| Timeless Collector's Edition | |
| |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Remedy Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | THQ Nordic Microsoft Studios |
| Distributor(s) | Microsoft Studios THQ Nordic |
| Designer(s) | Kyle Rowley, Otto Kivling (Programmer) |
| Writer(s) | Sam Lake, Tyler Burton Smith, Mikko Rautalahti |
| Artist(s) | Janne Pulkkinen |
| Composer(s) | Petri Alanko |
| Director(s) | Sam Lake, Mikael Kasurinen, Miloš Jeřábek (Producer) |
| Engine | Northlight Engine |
| Platform(s) | Steam (sofware), Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | WW29 September 2016 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: M, PEGI: 16[1] |
| Requirements | Windows 7 (64-Bit) Intel Core i5-4460, 2.70GHz or AMD FX-6300 (minimum) |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4460, 2.70GHz or AMD FX-6300 (minimum) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 390 (minimum) |
| Previous | Quantum Break |
| Next | Quantum Break (TV series) |
Quantum Break: Timeless Collector's Edition is a special edition re-release of the 2016 third-person science fiction action shooter Quantum Break, developed by Remedy Entertainment for the Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms.
Quantum Break was published and funded by Microsoft Studios, who owns the IP. Written by Tyler Burton Smith, Mikko Rautalahti and directed by Sam Lake and Mikael Kasurinen, Quantum Break follows the story of Jack Joyce, a resident of the fictional town of Riverport, Massachusetts, who, after a time travel experiment goes wrong, gains the ability to control time and must stop a growing fracture in time from bringing about the end of the world.
Announced August 2016[2][3][4], the Retail release of Quantum Break: Timeless Collector's Edition was distributed by THQ Nordic (formerly Nordic Games) and available for digital download for the Valve Corporation's Steam client and wide physical release for PC's using Win32 and Windows 7.[5] The game was originally slated for a September 14, 2016 release[2][3], but was later pushed back for a September 29, 2016 release to address more bug fixes within the game before a proper release could be made.
Story[]
Official Description[]
- "In the aftermath of a split second of destruction that fractures time itself, two people find they have changed and gained extraordinary abilities. One of them travels through time and becomes hell-bent on controlling this power. The other uses these new abilities to attempt to defeat him – and fix time before it tears itself irreparably apart. Both face overwhelming odds and make dramatic choices that will determine the shape of the future. Quantum Break is a unique experience; one part hard-hitting video game, one part thrilling live action show, featuring a stellar cast, including Shawn Ashmore as the hero Jack Joyce, Aidan Gillen as his nemesis Paul Serene and Dominic Monaghan as Jack’s genius brother William. Quantum Break is full of the vivid storytelling, rich characters and dramatic twists Remedy Entertainment are renowned for. Your choices in-game will affect the outcome of this fast-paced fusion between game and show giving the player a completely unique entertainment experience."
- —Official Steam Page[6]
Characters[]
- Jack Joyce (Shawn Ashmore) - The protagonist of Quantum Break. Jack Joyce returns home to Riverport when his childhood friend, Paul Serene, asks for help regarding a top secret project. After Paul's time machine experiment goes wrong, Jack is exposed to Chronon energy and discovers he has the ability to control time. Jack and Paul become mortal enemies after Paul kills his brother, William, and Jack seeks to avenge his brother by stopping Paul from letting time end.
- Paul Serene (Aidan Gillen) - The antagonist of Quantum Break. When the time traveling experiment at Riverport University creates a fracture in time, Paul is sent to the year 2021, the End of Time. Returning to the past of 1999, Paul establishes Monarch Solutions, a corporation created to ensure mankind's survival beyond the fracture in time. Like Jack, he was exposed to Chronon energy and can manipulate time.
- Beth Wilder (Courtney Hope) - A double agent within Monarch Solutions, Beth was has been preparing for the fracture in time since she was approached by her future self at the age of eight years old. When she meets Jack Joyce, she convinces him to help her find his brother's Countermeasure device in order to stop Monarch Solutions and repair the fracture in time created by Paul Serene.
- Martin Hatch (Lance Reddick) - The mysterious CEO of Monarch Solutions and Paul Serene's confidante. Up front, Hatch ensures that Monarch Solutions operates as it should when the fracture in time occurs. He guarantees that Paul's plans for the future go according to plan and Monarch's secrets remain hidden from the public. However, Hatch works behind the scenes with his own agenda regarding the End of Time.
Summary[]
- Main article: Quantum Break (video game)#Summary
Development[]
Production[]
- Main article: Quantum Break (video game)#Development
Pre-production on Quantum Break shortly after the release of Alan Wake's American Nightmare on the Xbox Live Arcade in 2012. The game and the Northlight Engine, which was built using a modified Havok engine used for Alan Wake, was developed prior to Microsoft's implementation of DirectX 12.[7]
Quantum Break was built largely using the DirectX 11 platform.[8] Remedy Entertainment presumably experienced difficulties with the game when they ported the game to DirectX 12. Graphics Programmer Ville Timonen stated that optimization of the game would be entirely dependent on the developers as DirectX 12 did not handle optimizing like DirectX 11 drivers. Remedy would also have to be mindful of memory usage, performance and centralize their focus on optimization to create "bottlenecks".[7]
Timonen also stated that the DirectX 12 could outperform the DirectX 11, but only if the API was "overhead bound", which allowed them to. DirectX 12 allowed the developers to "avoid swamping the driver with calls" with the use of instancing, LODs and culling.[7]
Announcement[]
December 2015, when asked whether or not Quantum Break would receive a Collector's Edition release similar to Alan Wake special editions was released in 2011. Thomas Puha Head of Communications at Remedy Entertainment stated that it was "unlikely" that Quantum Break would receive a Collector's Edition[9][10], as such a choice was a decision made by the publisher and out of their hands.[11]
February 2016, Quantum Break was confirmed for a Windows 10 release[12] and sparked controversy among Xbox One users.[13] When asked whether or not Quantum Break would come to the Steam platform, Head of Microsoft's Xbox games, Aaron Greenberg, stated that the game would a Windows 10 store exclusive and would not be ported Steam.[14]
August 10, 2016, five months after the game's release on Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms, Microsoft Studios announced that Quantum Break would be given a physical release for the PC --- dubbed the "Timeless Collector's Edition" --- and would be given a digital release for the Steam platform.[3][2] The Timeless Collector's Edition would retail at $39.99 and would see a release on September 14, 2016.[3]
Nordic THQ (formerly Nordic Games), who handled the PC releases of Alan Wake and Alan Wake's American Nightmare, announced that they would handle the physical PC release of the Timeless Collector's Edition. Special features included in the Timeless Collector's Edition would include a five-disc install, behind the scenes Blu-Ray disc and book, two posters and a quickstart guide.[3] Following the announcement, the official steam page was launched.[6]
When asked about the availability of the retail release in the UK, Nordic Games official twitter reassured that the game would be purchasable everywhere and would be catering to stores for exclusivity.[15][note 1]
When he was misquoted about the status of the Windows 10 and Windows 7 release[16], Thomas Puha clarified that the Windows 10 would still receive updates alongside the Steam and Retail version of the game and one would not be "left behind" in favor of the other.[17]
September 23, 2016, Remedy Entertainment published a "Steam Trailer" (using the "Remedy Quantum Break Tribute" trailer from April 5, 2016[18]) the Steam and Retail release of the game, advertising the new release date of the game.[19]
Delays[]
Early September 2016, Remedy Entertainment reported that the Steam and Retail release of Quantum Break would be pushed back from its September 14, 2016 release to September 29, 2016, in order to address the bugs left in the game.[20][21]
Fraps Watermark[]
Early October 2016, YouTube user, Piotr Swat, uploaded a six second clip of Quantum Break's ending that featured an unregistered Fraps Logo at the center top of the pre-rendered cienmatic.[22] The unregistered logo presumably appeared on account of the user using Nvidia Shadowplay.[23]
October 4, 2016, Thomas Phua responded on twitter, saying that the logo was a mistake that "shouldn't have happened".[24] October 17, 2016, Steam Community correspondent, LauriRMD, reported that patch released for the Steam/retail version of the game removed the Frags watermark from the game.[25] When a twitter user mentioned that the Fraps watermark also appeared in the Windows 10 release of the game, Phua stated that the watermark in Windows 10 release had been taken care of "a long time ago".[26]
Specifications[]
The following are minimum and recommended system requirements put forth by Remedy Entertainment for Microsoft Windows Windows 7 and Window 10 platforms.
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MINIMUM:
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RECOMMENDED:
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Features[]
The retail version of the Quantum Break: Timeless Collector’s Edition includes:
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Critical Reception[]
Promotion[]
Prior to the game's release, Remedy Entertainment promoted a contest wherein users following their official account (@remedygames) or the official account for game (@QuantumBreak) could win a GeForce GTX 1080 with a copy of the Timeless Collector's Edition, or a Steam Code for the game early in as little as twenty four hours.[27][28] In addition, Remedy partnered with ASTRO Gaming, who offered a partcipants in their contest a chance to the Collector's Edition of the game alongside ASTRO Gaming gear.[29]
Overview[]
According to Remedy Games, the Steam and Retail versions of Quantum Break would be able to run on the Windows 7 and up on a 64-bit computer[30], while the digital download available for the Windows 10 would still be able to run on the Windows 10 using the UWP. Head of Communications, Thomas Puha reassured that the Quantum Breakk retail and steam version of the game had been in development "for a while" and that they had experience with shipping DirectX 11 games.[31]
With regard to the live action episodes, Puha clarified that the episodes would have to be streamed. They could not provide direct download or offline option that was available for Xbox Live.[32] Additionally, like the Windows 10 release, the Steam and Retail release of Quantum Break would not support SLI support.[33][34] Following a question answered on the Steam Community Forums with regard to the Windows 10 release of the game[35], PC believed that the GTX 1080 would also experience difficulties with the retail and steam version of the game on maxed out settings.[36][37] The retail and Steam release of Quantum Break requires no DirectX 12 executable to run.[38]
The front page of Quantum Break’s Steam profile.
September 30, 2016, Sam Lake reported that the game had received 126 positive reviews after a single day.[39][40] October 7, 2016, Remedy Entertainment's official twitter account reported that reviews of game's release on Steam resulted in a 87% positive rating.[41] As of October 18, 2016, Quantum Break maintains a "Very Positive" rating.[note 2][42]
Performance[]
In Digital Foundry's review of the "DirectX 11 release" of Quantum Break for Steam and retail, Thomas Morgan reported that the game experienced a "a much-needed performance boost", on account of Remedy Entertainment's familiarity with the driver.[38] Morgan notes that the visuals remained unchanged using "Ultra Settings" on older operating systems in comparison to the Windows 10 API. Quantum Break’s largest improvement, according to Morgan, was with the Nvidia GPU, which benefited from higher frame-rates in the re-release.
On the Windows 10 release of the game, the GTX 970 graphics card experienced freezing and stuttering on the DirectX 12. Morgan states, on the Windows 10 operating system, the Steam/retail version of the game, using the latest GeForce 372.90 drivers and i7 4790K and 16GB RAM, using the highest settings (1080p on "Ultra Settings") in conjunction with the upscaling option available on the game. The options, creating a "full HD framebuffer using temporal supersampling from a base 720p image", resulted in stable framerates using the DirectX 11 driver.[38]
In terms of raw data, Morgan states, "DX11 turns in an average of 44fps, as compared to 33fps on DirectX 12". While it was not running at 60 frames per-second, the performance boost on account of the change in API's, unhindered by the Universal Windows Platform, was seen as a positive. Morgan also noted that the erratic frame-times experienced on the DirectX 12, were all but "even out entirely on DX11". "t's a massive upgrade for this card; not just in the frame-rate metrics, but also in the reduction of stutter overall".[38]
In addition, Quantum Break on Steam/retail no freezing or crashing during the tests, which still occurs on the Windows 10 release of the game on account of complications with the Nvidia driver's recovery issues. Morgan notes that the GTX 1060 exhibited no crashing, hitching or freezing with the Windows 10 release and the issue may be limited to a specific few cards.
Testing the re-release using 1080p GPU on "Ultra Settings" and the upscaling option enabled, the DirectX 11 performance was stable. With regard to framerate, DirectX 11 resulted in 47 frames-per-second verses the 39 frames-per-second on the DirectX 12, a "20 per cent performance boost". On the GTX 1060, both the Windows 10 release and Steam/retail release of Quantum Break, experiences no stutters or crashes and framerates are stable, and saw a boost in performance over removal of stability issues that may be present.[38]
With regard to AMD GPUs, the game was tested using the same settings, at 1080p on the RK 480. Morgan notes that there were no performance gains for DirectX 11 verses the DirectX 12. "It's a decimal divide for average frame-rates on either side, with both turning in 43fps - and a .02fps lead on our Direct X 12 runthrough". The framerates and general performance on both the Windows 10 and Steam/retail maintain stable framrates on the RX 480.[38]
Framrates are fixed for the RX 480 on the DirectX 11. "With all three cards mentioned so far running the DX11 Steam release, both the GTX 970 and 1060 pull ahead of the RX 480 by varying degrees". The newer 1060 leads the pack by a consistent margin of four frames per second compared to the AMD card, and with the older Nvidia card sitting between them.[38]
Using the Nvidia card, Quantum Break on the GTX 1060 performed better in terms of 60 frames-per-second, the lack of v-sync demonstrating that the graphics card can go above the 60fps framerate. Morgan, however, states, that high framerates are fleeting, "[...]even with the performance boost on GTX 1060 we're still a ways off during intensive shootouts". Performance levels settles between 40 to 50 frames-per-second; using high or ultra settings doesn't remedy the framerate dips, even when using the RX 480 dipping, which often dipped "into the low 50s".[38]
"To get a tight lock on 60fps playback, we need to go one lower with the medium setting," Morgan explains, "We turn everything from volumetric lighting to global illumination quality down while retaining 1080p, all which broadly matches the visual settings we'd get on Xbox One". Morgan notes that because the game is no longer locked at 30 frames-per-second, AMD graphics cards are capable of "soaring far north of 60fps".[38]
On the DirectX 11, the medium settings on the AMD's GTX 1060 and RX 480 differ markedly, the advantage in performance lying squarely with Nvidia graphic card types, which have the advantages of better safety margins. The GTX 1060 averages 102 frames-per-second, while the RX 480 manages only 73 frames-per-second. The variety provided by the Nvidia graphics cards, allows for higher visual settings with a combination of settings in high and medium presets.[38]
Morgan summarizes that the overall performance of Quantum Break on a DirectX 11 driver is the recommended way of playing the game if players used a Nvidia graphics card. "DirectX 11 fixes the stability issues we had before on our GTX 970, while boosting frame-rates by a respectable margin on newer GPUs". With regard to the AMD graphics card, Morgan believed, given the shared performance on the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 on the i7 using AMD's RX 480, the only marginal difference was the DirectX 12 version featured reduced CPU overhead.[38]
Sales[]
Quantum Break on Steam's Global Top Sellers List (September 29, 2016).
September 29, 2016, NeoGaf user JaseC reported that the Timeless Collector's Edition of the game debuted at number three on Steam's Top Seller's List, below Battlerite and Osiris: New Dawn.[note 3] Steam's top seller list, which updates every half-hour, is determined by revenue verses units sold.[43] The user additionally noted that the game was ranked in second on Steam's global sellers list.[44]
The game was also ranked number one in sales in Brazilian stores at the time of its release on Steam.[45] While several users noted that every major release on Steam reaches top ranks in Steam sales, JaseC attempted to argue that the sales and interest in the game on Steam were demonstratively stronger than the original release on the Windows 10, which were never shared by the Microsoft Corporation.[46]
September 30, prior to Steamspy and Steamcharts three day update, the game totaled at 1000 players at its all-time peak according to information curated by Steamcharts.[note 4][47][48] October 5, 2016, user Noobcraft reported that the game was not selling well on account of low ownership and playtime curated by Steamspy.[note 5][49] October 8, 2016, JaseC reported that Steamspy's curation of the game's sales on Steam was 35k, and that the game fell to seventh place in the Global Top Sellers List.[43]
Videos[]
<gallery spacing="small" captionalign="center" position="center" hideaddbutton="true"> Quantum Break DX11 AMD RX 480 vs GTX 1060 & 1080
Quantum Break PC Better on DirectX 11! GTX 970 1060 vs RX 480 Gameplay Frame-Rate Tests
Gallery[]
Promotional[]
.png "Quantum Break (Timeless Collectors Edition).png (158 KB)")
External Links[]
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ Parents’ Guide to Quantum Break (PEGI 16+)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Quantum Break coming to Steam and PC retail on September 14th
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Special Edition of Quantum Break for PC Hitting Retail and Steam on September 14
- ↑ Quantum Break PC getting Steam and retail release, new $40 price today
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #162
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Quantum Break on Steam
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Remedy Shows How Quantum Breaks Graphics Are Created, Evaluates DirectX 12's Performance - WARNING: .pdf linked in article is malicious URL.
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #431
- ↑ @RiotRMD - December 7, 2015 #1
- ↑ @RiotRMD - December 7, 2015 #2
- ↑ Quantum Break CE “Very Unlikely” Says Remedy; Game’s Score “Very Different” & “Modern”
- ↑ Quantum Break confirmed for Windows 10
- ↑ Remedy on Quantum Break coming to PC
- ↑ Quantum Break won't be coming to Steam
- ↑ @NordicGamesAT - August 10, 2016
- ↑ Quantum Break Win10 Unlikely To Receive Another Patch, No Plans To Release Making Of Blu-Ray Digitally
- ↑ Quantum Break Win10 Will Still Receive Updates; No Version Will Be Left “Behind For Another
- ↑ Remedy Quantum Break Tribute
- ↑ Quantum Break gets a new, better trailer for Steam
- ↑ Quantum Break PC Release has been Pushed Back to September 29, 2016
- ↑ Quantum Break’s Steam and PC Retail Release Date Delayed
- ↑ Quantum Break - Fraps watermark on Ending?
- ↑ Unregistered Quantum Break Fraps Recording Was A “Mistake” Due To “Chaotic End” Of Game’s Development
- ↑ Thomas Phua @RiotRMD - October 4, 2016
- ↑ Patch Release ~10 mins ago
- ↑ Thomas Phua @RiotRMD - October 17, 2016
- ↑ Remedy Entertainment @remedygames September 28, 2016
- ↑ Quantum Break @QuantumBreak - September 28, 2016
- ↑ Remedy Entertainment @remedygames September 30, 2016
- ↑ @remedygames August 10, 2016
- ↑ @RiotRMD August 10, 2016
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #570
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #620
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #628
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break coming to Steam and Retail on 9/14 View Single Post #698
- ↑ Quantum Break on Steam won't be maxed out by one GTX 1080, say Remedy
- ↑ Hey Remedy, is this version optimized? | Quantum Break on Steam
- ↑ 38.00 38.01 38.02 38.03 38.04 38.05 38.06 38.07 38.08 38.09 38.10 Quantum Break PC is better on DirectX 11 (New Steam release gives Nvidia GPU owners a huge performance boost over the existing DX12 code)
- ↑ Sam Lake @SameLakeRMD - September 30, 2016
- ↑ "My Reaction When I checked out Steam this morning
- ↑ Remedy Entertainment @remedygames - October 7, 2016
- ↑ Quantum Break on Steam
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #35
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #88
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #97
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #160
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #161
- ↑ Thread: Quantum Break appears on Steam's Top Sellers list at #3 View Single Post #179