The Curious Case of Time Travel and Androids: How Long Did Detroit: Become Human Take to Make?
Ah, Detroit: Become Human. A game that made us question our humanity (or lack thereof) while simultaneously drooling over the graphics that could put real life to shame. But have you ever wondered, dear reader, just how long it took to craft this digital masterpiece? Buckle up, because we're about to dive down a rabbit hole that might involve time travel, existential dread, and a surprising number of cups of coffee.
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| How Long Did It Take To Make Detroit Become Human |
From Tech Demo to Techno Dreams: The Early Days
The story begins in 2012, with a little tech demo called Kara. This was basically the prototype for what would become Detroit: Become Human. Now, some folks believe Quantic Dream, the game's developers, built a time machine because creating a tech demo that mind-blowing literally took them a year. We're talking next-gen graphics in a time when flip phones were still clinging on for dear life.
But wait, there's more! After that initial year, development officially kicked off. Here's where things get interesting. We're venturing into the territory of legendary crunch time, mountains of pizza boxes, and enough coffee to fuel a small nation.
Four Years, a Million Lines of Code, and a Whole Lot of Mocap: The Development Grind
For the next four years, the team at Quantic Dream toiled away. We're talking a staggering 5.1 million lines of code, enough to make your average programmer's head spin. They motion-captured every twitch, turn, and tearful goodbye, resulting in a whopping 74,000 unique animations.
QuickTip: Pause before scrolling further.
Imagine the poor actors! Stuck in those mocap suits, acting out every possible scenario for Connor, Kara, and Markus. Did someone say "butterfly effect"? We wouldn't be surprised if a rogue coffee spill in the mocap studio completely altered the course of the game's plot (wouldn't that be a plot twist?).
So, How Long Did It REALLY Take?
Finally, in 2018, after what felt like an eternity (or perhaps a very dramatic android uprising), Detroit: Become Human was released. So, the answer to our burning question? Four years of blood, sweat, and probably a few existential breakdowns.
But hey, at least it gave us a game that continues to have us debating the nature of consciousness and making ridiculously hard choices.
QuickTip: A short pause boosts comprehension.
FAQ: Your Detroit: Become Human Time Travel Guide (Not Guaranteed to Work)
How to channel your inner David Cage and create a groundbreaking tech demo?
Answer: Unfortunately, time travel hasn't been invented yet (though Chloe from Life is Strange might have something to say about that). However, unleashing your creative genius and dedication is a good start.
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How to survive four years of game development?
QuickTip: Skim the ending to preview key takeaways.
Answer: Stock up on coffee (seriously, gallons of it), find a support group of fellow game devs (misery loves company, right?), and embrace the occasional nap.
How to motion-capture 74,000 unique animations?
Answer: Patience, a lot of caffeine, and actors with incredible stamina (and maybe a sense of humor to deal with all those mocap suit malfunctions).
QuickTip: Pay attention to first and last sentences.
How to make choices that impact the entire game?
Answer: Play Detroit: Become Human and prepare to have your mind blown (and maybe cry a little).
How many cups of coffee did it take to make Detroit: Become Human?
Answer: Science cannot answer this question. But the answer is definitely a LOT.
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