eyed crowd still reeling from Thursday's night's festivities in a postmortem session for the game kicking off the final day of the 2008 Game Developers Conference. Helming the session was none other than Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli, who was joined by Crysis lead designer Sten Hubler and producer Bernd Diemer.

As is how postmortems go, the Crytek trio first laid out what had been learned from their previous efforts, in this case 2004's Far Cry. (Far Cry's subsequent sequels were handled by Ubisoft's Montreal studio.) First and foremost, the team was proud of Far Cry's peerless visuals and the technology powering the game. Yerli felt these features were complemented by the game's sandbox design and responsive human artificial intelligence.

However, despite its glowing critical reception, Far Cry had its problems, with Yerli specifically calling out the game's "B movie story," bad jokes, and lack of a quicksave option. Yerli blamed problems with the story on the fact that it was shoehorned in near the end of the game's development, while the lack of a quicksave feature was purely a design decision, calling the move "egotistical." Yerli also noted that the game's difficulty wasn't balanced properly and that the artificial intelligence for the nonhuman wasn't up to standards, due mostly to the fact that the enemy types changed drastically throughout the course of the game's development, from dinosaurs to aliens and ultimately mutants.

The goal for Crysis, then, became to turn all of the weaknesses from Far Cry to strengths, while at the same time improving upon everything the team did well. For Yerli, this all began with his original vision, which was to take the lush, warm tropical paradise of Far Cry and encase it in ice. "The Vision" also included maximizing players' ability to express themselves through the game by offering a variety of play styles. In so doing, he wanted players to outsmart the game by forcing them to think before they shoot. Lastly, Yerli's vision called for realistic sci-fi, namely an alien invasion that is as believable as possible.

In 2005, the process of actually making Crysis began to coalesce. One of the team's top priorities at the time was to "create the best-looking game ever," and to do so, Crytek signed on Venice, California-based Blur Studios to mock up a prerendered video using assets from the game to set a benchmark to aspire to. "The goal was to get step-by-step closer to these visual benchmarks," Yerli said.

One of the first steps in accomplishing this goal was to take a "business trip" to Tahiti, Yerli noted, with Hubler chiming in with, "We're coming from Germany, so we really don't know what a real tropical environment looks like." Real research was key, the team noted, and it was important to get a handle on how standing in a tropical forest and looking through the trees actually feels. "To make the best-looking game, we had to capture a believable world," Yerli continued.

Then came E3 2006, and with it a proving grounds for the work that had thus far been channeled into the game. Yerli revealed that the most striking scene shown off of the game--when a soldier mows down a clump of trees in the forest using a minigun--only made it into the demo due to a little luck with the timing. It had taken nearly six months to get only one tree to break apart at an acceptable 300 frames per second, and an equal amount of time to be able to reproduce the effect on any object of choice.

Yerli felt breakable vegetation was one key aspect coming out of the show that went on to define the game. However, it presented severe problems with the game's AI, namely the fact that if a player is able to completely obliterate an object in the game, then the enemy looks a bit silly hiding behind the now nonexistent obstacle. Using that as a starting point, the team underwent an extensive AI overhaul, addressing a variety of issues ranging from animation to open-ended gameplay.

The challenge, Yerli noted, was achieving "human" AI and not "perfect" AI. "Perfect AI, anyone can do. Human is a more difficult challenge, because you have to replicate humanity," he said. To illustrate how Crytek overcame this obstacle, he showed a video of North Korean soldiers pouring over a stone fence, with most landing on their feet, but a few tripping and falling.

The other key concept of Crysis, which wasn't even fully realized at the time of the E3 showing, was the game's distinguishing nanosuit. The nanosuit was born out of Yerli's realization that even though the core shooting was fun and the company had hit its visual bar, Crysis "had nothing to bring to the table yet in a meaningful way." Initially, the nanosuit was to gain power over the course of the game, with the fully featured suit playable only available in the last five minutes of the game. That was a problem, of course, and necessitated a reimaging of the feature.

For the nanosuit, Yerli insisted that "customization be king." By that, he meant that the suit should allow players to a wide variety of choices and ways to express themselves, whether that be through run-and-gun, "Rambo-style" gameplay, more tactical stealth, or a combination of the two. Outsmarting enemies also played heavily into the design of the suit, and the team explicitly wanted to avoid the FPS staple of "run in and shoot them before they shoot you" gameplay. They also wanted players to be able to experiment with strategies, make mistakes, retreat, and then try again.

The suit went through a significant iterative process, where the team returned time and time again to play testers, who invariably reacted in "unexpected ways"--which, as the team noted, is the nice way of saying the testers were idiots. The suit's visual interface underwent some of the most significant overhauling, with the few iterations involving catering heavily to the micromanaging crowd.

These complex systems--which, according to Diemer, were more likely to result in "death by chicken" than anything else--were eventually streamlined into binary suit powers (that is, strength or speed) that could be accessed quickly and intuitively. As the game had been in development for quite a while by the time the nanosuit began to take shape, it caused a good deal of friction between its proponents and the level designers, who essentially had a good deal of work negated. While painful, Hubler noted that it aided the team in realizing freedom in a sandbox level design.

Concluding the postmortem, Yerli noted the importance of keeping the vision and sticking to the quality bars set in the beginning. Yerli also noted that the vision should only act as a seed for the development team--"a vision is developed by a team; it's seeded by a visionary." Closing, he stressed that visions that are forced will inevitably fail, and that it is necessary for a team to buy into that vision to maintain passion and inspiration.

74 Comments

  • tabishq

    Posted Mar 7, 2008 2:54 am PT

    I finished Crysis Just now. The last part of the game was really lousy. They need a better script and more character development. I request Crytek to avoid Alien ship levels in the future games. then may be we can rate it 9.5. Its gets a 8.8 only in my book.

  • Kornfr33k7

    Posted Feb 29, 2008 2:34 pm PT

    I don't care what people say, what Yerli said in this document is pretty much exactly what we got. PURE AMAZINGNESS! I can easily say that this game is at the top of any game in the industry in terms of graphics, Gameplay and the technology behind it.

  • makeuser

    Posted Feb 26, 2008 7:41 pm PT

    I'm puzzled why ppl say Crysis is not a linear game. What are the choices? stealth/non-stealth? That's not what Crytek promised. They promised multiple outcomes (what non-linear means to me) but only provided one.

  • Merl57

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 6:32 am PT

    Ha ha I was just saying about redundant franchises heres the proof. Hope this one delivers

  • JJRUDD

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 3:39 am PT

    I loved Crysis in general, the Korean AI seemed pretty good. I like the way they search for you - it's just about believable. The Aliens however, outside of the ship at least, they're not so good. They just sit on a rock looking left and right. They should move around more - checking behind rocks etc. Not just static. The multiplayer is a bit soul destroying tho. Too many cheaters, even with punkbuster on and it's just somehow unsatisfying. A few servers have the right idea by giving you standard weapons when you spawn but in general it's a bit annoying to have to buy them every time AND you get killed while shopping too much - spawn death is NEVER fun. Ideas for different type of multiplayer anyone? How about capture the flag etc?

  • forhekset

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 1:50 am PT

    Well either the vision was let down by the team, or the team wasn't given a complete vision to work to. Absolutely brilliant game is let down by the lack of content in the end.

  • darkdaej

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    While I didnt hate the 2nd part of the game, I must admit it did simplify massively and mostly became this run-and-gun gameplay of going from point a to point b without too much choices open to you. The story itself, while corny, is still entertaining and has this 80s action movie style (I love 80s action movies). I must admit though that once i had finished going through the alien citadel though, i lost all semblance of suspense. The ending was rather poor (honestly, i was ready to go find out what happened to prophet and keep playing, although i kinda knew the game was over. Can someone say "expansion pack imminent"?), but most games have nasty endings....just look at halo 1's ending...how original...there's a bunch of other halo's..... and hl2's ending...which had me going: "wtf??? i waited 6 years and it ends like THIS??"

  • Demon_Hamster

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 12:34 pm PT

    How exactly does Crysis not have a "B movie story?" The "crack" military team filled with undisciplined, wisecracking idiots, the evil Korean general who wants "enderess poweh!" but is playing with forces beyond his control, the aliens who just want to kill everyone for no apparent reason, the "universal scientist" who comes up with a way to defeat the aliens despite only being an archaeologist....how did all of that add up to anything other than B movie garbage?

    And I agree completely with the second half having lousy gameplay. I recently replayed the game, and went through trying to kill all the KPA soldiers without being seen. Tons of fun. Then the aliens appear, the game becomes entirely linear, and I don't really have a choice on how to play the game. Terrible.

  • KingBahamut

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 11:54 am PT

    I'm thuming you up just because I feel like you are right I don't own crisis but I know enough to say that while it is a great game the alien sections didn't appeal to me and radically changed everything, just like the Trigens.............
    coincidence I think not

  • _iMMuNiTy_

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 8:40 am PT

    Wow. Reading these comments and their 'rating', I must say Crysis fans are as unreasonable as Halo fans. Anyone who points out Crysis' flaws gets a thumbs down, heh.

    I'll join the minority, then. The second half of Crysis was trash. The VTOL level was essentially Space Invader in HD, whereas the last boss was Contra in HD. The first half of the game was a blast, but a half of a game... does not make a game.

    -Watches his comment get thumbed down rapidly.-

  • Smood

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 12:31 am PT

    @kirshna: You mean your PC sucks? Or Mommy/Daddy won't let you have money to buy a better one? We understand. Crysis slideshows are not very fun indeed.

  • kirshna posted Feb 23, 2008 10:37 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    kirshna

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:37 pm PT (hide)

    crysis suks

  • dreamer77dd

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 4:43 pm PT

    the game f.e.a.r. had interesting A.I. I think A.I will be a big deal in the coming years as well as emotions but we new that.

  • topeira

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    what a load of BS. crytek always saying that they had learned from the mistakes of farcry where the later levels where too linear and the non-human AIs where boring but looking at crysis - it has the EXACT same flaws - the later levels are redicullously short, linear and the alien AI is not nearly as interesting and fun as the koreans AI. they learned nothing but how to make great graphics. that being said - crysis is still an amzing game, but in terms of gameplay it isnt a whole lot better than farcry.

  • SoupNatsi

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 3:39 pm PT

    Crysis is the most fun Ive had in a game in a really long time. The freeform gameplay was excellent. The "ending" was my only major complaint.

    Its not perfect but its still way more fun than any other shooter that came out in 2007. I wish more FPS games would have the guts to do sandbox gameplay, the linear games like Call of Duty and GoW bore me to tears.

  • philiphansen198

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    the only people who dis crysis are people who haven't played it or are people with machines that aren't upto scratch.

  • pause422

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 12:50 pm PT

    Crysis may not be the best game that people thought it would be,but i'm sure its better then Halo,cuz its not a big competition,Halo hasn't changed since the first game,its a childs game.

  • ratix2

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:52 am PT

    "Crysis is a tech demo."

    no, killzone 2 is a tech demo. gears of war was a tech demo. crysis is a game that, unlike the other 2 i listed, actually did something new that hadent been done before. the open levels, the ability to approach any situation in probably hundreds of ways, the fact that no 2 situations or playthroughs of the first 7 levels will play the exact same way twice, how the nanosuit plays into anything and of course the fact that unlike most other games its you the player thats actually playing the game and doing what you want to do, not doing what the developer wants you.

  • Guitargamer1

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:42 am PT

    Crysis may be lacking in phenomonal Multiplayer but the Single Player is a ten. It is such an exciting, unique take on the FPS genre in the way it;s presented and delivered. The graphics have become the focal point for the game but it's the gameplay and the singe player experiance that set it apart.

  • MikeyOfLamb

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:39 am PT

    Elite_Bushido: Some of us liked FarCry, and some of us think that crysis is even better. And if you didn't like FarCry, than why did you buy Crysis?

  • Elite_Bushido posted Feb 23, 2008 11:21 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Elite_Bushido

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:21 am PT (hide)

    Crysis is over hyped out of proportion, probably even more then Halo.
    The damn game is THE SAME EXACT THING as Far Cry but you have 3-4 abilities and better graphics. its boring beyond belief

  • darkj21 posted Feb 23, 2008 11:11 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    darkj21

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 11:11 am PT (hide)

    dam i hope they make a crysis 1.5 for ps3 that was rumored they need to let the general hardcore gamers play, not everyone wants to upgrade for one game anymore particularly when you can make uncharted look as good on a 40 tv. I just use pc for strategy games now

  • Sacred-Snow

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:55 am PT

    crysis should of been a contender for game of the year, its a great game

  • makeuser

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:50 am PT

    while I applaud their ambition for graphic/gameplay realism, they didn't deliver on their promises in Crysis of open plot/gameplay. The AI and action was very similar to Far Cry (except for the dopey floating environment & on-the-fly weapons mods aren't that innovative), so it seems they're just selling eye candy. The plots are stale sci-fi/fantasy stories (they make the GTA series seem like Pulitzer stuff), just seems like hype for a limited, interactive 3dmark.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:38 am PT

    hopefully their next major update adds better support. we really want better fps. but stellar looking game

  • amanofthesheep

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:35 am PT

    As many small flaws that Crysis had, I think Crytek did a fantastic job in just about all areas of the game. The end is a bit naff, but passable, and the rest of it still makes it a great game. Even with my old 7600GT is looked a played pretty good at med/low, and with my new 8800 its the nuts.

  • rockdawg

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 10:24 am PT

    I can't imagine them doing really serious engine upgrades on the sequels, at least not the first. The barrier of entry on the original was so high that it contributed in part to very poor sales. I don't think EA will allow them to produce something that isn't a little more accessible, otherwise it's a AAA title that hemorrhages money.

  • Pilch_R_eD

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 8:36 am PT

    @ mailbox2112 - From what i know. They plan to make Crysis 2 on CryEngine 2, but overhaul it again, saying things like faces was something they wanted to improve allot, but overall, they want to push the CryEngine 2 to its limits and make it look even better. that should also result in an engine upgrade that goes back for the origional crysis as well. As for crysis 3 they want to go insane and make an entirely new engine, most probably being called CryEngine 3. FUN TIMES!!! ^^.
    For each new game i am SOOO Bankrupting myself to make the most leet PC to play it on. I just payed off my last PC that i made to play Crysis, YAY!!! Worth every Penny XD

  • thegamegod

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 8:19 am PT

    The game looks like complete eye sex on a good computer...just i'll never be able to afford a system powerful enough to run it,pc gaming for me,is yet,still a dream. =[

  • colinfirst002

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 8:16 am PT

    Nice read.

  • magicaltrevor11

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 8:09 am PT

    I will never be able to play this game with my PC = (

  • ski11buzz

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 7:48 am PT

    @ mailboxx2112 you can build your own computer for like 700 dollars that can run crysis...

  • mailbox2112 posted Feb 23, 2008 7:10 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mailbox2112

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 7:10 am PT (hide)

    And now we are waiting for the sequel(s) to be announced. Hopefully, they will run on the same engine. Otherwise we will have to buy $5-6000 computers to run it on low.

  • mrhankeydinks

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 7:04 am PT

    just so you all know, the game really is fun and the nanosuit was nice to have....just you really need a monster of a pc to play it decently its the only real downside.

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 6:45 am PT

    Oi, avoid talking about the end of crysis, SPOLIERS!!!!

  • fastpunk posted Feb 23, 2008 6:33 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    fastpunk

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 6:33 am PT (hide)

    Crysis is a tech demo.

  • shenaniganzzz

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 6:29 am PT

    i guess the crysis 1.5 rumor was fake. i really wanna play this game!

  • Lycen

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 5:37 am PT

    Its a really good looking game.

  • kyriakosmagos

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 5:18 am PT

    I wish i had a perfect pc so i could play it at max!!!

  • smfes

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 5:00 am PT

    Crysis is a future game. The game is good

  • pause422

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 4:35 am PT

    You actually won't see games like Crysis on the "GREAT 360"(obviously so with nearly 20% sold,and still continuing to die from the RROD)because the 360 could never touch visuals of that level.Hell have you played Mass Effect? great looking game,but the 360 just isn't powerful enough to run it well.

  • agustbestur

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 3:20 am PT

    This is great!!!(:

  • DiabolicalX

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 2:03 am PT

    *sniff* *sniff* I smell another PC upgrade in the not to distant future

  • Spartan8907

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 1:48 am PT

    After finally finishing Crysis just last night. I do believe it is from the future to. The last hour or so after you get out of the alien...uh, base? ship?...big alien place, is absolutely amazing. Top-notch stuff. That was some of the most exciting gameplay I've ever experienced. Major kudos to Crytek.

  • kozzy1234

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 1:15 am PT

    Crysis is a game from the future..... truely underrated game and one of the best FPS EVER. I love the game

  • pourya_ahmadian posted Feb 23, 2008 12:58 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    pourya_ahmadian

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 12:58 am PT (hide)

    IN THE FUTURE WE WILL SEE A LOT GAMES LIKE crysis ON THE GREAT X360;

  • Rulbster

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 12:47 am PT

    Crytek is not doing far cry 2, but the Crysis series is suppose to be a triology.

  • Flaming_Spoon

    Posted Feb 23, 2008 12:37 am PT

    I liked Crysis, i just wish they would've fleshed out the open world free form environs a bit more :S

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