“Bodycam” is a PC game developed and published by “Reissad Studio” whose “early access version” has been distributed on Steam since June 8, 2024. It is a new action FPS where you can experience tense online PvP while watching images from the “body camera perspective” worn on the body.
Its major features include a highly realistic gameplay screen projected from a perspective adjusted to resemble a fisheye lens, tense play elements where even a moment of carelessness can result in a game over, and a game system full of interactive elements that allow you to demonstrate your shooting skills online with friends or players from around the world.
This new work is recommended for people who like playing shooting games with a military-style worldview, people who are looking for overseas games that offer a realistic gameplay experience, and people who want to give their opinions, feedback, and report bugs while playing early access titles.
- Experience body cam perspective
- New work from young developers
- Unique modes are also available
A new FPS that can be played from a body cam perspective
“Bodycam'', which is currently available in early access on Steam, is a recommended new game that, as the title suggests, allows players to experience powerful action shooting elements while viewing images from the “body camera perspective'' worn on their bodies. It is a PC game that has been a hot topic even before its release.
Players can step into a realistic map, play in an immersive first-person view, and enjoy online PvP in modes such as Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. This is an action FPS that is definitely recommended for those who have cultivated their skills in military action shooting games.
At the same time as the release, 1,292 user reviews were posted on the store, and the overall opinion was “mixed pros and cons''. Users who play action FPS on Steam are generally known to be harsh, and there are many who complain about trivial points, but this overall rating includes low reviews from such users.
Many of the users who complain about the problems and bugs inherent in the early access version have something in common, but in a sense this is “normal”, and users' feedback is needed in order for developers to fix these problems. It will be stress-free if you understand the meaning of the early access version before considering purchasing the product.
By the way, I felt it necessary to explain what the “body cam perspective'' is, which is the biggest feature of this work, and what kind of camera a body cam is in the first place, so I have written a summary below. If you are already familiar with body cams, please skip the section below and continue reading.
About body cam
Body cameras, often referred to by the abbreviation “body cam,'' are devices that have been created along with the evolution and development of photography cameras, and the ones most commonly known are those worn by police officers overseas. There are many videos taken with this body camera on YouTube and other sites, and you can see the tense exchanges.
The need for body cams is not only to provide a live broadcast of what is happening on the scene to people outside the scene, but also for the element of “surveillance'' to determine whether police officers are taking appropriate steps to shoot or make arrests. If there is a police officer who commits an inappropriate act, the entire incident will be recorded by body cam, which will become important evidence in the event of a trial.
There are variations of body cams, such as those that are worn on the head and those that are worn around the chest, and there are also models that have GPS positioning and live streaming functions. Body cams were first introduced for police officers in the UK around 2005, and have since spread to Western countries. Currently, it is the best way to ensure transparency.
Of course, this does not mean that the public welcomes this bodycam footage without permission, and questions are often raised from the perspective of protecting personal privacy. However, it is irreplaceable as a means of eloquently recording “what happened'' at the scene, and is extremely advantageous in that police officers who have committed wrongdoing or blunders cannot “perjure.''
The cost of maintaining body cams in the United States is said to be several million dollars a year, and while it seems like a considerable amount of money is being invested to maintain the status quo, it is a device that has a purpose of preventing deep-seated racial prejudice and conflict between crimes between white and black people, and this system and mechanism will not go away (until an alternative method is developed).
The scenes of fights between criminals and police officers, filmed with body cameras, are very graphic and clearly show the problems of a gun society where lives can be lost in an instant. There is also a shocking scene in which a woman, who at first glance appears to be an ordinary citizen, suddenly pulls out a gun and fires at a police officer, making you realize the horror that “people are not based on appearances.''
I also watched a YouTube channel that broadcasts this body cam footage for a while, and it was very interesting to see how the process of arrest differs from that in Japan, and how it highlighted the problems faced by the multi-ethnic nation of the United States. However, there are so many shocking scenes that I am currently not watching this video due to mental strain.
The charm of the game
This game, “Bodycam,'' which incorporates such body cam footage into the game, has been attracting a lot of interest from avid action FPS fans ever since the preview video was released. This is because the “fisheye lens''-style play screen unique to body cam footage has a vivid sense of reality, giving the feeling of actually being at the scene.
As of May 2024, the number of Steam users who have registered this work on their wishlists has reached 1 million, and the high expectations for this project have become a hot topic. This is a great example of how FPS game fans around the world responded en masse to an action shooting game that lets you play from a perspective that has never been seen before.
The game is being developed by Reissad Studio, an indie game studio made up of young members, and this is their debut game title. They are based in France and operate the game's official website as well as various social networking sites, so if you want to know about development progress and new information, be sure to follow them.
They are also recruiting members, “crew,'' who can register for free on their official website. By registering with your email address on the official website, you can receive the latest news, alerts, and event-related information, as well as be the first to receive information on exclusive content, skins, etc. This is a recommended new game that is increasing its fan base with its youthful way of using SNS.
The team members who are 17 and 20 years old living in France are actually working on the development of this game, proving that a small group of people can create an indie game that will be talked about all over the world. This is a new work that can be recommended to anyone who wants to pursue a career as a game developer in the future, and there is a lot to be gained through this work.
Unreal Engine 5, a next-generation 3DCG tool, was used in the development of the game, achieving both highly immersive game footage and smooth motion. This tool, provided by Epic Games, is a video production program that anyone can access, and its unique feature is that even individual developers can obtain visual beauty that is comparable to AAA titles.
Visually, it utilizes next-generation technology with photorealistic visual elements using Quixel Bridge's Megascan, which is an attractive feature that attracts many users. This work is being developed with a focus on realism to the point where you can even feel the atmosphere within the map, and you'll be mesmerized by the overwhelming drawings.
In that sense, this work can serve as a good example of how individuals or even small-scale indie game developers can obtain graphics of a quality comparable to that of major publishers, and it also feels like it silently sends out a powerful message to those who follow. There is almost nothing impossible in game development these days.
Early access status and roadmap
Currently, in the game, you can use online PvP modes that are divided into deathmatch and team deathmatch, as well as a highly competitive “body bomb mode”. There is an environment where you can fully demonstrate your skills online, and you are sure to fall in love with the thrilling competitive matches. This is a new product that is also recommended for people who have many friend users that they usually get along with.
Specifically, in Deathmatch, up to 10 players can play together and decide who will be the last one standing, while in Team Deathmatch, up to 10 players can be divided into teams of 5 and enjoy playing together or against each other. The unique body bomb mode is also 5v5 format with the same number of players as Deathmatch. There are plans to add more modes in the official version.
At the moment, the weapons and items that appear in the game are common ones such as shotguns, submachine guns, flashbangs, and grenades, but the types of weapons that can be used will be added from time to time through updates. The intention is not to sell weapons that can give you an advantage in the game, and the game is expected to have no pay-to-win elements.
The map that appears is divided into industrial buildings, shooting ranges, airsoft fields, forests, etc., and it can be said that the environment is typical of a military action FPS work. The maps are apparently designed to allow for team tactics, so be sure to understand the characteristics of each map as you progress through the battle.
As mentioned above, this work is being developed by a team of two people, so there is a high possibility that there will be no dramatic progress in the work, but the official website does post a roadmap for “Bodycam'' with bullet points. At first, we'll be focusing on adjusting the game system, but as time goes on we'll be fleshing out the details, so let's take a look.
According to this roadmap, updates in the second quarter include bug fixes, performance adjustments, various upgrades, and improvements to anti-cheat features, including the addition of maps. This is a welcome declaration since cheating is rampant in action FPS titles, especially PC games.
In the third quarter, it is planned to add weapons, implement skins for character customization, add more maps, and implement a “zombie mode”, as well as support for NVIDIA's drawing technology “DLSS”. During this period, we plan to incorporate requests based on the feedback received, so it is extremely important to voice your opinions.
In the fourth quarter, in addition to implementing new game modes, maps and photo modes are expected to be added, and multilingual support will be added. At the moment, this game only has an English interface, but as development progresses, there is a possibility that a Japanese interface environment will be supported. Translation volunteers would be most welcome.
Another appeal of this work is that it presents a solid roadmap, even though it is being developed by a small team, and the two young developers are extremely motivated to bring this work to the official version. Nowadays, when many indie games are often left unfinished, this is an attitude we would like to emulate.
However, its ambitions are considerable, with the Steam store declaring that the game will remain in “early access” for the next few years. According to the developer, the finished version will have a completely different finish from the early access version of the title, and it seems that the content will shift to be more functional and immersive than the current version. I'm really looking forward to the future.
Now on sale at release commemorative sale price
The selling price on the Steam store is 3,900 yen, and you can currently purchase it at 3,510 yen, which is a 10% OFF release commemorative sale price. By the way, it has been suggested that this early access price may increase once the official version is released to the developer's satisfaction, so if you are thinking of purchasing the game as cheaply as possible, hurry up and get it.
This work is a title exclusively for online battles, and solo play is not possible. At this time, there is no official support for playing with a general-purpose controller, and compatibility with Valve's portable game console “Steam Deck'' has not been announced. There are currently no Steam achievements that can be unlocked, which is a little disappointing, but let's look forward to future updates.
Moderate system requirements for PC. The graphics board presented in the recommended requirements is of the RX 6600XT or RTX 3060 class, so a gaming PC in the current mid-spec range can be considered a safe zone. However, those using full HD or higher, WQHD or 4K monitors at native resolution will need more high-performance parts.
The recommended CPU model is a Ryzen 7 3800X or i7-10700K class processor, and the recommended amount of main memory is 16GB. The installation size is medium-sized at 50GB, but this may increase with future updates, so it will be mentally easier to have some extra storage space in advance.
“Bodycam'', a new military action FPS game where you can experience tense online PvP while watching images from the perspective of a “body camera'' worn on the body, is currently being distributed as an “early access version''. It is a game title that has received a lot of attention worldwide, and expectations are high for its future development and rise in popularity.
[Recommended points]A new type of FPS is born here!
Overall review: Can you withstand the low morale inherent in FPS?
*All opinions expressed in this item are the author's personal opinions and thoughts, and there is no guarantee that they are correct. Furthermore, I have no intention of using this item to disparage any particular company or person, so I would appreciate it if you could view this as just a “reference opinion''.
“Bodycam'', which is being developed with a “body cam'' perspective, is a title that is attracting worldwide attention as a new way of expressing action FPS, and many users are currently participating and enjoying playing. However, what is worrisome is the “decline in morals'' that will inevitably occur as the number of game players increases.
In recent years, the spread of the Internet has made it easier for many people to enjoy online games, but this has resulted in many cases of players fighting with each other or using abusive language against others. Recently, it has been pointed out that the age group of users who engage in these acts is decreasing, and the situation is quite serious.
This is a serious problem for companies that provide games, and as preventive measures they have introduced ratings that specify that only users over a certain age can play, and a system that allows victims to report players who have actually committed the problem, but no fundamental solution has been found. This is due to the fact that the population is too large.
This “deterioration of player morale'' is especially noticeable in action FPSs like this one, and online games with mechanisms that allow random players to participate have become a hotbed. The sight of people spewing out heartless words to people they've never met before, without anyone knowing their personal information, is truly “unbearable to watch.''
Players with “low morals” have been reported on Bodycam, and voices are being raised about abusive language using voice chat and cheating by introducing unauthorized software. From here, we will take a look at “abusive language,'' which has a negative impact on players' mental health, and “cheating,'' which is considered a problem worldwide.
Regarding player abuse
The ability to participate anonymously is considered to be a major factor in the “abuse'' that completely ignores etiquette and morals when playing games. Because the person being abused cannot see the identity of the other person, psychological damage often accumulates that is different from the real world. Acts that degrade others should not be done and should be denounced.
Specifically, in the case of action FPSs, there are situations where advanced users ridicule beginner users when they do not have the desired results, or when they lose, they release throwaway lines that use prejudiced or derogatory words, and users who have no intention of playing seriously in the first place engage in abusive language or erratic behavior as acts of vandalism, leaving users who are matched with them with strong feelings of discomfort.
It is believed that the history of players engaging in these “nuisance acts'' in online games is long, but since each company or operation providing the game has a completely different response, it is difficult to research the problem academically, creating a vicious cycle in which new moral declines are constantly occurring. Efforts to investigate the root cause and make improvements are essential.
So, what kind of mental tendencies do players have who use abusive language while playing and cause harm in a way that is visible to their opponents? One of them seems to be the “feelings of anger'' that “I was so absorbed in the game that I got angry and said something.'' This is a phenomenon that can occur in any game, and is something that many people experience from a relatively young age.
When I was in elementary school, I was playing a home video game with a friend, and when my game wasn't going well, I got angry and reached for the reset button. Looking back, I think this was a “selfish'' act that lacked consideration for others, and I felt really bad for the friends who played with me.
Even if it's just “play” like a game, concentrating on playing can cause people to lose their normal calm mental strength and thinking ability, and the stress of not being able to play well manifests itself in various ways. I've seen people suddenly start screaming at game arcades and do what is known as “panning'', and these are probably cases like this.
With the advent of online games, the “outlet'' for stress when we get angry has subtly changed. The “expression of anger'' in the real world of hitting things or people is now being directed through text or voice chat (of course, there are people who break things when you can't see them), and the “anger'' is being vented online at the person you are competing with.
It would be one thing if the person you were playing with was a close friend or family member that you know well, but if the person you are playing with is an “unidentified/ageless'' person whose only name is known, there is no way that anyone would feel comfortable being insulted one-sidedly, and there is a glimpse of the “cowardice'' that is unique to anonymity. It's an insidious act of throwing pebbles at someone from a safe distance.
What I am concerned about is that these abusive acts are not only carried out by adult users, but also by younger users such as elementary school students. As mentioned above, I myself experienced stress and anger caused by gaming when I was a child, but since there were no online games in those days, it was impossible for me to lash out at strangers.
Nowadays, children who are not mentally mature can easily connect to the online environment, so a situation has arisen where anger, which in the past would not have caused trouble to a random person, is directed at players all over the world. In severe cases, even adult users appear who “incite” the cases, creating a chaotic environment.
The above description states that children simply emit anger and abusive language as a result of “stress caused by the game not going well,'' but the age range that causes this behavior is wide-ranging. So how does the phenomenon of an adult person uttering unpleasant words and actions toward others or suddenly posting a series of meaningless posts occur?
One of them is “mental immaturity.'' This is an example of a child who, while growing up, did not meet anyone who would discipline him or her, and who became an adult without being able to draw a clear line as to what is “ok to do'' and what is “not to do.'' Lack of growth or incompatibility due to mental illness will be excluded here.
When a child reaches adulthood with a self-centered way of thinking, it becomes extremely difficult to behave with respect to society, and it is easy to find ways to relieve stress in the wrong direction. An example of this is when someone plays a game to relieve stress in real life, and something goes wrong, they “spew venom'' at related companies or other players online.
A person who has general knowledge and a logical thought process and is familiar with various social networking sites becomes more dangerous, and the more likely he or she is to engage in abusive language or harassing behavior without their identity being identified. Unlike children who impulsively use abusive language, they are highly likely to become habitual offenders, and they often relieve stress by engaging in behavior that degrades others.
Now that we can interact with players from all over the world through online games, it is impossible to instantly determine what kind of process the person we have matched with has grown up, and this is where we can see that the essence of this abusive language problem is deep-rooted. Slander is a worldwide problem on social media, but this phenomenon is also occurring in the gaming world, and it is a serious situation.
Currently, players who use such abusive language are generally dealt with by reporting them by other players and banning them (banning them from accessing the game) by the management company, but it also seems essential to educate younger users so that they can face the online environment correctly. It is essential that all countries work together to address this as a global issue.
About cheating
“Cheating” is the act of intentionally modifying an existing game using a malicious program and proceeding with an online match from an overwhelmingly advantageous position. The number of users who engage in cheating behavior is considered a problem, and there is no end to the number of businesses and individuals who make profits by selling malicious programs on the Internet. What is so appealing about cheating?
If you are a person who lives your life honestly and can judge right from wrong, you should be fully aware that making unauthorized modifications to games is “illegal.'' Still, those who “voluntarily choose'' to proceed with the game by relying on cheating are either mentally cornered or lacking in morals as a whole.
When looking at cases of people being mentally cornered, the most recent issue that has come to the fore is the problem of professional e-sports players using cheats. In their case, they operate in a world where performance is considered important, so I feel that it's the result of them being forced into a situation where they feel like they're doing something wrong, but they have no choice but to use doping, much like Olympic athletes who resort to doping.
In cases where a person with a lack of morals commits cheating, a lack of basic education may also be a contributing factor. This is an example of someone not being taught how to adapt to society at school or at home, and not being able to accurately recognize that the act of cheating itself is “illegal,'' and instead using it because they think “everyone is doing it.'' This tends to be more common in certain countries.
Since there is room for cheating to flourish in action FPS games that emphasize competitiveness, it will likely be necessary to introduce strict rules and anti-cheat programs regarding Bodycam in the future. We hope that this will create an environment where all participating users can have fun and revitalize online gaming.
[Recommended points]A new FPS that is expected in the future!
