A hardcore sci-fi first-person role-playing experience. Explore, talk, fight and/or sneak through The Churchill Tower in 2042! Play an active role in the ongoing narrative. Every choice counts.
All Reviews:
Mixed (29) - 44% of the 29 user reviews for this game are positive.
Release Date:
Sep 21, 2017

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Early Access Game

Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“In 2017, we introduced the early Alpha build of Consortium:THE TOWER on Steam Early Access, inviting players to join us in refining the game's various mechanics. Over the next three years, culminating in December 2019, we improved and polished numerous "core non-story gameplay" elements absent in our first title, Consortium (2014).

The Tower accommodates a wide array of play styles, offering extreme non-linearity and a player-driven experience primarily focused on exploration and gameplay choices. This design enables various customized paths through the content, encouraging players to replay the game and explore alternative routes.

As we complete CONSORTIUM VR/Remastered, we will initiate Phase Two of production, with regular build updates resuming on this platform.

At present, we recommend purchasing and playing this version of The Tower only if you are eager to experience the gameplay mechanics immediately or if you wish to obtain the game at the lowest possible price.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Until the game is done.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The full version of Consortium: THE TOWER is planned to feature complete choreography, including facial expressions, lip-syncing, and gestures.

Our planned remaining amount of content includes approximately 50% more explorable space within the Churchill Tower, with additional squads and cultures, as well as a greater variety of hazards, enemies, and puzzles.

The Early Access Alpha build of Consortium: THE TOWER primarily comprises Act 1, with limited access to Act 2 environments. This build offers approximately twenty hours of gameplay or more.

Upon its full release, our aim is for the game to provide a comprehensive resolution to the various story arcs and threads initiated in Act 1. We are also aiming to deliver the following Key enhancements:

  • Vastly improved combat and A.I. mechanics.
  • A streamlined inventory system.
  • Full V.O.I.C.E. support.
  • Native V.R. support.
  • Fully updated (including images) Information Console.
  • A significant engine upgrade to version 4.27.

Furthermore, we have ambitious plans to transition THE TOWER to Unreal Engine 5.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The currently available build of Consortium: THE TOWER on Steam is the culmination of Phase One of the game's production. Developed over four years following its successful funding on Fig, this Early Access Alpha build represents the ambitious and intricate first act of a work-in-progress project.

The current Alpha build available to all includes our prototype system for V.O.I.C.E. This means that if your default mic is enabled, you can speak dialog lines with your own voice!

At present, most voice acting is complete, with 2,500 lines of finalized voice-over dialogue in the game. However, some temporary "robot" voices can still be encountered. Please refer to the description below for a comprehensive list of the game's current features and content.

Choreography is entirely absent in this build, meaning there are no facial animations, lip-syncing, or gestures accompanying the delivery of lines.

Additionally, numerous known bugs persist in this now outdated build.

For those concerned about us having two games in Early Access, and for more info rmation about our plans and motivations moving forward as a company, please see THIS POST: https://steamcommunity.com/app/626250/discussions/0/3829791007686976119/

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes.

The current price is the lowest price that this game will ever be offered for a long time. The price will raise for v1.0, if not earlier.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“You have the following options to engage with us:

1) Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/8TgRBxh

If you are primarily interested in the completion of THE TOWER and less concerned about CONSORTIUM VR, join our Discord server and request the "Tower Steam Owner" role. This will ensure you never miss an important Tower update and gain access to closed betas, among other benefits.

2) Post here on the Steam forums

We are here to listen and learn from your feedback, striving to make the finished version of the game the best it can be!”
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About This Game

Inspired by both the original CONSORTIUM and old-school sci-fi first-person shooters, Consortium: The Tower is a role-playing experience with an unparalleled degree of player freedom.​

GAME DESCRIPTION


We here at iDGi have invented a satellite capable of opening a rift through time and space. Travel with us through this rift to the year 2042, and take first-person control of Consortium agent Bishop Six on his first official mission. The result is a highly unique, fourth-wall shattering role-playing experience where you essentially play YOURSELF in full control of another human being.

While the game presents you with a seemingly straightforward mission to rescue hostages, you have complete freedom to approach all situations as you see fit. Decisions are remembered, and can drastically change the outcome of the story. Follow the Consortium mandate and work with your team to accomplish their goals, choose to work directly against them, even fully joining the other side, or skirt the line and play both sides for as long as you can. Both sides have their own truths, and it’s your job to sort them out and decide for yourself who to believe and why. In the middle are a host of characters from all sides of the conflict, each complete with hundreds of lines of dialogue, as well as interconnected backstories and motivations.

We aim for Consortium: The Tower to become the ultimate sci-fi action immersive simulation. Absolutely everything in this game has a narrative or world-building explanation behind it, including all of the game mechanics. In other words our goal from the very beginning was to ensure there are no “gamey” elements, allowing for maximum immersion.

BACK STORY


London, England, December 21st 2042. Terrorists have seized control of the Churchill Tower Power Facility, located in the center of the 1.5 km high Churchill Tower, and taken all of its civilian employees hostage. The global para-military police agency, The Consortium are being brought in to subdue the terrorists and rescue the hostages, and YOU are the principal agent in charge of the mission.

In the weeks prior to this incident industrial nanites, the primary workforce behind the construction of vast sections of The Churchill Tower, have mysteriously gone haywire. The building’s construction was ground to a halt just days before your arrival. Vast sections of the Tower are unfinished and reshaped, making navigating to where the hostages are a serious challenge.



Due to the unusual nature of the situation, this highly connected society of 2042 quickly become enamoured by your actions. Within hours billions are glued to their VR-decks, hanging off every move you make. Watch as news reports alter based on your actions, and an ever present “public opinion meter” determines your overall standing in their eyes.

Besides the specific story unfolding on the tower, the Consortium Universe is extremely vast, encompassing over ten years of development and worldbuilding. Every nook and cranny of every character and event has been meticulously planned, and allows for a completely optional rabbit hole to delve into for those looking to get lost in an alternate future from our own.

KEY FEATURES


  • Play this game entirely on its own or import your universe from CONSORTIUM and continue your story seamlessly! Playing the first game is NOT required to fully understand the narrative.
  • Imported games include alternate dialogue and situations stemming from your choices in CONSORTIUM.
  • New Players unfamiliar with CONSORTIUM will also be given unique dialogue and situations based on having NOT played the first game!
  • Explore hundreds of pages of optional backstory and lore through an in-game Information Console (our version of a codex)
  • A semi-realtime element allows for events to trigger based on playtime, and for world events outside of The Tower to pop periodically. Keep an eye out on these events, and piece together an interconnected narrative that spans well past the confines of The Tower.

SURVIVE!


  • The Churchill Tower is a highly dangerous environment, with extreme temperatures, security turrets, potentially hostile soldiers, great heights, deadly air vents and more making simple survival a real challenge.
  • Utilize a classic drag and drop RPG inventory system and manage a wide variety of gear and ammunition that turns you into the world’s ultimate super soldier - a Consortium Bishop. Make deals with combatant squad leaders for better gear, or take them down and loot their bodies.
  • All of your technology requires Utility Energy to function. Get more Utility Energy by “recycling” dozens of everyday objects scattered throughout the world. Even garbage and litter can yield you vital Utility Energy! If it’s a loose object in the world, it can be recycled.
  • Find and unlock the Engineering System and gain the ability to upgrade all of your gear to suit your playing style. More than 50 currently available upgrades, with more to come.

TALK!


  • Choose to talk your way through most of the story, and never even raise your weapon.
  • Every single NPC found in Consortium: The Tower, including all of the “bad guys,” are there for a narrative reason. You have the choice to try and strike up a conversation with everyone you can find using our realistic, and heavily upgraded waterfall dialog system.
  • All combatant squad leaders include full backstories along with believable motivations for their actions, and a path toward alliance. You can also speak to the members of the various squads… some may not want to speak with you, but many will and may offer up useful information for your mission.
  • Non-linear storytelling. Most of the narrative moments can be triggered in any order, and the game will remember what you've done previously and customize your encounters to account for what you've actually done so far in the story. This seamlessly allows for a ridiculous level of replayability.
  • As of Early Access Alpha 1.0, there is already over 2,500 lines of fully voiced interactive dialog to discover. Our characters are portrayed by top notch voice talent, including Mark Meer (Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect trilogy) as “The Voice”.
  • Dialog choices truly matter and can cause major changes to occur. Be aware of who you’re talking to, learn their particular biases, and always be careful what you choose to say, or not say!
  • Forge friendships with individuals and alliances with various factions and decide for yourself who is to be trusted. There is no “right and wrong,” only differing perspectives.
  • Manage incoming messages and conversation requests from your colleagues and advisors (Consortium or otherwise!) with your Conversation Manager.

FIGHT!


  • Choose to pit yourself against AI driven mercenaries and soldiers that will flank you, take cover and have a genuine sense of self-preservation - they will surrender to you if they are clearly losing. They can also fall unconscious, but be sure to inject them with incapacitating nanites or they will eventually wake up and re-join the fight!
  • Battle against a variety of deadly security turrets that are challenging to destroy
  • Utilize SIX different weapons and a total of TEN different fire-modes with differing tactical value. Your equipment will take damage from incoming fire, so you’ll have to deploy repair nanites to keep your gear in working order.
  • Multiple lethal and non-lethal solutions to resolving combat. If you want to avoid being kicked from the Consortium, you’ll need to try for non-lethal solutions when you can.
  • Learn to switch between the Freefall Suit and Battle Utility Suit, and understand the pros and cons to each.
  • Deep and realistic player damage system. Manage shields and armor to avoid taking any damage. If you let your defenses down you may start bleeding out or incur serious organ damage, meaning you’ll have to deploy expensive medical nanites to stay alive.

EXPLORE!


  • You have complete freedom to explore the completely non-linear and interconnected sections of the Churchill Tower as you see fit. Early Access Alpha 1.0 includes roughly half of the finished gameworld at a minimum, with plenty of space to expand the scope of the environment in the future:
    • the roof with currently 6 different ways into the Tower interior you can find.
    • a massive park entombed by construction nanites and transparent titanium
    • multiple vent mazes and elevator shafts
    • multiple floors of the hotel
    • large mysterious water filled pipes and multiple industrial areas
    • the spacious and open Hotel Lobby
  • No movement restrictions and no invisible walls! Use your freefall suit to FLY anywhere you can see as long as you have enough utility energy.
  • Seamless first-person parkour. Super jump and ledge grab your way into dozens of hidden areas and secret ways into and around the building.
  • Use a fully 3D automap to keep track of where you are in the Tower.

SNEAK!


  • The more AI sees you, the more agitated they get which in turn increases their chance of engaging in combat with you. If you wish to avoid gunfights, you will need to manage how much the AI sees and hears you.
  • Use the engineering system to upgrade your gear’s acoustics and become a truly silent prowler!
  • Use the Tactical View to see potential combatants and recyclables through solid surfaces and plan your approaches.
  • Sneak up behind combatants and use your Taser to take them down without drawing the attention of their squadmates.
  • Find and use the Stealth Shield node to make yourself completely invisible to pass in front of turrets and enemies with ease. Beware that you will still make sound, which can be mitigated through engineering upgrades!
  • When sneaking around potential combatants, listen in on their conversations to learn more about the world and situation you find yourself in.

System Requirements

    Minimum:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS *: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit versions)
    • Processor: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 960 2GB/AMD Radeon RX 560 3GB or better
    • Storage: 10 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
* Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

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