Schlagwort: Annapurna Interactive

  • Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm

    Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm

    Reading Time: 6 minutes
    Bounty Star Screenshot

    Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm

    As I drifted my large Desert Raptor MKII mech through an expansive desert canyon, crowded full of rocket-wielding hover bots and gun-toting bandits, I got the sense that Bounty Star might be onto something special here. My mech, assembled from a variety of parts looking like it was built in someone’s garage (because it was), dispatched these challenging foes with a variety of heavy melee attacks and cannon fire. It took me a few tries to come out on top, but as I neared the end of my brief hands-on time, Bounty Star left me eager to come back to its world later this year when it launches for Xbox Series X|S.

    In Bounty Star you play as Clem, a talented fighter and mech pilot who is managing some personal trauma as a war veteran looking to make up for some of her past actions – and hopefully become a force of good. Her adventure takes place in an area known as the Red Expanse, reminiscent of what can best be described as a post-apocalyptic American Southwest.

    “I was in Sedona, Arizona, surrounded by landscapes much like those in the game, and I couldn’t help but think how perfect they would be for an immersive action game setting,” explains Creative Director & Designer Benjamin Ruiz. “The desire to create something visually stunning and set in a beautiful desert was really the spark for Bounty Star. Everything started to fall into place from there. I began outlining the concept that very morning, inspired by those breathtaking views. That was about five years ago. It took a year or two before production officially began, but the idea was simmering for a while before we really got started.”

    Ruiz explained to me that he always dreamed of creating a Western, and Bounty Star is very much rooted in that genre, but blending a lighter take on the Armored Core style of mech gameplay that his creative team loves.

    “We really wanted to focus on the everyday life of a bounty hunter,” Ruiz adds. “There’s a base-building aspect where you’re preparing food, managing resources like clean water, and even raising chickens — really digging into the experience of survival in the desert. We aimed to find an exciting intersection between these elements: the fun of a Western, the detailed life of a bounty hunter, and the thrill of piloting a mech in the open desert. That’s how Bounty Star came together.”

    As I explored Clem’s run-down garage that serves as her base of operations and home, with power lines strewn about, a make-shift kitchen in the corner to cook food (which can give her stat bonuses in combat), and barrels full of munitions hiding in plain sight, the world of Bounty Star is blending some of my favorite things about what it would be like to live out this life in a sci-fi Western, giving me strong “Firefly” and “Serenity” vibes where you don’t have much, but what you do have you can call home; it has potential.

    Customization is one of the other key elements of Bounty Star and from what I could tell it seemed open-ended enough where I could either play with any type of mech that I wanted to assemble, provided I had the resources to put it all together. Ruiz reinforced that assumption for me.

    “There are a couple of different approaches you can take,” Ruiz elaborates. “You’re always going to need both a melee weapon and a firearm, but you can lean into one or the other, depending on your preferred play style. For instance, some players might focus on heavy armor and charge straight into combat, becoming a slow but nearly unstoppable force. Others might prefer lighter builds, prioritizing speed and agility over sheer toughness.”

    As Ruiz explained to me further, the customization system lets you tweak around seven core properties and choose from a variety of firearms, melee weapons, and support systems. He mentioned that even some of the QA testers were creating builds that would skip healing altogether, blasting through encounters at high speed. So, it seems you’ll have plenty of flexibility to create unique mech builds and experiment with different combat strategies when going up against a variety of enemies.

    Enemies are not the only thing you’ll encounter in Bounty Star. There will also be a handful of key NPCs you’ll interact with. One of them is the Marshall, who’s not only responsible for assigning your bounties but also happens to be an old friend. There’s also a merchant who offers you some of the best gear available in the game, operating on the shadier side of things and brings a different energy compared to the Marshall according to Ruiz. He mentioned that overall, while the cast of other characters isn’t huge, the ones you meet are designed to have meaningful and memorable interactions with you in the game.

    And one cannot be a bounty hunter without some bounties, and it sounds like there’s going to be a wide variety of mission designs to keep you engaged. Bounties generally work the same way throughout the game according to Ruiz. With Bounty Star running on a day-night cycle, there will be days where you’ll find story bounties on the board, alongside a couple of side bounties. Each one of these will send you to a specific part of the world, which will be distinct combat arenas of various shapes and sizes.

    “Sometimes your goal is to capture a particular target because they’re a wanted criminal; other times, you’re tasked with clearing out all adversaries in the area,” Ruiz adds. “Some bounties require you to be more careful and apprehend someone, while others are straightforward combat challenges. There are also optional objectives for players who enjoy replayability, such as completing a bounty within a certain time or using a specific loadout. Ultimately, Bounty Star is very much a third-person arena experience, but we’re focused on providing a variety of ways for players to have fun and approach each mission uniquely.”

    Much like Clem’s makeshift home, Bounty Star seems full of potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it all comes together later this year when it launches on Xbox Series X|S.

    The post Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm appeared first on Xbox Wire.

    Website: LINK

  • Ein vertiefter Einblick in die mysteriöse und futuristische Welt von Stray

    Ein vertiefter Einblick in die mysteriöse und futuristische Welt von Stray

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hallo zusammen! Nach einer langen Phase intensiver Arbeit mit dem Team freuen wir uns sehr, euch mit diesem gerade veröffentlichten Trailer zum Gameplay endlich mehr von unserem Spiel Stray zeigen zu können. Wir wollten euch aber auch noch ein bisschen mehr Kontext liefern, damit ihr den Trailer hoffentlich noch mehr genießt.

    Ein vertiefter Einblick in die mysteriöse und futuristische Welt von Stray

    Grundsätzlich ist Stray ein Adventure Game. Ihr erfahrt die Geschichte eines Katers, der versehentlich in eine seltsame, mysteriöse Stadt fällt und sich auf die Reise zurück zu seiner Familie macht. Erforschen und Erkunden stehen im Mittelpunkt des Spiels, weil wir gerne Millionen von Details in unsere Umgebungen einbetten von denen wir hoffen, dass ihr sie gerne entdeckt und so immer mehr Puzzleteile der versteckten Geschichte in den Levels findet und zusammensetzt.

    Es gibt eine Menge über diese vergessene Stadt und ihre überraschenden Bewohner herauszufinden! Nicht alles wird ganz zu Ende erklärt, also müsst ihr als aufmerksame und intelligente Spieler rausfinden, an was für einen Ort ihr gestolpert seid, wer die Bewohner und Lebewesen darin sind, und was die Geschichte und der Sinn dieser einnehmenden Welt sind, in die ihr eingetaucht seid.

    Der Kater ist definitiv der Star unserer Geschichte und es war uns wichtig, dass ihr einen Einblick in die spielerischen Interaktionen gewinnt, die er mit seinem Umfeld haben kann. Einige sind nützlich und helfen euch, Puzzle zu lösen, andere sind einfach nur wie sie sind, weil Katzen eben Katzen sind – wie die meisten Katzenbesitzer nur allzu gut wissen, bleiben Sofas eben einfach nicht unzerkratzt.

    Die einzigartige Perspektive aus Perspektive eines Katers zu spielen schafft auch interessante Möglichkeiten fürs Leveldesign. Typische Elemente aus Computerspielen können wir ganz neu angehen: Ein Gitter, das den Weg für Menschen versperrt? Sicher nicht für Katzen. Eine dekorative Regenrinne am Rand eines Gebäudes? Eine perfekte Aufstiegsmöglichkeit für jede Katze.

    Aber auch wenn Katzen fabulöse Dinge tun können, sind sie normalerweise keine Technikexperten. Die kleine Drone B12, der ihr begegnen werdet, hat eine Menge hilfreicher Features wie zum Beispiel das Übersetzen der Sprache der Maschinen, die in der Welt leben – oder das Aufbewahren von interessanten Schätzen, die ihr unterwegs einsammelt. Aber vor allem ist er ein freundliches Wesen mit einer geheimnisvollen Geschichte – die ihr als Kernelement des Adventures langsam entschlüsselt, während der Kater sich mit ihr anfreundet.

    Die Geschichte wird keine ruhige Reise für euch bedeuten – actiongeladene Sequenzen und Hochgeschwindigkeitsepisoden sind ein wesentlicher Teil von Stray. Einige Bereiche des Spiels sind viel gefährlicher und abweisender für das kleine Paar und ihr müsst die Beweglichkeit und schnellen Bewegungen unseres Helden ausreizen, um böse Gegner wie den Schwarm der “Zurks” zu besiegen, den ihr im Trailer seht. Die Zurks haben einen großen Einfluss auf das Leben der Bewohner der Stadt, aber sie sind nicht der einzige Typ Gegner, denen ihr euch stellen müsst. Und während Schnelligkeit und Beweglichkeit gefragt sind, müsst ihr auch auf Heimlichkeit und Schleichen achten: Stealth ist ein wichtiger Aspekt eures Wegs aus dem seltsamen und futuristischen Labyrinth. 

    Wir hoffen, das hat euch einen detaillierteren und tieferen Einblick in die Welt von Stray gegeben, aber wir haben auch noch viel mehr zu zeigen! Es gibt einen ganzen anderen Teil der Stadt, der darauf wartet, von euch entdeckt zu werden, in den wir euch erst einen kleinen Einblick im allerersten Teaser gegeben haben. Das ganze Team arbeitet mit Hochgeschwindigkeit daran, euch eine feingeschliffene Erfahrung präsentieren zu können und freut sich darauf, dass ihr nächstes Jahr unsere Welt entdecken werdet! Bis dahin, wie unsere Büroaufsicht Oscar immer sagt: Miaaau!

    Website: LINK

  • A Memoir Blue tells a moving story completely without words

    A Memoir Blue tells a moving story completely without words

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    A Memoir Blue is an atmospheric journey featuring a champion swimmer named Miriam who, on the day of her greatest achievement, begins to reflect on long forgotten memories.

    A Memoir Blue tells a moving story completely without words

    The story of the game is based on a childhood journey I took with my mom. My recollection as a child was that we had taken a wonderful day trip to the neighboring seaside city, but when I became older I realized my mother had taken me with her as she ran away from home.

    Although the game was built around this personal story, it quickly expanded into a larger scale world that players could explore in greater detail. True events are still at the core of the game with some creative additions to help our players understand what Miriam is feeling as she progresses along her journey.

    Some of the scenes depicted are taken directly from my memories as a six year old. One of the things I remember vividly was the train my mom and I took during the beginning of our trip. 

    We also visited a scenic lake where my mom rented a boat for just the two of us to enjoy the views as the breeze swept through our hair.

    Eventually, after our fateful day trip, we moved into a small apartment that was so small we could only fit a single reading chair in it. But as a child I had fond memories of that place and was happy to call it home.

    Another interesting aspect of A Memoir Blue is that its narrative is told entirely without words. Unlike other popular narrative games, A Memoir Blue uses expressive character animations and songs as a standin for dialogue. We took great care crafting each movement and melody to communicate a visual story to players.

    The song featured in our reveal trailer is an example of how we specifically use music to convey feelings the mother has for our main character.

    The use of mixed media is another special trait we use to show the separation of time. 2D animations represent recollections from Miriam’s past while 3D represents the present as our main character reexamines past events. We created these traditional 2D animations through multiple passes, first sketching out a rough pass, then cleaning up the linework, and finally by assigning the colors. The end of the trailer features a breakdown of each of these steps.

    A Memoir Blue is our studio’s first project. Our mission is not only to tell stories, but to share experiences that will also appeal to a player’s heart. I hope you enjoy sinking into Miriam’s uncovered past by letting go of the ordinary and immersing yourself into a world of deep blue.

    Website: LINK

  • An in-depth look into the mysterious, futuristic world of Stray

    An in-depth look into the mysterious, futuristic world of Stray

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hello, everyone! After a long period of intense work with the team, we are delighted to finally be able to show more about our game Stray with this just-released gameplay trailer. But we wanted to add a bit more context to what you’ve hopefully just enjoyed.

    An in-depth look into the mysterious, futuristic world of Stray

    At its core, Stray is an adventure game. It tells the story of a cat who accidentally falls into a weird, mysterious city and his journey to return to his family. Exploration is a key element and as we love to add lots of details to our environments, we hope players will enjoy looking for all the little bits of hidden lore that we’ve added across each level.

    There’s quite a lot to find and learn about this forgotten city and the surprising characters who live in it! Not everything will be explained clearly, so it will be up to the most attentive and insightful players to figure out what exactly this place is, who these inhabitants and creatures are, and the story and purpose of this beguiling world in which we are immersed.

    The cat is definitely the star of the show in the game though, and it was important for us to show a glimpse of all the playful interactions that he can have with his environment. Some of them are useful and will help solve puzzles as you progress, and some are just here because cats will be cats — and as most cat owners know painfully well, no sofa can be left unscratched.

    The unique perspective of playing as a cat also creates interesting opportunities in terms of level design. Some of the usual tropes of videogames can be twisted in funny and interesting ways: a grid blocking the way for humans? Not for a cat! A decorative rain pipe spiraling along a building? Perfect platforming sequence for a feline!

    But even though cats can do lots of amazing things, they don’t usually interact with technology that well. The small drone, B12, that you’ll encounter has lots of helpful features like translating the language of the machines inhabiting the world, or storing precious items that you find during your journey. But above all, he is a friendly being with a mysterious story — learning about his past as his relationship with the cat evolves is a key element to this adventure.

    Their journey will not be a calm river, though — action and fast-paced sequences are a strong component of Stray, too. Some areas of the game are way more dangerous and unwelcoming for the little duo, and our hero’s agility and quick moves will be put to the test to survive vicious enemies like the swarm of “Zurks” as seen in the trailer. The Zurks have a big impact on the lives of the inhabitants of the city, but they are not the only type of foe that you may encounter. And while being quick and agile is required, being stealthy and sneaky will be just as important to find the exit of this strange and futuristic maze.

    Hopefully this gives you a more detailed and in-depth look at the world of Stray, but we still have a lot more to show! There’s a whole other part of the city waiting to be discovered that we shared a glimpse of in our very first teaser. The whole team is working full speed to deliver the most polished experience possible, and we look forward to seeing players explore our world early next year. Until then, like Oscar, our Office Manager, always says: PrrrMEeow!

    Website: LINK

  • More to explore: Outer Wilds “Echoes of the Eye” expansion lands September 28

    More to explore: Outer Wilds “Echoes of the Eye” expansion lands September 28

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Mobius Games is very excited to finally talk about our first (and only) expansion to Outer Wilds! Echoes of the Eye adds a mysterious new location to the solar system, packed with secrets to uncover. We designed the expansion as if it was always lurking within the world of Outer Wilds but hadn’t been discovered yet. When Echoes of the Eye launches, check out the new museum exhibit on Timber Hearth which marks the trailhead for one last journey into the deepest, darkest part of the solar system.

    More to explore: Outer Wilds “Echoes of the Eye” expansion lands September 28

    You might be wondering why we chose to add content when Outer Wilds is already a complete experience. As a relatively small and un-established studio we needed a project to immediately follow Outer Wilds that wasn’t too big or crazy, while still allowing us to grow as developers and hopefully deliver something that would appeal to fans of Outer Wilds. Internally we had been tossing around various, more conventional, ideas for Outer Wilds DLC. Ultimately we realized that we wouldn’t be comfortable expanding on the existing game unless it gave players something new and substantial to explore while also adding something meaningful to the narrative. While Echoes of the Eye doesn’t match the breadth of the base game by itself, it does have more depth than any existing location in the solar system. Our playtesters have been pleasantly surprised by how deep the rabbit hole goes! 

    As you might guess, adding something substantial to the existing game was a rabbit hole of its own. Making Outer Wilds content is an involved process, and it wasn’t long before the DLC became an expansion. Because it needed to work equally well for both new and returning players, the structure of Echoes of the Eye wound up resembling a microcosm of the original game as a whole. That being said, don’t expect Echoes of the Eye to be the base game in miniature. We took some risks with the method of storytelling and added plenty of new mechanics. Outer Wilds has always had light horror elements to it, but this expansion really leans into the spooky side of things (don’t worry, we’ve added a “reduced frights” option to the menu if you find it too intense!)

    As with Outer Wilds, Echoes of the Eye will play best the less you know about it, so we’re trying to avoid spoiling too much before you get the chance to play it for yourself. Much like the original game, we’ve taken many science fiction staples and used them as inspiration for both the narrative and dynamic systems at play. We’re looking forward to seeing how fans react to the new revelations we have in store, and as usual we’ve done our best to include plenty of extra details for those who seek answers to their questions. Be wary however; although Echoes of the Eye may contain the answers you seek, is there some knowledge better left in the dark?

    Website: LINK

  • A Memoir Blue – Eine tiefgründige Geschichte ohne Worte

    A Memoir Blue – Eine tiefgründige Geschichte ohne Worte

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    A Memoir Blue ist eine atmosphärische Reise mit einer talentierten Schwimmerin namens Miriam, die an einem erfolgreichen Tag plötzlich beginnt, alte Erinnerungen zu reflektieren.

    A Memoir Blue – Eine tiefgründige Geschichte ohne Worte

    Die Geschichte des Spiels basiert auf einer Reise als Kind, die ich mit meiner Mama gemacht habe. Meine Erinnerung als Kind war, dass wir einen wunderschönen Tagesausflug in die benachbarte Küstenstadt gemacht hatten. Doch als ich älter wurde habe ich gemerkt, dass sie mich damals mitgenommen hat, als sie von Zuhause weggerannt ist. 

    Obwohl das Spiel um diese persönliche Geschichte herum gebaut wurde, habe ich es schnell ausgeweitet, damit Spieler auch mehr Details erkunden konnten. Das herzstück sind immer noch wahre Geschehnisse, aber es gibt auch Zusätze die euch helfen sollen, Miriam auf ihrer Reise zu verstehen.

    Einige der dargestellten Szenen entstammen direkt meinen Erinnerungen als sechsjähriges Kind. Ich erinnere mich noch gut an den Zug den wir nahmen, als wir diese Reise starteten.

    Wir besuchten auch einen malerischen See, an dem meine Mama ein Boot für uns beide gemietet hatte. Wir haben die Aussicht genossen, während die Brise durch unsere Haare fegte.

    Später sind wir in eine kleine Wohnung gezogen, in die lediglich ein Lesestuhl passte. Aber als Kind hatte ich wirklich schöne Erinnerungen an diesen Ort und war glücklich, ihn mein Zuhause zu nennen.

    Ein weiterer schöner Aspekt von A Memoir Blue ist, dass die Geschichte ohne Worte erzählt wird. Anders, als in ähnlichen Genre-Vertretern, nutzt A Memoir Blue expressive Charakteranimationen und Musik, um die Dialoge darzustellen. Wir haben viel Arbeit hineingesteckt, um jede Bewegung und Melodie möglichst kommunikativ darzustellen, damit sie die Geschichte erzählen. 

    Der Song, den ihr im Reveal Trailer hren könnt, ist ein gutes Beispiel: Er vermittelt die Gefühle der Mutter im Spiel gegenüber ihrem Kind.

    Der Einsatz von Mixed Media ist ein weiteres besonderes Merkmal, mit dem wir die Trennung von Zeit zeigen. 2D-Animationen stellen Erinnerungen aus Miriams Vergangenheit dar, während 3D die Gegenwart darstellt, wenn unsere Hauptfigur alte Ereignisse erneut untersucht. Wir haben diese traditionellen 2D-Animationen in mehreren Durchgängen erstellt. Zuerst haben wir einen groben Umriss skizziert, dann die Linien bereinigt und schließlich die Farben zugewiesen. Das Ende des Trailers zeigt eine Aufschlüsselung dieser Elemente.

    A Memoir Blue ist das erste Projekt unseres Studios. Wir wollen nicht nur Geschichten erzählen, sondern auch Erlebnisse teilen, die die Herzen unserer Spieler berühren. Ich hoffe, ihr habt Freude daran, in der Vergangenheit von Miriam zu versinken, während ihr euch ins tiefe Blau treiben lasst. 

    Website: LINK