Terminator: Salvation

Arnie always promised they’d be back and, you know, he was on to something.

The Terminator franchise has expanded well beyond the original movie, spawning three sequels and various outings in the realms of gaming and graphic novels. Now the series returns to the silver screen in Terminator: Salvation, and what better way to prepare for the end of humanity than with a game of the same name?

Focusing once more on John Connor, the involuntary leader of the resistance against Skynet’s armies, Salvation dispenses with the prevention of Cyberdyne’s folly and the resultant disaster of Judgement Day. Instead, it tells of the war between man and the machines alluded to in the films, and the game puts players on the frontlines.

However, Warner Bros is keen to point out the game is not a simple retelling of the movie, but a new story that fans of the Terminator lore have been waiting for since the original film in the ‘80s: the early stages of the war for survival.

“It is not a straight adaptation of the film per se as it offers the backstory to the film by setting it two years before in 2016,” explains Warner Bros’ product manager Phil Lamb.

“The humans are in disarray and just fighting to survive in small pockets where they can: the resistance is in its infancy and John Connor is just a grunt – he’s not the leader yet.”

MAN VS MACHINE
As Connor, players will have to take on a range of missions set in the utterly decimated remains of Los Angeles. Players will feel the intensity of the post-apocalyptic wastelands glimpsed in the films, where ammo is sparse and their enemies will stop at nothing to terminate them, even if they are heavily damaged or broken.

The action revolves around taking on hordes of Terminator machines or dealing significant blows to their defensive capabilities, largely from a third-person perspective.

That’s not to say the series’ penchant for memorable vehicle chases has been ignored – players will often be asked to man a gun turret in order to protect a rugged armoured vehicle as it speeds through the battlefield.
There is even the opportunity to don a Terminator-based mechanical battle suit and view the world from a Terminator’s point of view, complete with the classic red-tinted HUD.

Of course, as with the films themselves, the human survivors aren’t the main draw. Instead, fans will be more interested in their mechanical enemies, which truly encapsulate why the Terminator franchise has become so widely loved.

“The machines are the real stars, and they are very different to anything you’ve seen in the franchise before,” says Lamb. “Skynet has not yet managed to evolve the cyborgs to the standard of the classic ‘Arnie’ T-800 but the bulkier T-600s still have that iconic, red-eyed skeletal glare.

“Other machines include the auto-bikes, Hunter-killers and gigantic harvesters from the movie –
which resemble Transformers on steroids – as well as a number of machines that have been specifically developed for the game.”

Warner has prepared an extensive marketing and PR campaign to ensure the title isn’t forgotten.
Its PR campaign will tie the game into the coverage given to the movie. Front covers have been secured on the likes of Powerstation and Toxic Magazine, with more coverage to be found in the special Terminator editions of key men’s lifestyle publications, such as FHM, Loaded, Total Film, Empire, and SFX.

There will also be exclusive specialist press reviews in the official magazines, including Offcial PlayStation Magazine, Official Xbox Magazine, PC Gamer
and GamesMaster.

A large-scale radio campaign will target both national and regional radio stations, while exclusive activity has been planned for TV PR coverage, hitting key gadget, games and tech TV shows around launch.

NETWORK BREACH
Warner has also already started using social media to promote the game, with a campaign kicking off in March designed to generate hype via social media sites, forums, and comic and film fansites. Additionally, Terminator stunts have been planned to take place around London, giving customers at key retail sites the chance to sample both the game and the film.

In terms of more traditional advertising, a heavyweight TV campaign will bring ads to key sports, football and male-orientated programming, targeting the films’ fans.
National promotions have been arranged with Pizza Hut, Police Watches and ASUS computers, and retailers will be able to get FSDUs, posters and window clings for their shop floors.

“The Terminator franchise is one of the biggest film franchises ever, with every film going straight to No.1 upon release and Terminator: Salvation is definitely likely to follow that trend,” adds Lamb.

“The game itself is an extension of the Terminator brand and offers the only opportunity to be John Connor and battle the machines. It will be a must-have for sci-fi fans, movie fans and gamers alike.”