PC Gamer asks "What happenend to Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory"?

Whatever happened to Paranoia?

In December of 2019, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, a sci-fi RPG set in an isolated dystopian city called Alpha Complex, came out on the Epic Games Store. Within two months it had been delisted, removed from sale with no explanation from the developer or publisher, and calls for comment received no reply. A Steam page remained up, promising that it would arrive there after its year of Epic exclusivity. It did not. Over a year later, there's still no explanation.

You're forgiven for not knowing any of this. Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, did not exactly set the world on fire. It was a very old-fashioned isometric CRPG, which is another way of saying "an RPG where the combat kind of sucks." So yes, its realtime-with-pause shootouts were messy, but that's no more of a surprise to anyone familiar with this kind of game than it would be if I told you the hacking minigame was fiddly and annoying. By the way, the hacking minigame was fiddly and annoying.

[...]

Thanks Zloth!

CGM has reviewed Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory:

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory Review

A Disappointing Adaptation

Paranoia is a tabletop-RPG that emphasizes improvisation as players confront a maddening bureaucracy where the slightest missteps are treasonous and treason is punishable with a swift, absurd death.

By contrast, its video game adaptation Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory is plodding and lacking in any of the charm that makes the source material memorable.

You play as a clone working in a vast underground city that is managed by an AI named Friend Computer that is one part surveillance state, one part middle management, and one part utterly insane. As a Troubleshooter, you have to complete missions for Friend Computer alongside a small cadre of companions who will stab you in the back if you so much as step out of line. And I do mean that literally; colour coded lines are just one of the myriad of inane rules that you must follow if you hope to remain in Friend Computer’s good graces.

[...]

Score: 3.5/10 - In contrast to its source material, Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory is a bland RPG that is as slow as it is forgettable.

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory has released on Epic Game Store.

Lead a team of four Troubleshooters of dubious loyalty, who (mostly) obey orders from Friend Computer, a paranoid and irrational artificial intelligence. Inspired by the classic games of the CRPG genre, experience the first adaptation of the cult role-playing game!

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory Ultraviolet Edition

The Ultraviolet Edition includes the following content:

• A copy of the game
• An alternative voice for Friend Computer
• 3 exclusive portraits
• A unique android appearance
• A new experimental weapon (totally reliable)
• Propaganda posters
• The original role-playing game mission dossier "Robots of Unusual Size" (English)
• The game soundtrack

DSOGaming reports that Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory has been delayed until November 14th.

Bigben Interactive has announced that Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory has been delayed until November 14th. Paranoia is a CRPG that takes place in humanity’s last idyllic refuge, Alpha Complex, which is controlled by Friend Computer.

[...]

loading...

A developer diary video for Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory has been made available.

Lesquin, France, August 22, 2019 - As part of a special mission ordered by Friend Computer, our reporter was sent to Ireland to investigate Black Shamrock, the studio developing Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, amidst rumours that one of the team could be guilty of treason...

As a Red clearance Troubleshooter, you have been granted access to the full video report. Many aspects of the game development were scrutinised: the passion for the Paranoia tone, the challenges of adapting a tabletop role-playing game into a video game, the combat system, the unique gameplay and, of course, the utmost happiness felt by everyone in the team!

But Citizen, Friend Computer noticed that one team member hesitated when asked. Don't forget, happiness is mandatory. Not being happy is tantamount to treason and traitors will be asked to report to the nearest extermination centre immediately.

Control a team of four Troubleshooters of dubious loyalty, who (mostly) obey orders from Friend Computer, a paranoid and irrational artificial intelligence. Inspired by classic CRPGs, the game is the first official adaptation of the cult role-playing game.

After checking with Friend Computer, we can confirm the game will release on 3 October 2019 on PC and later on consoles.

RockPaperShotgun share a gameplay video of a whole mission from Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory.

loading...

This Paranoia: Happiness Is Mandatory gameplay takes you through one whole mission of the upcoming RPG, as Friend Computer sends you into the depths of Alpha Complex to fight an evil vending machine. Yes, it’s quite odd. So, enjoy this Paranoia gameplay walkthrough and impressions. Oh, and thanks to Logitech G and the G432 7.1 Surround Sound gaming headset for sponsoring this video. Check out the tech behind the G432 over on the Logitech G site:

[...]

Some gameplay video for Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory from IGN. You can read a preview here.

loading...

Watch 10 minutes of Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory, a mix of classic CRPGs and tactical combat simulation, from E3 2019.

Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory is a isometric, real time with pause, science fiction CRPG set to release sometime in 2019.

loading...

Paranoia is a CRPG that takes place in humanity's last idyllic refuge, Alpha Complex, which is controlled by Friend Computer. All citizens enjoy a life of joy, cheerfulness and cleanliness. Questioning the benevolence of Friend Computer is an act of treason. Having access to information beyond your security clearance is an act of treason. Refusing to drink your daily dose of Bouncy Bubble Beverage is an act of treason. Treason is punishable by summary execution.

Stay alert! Trust no one!
Traitors are everywhere, plotting to destroy The Computer, Alpha Complex itself, and our precious way of life. Identify them, report them – or eliminate them as the treasonous scum they are. Keep your laser handy!
You lead a team of Troubleshooters with RED security clearance. Your job is to find trouble – and shoot it. Friend Computer monitors your every move, alert for any sign of treason, and will undoubtedly reward you for prompt and heroic action in defence of Alpha Complex – or punish treasonable acts, possibly by assigning you to be used as reactor shielding.

• A retro-futuristic world filled with technologies as wondrous as they are deadly
• Create and lead a team of four Troubleshooters working for Friend Computer
• Choose your specialisations from 16 available skills
• Unique character progression through cloning (if you die, you progress!)
• Tactical combat system with active pause inspired by classic CRPG games
• Original enemies, including malfunctioning robots, aggressive drinks dispensers and defective clones