The 2006 Prey is a first-person shooter with portals and wall-walking. The player takes control of Cherokee man Domasi "Tommy" Tawodi, who along with his girlfriend Jen and grandfather Enisi gets abducted by an alien spaceship known as The Sphere. It's now up to Tommy to fight back against The Sphere and save humanity from destruction with an arsenal of extraterritorial guns and spiritual powers.
The game is well-known for its long development time, numerous scrapped versions and its infamously cancelled sequel. It is also not to be confused with Arkane Studios' 2017 game.
On December 29th, 2009, Prey was removed from Steam as the storefront ran out of keys to sell, this and no real effort to resell the game, has effectively made the PC version "abandonware".6 The Xbox 360 release and its DLC are still available via Xbox's backwards compatibility program.
E3 Leftovers#
e3demo.cfg#
A configuration file meant for E3 can be found in pak000.pk4. This config mentions various specially-made E3 console commands, and an "e3_demo0" demo file.
// Set for demo playback
set e3_demofadeoutrate 0.005
set e3_demofadeinrate 0.005
displayE3Loading
set con_noprint 1
set com_preloaddemos 0
set com_hideleveltransitions 1
set e3_demomode 1
set e3_demoshotrelease 0
bind f8 "toggle e3_demoshotrelease" // This must be bound to a function key or it gets inhibited
resetE3Demos
// Precache resources (These must not exceed 64k each)
// Generate these with the "writePrecache" command. Split up after-the-fact.
exec demos/e3precache1.cfg
exec demos/e3precache2.cfg
exec demos/e3precache3.cfg
// Queue up our demos
set e3_numdemos 16
set e3_demo0 shot_hh
set e3_demo1 1_roadhouse
set e3_demo2 2_ftc_fodder
set e3_demo3 3_ftc_hunter
set e3_demo4 4_ftc_kids
set e3_demo5 5_ftc_combat_deathwalk
set e3_demo6 6_ftc_combat_more
set e3_demo7 7_ftc_airplane
set e3_demo8 8_spindlea
set e3_demo9 9_lotaa
set e3_demo10 10_biolabs
set e3_demo11 11_harv_harvesters
set e3_demo12 12_harv_gravity
set e3_demo13 13_harv_spincube
set e3_demo14 14_superportal_combat
set e3_demo15 15_salvageboss
// Start playback sequence
playdemo $e3_demo0Unused Menu#
An unused menu meant for E3 can be seen by typing "displaye3loading" into the developer console. It appears to be a somewhat broken loading screen.
Unused Text#
Unused Subtitles#
|
To do:
|
Cut text exists in the text strings in english001.lang.
"#str_30270" "You've changed."
"#str_30271" "Been in a few fights. But I'm still the same guy."
"#str_30272" "That's not what I mean. The spirit of the wolf is within you. The Ani-Waya."
"#str_30273" "You've been to the Land of the Ancients!"
"#str_30274" "How'd you know?"
"#str_30275" "I see the strength of that place within you. It burns like a fire."
"#str_30276" "I've heard of the living being brought there, but I thought it was only a legend."This dialogue appears to be from an earlier version of the game's end credits scene. This version sees a different news report, a broken-down trucker pulling entering the bar and it being stated that it has not been very long since the events of the game. Elhuit doesn't show up and the tease for the canceled Prey 2 is absent.
"#str_30316" "...thousands are still missing."
"#str_30317" "The police are still advising people to stay in their homes until further notice."
"#str_30318" "But it does appear at this hour that the crisis is indeed over."
"#str_30319" "NASA is now reporting that the extra-terrestrial object responsible for the..."
"#str_30320" "...sudden global weather disturbances has safely passed by the Earth and should present no further danger."
"#str_30321" "Coming up next, a report on the recent appearance of solar flares..."
"#str_30322" "Hello?"
"#str_30323" "You open?"
"#str_30324" "Wow."
"#str_30325" "Looks like this place got smashed up pretty bad in the storm, too."
"#str_30326" "You ok?"
"#str_30327" "Been better."
"#str_30328" "Now listen. My truck broke down a few miles up the road."
"#str_30329" "If your phone works, I'd sure like to use it."
"#str_30330" "Hey, what sort of booze you got back there?"
"#str_30331" "After a night like tonight, I could, uh...sure use a drink."
"#str_30332" "You know, I, uh, haven't seen anyone else around on this reservation."
"#str_30333" "Maybe you're the last of your kind."
"#str_30334" "My kind?"
"#str_30335" "Yeah, you're a red indian, ain't ya?"
"#str_30336" "No."
"#str_30337" "I'm Cherokee."Meant to be a hint in the first phase of the Mother's boss fight.
"#str_30414" "My physical weapons won't hurt that thing."
"#str_30415" "My physical weapons aren't working."Likely intended to be said by Tommy during the later part of the game.
"#str_30500" "Know this. I am Domasi Tawodi of the Ani-Waya clan."
"#str_30767" "You won't need this any more, and I need the firepower."
"#str_30768" "...and I need the firepower."
"#str_30773" "Who the hell are those guys?"
"#str_30775" "Hmmmmm... I wonder what this does."
"#str_30857" "Where's this thing taking me?"
"#str_41042" "Maybe this will help me get out of here."
"#str_41040" "This looks like what the Hidden use."Likely intended for the possessed children.
"#str_30935" "[Kid] Mom! Dad!"
"#str_30936" "[Kid] Help."
"#str_30937" "[Kid] Mom! Dad!"
"#str_30938" "[Kid] He's right behind you."
"#str_30939" "[Kid] Get away!"
"#str_30940" "[Kid] Daddy!"
"#str_30941" "[Kid] Dad, no. Dad please. Daddy please. Stop it."
"#str_30942" "[Kid] I don't know how it got there. I swear I didn't do it."
"#str_30943" "[Kid] Do I have to?"
"#str_30944" "I don't like you."
"#str_30945" "[Kid] Happy Father's Day, Daddy."
"#str_30946" "Go away!"
"#str_30947" "I'm going to get you."
"#str_30948" "[Kid] I don't want to go to sleep."
"#str_30949" "[Kid] Help me, I'm scared."
"#str_30950" "[Kid] Help me!"
"#str_30951" "[Kid] He's got me."
"#str_30952" "[Kid] Hey, you."
"#str_30953" "[Kid] I don't know how it got there."
"#str_30954" "[Kid] You hurt my feelings."
"#str_30955" "[Kid] I'm hungry."
"#str_30956" "[Kid] I'm scared."
"#str_30957" "[Kid] Quick, let's get out of here."
"#str_30958" "You never let me do anything."
"#str_30961" "[Kid] He is so cute."
"#str_30962" "I'm going to tell on you!"
"#str_30963" "My tummy hurts."
"#str_30964" "You're it!"Unknown where these would have been used.
"#str_41017" "Bless the mother"
"#str_41019" "Oh, no!"
"#str_41020" "Oh my God! Where the hell are we?"Other#
"#str_41015" "Press any key to restart this console. You will lose any unsaved information in all applications."
"#str_41140" "DiStream Prompt"
"#str_41141" "Please insert disc 1."
"#str_41142" "Please insert disc 2."
"#str_41143" "Please insert disc 3."
"#str_41144" "Please insert disc 4."
"#str_41145" "Streaming data..."
"#str_41010" "Console Unlocked"
"#str_41011" "Console unlocked. Yeah right, like you didn't already find a way around that!"
"#str_41012" "SphereOS"Expansion Pack#
Prey has never received any expansion packs after release. The "Prey Expansion Pack" title is a placeholder for the actual title of said expansion, if it was to be released.
"#str_07195" "Prey Expansion Pack Key is invalid"
"#str_07197" "This Prey Expansion Pack Key is banned"
"#str_07199" "Prey Expansion Pack Key is in use"Development Text#
// Updated from source by PreyLocalize.pl: Fri Nov 18 18:25:28 2005 by PMACARTHUR
Found in the German, Spanish, Italian and French language string files is this line.
//ERROR: order of vector listing also changed//FIXED 3/29/05 mf
A commented-out line in map_shuttle.script dated to March 29th, 2005.
// #define NULL_ENTITY $worldspawn //OLD...seems to still work as well mf 3/31/05
Another commented-out line in prey_defs.script dated to March 31st, 2005.
Unused Voice Lines#
The game's sounds are stored in pak003/sound.
Tommy#
A single unused voice line of Tommy found in ryanred/temp. It is spoken with text-to-speech. According to Prey developer Chris Rhinehart in a development update in February 2006, the team had used a mix of text-to-speech and random Human Head employees as voice placeholders, meaning that this is likely a very old leftover.7
Filename |
Audio |
Transcript |
|---|---|---|
fta_tom_youok.ogg |
Hey, you ok? |
Enisi#
Found in e3_demo is an unused opening monologue by Enisi. They're from the game's 2005 E3 trailer, which by extension are a reference to the 1998 E3 trailer.
Filename |
Audio |
Transcript |
|---|---|---|
grandfatherintro_new_pt1.ogg |
They have long foretold the return of the mountain spirits; they have said they would cleanse the desert and that the weak would fall under the teeth of dogs, but they never foretold of this. |
|
grandfatherintro_new_pt2.ogg |
We had no idea, that we would become their prey. |
Unused Sounds#
Partially Unused Music#
The entirety of (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult is in the game but isn't normally played in its entirety.
Test Sound#
Found in test is test.ogg, which is just a second or so of silence.
Removed Sounds#
The game's .sndshd files in pak003 contain references to sounds that have been removed.
|
|
To do:
|
autosave.sndshd#
autosave {
//need subtitling -ed
sound/1shot/null.wav
}consolemainmenu.sndshd#
Note that "sound/music/score/prey_overture.ogg" is not unused. <pre style='white-space: pre-wrap; overflow: auto;> guisounds_menu_music {
mindistance 1
maxdistance 15
volume -6
soundclass SC_MUSIC
looping
sound/music/score/prey_overture.ogg
// sound/music/theme.ogg // sound/music/tommysong.ogg }
map_epiloge_dialog.sndshd#
//RoadhouseRedneck
//RADIO NEWS ANNOUNCER
rhe_radiochatter {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 12
volume 0
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_41187"
subtitle2 4.5 "#str_41188"
subtitle3 8.7 "#str_41189"
subtitle4 12.0 "#str_41190"
subtitle5 18.5 "#str_41191"
subtitle6 26.5 "#str_41192"
// subtitle7 29.9 "Mayor Jackson also commented on the federal government's seeming inability to address local reconstruction needs or the cause of the disaster itself."
// subtitle8 38.5 "...and I call on our great leaders in Washington to put aside their partisan differences and work with local and state authorities in our grand effort to rebuild our great city."
subtitle9 29.9 "#str_41193"
subtitle10 39.1 "#str_41194"
subtitle11 44.4 "#str_41195"
sound/vo/epi/epi_radio.wav
}
//REDNECK Hello? You open? Wow, looks like this place got smashed up pretty bad in the storm, too.
rhe_conv2_red01 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30322"
subtitle2 1.3 "#str_30323"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale01.wav
}
//REDNECK You okay?
rhe_conv2_red02 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30324"
subtitle2 1.3 "#str_30325"
subtitle3 6.1 "#str_30326"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale02.wav
}
//TOMMY Been better.
rhe_conv2_tom03 {
global
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30327"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_tom03.wav
}
//REDNECK Listen, my truck broke down a few miles up the road. If your phone works, I'd sure like to use it.
rhe_conv2_red04 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30328"
subtitle2 3.7 "#str_30329"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale04.wav
}
//REDNECK Hey, what sort of booze you got back there? After a night like tonight, I sure could use a drink.
rhe_conv2_red05 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30330"
subtitle2 2.5 "#str_30331"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale05.wav
}
//REDNECK You know, I haven't seen anyone else around on this reservation.
rhe_conv2_red06 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30332"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale06.wav
}
//REDNECK Maybe you're the last of your kind.
rhe_conv2_red07 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 2.0 "#str_30333"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale07.wav
}
//TOMMY My kind?
rhe_conv2_tom08 {
global
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30334"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_tom08.wav
}
//REDNECK Yeah, you a red injun' ain't ya?
rhe_conv2_red09 {
minDistance 5
maxDistance 40
no_occlusion
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30335"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_dale09.wav
}
//TOMMY No.
rhe_conv2_tom10 {
global
volume 0
// jawflap
soundclass SC_VOICE
subtitle1 0.0 "#str_30336"
subtitle2 1.2 "#str_30337"
sound/vo/roadhouse/rhe_conv2_tom10.wav
}aaa_todo.sndshd#
// These shaders have come up as missing warnings so they are stubbed out here until they are completed.
// When you fill one of these in, move it to the proper sound shader file.
// These are called on chuck frame commands
rh_chuck_fight05 {
}
rh_chuck_fight06 {
}
rh_chuck_fight07 {
}
rh_chuck_fight08 {
}
rh_chuck_fight09 {
}
// waiting on brian to break out into energy specific activate sounds
object_energynode_activate {
}
// for superportal map speaker
door_garbage_dump_lower_move {
}e3_demo.sndshd#
e3_loadmenu {
minDistance 50
maxDistance 50
volume -6
global
looping
sound/e3_demo/loadmenu.ogg
}
e3_grandfather_intro {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
// sound/E3_demo/GrandfatherIntro.wav
sound/E3_demo/GrandfatherIntro_new.wav
}
e3_grandfather_intro_pt1 {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/GrandfatherIntro_new_pt1.wav
}
e3_grandfather_intro_pt2 {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/GrandfatherIntro_new_pt2.wav
}
e3_fta_music_intro {
minDistance 50
maxDistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/e3_demo/feeding_tower_a_intro_music.ogg
}
e3_grandfather_LOTA1a {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/Grandfather_LOTA1a.wav
}
e3_grandfather_LOTA1b {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/Grandfather_LOTA1b.wav
}
e3_grandfather_LOTA2a {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/Grandfather_LOTA2a.wav
}
e3_grandfather_LOTA2b {
mindistance 50
maxdistance 50
volume -6
global
sound/E3_demo/Grandfather_LOTA2b.wav
}
e3_rumble {
volume -6
global
sound/e3_demo/rumble.wav
}
e3_outro {
volume -6
global
sound/e3_demo/outro.wav
}Unused Entities#
ammo_sniper#
Spawns as a simple black box that can be picked up but doesn't appear to do anything. Probably was intended for the Rifle. Defined in ammo.def.
character_chuck_epilogue#
Crashes the map when attempting to spawn it. Is likely the trucker/redneck that Tommy would talk to in the original post-credits scene.
character_test_grampa#
A headless Enisi. Walking into him causes him to wonder a-posing for a bit.
character_hider_animtest#
A version of the Hiders. Likely indented to test animations but causes the map to crash when attempting to spawn it.
test_springmodel#
A test model that is missing intended model.
Build Date#
|
|
To do: |
Jun 10 2006
00:44:11
A build date found in the executable.
Oddities#
Unused Metal Room#
|
|
To do: |
Found out-of-bounds at the start of the game at Jen's Bar is a single metallic room, possibly a remnant from an earlier version of the abduction scene.
Ted Easter Egg#
At the beginning of the level Center of Gravity there is an image of a bearded man holding a stuffed lion can be seen on one of the columns at the pitch dark right edge of the tower. It is only reachable when embarking the first exoskeleton shuttle and lit up with its flashlight.
It can be found with the texture assets for the "Feeding Tower" with the filename feedbted.tga.
The image seems to be a screencap from this video at 0:29.
Revisional Changes#
|
|
To do: |
v1.0#
Launch version on PC. Stated in console to be v1.0.103.
v1.1#
The first patch released for the game on August 30, 2006, with lots of bug fixes:
- Multiplayer bandwidth optimization to allow better play on higher latency connections
- Fixed projectile effects not showing up on dedicated servers
- Fixed crash at startup due to time/date validation on some systems
- Fixed crash at startup due to querying old OpenAL drivers
- Fixed an occasional crash on the dedicated server
- Fixed a crash when using image_usecache cvar with very big textures. Textures whose lowest mip map doesn't fit will be default texture. This was causing a crash when a modified prey was loading "Mother's Embrace".
- Fixed a crash on some machines when reading savegames.
- Some timedemo features not appearing if you restart prey between record/playback
- Added widescreen resolutions to menus
- Updated multiplayer browser to fix servers not showing up due to DNS resolution
- Updated multiplayer browser not keeping join button up to date when server summary wasn't the active tab.
- Updated multiplayer browser so punkbuster icons show up in their column properly
- Updated multiplayer browser so mod games' icons show up properly updated multiplayer browser so server scanning is more consistent on slower connections
- Fixed multiplayer weapon exploit
- Bumped network protocol version. Unpatched games will not be able to play online with patched games. This means that if you are playing v1.0, you can not play against or on servers running v1.1 (and vice versa).
(Source: Prey v1.1 PC Patch Released)
v1.2#
The second patch released on October 10, 2006, which came with more bug fixes and extra content. The extra content included was made free DLC on the Xbox 360 and has to be individually downloaded:
- 4 new maps for multiplayer are added: Gravity Lab, Topillogical, Tunnel Rat and DM Space Oddity.
- 6 new models for multiplayer are added: Jen, Becky, Elhuit, Mother, Alien Hunter and Elite Alien Hunter.
The update's bug fixes are follows:
- Network protocol version bump (will no longer be able to see 1.1 or 1.0 servers)
- Installer will now update uninstaller. This fixes the missing installer problem.
- Game DLL interface bump for (then) upcoming mod SDK release (so mods will only work with v1.2)
- Fix for a weapon switch exploit
(Source: Prey v1.2 PC Patch Released)
v1.3#
The third patch for the game released on February 14, 2007. This patch didn't come with any new content or bug fixes but instead came with compatibility files for the Mac port of Prey (meaning PC users can play against Mac users and vice versa).
(Source: Prey v1.3 PC Patch Released)
v1.4#
The fourth and last patch released on January 10, 2008. Like the previous patch it is a small update done to add compatibility files to account for the Japanese release of Prey and to remove the disc check from the game.
(Source: Prey v1.4 Patch Released)
References#
- 3D Realms' Official Prey webpage - 3D Realms↩︎
- Venom Games' Prey webpage - Venom Games, February 6th 2006↩︎
- Aspyr Media Ships Prey for PowerPC- and Intel-Based Macs - Aspyr Media, January 17th 2007↩︎
- Prey retail version released! - icculus.org, December 7th 2008↩︎
- Updated Australian release list, 3/07/06 - PALGN↩︎
- Steam Sold Out Of Prey, Please Try Again Later - Kotaku, January 1st 2010↩︎
- Prey Weekly Development Update #4 (3D Realms / Prey website) - February 3rd 2006↩︎
|
The Prey series | |
|---|---|
|
Windows |
|
|
Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux |
|
|
PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
|