Heya! I'm back for another chat. Lemme first let you in on what we've been cooking up. Graphics-wise we’ve been out of the early stages of updating the graphics quality of PC version, mainly adding more details to guarantee visual richness for bigger screens. I'll be sure to share some before-and-after pics! We've also made some progress on weapon handling and firing recoil, which we'll show you in some videos later on.
Development Showcase:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX8wKnwJV5Y
Content-wise, we've just added two new modes: Secret Realm and No Man's Land. The Secret Realm is a HUGE map to explore. Once you're able to get in, there are tons of mysteries to unravel and, of course, tough enemies to fight. The kicker? Players can get great rewards here — including capturable mounts! No Man's Land is a PvP mode where four teams can duke it out. You'll be tasked with searching for and bringing out some treasure from No Man’s Land. But I mean, if you can't find it, you could always just find the *team* who is carrying it and, well, things have a way of happening...
We've got early versions for both of them and will keep polishing and testing 'em until they shine. We'll aim to include more specific content for you in future Dev Blogs or messages.
There've been some lively discussions in our communities about what to expect in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. I saw some cool stuff in there and want to respond to a few and also showcase some of our game's content, because we've got A LOT.
1. Some asked if there'll be various settlements, landscapes, caves, underground worlds, mutated creatures, or even aliens, along with players’ own virtual homes.
Oh yeah, we've got all of that. We've got oodles of different cities, and towns that belong to different factions with unique backstories. We've also got TONS of different landscapes and areas to explore and adventure on, with all sorts of mutated creatures and enemies.
As for aliens... Well. Rumor has it there's a certain chain restaurant where missing person cases seem to keep happening. All I'm saying is the Men in Black might have been spotted around there and it *might* be worth checking out.
We're also cooking up personal bases. When you reach a certain area, you can follow a quest to buy your own base with a bunch of mysterious machines ready to be activated. And hey, as you're out exploring, why not scavenge some good old furniture? Might give you some inner peace when placed in your base.
2. Some asked if there'll be voice cast, since other MMORPGs don't always have that.
Voice cast is SO important for immersion, so we'll have full voice cast for all the main quests and important side quests. We're already doing some English voice cast at the moment, given the strong demand for it! You'll be able to choose from voice casts of different languages that works best for you.
3. Exploration is the core of a game and please add more ways to explore.
I totally agree with this. Exploration is the soul of post-apocalyptic games and I personally love the feeling of wandering in a vast, unfamiliar world. Rest assured, we'll be sure to offer lots of modes of exploration. And you can also find rich rewards and have lots of mysterious encounters.
4. Some asked if we could include more interactive mechanics and random encounters, like npcs or other players setting up traps in their own houses.
Random encounters are crucial for the exploration experience and an important part in our design. There'll be plenty of different random encounters to be experienced when you are exploring! For instance, you might come across a group of flesh worms marching in a line — or even find a time machine. One time when I was playing our game, I was looking for something to do in a bar when someone told me to meet him out back in an alleyway later on. WELL when I showed up, I passed out and... hmm, I won’t tell you what happened next.
5. Some asked if they'd be able to team up with other players.
We've got multiplayer instances and PvP modes for sure. So far exploration is mainly for solo mode. That being said, we've got some areas in the works for players to go explore together. For instance, players can join a Guild and go to these areas with other Guild members to earn some rewards. We'll see what resonates most with you before deciding to add more multiplayer areas.
Oh, and one more thing: when you join a Guild, we'll be giving you a Guild Base where you can interact with other members. Be sure to show up in your Guild Base from time to time for some sweet surprises!
6.Some asked us to add more realism to the world, like including dust, day and night cycle, climb mechanic, or even a hunger and thirst mechanic.
We've got you covered as far as dust goes, and the visual changes based on the time of day to really amp up the setting. Some quests can only be accepted at certain times of the day based on when NPCs appear. There are even some quests you can only receive if you are around an NPC and listen to his ramblings long enough before he reveals some key info.
For now, we don't have a plan for developing a climbing mechanic, but we're considering adding it to maps like the Secret Realm for a better exploring experience.
Since we're not a survival game, we haven't added a thirst mechanic to avoid players having to struggle to meet basic needs. But I will say this: If you spend enough time in the radiation-filled wastelands, you just might come out with an extra toe.
Dev blog #1-Talk To The Producer
Hey there! I'm Tree, the producer of Ashfall.
We've been blown away by all of your AMAZING feedback after we released our first gameplay trailer. Your feedback is precious to us, so allow me to try my best to answer some of your questions and introduce our game as much as possible!
1. On the Graphics
Sooo… Some of you said the graphics were PS3 quality. LOL. I had to sit with that for a bit, but then I figured out what you meant, and you know what? Yeah! You’re totally right. Because what our trailer shows is basically an early PC version, more like a mobile version but with slightly better graphics.
Our game will be cross-platform, on mobile, PC, and consoles. That means Ashfall supports cross-progression AND you can play with others on different platforms! This, my friends, is important. I mean, I get it: I used to be a hardcore player who got totally sucked into games for ENTIRE DAYS. But you know how it is. Life happens and you get less free time, this is why we make such games that you can pick up whenever you want. Maybe I only have little pockets of time, so a mobile version is the most suitable, most flexible way to play. And then, when I have a longer period of time to relax, I can opt for a console or PC or use a mobile device with a larger screen to get more immersed.
The biggest challenge for sure is designing the graphics for our mobile version because of the limited computing power on mobile devices. We've been giving it our all to tackle the technological side of things while keeping the balance of good graphics and a nice, smooth experience. We've been able to figure this out, and about half a year ago we started tinkering with the PC version. Tbh we're aiming for console-quality, but since cellphone screens are a lot smaller, we have to streamline some details for a good overall experience. However, the PC version is quite opposite which needs TONS of details. We're looking to improve the PC version’s graphics and add more intricate details to make sure it's a satisfying visual experience. At the end of the day, we just want to make sure the game is immersive!
But I'll level with you: We're not a triple-A game and that's not what we're trying to be. To me, games are art mediums and amazing ways to portray a world. We're all about content here. All I want is to give players a unique world, chock-full of the fun of growth and exploration, a world that'll make them lose track of time as they get to know it by interacting with different NPCs, knowing their stories, and learning what they've experienced. Content is the king as far as we're concerned. Of course, we want to make it look pretty (who doesn’t?!), but for us it's all about inner beauty (though, obvs both inner and outer beauty are the goal!)
2. On Firing Recoil/Hit Feedback
I'll be the first to admit that we have some work to do when it comes to hit feedback. Since cellphone screens are so small, we have to downsize those details, too. For now, we're looking into some high-end technical methods to improve our animations. Once we wrap that up, there'll be great hit feedback on bigger screens. I'd say we're about 80% of the way there for our goal.
As far as firing recoil..Yeah, that's our bad. Our game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where society is hanging on by a thread, so all weapons that players use in early maps are old or handmade. We were going for a rougher feel to match the setting, but.... I guess we got carried away! We'll be sure to make some adjustments to the recoil and animations.
3. On the Cafeteria Supervisor
Ahaha this has got to be my all-time favorite comment! A player wrote, "Who wouldn't be terrified by an abominable Cafeteria Supervisor" Hahaha YEP! He's just a cafeteria supervisor because... let's be real: when it comes to the scale of damage, nobody dishes it better than your supervisor (even your big boss)!
But in all seriousness, the canteen is called the Tasty Cafeteria. There were some folks who left the underground Vaults after the great world-ending disaster and discovered they could extract a substance from residual radioactive sludge that made people feel euphoric... and it is quite harmful. They called this "Happy Spirit" and started to manufacture and sell it on a large scale. Now, the Tasty Cafeteria is where you first meet this organization, since it's one of their refineries. They've got tons of employees, and even recruited some mercenaries to protect their factories, which are all under the cafeteria supervisor's name.
I mean, it goes without saying that they're a small force to be reckoned with in this chaotic world. As the game progresses, you'll meet all kinds of strange organizations, human traffickers, seedy underbellies, humanoid races, and perhaps even an alien! And, let me tell you, that alien is just some poor sap who chose the Exact. Wrong. Day. to take a tour on Earth!
4. On the Sandrats
Aww, I'm thrilled to hear that some of you liked the Sandrats! When humanity first returned to the surface, there were actually a decent amount of abandoned vehicles to use, but after some wear and tear and energy usage, most of them broke down. So, what could they do? Humanity had to go into the wild and tame some mutant creatures and return to an age of animal power! If you look closely, you'll see that the Sandrats actually have six legs. Most creatures out there have mutated in some way, often growing extra appendages like six horns, six legs, or four eyes. Tbh, while you're out roaming the highly-radioactive lands, you'll undergo some changes, too! But don't worry, we've got you covered. Our private doctor can help amputate any extra appendages (or tails!) you grow along the way.
There aren't a whole lot of creatures that you can tame. We initially created some random encounters to show how people tamed and trained animals, even organizing some transportation and sales. But after a while, we realized it would be more fun to let players learn how to tame the creatures to become mounts, so we removed those. You can learn how to do it along the way and tame your own creature to be your mount!
5. More On Our Game
I'm so happy to get to know all of you! If I had to describe the inspiration of this game, it would definitely be Fallout 2, which is the greatest game of all time to me. I'll never forget the first time playing it, and it's resonated with me ever since. For years, I've wanted nothing more than to offer players the same sense of excitement I once experienced. So... Here we are! We're an RPG, a shooter, and we've got it all: side quests upon side quests, tons of areas to explore, troubles to solve, loots to obtain, and all kinds of experiences. You'll mostly be playing single-player, sinking your teeth into the huge amount of content. But in case you get lonely, we've also got some co-op elements, like multiplayer Instances, PvP areas, Guilds, and in some maps, Guild Members can explore together. You'll also meet other players in the Safezones! We'll be sure to adjust these multiplayer elements to make sure everyone has a good time base on your feedback constantly.
Last but not least, a BIG thank you for reading my ramblings hahaha. We were originally going to make a CG animation to help introduce the backstory, but it's... a work in progress. Soo... let me give you a brief introduction to the world. First of all, it's set in the future. After the rise of AI, a massive war breaks out, wiping out civilization. When you start the game, you'll witness the final battle as a nameless soldier. Then, right after that, the real you come out, years after the world's been destroyed. You grew up in a Vault and don't know anything about the world outside.
As for that world... well, I'll leave that for you to discover! We're looking to start a biweekly test in about 3-4 months, which puts us at early 2023. We'll take your feedback to heart and make adjustments as needed. Before the test, we'll be sure to post some more dev blogs to keep you updated.
I’m Tree, the man fascinated by himself in the mirror after waking up every morning.
IGN：Explore the Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland in Ashfall
Ashfall is an upcoming adventure shooter MMORPG that is not only set to give players a chance to save humanity in a post-apocalyptic world that honors Eastern cultures in its design, but one that will also feature music by Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, Steve Mazzaro, and Inon Zur of Fallout fame.
IGN recently partnered with Ashfall developer Legendary Star Studio for an Ashfall gameplay showcase that featured an extended look at the game in action, interviews with those responsible for creating it, and much more. You can watch the entire Ashfall showcase below and then read the rest of the article to learn everything you need to know about the upcoming game.
What is Ashfall?
Ashfall, as previously mentioned, is an adventure shooter MMORPG that is set in a post-apocalyptic world that saw an artificial intelligence uprising push humans to the brink of extinction following a nuclear war. The few remaining survivors were forced underground to live in Vaults for many years, but the time has finally come for you and your friends to adventure back out into the world in hopes to save humanity.
“The setting of Ashfall focuses on rebuilding,” Ashfall designer Jesse said. “It takes place in a future world where artificial intelligence launches an uprising and wages a war against humans. After the nuclear apocalypse, there is nothing other than ruins left in the world and you have to leave your vault to search for the legendary key known as the Core of Creation to save everything.”
While Ashfall is going to eventually come to consoles, the MMO is set to be released first in 2023 on PC, iOS, and Android.
How Ashfall Stands Apart from Other Post-Apocalyptic Games
The post-apocalyptic genre in the world of video games is one that has been visited many times before, but Ashfall looks to stand apart from the pack with its unique take that puts a focus on Eastern cultures and player freedom.
“Ashfall is different from previous outstanding wasteland-themed games because we tried to put players into a new experience when they are playing it,” Jesse said. “To that end, we spotlighted the advantages of our project team to the fullest and integrated some unique Eastern vibes such as various Chinese-style buildings, monsters, and folk customs.”
The team at Legendary Star Studio is also putting a big emphasis on immersion and wants players to feel as if they are actually part of Ashfall’s world, and it is doing this through motion capture, a real-time weather system, exciting and meaningful combat situations, an extensive character creator, and so much more.
Oh, and wait until you hear about the music and why it looks to elevate Ashfall even more.
Ashfall’s Soundtrack Is Being Co-Created by Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer and a Legendary Crew
The music just may be one of Ashfall’s biggest selling points as it is being produced by Academy Award—winner Hans Zimmer, Inon Zur, and Steve Mazzaro, and they will be using Ashfall’s unique blend of Eastern culture and a devastated wasteland to craft music that will help bring out heart and emotion of both the story and the world.
“Ashfall’s scope does not only include a world after the apocalypse, but it also uses various unique elements of Eastern cultures, which provides a lot of inspiration for this cooperation,” Zur said. “We believe this to be a very special and unique take on the genre, and we hope to use the music to bring a new understanding and presentation of the post-apocalyptic world and to display the charm of a game world to players around the world.”
This music mission will be completed by interweaving the music in with all aspects of Ashfall, and carefully creating tracks for specific moments – whether that be going on a quest, experiencing a story moment, or just exploring the wasteland.
“In terms of the music, we hope to help everyone better understand the world through memorable, compelling melodies,” Mazzaro said. “The scores will accompany everyone when they are exploring the world and embarking on a wondrous adventure.
“In addition, our goal is to incorporate a number of unique instruments to work alongside the story and combat of the game and, as the music plays out, players will be able to experience the intensity of the adventure even with their eyes closed.
“We’ve always believed the synergy between music and games is something extremely meaningful. Not only will music be able to improve and complete the game itself, but it also brings a combined experience of art, games, and music to the players. We are very hopeful that, through our collaboration with Ashfall, we are able to create a never-before seen immersive experience for everyone.”
Ashfall Gameplay Walkthrough Showcases Character Creation, High-Level Play, and Massive Bosses
IGN’s Alan Wheeler was able to get hands-on with Ashfall to try out an in-progress build of the MMO and, during the Ashfall Showcase, he was able to create a character and give fans a glimpse of low- and high-level gameplay.
Ashfall wants to give you the tools to create the character – called a Wanderer - that most represents you or the character you want to create and play with for hours on end. In the character creator, you begin by building the character’s looks, and then you have to make some choices as to what kind of Wanderer you want to be.
These choices are manifested in the form of Prototypes and Traits. These serve as your class and specific traits that can give you a head start in a facet of the game you want to excel at.
Do you want to be a fast-talking, charming Wanderer who can get the best discounts at any store? Go with the Wage Earner Prototype and the Silver Tongue and Charmer Traits. Want to go in guns blazing to any situation? Choose a Gunslinger Prototype with the Nine Lives and Born Leader Traits. There are a ton of options, and this is only the start. As you level up, you will be able to continue to build out the character you want to play. While there will be more, the full list of Prototypes and Traits are as follows;
After creating his character, Alan was introduced to Drolma, an older woman who needs some help with clearing out some Mutated Bugs. There are dialogue choices and a narrator who is filling in even more of the story that is unfolding in front of you.
We then get a look at actual gameplay, as Alan brought his character through a level to stop the bugs from getting out of control. Ashfall plays out in third-person and encourages players to hide behind cover while waiting for their perfect moment to attack. There is also a mix between gunplay, grenades, skills, and much more.
Later on, we were taken to a place called Iron Cage Cavern where we got to see how playing with an AI partner would work. Alan was also given access to bigger and better guns like a Sniper Rifle and Assault Rifle. He had to free prisoners, but not before he had to take down a teleporting boss who was doing all he could to stop him in his tracks.
Alongside the gameplay, we are also treated to a trailer that showed more of the open world and the many zones players will be exploring, including a desert and a beach filled with shipwrecks. On the beach, we were even shown a boss battle against a massive boss known as the Crayfish Commander, and it looks like a formidable foe worthy of rallying your best friends to take down.
There is much more to be revealed about Ashfall before it arrives on PC, iOS, and Android in 2023, and we look forward to sharing all the new details as we get closer to launch!
Wishlist the Ashfall on Steam today!
And to learn more about the game, check out the official Ashfall website, Facebook, Discord, and Twitter.
