Atomicom and publisher GamesCo, today announced that JCB Pioneer: Mars, its survival sandbox game, will launch on Steam Early Access this summer. Set on the titular red planet, JCB Pioneer: Mars asks the player to utilise hard science in their attempts to successfully colonise its dusty wilds. Taking the wheel of futuristic, ultra-rugged JCB vehicles, players must explore the alien landscape, mine precious materials, construct large-scale buildings and research new technologies to ensure humanity’s future lies beyond planet Earth. Esteemed astrophysicist, Dr Maggie Lieu, provided advice to Atomicom during the development process, as well as making an in game cameo appearance.
Experience The Hostility Of The Red Planet As You Colonise It With The Help Of Custom Made JCB Vehicles
“We want to provide players with a hardcore survival experience, one based on what an early human colonisation of Mars may actually look like,” said Andy Santos, Design Director of Atomicom. “We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that the game is as realistic as possible while retaining the sense of adventure an early explorer of Mars would feel.”
“We are hugely excited to partner with Atomicom and GamesCo on JCB Pioneer: Mars,” said Worldwide Marketing Director, Michael Plummer. “It’s been a wonderful experience to see our visionary design and engineering team craft vehicles for future space colonisation. We are delighted that this will bring JCB to the attention of a future generation of potential customers, enabling them to use machinery on Mars before using them on earth.”
The Story
JCB Pioneer: Mars begins as the player awakes from a crash, surrounded by the wreckage of their Lander vehicle amidst falling debris and hurtling winds. Survival is the first goal–the location of oxygen and the establishment of an outpost. As the player slowly begins to establish themselves on Mars, learning to combat the planets fierce and hostile weather patterns, they’ll begin a larger operation of colonisation. Life-support infrastructure is crucial but so to is the mining of natural resources, part of a broader mission to save an ailing Earth.
Hardcore
JCB Pioneer: Mars, a hardcore blend of survival and construction gameplay set on the hostile, alien planet. Meteor strikes, dust clouds and electrical storms all threaten the player’s survival and chances of a successful colonisation effort. But equipped with the futuristic, heavy-duty construction and mining vehicles specifically designed by JCB Engineers, every would be astronaut has a chance of surviving and thriving in the face of extreme planetary challenges.
What is JCB?
JCB, the world’s third largest manufacturer of construction equipment, founded in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Bamford. The company produces more than 350 different products, which including telescopic handlers, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheeled loading shovels, skid steer loaders and powered access equipment. JCB is a leading UK exporter with 75% of its UK-made products getting shipped to over 150 different countries. Over its 72-year history, JCB has won 30 Queen’s Awards for export achievement and innovation.
Tonka Truck Survival
Survival games saturate Steam with more coming out every day, the question being if this game can capture enough attention from gamers. Interesting twist is the backing of a construction giant like JCB and how their engineering expertise adds exciting physics to the world. Self described as hardcore, coupled with the advanced physics, should make an interesting challenge for diehard survivalists.
